Pronounced “Patch’s,” this little spot is run by a mom and her kids who have over a hundred years combined restaurant experience. The owner was not only doing actual cooking but was prominently featured in some avant garde art work on front window and above the frig. 
The menu is diverse offering both breakfast and lunch. There were many more glamorous items on the menu and I fully intend to go back and try their popular crab and asparagus omelet, but I had to pay homage to one of my favorite childhood meals. They actually offer cream chip beef! So humble and yet so satisfying. It tasted just like Mom’s (perfect) except that it was on Texas Toast rather than wheat bread, and the substance of the toast made for a welcome addition. I got four pieces of toast and enough sauce to cover the platter. 
A generous portion of hand-cut home fries came on a separate dish. Jackie’s ham and cheese omelet was light and fluffy and the accompanying pancakes melted in her mouth (and mine too). Jackie nearly died with joy when she realized the syrup was lovingly warmed for her use. Pach’s advertises an authentic Monte Cristo. Definitely worth checking out. They have a nice selection of sandwiches and inventive omelets which I intend to try next time. Bean sprouts, snow peas, asparagus, and broccoli-cheddar sauce is a great vegetarian option. Our waitress, a sweet lady despite an injured foot, said that the spinach, ground chuck, onions, home fries and mozzarella cheese is a very popular one. Our waitress provided excellent service and I did notice that the staff greeted several of the diners by name.
I wanted to sit at the counter. It was terrific fun watching home fries cooking, pancakes dripped and flipped, large hamburgers and sausages pressed on the well seasoned griddles.
The energetic owner bustled back and forth serving all the customers. It seemed that all of Tampa knew about this place except for us. We tried to spy on our neighbors' food, but it was hard it was so completely consumed. Jackie did comment that she and I brought down the median age considerably, but hey, it was a Saturday morning just before noon, perhaps our colleagues were still abed. Upon leaving, we did realize as we pulled down our sunglasses, that they were splattered with grease. Ok, so our seats came with risks. But it was cool! Prices are very good, particularly for the area. Lox and eggs comes in highest at $8.75. This place has rabid online fans: “When I eat at pachs place I feel like I am derobed and sent to outerspace in an outerspace adventure…I love this restaurant, the check came with the sonic boom of supermans zoom…” Proof that the staff is friendly: “It was my birthday and they came and helped me feel better by being so nice and generous with napkins.”
Ah, it is the little things in life, isn’t it? I will say that the food is terrific, the staff very friendly and the whole experience a lot of fun!Pach’s Place
Hillsborough County
2909 Bay to Bay Blvd.
Tampa, FL
813-831-7122
M-F 7:00am-2:00pm
S&S 8:00am-2:30pm
:-)
Five Forks!
1 comment:
A note for those who love leftovers as much as I do - the omelet reheated beautifully in the microwave with perfectly melted cheese and non-rubbery eggs. A rarity I doubted and undertook only out of a desire not to waste food which resulted in a wonderful lazy day lunch.
Meanwhile our choice of seats was a tad more dangerous than some have lead you to believe. My eyes were burning by the time I left. However this can be easily remedied by not sitting right next to the grill (or not rubbing your eyes and hence pushing the oil into them).
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