Restaurants To Bank On | Page 7 of 8

Posted on December 1, 2016December 1, 2016 by Staff Writer

Casey’s Diner: Tradition on a Bun

The holidays are about tradition, and gathering around the table with familiar faces, and sharing a meal with those closest to you. Casey’s Diner, this month’s Restaurant to Bank On, shares these characteristics, thus making it a holiday of the culinary kind as soon as you slide the diner’s door open with every visit.

Casey’s Diner, or simply Casey’s, provides one of the most unique dining experiences in MetroWest, with it’s ten counter stools and pickup window. Located in downtown Natick, and tucked away behind the Natick Fire Department Headquarters. This diner has been serving locals with some of the best hot dogs and hamburgers in the area for four generations. Casey’s is not known for its extensive menu, or it gourmet cuisine. Rather, it is known as “the place where the elite meet to eat!” On any given day, you could run into local celebrities such as Rene Rencourt (sings the national anthem at Bruins’ games), or a member of the Flutie family finishing an “all-around” dog (mustard, relish, and chopped onions), or a burger with onions “in”.

Now, let’s get back to the part when I said hot dogs and hamburgers. I can hear it now, “Really? Burger and dogs?” Sometimes the simplest foods make for the best experience, at least when it’s done right! The natural casing hot dogs are cooked in an old copper steamer and served with steamed buns, and the hamburgers are cooked on a flat-iron griddle, which seems to have been seasoned since the diner opened in 1927. This is a no frills dining experience, complete with small paper plates, chocolate milk in serving size cartons, and no forks or knives. At least I have not seen any in the ten years I have been going to Casey’s. The hot dogs come with your choice of mustard, ketchup, onions or relish. The burgers are ground fresh, and formed everyday, and are made to order. Some of the local favorites include the pepper burger with onions “in,” which means cooked into the patty. Knowing the “lingo” will only help to further endear you to the already friendly staff and diners lucky enough to find a stool.

Although Casey’s is best known for their hot dogs and burgers, the menu does include some other homemade favorite. Items such as the Chopped Ham, and Egg Salad are often ordered on toasted bread, and the nine different pies will leave you feeling like you just finished dinner at your grandmother’s table. Finally, in the true diner way, Casey’s began serving breakfast in 2015, and is also gaining a strong following.

The mark of good restaurant is when patrons refer to the food and emphatically say “It’s good!” rather than single out parts of the menu. Speak to the regulars at Casey’s, and they never say, “They have good hot dogs and hamburgers.” Rather, you hear “I’ve been going there for years, and it’s good!” And you can see the tradition lining up outside the pickup window when all the local college kids come home for the holidays, and the first place they go is an old yellow dinner to meet with their friends, and “eat with the elite!”

Casey’s Diner is located at 36 South Avenue, Natick, MA 01760. Their website can be found at http://www.caseysdiner.com/

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Staff Writer

Jack’s Abby Beer Hall & Kitchen

Jack's Abbey Beer Hall and Kitchen in Framingham, MA

Let’s play a game of word association. I say “Jack’s Abby,” and you say “Oh, great local beer!” Well, they do brew a tasty adult beverage. In fact, they brew upwards of fifty beers, but beer isn’t all Jack’s Abby does well. Let me be the first to introduce, or maybe reintroduce, you to Jack’s Abby Beer Hall and Kitchen.

Jack’s Abby describes itself as a German style beer hall with open seating, twenty-four beers on tap, and an eye catching New England built wood-fired oven located at 100 Clinton Street, Framingham, MA. Upon entering the beer hall, you will be greeted by a small gift shop with a selection of their more popular beers, as well as a growler filling station. Quickly, your attention is shifted to the large open seating area, with the working brewery as the working backdrop.

A unique feature of Jack’s Abby is the large bar that awaits guests as they gaze across the large wooden tables and benches.The bar itself is not the unique feature, but rather the required tab each guest must open, which a first seemed strange, but ultimately was a convenience when it came to ordering beer and food. Speaking of beer, the twenty-four beers on tap is initially overwhelming, but a few well priced flights, and narrowing down one’s favorites becomes less daunting. The open seating concept lends itself to a bit of beer tasting, as guests may encounter a bit of a wait on busy nights, as it may take 20-30 minutes for seating to open. Simply, don’t let a crowd on a busy night deter you from waiting to experience all that Jack’s Abby has to offer.

Now, being a beer hall, the beer is the star of the evening, but don’t overlook the food selection. The menu is by no means extensive, yet there is plenty of options for multiple pallets. Additionally, the menu is designed to both pair and enhance the beer selection. The food is a mix of traditional German fare, such as the Smoke & Dagger Braised Beef Goulash, or the House Bratwurst. But the menu also provides more sophisticated dishes such as Seared Sea Scallops with Spinach Risotto, or House Brined Wood Fired Chicken with Leek/Kale Mashed Potatoes, Baby Carrots and Gremolata. Finally, the wood fired pizza and wings provide a nice alternative for those looking for a more casual culinary experience.

Despite being a busy Friday night, the service was of high quality, and the staff is well versed in their knowledge of both the beer and food menu, and willing to provide suggestions to patrons. The food arrived at the table quickly, and the staff never once hinted that it was time to clear our table to make room for most customers.

Jack’s Abby Beer Hall & Kitchen is a unique experience, and one that has built a loyal following, in part because of the work of Gregg Bergeron. Whether it be a warm summer evening with the expanded outdoor seating, or a raining fall day, friends and families alike can take advantage of a quick meal or several hours of food, beer and a brewery tour.