| A Keeper |
I've remarked in other spots here that I love diners. Part of my reason
for living is getting up on a Saturday morn, grabbing a newspaper and
scooting into a diner for a lingering breakfast over a Greek or Spanish
omelet with vast quantities of coffee. Alas, the South is not known for
diners--breakfast, yes, diners, no.
Southern breakfasts are famous for various forms of piggy meat, eggs
either scrambled or over something, and biscuits. Preferably with a
gravy that has an atomic weight somewhere near berkelium. Oh yes, and
with grits. Lots of grits.
Now I''l admit it--I like grits. I also like biscuits and gravy. But
personally, my idea of a real breakfast is a thick omelet with gobs of
cheese, plenty of hot sauce and a rye or pumpernickel bread soaked with
butter. This is not an easy prey in C'ville.
But it can be found at a place called The Tip Top (on Pantops, of
course). The restaurant is run by real Greeks (thank you, Jesus) and
comes complete with a waitress named, believe it or not, "Miss Piggy."
It just doesn't get much better.
The place is light and airy (though it can be a bit cold--Miss Piggy
does NOT like being too warm). The decor is a pleasant, simple
restaurant style...no ferns or nicknacks. Plenty of booths and tables
with windows all around so you can see the traffic. No, the view isn't
great (though you can see some of the mountains in the distance), but
mostly you see the parking lot and the car lot next door. But who
cares--I read my newspaper and enjoy great "meatlovers" omelets with
cheese, home fries, and rye toast. Plus unlimited coffee.
The food is excellent, the service great, and the price reasonable.
You'll be greeted by people who seem to want your business and who will
treat you as a customer, not an intruder.
They also have an excellent lunch menu with classic deli style sandwiches (try the pastrami). Really, this one is a keeper.
Absolutely, positively try this one
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A Keeper |