Stow’s Garretts Mill Diner is a hidden gem for breakfast or lunch
Stow’s Restaurant is located at 4226 Hudson Drive next to Rockne’s in a small square where East Steels Corners Road meets Allen Road.
My wife Susie and I enjoyed a great breakfast there on a recent weekend and agreed it was a hidden gem. Even though it’s been around for over 25 years, it took us almost that long to find it.
Brian Krasny, who bought the restaurant in 2015 and also works as a chef, gets the little details right — like perfectly presented buttered toast, crispy waffles and wonderfully smoked bacon.
Garretts Mill is open for breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.
The tables are covered in green vinyl and have black vinyl chairs. Green carpet covers the floor and the white walls are decorated with modern art prints of breakfast dishes. Coloring books are available to keep children happy until food is served. The chalkboard features daily specials.
The diner was packed with nearly 30 people when we arrived around 10:30 a.m. on a Sunday. We took the last available table and watched as new customers continued to arrive as other customers cashed out their money. It is a well-run room with a high turnover rate.
“They make the most of the space they have here,” Susie said.
Old time music played quietly in the background as we scanned the menu. A tray sizzled on the other side of the barrier, covered with ripe bananas and bottles of wine. Waiters wore T-shirts with slogans like “Best Pancakes” and “It’s 7 AM Somewhere.” The cook rang the bell when the orders were ready.
What’s on the list?
Breakfast prices range from $4.95 for The Classic (two eggs cooked to order, served with toast) to $15.95 for the Steak and Eggs (premium black angus steak served with two fresh eggs, home fries, and toast).
The menu offers dishes like a three-egg omelet, biscuits and gravy, a breakfast sandwich, and barbecue favorites like Belgian waffles, pancakes, French toast, cinnamon buns, sides of bacon, sausage, ham, oatmeal, and fruit cups. And bread, and cakes. Toast and peanut butter toast. The chef’s selections, including the Lobster Bisque Benedict, Sweet Crepes and the Loaded Burrito, looked amazing. Maybe next time.
Lunch sandwiches include grilled cheese, BLT, turkey club, Philly cheesesteak, tuna salad, and hot dog — all served with chips and a pickle. Fresh soup is prepared daily. The heavyweight Reuben is for $14.95 and the large Reuben with twice the meat is for $21.95. Both are served with French fries or a cup of fruit.
We chose breakfast.
For starters, two mini cranberry scones, wrapped in plastic, were offered for free. They were tender and flaky, and disappeared in two bites, whetting our appetite.
Large parts at Garretts Mill
I ordered one of the chef’s selections: The King of Corned Beef Hash ($14.95), a quarter-pound of corned beef with caramelized onions served over golden hash browns with three made-to-order eggs and toasted rye bread.
It was a nice looking dish with large portions. The corned beef was spicy, light and flavorful. I tucked in the over-easy egg yolk, let it drip onto the crispy potatoes and moved it all around with a fork. Yum!
My wife ordered the Jess Special ($14.95) from the chalkboard: three eggs, bacon, toast, home fries, and a pancake. This was another huge meal.
“It’s a lot of food,” Susie said. “I feel like one wrong move and the potatoes will fall off my plate. There are so many.”
The scrambled eggs were nice and fluffy and the home fries were well seasoned. The smoked bacon, thicker, was exceptional.
“You can taste the difference,” Susie said.
The pancake, which took up an entire plate and was as thin as a crepe, was crispy around the edges. With whipped butter and fresh syrup, it was sweet and light.
Heavenly, buttery toast
We really liked the toast: my wife ordered the sourdough and I had the rye. The butter filled every nook and cranny, and we thought it was heavenly.
“I’ll be back for the toast,” Susie said. “It’s really good.”
For drinks, we enjoyed a tall glass of orange juice ($3.95) and a cup of locally roasted coffee ($2.95).
Honestly, we could have ordered half the amount of food and still been happy, but we wanted to taste as many things as possible. By the time it was over, I was so full that I wanted to ask my wife to carry me in a wheelbarrow.
We couldn’t finish our meals and ordered a box to take home.
A busy team of servers waited on us. There were four or five. I completely lost track. They were all friendly and polite, and worked together to make our dining experience enjoyable.
With taxes, our bill came to $40.35, not including tip.
We are so glad we found Garretts Mill Diner. When you go there, make sure to bring a big appetite.
Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com
details
place: Garretts Mill Restaurant
Title: 4226 Hudson Drive, Sto
hours: Open daily from 7 am to 2 pm
More information: https://garrettsmilldiner.com/ or 330-926-1344
more: From Ribs to Rollies: The Definitive Guide to Dining in Akron’s Kenmore Neighborhood
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