Toby Goodshank Original Art 2025

Life with Chicken and Broccoli

Category: Breakfast

  • Restaurant Review: Hash House A Go Go – Mohegan Sun Casino, CT

    Restaurant Review: Hash House A Go Go – Mohegan Sun Casino, CT

    What is this place, what exactly is a go go? My brother told me to go here, or that we should eat here. I hesitated. I thought this was a slightly better Denny’s with that shiny lipstick-on-a-pig veneer. I was wrong, happily.

    Our favorite restaurant at Mohegan used to be Tom’s Urban, now Tom’s Watch Bar, but that place has fallen off and far. My last meal there, I was upsold an alcoholic drink which went from $15 to $30 without being told, and that was my final straw. I took my broken camel and went down the escalator to the Casino of the Earth to look for new vistas.

    Part of my appreciation for Hash House is their breakfast, which is sold all day. I was, for a long time, lulled into the cult of intermittent fasting and would forgo my breakfast, but have since seen the error of my ways. I now eat breakfast and dinner, but do skip that lunch.  I’m not an animal.

    The menu is full and filled with southern hospitality.  I’ve tried in earnest to explore other options, but I keep coming back to their Farmhouse Egg Scramble and the first selection on the menu, which includes hickory-smoked bacon, avocado, onion, and Swiss. It’s accompanied by crispy home fries and a locally made rye toast, complete with their own homemade jam or jelly. I don’t know the difference between those, and I’m not sure of the flavor. It just tastes great.

    My wife opted for the biscuit and sausage gravy with two eggs cooked over easy. The waitress informed her that she should request them cooked a bit more, or they’d come runny, which was great advice. Another in our party didn’t specify, and she didn’t mention it that time; they came out super runny, and it put a cloud over his plate.

    This weekend was a strong biscuit weekend for my wife, having one in each location we went. There was a funny juxtaposition as another one of our baseball parents conveyed her strong dislike maybe even hatred for biscuits, having been tormented with soggy ones as a kid.

    A special shoutout to our waitress Terry, who was like having your mom serve you breakfast. She was fun, kind, helpful, and became part of the group in short time, offering good-luck wishes for our baseball boy’s tournament.

    The time to service is about, or slightly more than, a regular diner, which was fine and also appreciated, as we had limited time this morning. The dishes and presentation of food are always outstanding—the home-cooked, Southern vibe of big portions for big appetites.

    The eggs almost appear as an omelet; they’re perfectly cooked and have a generous amount of all the included ingredients. The avocado adds a nice mouthfeel and texture to the eggs. I love the toast with just the butter, and then the homemade jelly adds a level. The home fries are cooked perfectly and coated with some requested red chili Cholula hot sauce.

    Just a big, happy plate of love and I do my celebratory happy shimmy and shake.

    I’m glad that I was wrong about this place. I wish I lived closer, as I’d definitely come up more for breakfast and maybe venture into some hashes or, one day, the Big O’ Breakfast Burrito. I don’t know if I’ll live long enough to ever try a main dish, but that’s OK.

    Final Verdict: 9.0/10

  • Restaurant Review: Leo’s – Southbury, CT

    Restaurant Review: Leo’s – Southbury, CT

    Rolling up to Leo’s in Southbury, CT, at 10:30 for that late breakfast love. From Main Street, the location is tucked away, requiring a turn onto Poverty Road. On this beautiful Thursday morning, there were already diners enjoying meals on the front patio.

    After turning into the complex and navigating around the building, it’s clear the space was converted from some type of office into a restaurant. The first thing that caught my attention was the front flight of steps, which probably keeps some of the Heritage Village crowd away.

    Inside, the restaurant is quaint, though the motif is a bit unclear, perhaps a beefed-up diner vibe in an office setting, featuring high ceilings, neon lights, faux wood beams, and an assortment of knickknacks and bric-a-brac. The main dining area has tables in the center surrounded by booths. My friend, who arrived earlier, chose a table with half booth seating and half chairs in the bar area, which was empty except for us.

    Previewing the menu beforehand, several items caught my eye, particularly the entire section dedicated to “Leo’s Famous Breakfast Specials.” Next time, I plan to try “Eight is Enough,” aptly named as it features eight ingredients served with their signature bocca bread and a fresh fruit mini tower. This visit, I opted for Leo’s Special Omelet, which included sautéed onions, mozzarella cheese, bacon, home fries, and rye toast. I also added my usual side of coleslaw and a decaf coffee.

    The servers were nice enough, nothing particularly memorable but also nothing to complain about.

    The food arrived quickly and was plentiful. The hot sauce of choice at Leo’s is Frank’s. Overall, the meal was very good, with the omelet stealing the show, nicely prepared with a generous portion of bacon. Personally, I would have preferred the onions to be more sautéed, but it was still tasty. The home fries and rye toast were good, though nothing standout.

    My coleslaw was initially forgotten by both the server and myself until I noticed the missing texture and crunch. When it arrived, it came in a small plastic cup; a slightly larger bowl would have been preferable. However, it was tasty, well seasoned, and slightly on the wetter side. The value and quantity of the food was also a notch above.

    By 11:30, the early bird lunch crowd was beginning to make its way in. I was abruptly knocked forward as a walker with wheels hit my chair, indicating it was time to leave. There was actually a line of people waiting on the stairs as we left. We enjoyed our brief visit to Leo’s and will definitely be back to try some of those other specials.

    Final Verdict: 7/10

  • Diner Review: Laurel Diner – Southbury, CT

    Diner Review: Laurel Diner – Southbury, CT

    Had breakfast this morning at Laurel Diner, a Southbury staple. It’s a local favorite, particularly with the senior crowd  and as someone who’s now officially past the “middle-age hump,” I’m grateful to be in the mix. I was probably 30 years younger than most of the guests, but not quite young enough to be throwing stones or passing judgments.

    Located just off Exit 14, head up the street a bit and it’s tucked on the left side of South Main Street. You’ll almost miss it if you’re not looking, it’s that kind of classic small-town spot. There’s an overflow lot just past the building on the left; I parked there. The whole place gave me a nostalgic hit: when I lived in Woodbury with my Yia Yia (Grandmother), she’d take me to Southbury Foodmart. I’d watch in a bored glee as the elderly gently collided with one another in the parking lot, politely assessing the bumper damage before offering a shrug and going on with their day. “In my day, the bumpers could actually take a bump!”

    Inside, all the 4-tops were taken, so I grabbed a seat at the coffee-bar stools while waiting for my wife. She had to move the car after parking in front of a neighboring business which I’m sure has to fight for its spots with all the traffic going to Laurel’s. As she came in, a couple near the back got up, and we quickly grabbed the freshly vacated table. It’s tight in there, charmingly cramped and while we fit, we had several knee-collisions. I’m 6’4″, and once I sit, I don’t move. My wife, 5’5″ (give or take an inch), kept knocking into me every time she adjusted.

    We both ordered decaf, which was fresh-brewed and served in Laurel’s own classic, local business advertisements coffee mugs that feel like they came straight from a 1978 truck stop in the best possible way.

    Laurel Diner has apparently won awards, I don’t recall the specifics, but I recently saw it featured in a Connecticut Diner Bracket Challenge, and it was holding its own in the final rounds.

    I’ve learned to ask what a diner is known for before I order, and I’m glad I did.   Our server said the homemade hash and the cinnamon raisin toast were house favorites. I went with “The Kiki” special, which included both. My wife stuck with eggs, bacon, and a pancake to share.

    The food came out quickly, not quite “Greek diner with Mexican cooks” fast, but close. Everything was excellent. The homemade corned beef hash was zesty and flavorful, the home fries were seasoned well and crispy, and the cinnamon raisin toast was a treat.  It reminded me of Cinnabon without the frosting; rich, buttery, and just sweet enough. The bacon was solid, better than average diner bacon, but nothing that will haunt my dreams. The pancake we shared dressed in extra butter and syrup was also amazing; light and fluffy. My wife noted her eggs looked more golden with a deeper yellow hue, which led her to guess they might be pasture-raised. Of course, we’re just speculating and don’t know what we’re talking about, but that didn’t stop us from saying it.

    Price Check

    It’s a bit pricier than your average diner, I estimated about 27% higher but for the quality, it felt justified. The portions were generous, the food was excellent, and the vibe was clean and welcoming.  Big note is that they only take cash, which for some reason I didn’t have that much today and felt like a kid again looking through my wallet and wife’s purse to make sure we had enough to pay for our meal.  Luckily we didn’t have to wash the dishes.

    Staff & Space

    The servers were friendly and competent, without the tired diner attitude I can’t stand. The space is snug, and with the heat from the grill and a packed house, we were starting to sweat a little. It’s not the kind of place you linger for hours in but it delivers what it promises: great food, fast, with a little local soul and a gentle whiff of Bengay.

    Final Verdict: 7.75/10

    A little cramped, a little pricey, but totally worth it for the taste, quality, service, and charm. Would I go back? Absolutely!