Text 8220, 69 rader
Skriven 2008-06-02 15:28:54 av DAVE SACERDOTE (1:123/140)
Ärende: Restaurant Review
=========================
Coach D's Steamed Cheeseburgers, Springfield MA

It was early April when I first saw the sign on the storefront 
on Sumner Avenue in Springfield: COACH D'S STEAMED CHEESEBURGERS 
COMING SOON. Since then, I never failed to check out the 
little plaza whenever I was near that neighborhood, anticipating 
the arrival of steamed cheeseburgers to Western Massachusetts.

And this weekend, my patience was rewarded! The GRAND OPENING 
banner was stretched across the front windows of the shop! Joy!

We parked in the back of the building and walked around front 
to the entrance. There were a few people placing orders at the 
counter, and we joined them. The menu is quite basic - steamed 
burgers, BLTs, onion rings, fries, chili cheese fries, milkshakes, 
and canned soda from a cooler - but it's obvious that this 
restaurant is concentrating on the burgers and not losing 
their focus with an overly-ambitious menu.

We placed our orders with the pleasant young man at the cash 
register and found a bistro-style table out front to await our 
meal. Despite the number of people ordering, we didn't have 
to wait long for our food - two steamed cheeseburgers with 
"the works" - lettuce, tomato, and mayo - an order of fries, 
and an order of onion rings.



Our burgers were perfect - big, juicy steamed patties topped with
meltydelicious wedges of soft warm New York State mild cheddar, 
lovely leaf lettuce, and fresh summery tomatoes (extra credit to 
Coach D for the tomatoes - most restaurants are still serving 
nasty, hard, winter tomatoes this early in the season; this 
place goes the extra mile to find high-quality slicing tomatoes 
that have a vine-fresh texture and flavor.) The steamed beauties 
were as good as anything I've had at Ted's Restaurant in Meriden 
and even better than the ones I've had at other central Connecticut 
locations.

The onion rings, although a commercially prepared frozen product, 
were also excellent. These were not chopped-and-formed nasties, 
but instead panko-breaded and delicious, fried to golden-brown 
crispiness, and a perfect accompaniment to the burgers.

The fries were a little less successful. Also a frozen commercial 
product, we would have preferred it if they had spent an extra 
few minutes in the fryer (they would have been crispier and 
more enjoyable.)

Overall, however, we were mighty pleased with Coach D's. There 
are a few bistro tables that seat one or two people, a couple 
booths, and an line of stools at a counter-style dining table. 
The day we were there, a TV in the corner was tuned to ESPN. 
Service is cafeteria-style and patrons are expected to bus their 
own tables; the atmosphere is casual and friendly, and the owner 
has a smile and a greeting for everyone who comes in. On the day 
we were there, there was a steady stream of customers and while 
the kitchen was kept plenty busy, there were no delays or unpleasant
surprises from back of house. We will definitely be going again.


---
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