There’s something exciting about finding a “hole in the wall” breakfast place. To keep the crowds at bay, you secretly hope no one else finds out about it.
Hally Jo’s is one of those places. The nondescript joint, which serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week (breakfast only on Sundays), is tucked on the corner of Main and River streets in the bucolic town of Deep River. There’s no designated parking lot for the restaurant, so we parked the car on Main Street and enjoyed a short walk past quaint shops.
Was there a wait? Nope. There were two guests eating at the counter, so we had our pick from a handful of booths and tables.
Our first order of business is coffee, which our server delivers promptly to our table. After hemming and hawing between my usual breakfast choice (hey, you can’t go wrong with an egg sandwich) or trying something different, I decided on the Western omelette ($7.95), made with three eggs and served with toast and homefries. Spinach, meat, mushrooms and tomatoes are an added cost.
The Western omlette presentation was so pretty I hated to delve into the smooth as glass-looking omlette. When I did the creamy American cheese spilled out, chock full of peppers, onions and ham. The first bite was so delicious I knew I could probably finish the whole thing. The homefries were cooked to perfection: crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
My friend went for two scrambled eggs with toast, homefries and bacon for $6.95. Egg entrees range $4.75 to $10.95. The scambled eggs were fluffy and light and bacon was crispy ad full of flavor. The only issue with this dish was our toast came out a little too toasted. But no worries, it was still a great meal.
Also on the menu for breakfast are sandwiches ($2.95 to $5.25), pancakes and French toast. We ordered the pancakes and were suprised at how large they were. We barely even made a dent in them, what with all the other food we had ordered.
Lunch includes deli sandwiches and hot sandwiches, ranging from burgers to a corned beef reuben.
Specials included a steak and cheese omelette with peppers, mushrooms, onions, toast and home fries for $12.95 or a plate of Belgian waffles with stawberries and whipped cream for $7.98.
While Hally’s Jo’s doesn’t offer an extensive menu, the service is good and the food is tasty. And it’s not super fancy, so it’s perfect for the kids.
>>Hally Jo’s Corner Restaurant, 165 River St., Deep River, is open Monday through Saturday, 5:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (breakfast is served all day; lunch from 11 a.m.) and Sunday, 5:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (for breakfast only). Information: 860-526-8838.
