O'Rourke's Diner, Middletown CT - The best on Earth!

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

"It's the typical cute Airstream set-up. But O'Rourke's is the diner people love for the food, not despite it. In fact, most any noontime, they're lining up outside the door, waiting to get in, even in the bitter Middletown cold. The wait and the cold are forgotten once you look over the menu. Last weekend's specials included "Earth & Sea" ($7.50) -- an omelet of scallops, oyster mushrooms and a hollandaise sauce, served with brown bread and hash browns; "Roasted Sirloin Hash" ($6.95) -- a combination of roasted sirloin, andouille sausage and potatoes, served with eggs and brown bread; and "Leek and Goat Cakes" ($7.50) -- served with a cheese omelet, eggplant francais and toast. The "Pancake du Jour," a popular item, was made with a sweet potato and praline batter and topped with molasses butter, whipped cream and cranberries. The garnish was a slice of orange with a slice of kiwi. But fear not, this is no stuck-up bistro. The crowd is a mix of down-home locals and bleary-eyed Wesleyan students. The staff could be out of a Humphrey Bogart flick. (And, like Bogey, beneath their dogged veneer, the chefs are actually sensitive artists anxious to hear how you liked the meal.) The priciest item on the menu was "The Willy Braun" -- an omelet of brie and portabello, topped with bacon, link sausage, Canadian bacon, grilled onion and sauce, served with mini pancake du jour, grilled turnips and toast. At $7.95 it's a steal. O'Rourke's opens at 4:30 in the morning. Get in early and beat the crowds. --S. K. Thiel "

[SarahB]

1. Never been there. I'll have to check it out.

I'm about 20 miles or so north and east. :7

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

2. You wii not regret it!

[Carni]

3. That menu sounds awesome

I live no where near that state unfortunately :(

[NewJeffCT]

6. me, too

I'm not too far from Middletown (also North & East) and both of my parents grew up there.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

7. And you've never been?

Jeff - what the deal!

[SarahB]

8. We should have a thing.

There's a bunch of us in CT. Add Dodi, Amaya, Jonnyblitz, LeviathanCrumbling, and NightTrain too. (Probably more I can't even think of.)

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

9. Add Randomkoolzip - he's in Chicago but he adores O'Rourkes and

eats here everytime he visits me.


I will set it up!

Good call Sarah!

[HarrietBrown]

12. Any Saturday morning is fine with me

Middletown is not far and it would be great to meet up after the convention! I'm there.

[NewJeffCT]

10. to be honest, never heard of it

and, the north end of main street was a place to avoid in the 80s...

I even worked on Main Street in Middletown my last 15 months of high school.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

17. The Mayor is my future mother-in-law

and God Mother :)

[Throckmorton]

4. Whats its address,

I drive through middletown just about every week on the way to or from mom's.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

5. If you go north up Main its on the right corner just before you get to rt9

You can't miss it

[NewJeffCT]

11. ah, now i know it

just never went in there...

[MissMillie]

13. How far is Middletown, CT from the MA border?

sounds yummy

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

15. 30 minutes

Its like a gourmet diner!

[bif]

14. Inspired menu for sure

Just reading that made me hungry. And I'm trying to drop some poundage. Thanks!

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

16. That's just the tip of the iceberg. They have an omlette with candied

apple, gorgonzola and walnuts that I love. They have, as a special, a 5-salmon omelette with 5 different home made preparations of salmon.

Brian O'Rourke is a great guy!

[bif]

18. And it looks so, shall we say unassuming.

If I'm ever in the area, I'll have to stop in.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

19. You'll recognize it by the line outside!