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460 South Broadway Tarrytown, NY 10591-6005 (914) 332-5838 (Map)
Attendees: :jump_to_Sylvia:, :jump_to_Shelley:, :jump_to_Jeff:, :jump_to_Reid:
:a_Sylvia:
I really believe that no two diners are the same. The food offerings will be similar and the quality might be too, but there has to be a reason why there are so many diners so close to each other and still have people coming back on a regular basis.
Sometimes diners have a signature dish that draws people back. Perhaps it’s the ambiance and family friendly environment. Or maybe it’s the owners who know their regulars by name and warmly greet them at the door. Diners are the family go-to for a lazy Sunday breakfast that won’t break the bank. They are a place to go for a late night snack with friends. Whatever the reason may be, diners have a place in the hearts of many Americans.
Eldorado West is a diner located on the outskirts of Tarrytown, right across the street from the Doubletree Hotel, and located right at the exit/entrance ramp for I-287 East. (It is also easily accessible from the West bound side too, just a few more turns required.)
The food offerings are standard diner breakfast fare. I had an omelette with spinach and mushrooms, which came with potatoes and toast. To wash it all down, a cup of coffee.
The coffee was bland and tasteless, no surprises there. The omelette was not bad. It was cooked well, but not overdone. The middle was still moist. Spinach and mushrooms were of the frozen or canned variety, but there were generous helpings of both. I did appreciate the server asking if I wanted cheese, allowing me to clarify that I did not want cheese. The potatoes were on the bad side. They were soft, but seemed like they spent no time at all on the griddle. They were just soft and mixed with just a pinch of scallion and peppers. The toast was good and fresh; lightly toasted and came pre-buttered.
As I was growing up, this diner was the other diner we would go to if we wanted some change from the other Eldo’s. The food isn’t excitingly gourmet, but sometimes that’s not the point. Service is friendly and the food came out very quickly. After a slew of 2+ hour breakfasts of late, this was a nice change of pace. As we were taking our sweet time settling the bill, I noticed the owner warmly welcoming his regulars, random run-ins, families, and groups of friends coming in for a post-holiday breakfast.
And sometimes the most important thing about a meal is the company you are with. With the year coming to a close, and the WBC finishing up their second year together, this rings especially true. Regardless of whether the restaurant was the best or the worst, the most important part was that we got to spend some time together.
The czar says: Bring the kids. Eldorao West is family friendly with prompt service. The food is pretty decent and there’s lots to choose from. It is a little more expensive than a run to the bagel store, but not as pricey as a meal at City Limits (plus it’s a fraction of the wait time!).
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:a_Shelley:
Yes, it’s been quite awhile since we’ve had a proper set of WBC reviews. We’ve all been busy with holidays and head colds, and before we knew it, it’s already the end of the year. So, we decided we had to get one last breakfast in during 2011. Our original plan was to re-visit Black Cat Cafe in Irvington, but they were closed this day after Christmas. So, I suggested the first place that came to mind that was near Irvington and sure to be open: the Eldorado Diner (that’s Eldorado West for those of you who are keeping track). It’s the big diner near the Tappan Zee Bridge in Tarrytown, next to the Tarrytown Honda dealership. This Eldorado Diner is not to be confused with the other Eldorado Diners in Westchester.
What meal would it be this morning? We got a little distracted from deciding what to order because we were all so entranced by the wonderful gift that Jeffrey received from his ingenious Secret Santa. Finally I tore myself away from admiring my…I mean, Jeffrey’s Secret Santa’s handiwork, and got down to the business of selecting a breakfast. My eye went toward the French toast. Several types are offered: plain thin-slice French toast, cinnamon raisin French toast, or challah French toast. (Challah back!) Ok, bad jokes aside, that’s what I decided to get, challah French toast and a side of turkey sausage.
It seemed like the food came out very quickly, but it could also just be that time passed quickly because we were once again admiring Jeffrey’s amazing Secret Santa gift. Seriously, the gift set came with a headlamp…to wear on your head! How awesome is that?! And it came with a poncho. So cool!
I was pleasantly surprised by the large pieces of challah French toast on my plate. I was also surprised (not pleasantly, but not unpleasantly, just neutrally) by the turkey sausage. I don’t know, somehow I had this notion that turkey sausage would be light and delicate. Instead what I got were two pieces of sausage that looked like they could beat up any piece of beef or pork sausage. Unfortunately, I had to immediately dismiss one of the sausage links because there was a hair on it, a hair that was neither mine nor from anyone else at the table. Ick.
Once the offensive piece of sausage was removed from my plate, I could enjoy the rest of the meal. The challah French toast (challah!) (Ok, I’ll stop that now) was very good. Nice and fluffy, with the flavorful taste of challah bread. With some butter and syrup it hit the spot. The turkey sausage, on the other hand…not so much. It tasted exactly like a hot dog, which is not what I wanted for breakfast. What I wanted was a nicely spiced, delicate piece of breakfast sausage. What I got was not worth the extra $2.
So, overall takeaway of Eldorado Diner in Tarrytown: It’s fine, it’s a diner. The prices are nice and cheap (my French toast/sausage combo came to 7 dollars and change). For breakfast the challah French toast makes a pleasant meal, but skip the turkey sausage (unless you’d like to have a hot dog with your morning meal).
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:a_Jeff:
Eldorado West is your run of the mill dinner. The food is decent enough to be consumed by the general public and the prices are low enough so that almost anyone can afford it. With the food taken care of, let this review get to what is most important.
Last time the WBC met, we were exchanging gifts for our Secret Santa. Everyone received a gift except for yours truly. Shocked, I whimpered inside slightly as I ate my pierogis and watched everyone marvel at their totally awesome gifts. I was assured, however, by Shelley that she had only forgotten to bring my gift that evening. Being the completely awesome and understanding friend that I am, I told Shelley that her presence was the only present I needed. Apparently, she bought that, and the night went on. So here we are at Eldo West and Shelley presents me with my gift. My heart rate rises. Butterflies are having a roller derby in my stomach. What could it possibly be?! IT’S A MEN’S HOLIDAY EMERGENCY CAR KIT! Excited to know about what emergencies this kit can conquer, I wasted no time opening the sturdy, all weather red case that contained all the the emergency supplies. To my surprise, I find a set of JUMPER CABLES! Never again will my dead battery be an excuse for being late. WORK GLOVES! For all those times I’ve changed my tire and found dirt, grease, and grime on my hands. Well, no more! A HEAD LAMP! Night time, you’ve met your match! ADHESIVE BANDAGES! Cuts and scrapes can now be protected! TWEEZERS! Shards of glass and rocks from road rash, you’re on notice! ALCOHOL WIPES! Risk of infection? I think not!
In the end, Shelley’s gift was numero uno on the WBC Secret Santa of 2011. With such a high standard now set, I cannot imagine how any WBC member can top this in 2012.
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:a_Reid:
The Case: Eldorado West v. The Westchester Breakfast Club
The Venue: Route 9 in Tarrytown, south of the Tappan Zee Bridge
The Facts: Eldo’s West is a diner. It’s clean, the service is decent, and the chocolate chip pancakes are perfectly fine. My only complaint is that the bacon was very fatty and not crispy.
The Verdict: I’ve come here many times in the past, and will likely come back in the future.
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