Pach's Place

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!

Bagel Queen – True Carb Royalty

The large New Yorker behind the counter impatiently rolled his eyes at our indecision. His supply of bagels was low due to the late hour (they are only open until 1:00 p.m., at least on Sat.) but still we were unable to immediately pick our prize. There were so many options: bagels, both sweet and savory, meaty breakfast sandwiches, soft pretzels and more. Amy quickly settled on the pretzel, but then our funding issues (they only take cash) caused even further consternation on the part of the owner. The poor man – on top of our indecision, I paid entirely in change (and had to borrow 50c from Jackie).
Two dollars and thirty some cents will buy true delight here. After several minutes, Jackie decided on a plain bagel with strawberry cream cheese. The bagels were soft and warm and generously smeared with the rich Philadelphian soft spread. The strawberry’s natural sweetness contrasted beautifully with the tang of the cream cheese and pieces of fruit added even more flavor. My ‘everything’ bagel was by far the best I had ever had. Scallion cream cheese was generously applied and simply delicious.

I have lived within 10 min. of the Bagel Queen for as long as it has existed. It is easy to miss, snuggled between a couple of dollar generals in the Sweetbay strip store on Little Rd. The inside is simple and unadorned, with a few old tables and chairs where you can enjoy your treat. Coffee is self-serve and refillable on demand. I am very sorry that I did not discover this place sooner. In fact it was Jackie B. of Tampa who stumbled across this establishment via the great ‘Interweb’. She read reviews that named these bagels some of the best anywhere, and the reviews I have found call the Queen, ‘an addictive little hole in the wall.’ Jackie had made it her personal quest to get me to take her there. All three of us were glad she did.

The owner (the Bagel King?) told a woman that he is in the shop baking every morning at 4 a.m. That kind of devotion to carbohydrates makes me want to stand up and salute!

Five forks!

Pasco County
9037 Little Rd
New Port Richey, FL 34654
(727) 863-2822
:-)