GREENCASTLE-ANTRIM – If you have ever traveled down Route 11 through Greencastle, you have no doubt seen the Homestyle Family Restaurant next to the CVS and across from the Sheetz. Word of mouth has it that this small diner-style restaurant has some of the best food in the area, especially the fried chicken. I decided to pay them a visit.
The dining area is cozy with tables and booths and plenty of seating, which is good, because when I arrived, there was a packed house. I was greeted immediately upon entering by the friendly staff which made me feel very welcome.
I started my meal with an order of corn fritters sprinkled with powdered sugar. I tried corn fritters for the first time not long ago, and they are quickly becoming one of my favorite cheat snack foods. For my side, I went with buttered corn, because it is another one of my favorites, and with the fritters and my lunch selection, I didn’t want to do any starchy sides.
The day of my visit, the famous four-piece fried chicken was on the dinner special, which came with a side and a small dish of ice cream–the perfect choice for me.
The chicken consisted of a breast, a thigh, a leg, and a wing. As I had previously heard from others, the chicken was perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. I was a little nervous when I first got it because of how crispy it was, but once I bit into it all those worries were gone. The only real downside to the meal was that the wing and leg were smaller than I was hoping for and didn’t have much meat on them.
Finally, it was time for dessert. My choices for ice cream were chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, mint chocolate chip and peanut butter, I chose the latter. To my delight, it wasn’t peanut butter flavored, but rather vanilla with real peanut butter mixed in as a sort of swirl. It was a great way to end a wonderful meal.
The menu was full of American-style choices, which included an all-day breakfast, which was tempting, but I was on a mission that Saturday afternoon.
Still, my curiosity had me browsing for future dining adventures. The pancake selection had the classic style, blueberry and chocolate chip, but to my delight there was even another option; peanut butter chip pancake. There are also a variety of omelette options, including Western and Eastern omelettes, as well as Denver omelette, which is made with peppers, onions, ham, cheese and mushrooms.
If you aren’t in the mood for breakfast, the lunch fare offers many options for sandwiches, both hot and cold, wraps, burgers, grilled and breaded chicken sandwiches, subs and club sandwiches. If you are counting carbs and wanting something a little lighter, the salad options include Greek, chef, grilled or breaded chicken, tuna salad and tossed salad.
If it is dinner time, there are meals to fulfill any appetite: Steak, chicken, pork chops, meatloaf, turkey and stuffing, beef liver and onions, ham steak, breaded veal and pork tenderloin. For the seafood lovers, the menu offers crab cakes, fried shrimp and scallops, or haddock and tilapia. For those seeking a little international flare, see the selection of pasta favorites like spaghetti with or without meatballs or parmigiana with either chicken, veal or pork tenderloin.
Homestyle Family Restaurant is located at 26 N. Antrim Way and is open Monday- Saturday from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. and then on Sunday from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. For more info about the menu and specials, readers may visit: Home Style Family Restaurant | A Cozy Dining Experience in Greencastle.
