Back several months ago, I wrote a semi-lackluster review of breakfast at Forestview Restaurant on Transit Road in Depew. From Buffalo News food critics to Tom Bowerly, Western New York media rave about this place. I will say, the fish fry and “hotbox” dinner entrees are all of good quality. But breakfast? I figured since I had a "special" option last time, I'd opt for a normal breakfast second time around. Read on for Forestview, Take 2:
I stopped in around 6:00am on the way to work. Planning to fuel up on a carbo-load before working the truck at Kohl’s, I ordered three pancakes with peach topping.
One nice thing about Forestview is the large, HD televisions mounted all around the dining area. Being able to watch morning news while you wait and eat is a nice little perk. And boy was I ever glad they had those TVs: I waited about 20 minutes for my three pancakes. I realize at 6am the overnight crew is still in, but there were maybe two other tables. Did the server go back to the kitchen and fry my pancakes herself? How long does it take to put batter down on the griddle?
My pancakes were decent, once they arrived. Fearing I’d be late to work at this point, I plunged right in to the pile of three gargantuan ‘cakes. The outer texture was crisp—crispier than I would’ve liked, but not burned—and the center was soft, sweet, and cakey. The extra $1.00 for the peaches option got me a bowl of canned peach pie filling on the side. The server asked if I wanted it warmed, like that should even be a question. I was glad that the peach topping came on the side, rather than saturating my pancakes. While just a cheap canned pie filling, swimming in the heavy syrup were large slices of yellow cling peaches. In the end, I thought it a bland, boring way to top pancakes; maple syrup and butter are still the best.
One final note about breakfast that morning: The coffee was very fresh. Last time it tasted as if the pot had been on the hotplate for the entire overnight shift.
So in conclusion, Forestview is not going to be my first choice for breakfast anymore. They are overpriced and not nearly as good as rival Greek Alton’s just up the road (in either direction—there’s one at Transit & Seneca and one on Walden). Forestview is, however, better than Alton’s when it comes to dinner time. I suppose they each have their place.
I stopped in around 6:00am on the way to work. Planning to fuel up on a carbo-load before working the truck at Kohl’s, I ordered three pancakes with peach topping.
One nice thing about Forestview is the large, HD televisions mounted all around the dining area. Being able to watch morning news while you wait and eat is a nice little perk. And boy was I ever glad they had those TVs: I waited about 20 minutes for my three pancakes. I realize at 6am the overnight crew is still in, but there were maybe two other tables. Did the server go back to the kitchen and fry my pancakes herself? How long does it take to put batter down on the griddle?
My pancakes were decent, once they arrived. Fearing I’d be late to work at this point, I plunged right in to the pile of three gargantuan ‘cakes. The outer texture was crisp—crispier than I would’ve liked, but not burned—and the center was soft, sweet, and cakey. The extra $1.00 for the peaches option got me a bowl of canned peach pie filling on the side. The server asked if I wanted it warmed, like that should even be a question. I was glad that the peach topping came on the side, rather than saturating my pancakes. While just a cheap canned pie filling, swimming in the heavy syrup were large slices of yellow cling peaches. In the end, I thought it a bland, boring way to top pancakes; maple syrup and butter are still the best.
One final note about breakfast that morning: The coffee was very fresh. Last time it tasted as if the pot had been on the hotplate for the entire overnight shift.
So in conclusion, Forestview is not going to be my first choice for breakfast anymore. They are overpriced and not nearly as good as rival Greek Alton’s just up the road (in either direction—there’s one at Transit & Seneca and one on Walden). Forestview is, however, better than Alton’s when it comes to dinner time. I suppose they each have their place.
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