Sometimes Monday is a Sundae!
Italian Meatloaf Melt and an Ice Cream Sundae!!!!!
FRIENDLY’S
240 The Village at Painters Crossing
West Chester, PA 19382
610-358-9046
Open Most All the Time (I could not find the hours on the web)
It’s Monday and I am not feeling it. I have several work related tasks to perform and I’m dragging. I am also meeting a friend down in the Chadds Ford area, who has instructed me to bring food to our meeting (around 1:30pm)
Now, the Chadds Ford area has tons of great places catering to almost every culinary whim you might have. I drive past at least a dozen restaurants ranging from taverns to fast food to deli’s to bars to standard chain restaurants as I go east from Lincoln University area on Rt. 1. I’m also thinking about going a little farther north on 202 where there are at least a dozen more, but nothing is speaking to me. I say to myself, if I could have anything I wanted, except what I had yesterday, what would I want. The answer surprises me. ICE CREAM! It’s probably because at that very moment, I can see a Friendly’s. They are running a special. My course is set.
It is amazing how crowded the parking lot is, and there is a line of people waiting to get a table. The line is moving along, waiters and managers and buspeople are bustling around. This place is hopping. There is an atmosphere of jovial teamwork that is really very pleasant. I’m here for take-out, though. A take-out challenge!
From the special 9.99 menu, I order an Italian Meatloaf Supermelt Sandwich with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese served on grilled three cheese sourdough bread and hot golden fries. I also order the Tuna Supermelt Sandwich with melted American Cheese, ripe tomato slices on grilled sourdough bread, also served with golden hot fries. My theory is that my lunch companion and I can have half of each. With the special price of 9.99, you also get your choice of ice cream sundaes (I got two vanilla with chocolate sauce, whipped creme and cherry) and sodas. This is a LOT of food which they package beautifully - offering me a carry tray before I have to beg, and they also ask me if I need help out to my car!
It took me about twenty five minutes to go in, order and get out, but they were really crowded so I didn’t think this was really unreasonable. I get to my destination across Rt. 1 for my lunch meeting without the sundaes melting! They met the challenge.
When my companion and I sit down, I tell them that my plan is that we each can have half of each sandwich. We chat, eat, (I ate my sundae first) and when I finish my half of the tuna melt, I glance over and realize that my lunch companion, in their enthusiasm for the delish Italian meatloaf sandwich, has eaten it all and there will be no sharing. I guess that tells you how good it was! I enjoyed my tuna melt, also,but it was a just a little on the mayonaise-y side. Good, but sloppy.
My lunch companion also makes the entire sundae disappear in seconds flat. The fries - for me the litmus test of an excellent meal - were pretty good, with satisfying different textures (some chewy, some crispy, some soft) to earn a B++.
I can heartily recommend that you do the Friendly’s take-out if you want a little more than fast food, but you want to spend twenty dollars or less for two. And think of the points you will earn if you show up at the office, with ICE CREAM!
What You Need To Know Before You Go:
Rating: YMMMY (out of a possible YMMMMMY)
Bring: Cash and credit cards accepted.
You can get a very nice lunch for 7.00 to 15.00 but their forte is these special make your own combos for around 10.00.
Family Friendly – Kids love this place. ICE CREAM with lunch!!!
Take Out - you can phone your order in (610-358-9046) or wait in line or eat in in the restaurant.
Casual Atmosphere, whatever you are wearing is fine.
Completely friendly service.
