Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.
As you drive on Route 20 heading west from Route 47, you will come to a fork in the road. This is where you will see a diner with a giant letter “A” on the roof. No, this is not Arnold’s from the TV show Happy Days, instead it is Allen’s Corner Diner in Hampshire.
Allen’s Corner Diner
44W483 US Hwy. 20
Hampshire 60140
(847)68DINER
No website available
Directions: Take 47 South to Rte. 20 West to the Big Letter “A”
Estimated Travel Time: 13 minutes
This little corner of small town America was started by the Allen family in 1921. Great-Grandma Christine ran the diner, or “lunchroom” as she called it, and Great-Grandpa Herman ran the gas station and towing business next door. The family recipes were passed down from owner to owner and finally to the current proprietor, Grandma Christine’s Great-Granddaughter Christine.
Don’t judge a book by its cover; you can always tell if a restaurant has good food by the line outside waiting to get in. If you can’t make your own parking spot next to the gas pumps, there is additional parking in the lot across the street.
On weekends, be prepared to wait since there are only seven tables available and a counter which seats ten people. Take note, it is not very handicap-friendly.
After checking out the menu, Nancy decided on the “2 + 2 + 2” ($5.90) which is two pancakes or two slices of French toast with two eggs and two strips of bacon or two sausages. Nancy opted for the French toast which tasted the closest to homemade that you can get in a restaurant. There was just the right amount of vanilla to excite her taste buds. She ordered scrambled eggs and bacon, and since she was a hungry little camper, she added a side of hash browns with onions for $2.05. She asked for the hash browns to be browned and crunchy and they actually did it!
Jim went with “Birdie’s Biscuits and Gravy Omelet” ($6.50). It was a two-egg cheese omelet (he chose cheddar, cause it’s beddar) with chopped biscuits inside and sausage gravy on top. This was served with hash browns and he also asked for onions, of course. Years ago a customer named Birdie suggested this dish and it earned a permanent spot on the menu. I am not a big fan of biscuits and gravy, so you’ll have to wait for Jim’s take on this one. But judging from the Cheshire Cat smile on his face, I think it was a winner!
This diner is a throwback to a much simpler time. You could almost see Flo behind the counter yelling, “kiss my grits”! Allen’s Diner offers great homemade food at a very reasonable price. When you’re there, be sure to check out the restrooms. The women’s is labeled “Eggs” and the men’s is labeled “Sausage”.
FYI: They are only open for breakfast and lunch. Based on the sandwiches we saw coming out of the kitchen, we can’t wait to go back for lunch. Check out their $5 daily summer specials which range from egg salad to burgers, pasta, and even fish.
The total for our “Diner Delight” was $19.40. We said this was a throwback to a much simpler time, so don’t try using your credit card, they only accept cash.
Jim’s take: I very seldom order biscuits and gravy, but I’m glad I did because these were incredible. Be sure to get there early if you want them, because once they run out, that’s it…
Nancy’s take: I have to admit, I judged the book by its cover and was I ever wrong! This was the best French toast I’ve ever had in a restaurant. The hash browns with onions were out of this world!!!
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