Friday, April 27, 2007
The Breakfast Place brings local flavor to the Eas
Rarely does a diner combine friendly staff, great food and
affordability like The Breakfast Place, 2340 E 38th St. The
Breakfast Place is the brainchild of co-owners Mike Alessi and
Joey Mancuso, both Erie natives. The diner is relatively new on
the scene, as it opened on Dec. 9, 2006. Both Alessi and Mancuso
said that the response from the east-side community and college
students has been great. Mancuso and Alessi are veterans of the
restaurant industry and they stressed that all of their servers and
cooks have at least 15-20 years of experience.
The Breakfast Place is only open for "breakfast" from 5:30 a.m.
to Ip.m. Monday-Thursday. and then it opens up for the weekend
from 11 p.m.-2p.m. the next day. This makes it a great place to
stop by for some breakfast before, between or after classes, to
share a conversation with friends over a cup of coffee, or to grab
some munchies after a night on the town.
The menu includes the expected smattering of eggs, omelets,
sandwiches and pancakes. but also has a unique local taste; that's
because everything on the menu was created by Mancuso.
Perhaps the most surprising feature on the menu is the prices.
When I went there for the first time I had $lO in my pocket. I
ordered a cup of coffee. a breakfast sandwich and a half stack of
pancakes and still walked out of there with a few dollars in my
pocket. I got Joey's Breakfast Sandwich with a fried egg, Italian Th,
sausage, provolone, all on toasted Italian bread. It was one of the
biggest breakfast sandwiches I've ever seen and had taste to match. The Italian sausage added a little hit
of spice to what usually amounts to a bland breakfast sausage and the bread provided a nice change from
the usual English muffin. I couldn't go for breakfast without having a taste of their pancakes; they were
Once in a blue moon
By Danielle Brown
A delicious mystery at a local ice cream shop attracts cus
tomers from all over Erie. The mystery unfolds in Blue Moon
ice cream, which Denny's Ice Cream Stand on the corner of
10th and Parade St. has been serving for over 25 years.
Owner Denny Stuck and his brother Doug Stuck run a car
wash, laundromat and ice cream shop in the same plaza. Doug
.sy to eat.
Chris Bromi/THE BEHREND BEACON A different flavor of soft-serve yogurt is offered each
Blue moon ice cream is available everyday at Denny's Ice Cream Stand day, which is another one of Denny's best-sellers. Stuck
says he believes Denny's sales are boosted by their vari
ety of low-fat options. "Monday is strawberry yogurt day.
Tuesday is pistachio and so on and so on," says Stuck.
"Everyday is popular for yogurt because there is a variety of
options. Many of the same customers come everyday to get
the new flavor of yogurt that we offer for that day."
Whether the choice is Blue Moon, low-fat yogurt, milk
shakes or any of the other items on the menu, most people
won't have any trouble finding a warm-weather treat at
Denny's Ice Cream Shop. Denny's is open from 12 p.m.-11
Stuck believes having all three businesses together has
brought him and his brother tremendous success. - It's like a
monopoly. People go to the laundromat, throw clothes in the
washer, and then go get their car washed, - Stuck says. "Then,
they put their clothes in the dryer and head over for some ice
cream.-
As you walk towards Denny's, the smell of chocolate top
pings, candy bar pieces, and brownies surrounds you like the
smell of hot chocolate boiling on the stove. Looking around
the colorful room, sprinkles, ice cream and toppings fill every
Bruno's Daily Specials
Friday, April 27 Shrimp Poppers
Lunch (10:30 - 2:30) Late Night (6:00 - 10:45)
None
Jalepeno Pepper Poppers
Soup: Chicken and Dumpling Soup
Chicken Fajitas
Dinner (10:45 - 6:00)
Monda A 1 ril 30
Lunch (10:30 - 2:30)
Extreme Wing Quesadilla
Chicken & Broccoli Stir-fry
Dinner (10:45 - 6:00)
Chicken Parmesan Sandwich
Late Night (6:00 - 10:45)
Hot Wings, Grilled Turkey Sub
Soup: Chicken Wild Rice Soup
Tuesda Ma 1
Lunch (10:30 - 2:30)
Pulled BBQ Pork Sandwich
Pesto Chicken Tortellini
Dinner (10:45 - 6:00)
BBQ Bacon Cheddar Burger
Late Night (6:00 - 10:45)
Pizza Logs , Made to Order Nacho Bar
Soup: Italian Wedding Soup
By Chris Brown
food & drink editor
sports editot
DOD ( c- _ 1 ) r) R rtify
Breakfast Place is a
corner.
Employee Alan Burgos, says he believes Denny's has a
comfortable, positive atmosphere. don't mind coming into
work because everyone is so friendly," says Burgos. "I love
my managers and co-workers, and plus. I am surrounded by
all-you-can-eat ice cream. It can't get much better than that."
Burgos says Blue Moon ice cream is Denny's top seller. "I
have been working here for two years now and Blue Moon ice
cream is by far what the customers order the most. It is very
likely that a group of kids would come to my window
thout one of them ordering Blue Moon. -
Even though Blue Moon is so popular, many people
11 it a delicious mystery. This mystery can't even be
'scribed by Denny's employees. ''Many customers ask
and everyone else who works here what exactly Blue
!oon tastes like and no one can ever give them an
iswer. It's just too hard to explain, - says Burgos.
;ometimes it tastes like pineapple and other times it
aes like bubble gum. Either way, it is always good."
A regular customer at Denny's, Kim Gowen, says she
m can't decide what flavor combinations are in Blue
!ion. - Blue Moon in a cone is what I usually order
ien I come here. I just love it, but I can't really
!scribe why," says Gowen. "I guess I would say that it
citrusy. It actually kind of tastes like Fruit Loops. -
'hile Blue Moon ice cream might be hard to describe,
sales show that Denny's customers find it extremely
p.m. every day until the end of October.
Wednesd
Lunch (10:30 - 2:30)
Cheese Bread Sticks
Focaccia Sandwich
Dinner (10:45 - 6:00)
Grilled Turkey & Provolone
Late Night (6:00 - 10:45)
Stuffed Pretzels, French Dip Sandwich
Soup: French Onion Soup
Thursda Ma 3
Lunch (10:30 - 2:30)
Chicken Finger Parmesan Sub
Fresh Fruit Salad
Dinner (10:45 - 6:00)
Cajun Chicken Sandwich
Late Night (6:00 - 10:45)
Buffalo Calzone, Chicken Quesadilla
Soup: Aztec Black Bean Soup
light and fluffy and I wasn't disappointed.
Some of the other popular items on the menu
omelet (maybe because it's so fun to sa\ t Mat in,
onions. and potatoes. and the Initial() chicken om,
always experimenting and
.iy.ng to create new
so make sure to ask the ser\ cr ss hats new and w
A local diner wouldn't be complete without
menu, including the Greek Burger. 1101 1)(1_!, I I
nothing like a round of Greek tries and hot ( 1 02 ,
night of drinking with friends. The Bleaktast
to GO, - a choice of either six Greek Do , ._ ! . or
57.99, something
I plan on taking ads .umige 01 II
One thing I noticed about the interior is th e t a e
between smoking and non-smoking sections. VY
a problem at all because I just sat on the lay side
tion, but for someone allergic to smoke that has
smoke could become an issue. I lowes er. don't
great food. Other than that. the ittmospheie is , 21
feel unlike the cookie cutter design brunt
u ; it rr i, r
was designed by the owners and has sports Inc
Alessi credits the cleanliness of the iestatu ant t,
about cleaning. - said Alessi.
Breakfast is a sacred meal. Most people kin
breakfast, where they want to get it. and how mu,
it. and this means a lot of people end up going to
Bruno's without a second thought. And v a dk,
around to exploring the area tor the unique I las
The Breakfast Place rivals any local or chain restaurant
in the area
experience is exhibited by their friendly and speedy ser‘ ice: it otters made to
price.
of on the East Side
ular breakfast s
diners have
Top three donut sho
Donuts. the favorite food of Homer J. Simpson. !email
diets and Erie is home to some of the greatest donut shops
I sampled the donuts from all around the Lite area: Tun I
Jack Frost Doughnut Shop, you name it I tasted it. I did t
with what I think are the top three donut shops in the area.
a few things in common. they are locally owned and. petit
the college student. are the cheapest donut places around.
I. Mighty Fine Donuts (2612 Parade St.) Open 24
hours a day and located near the corner of 26111 and
Parade St. it is easy to find. Out of all the places vis
ited. they had the widest selection. Their chocolate
angel donut, a creme filled chocolate-covered donut.
is the best in the area.
Chrk Brim n/ The Behrend Rea,on
3. Jack Frost Doughnut Shop (2119 Buffalo Rd)
The closest one to campus and a great place to stop
for breakfast. If you're looking for more than just
donuts, their wide selection of breakfast sandwiches
and pastries makes it a great stop for that pick-me
upper on the way to school in the morning.
MIXOLOG
The Behrend Beacon does not condone underage drinkin,
bly. Don't drink and drive.
cek [mail cmhsll3(a psti.edu with ()Lir
I,l\ dunk iccipc.,
The Beh
By Chris firms')
tood drink
2. H & K Donut Shop (371 2
Out of the way for campus
makes up for the distance at
stop before heading out to
Dist bar is a great spot to , 40 1
fee while out with \ ou r frier
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