George's Restaurant
George's Restaurant, owned and operated by the father and son team of George and Nick Karandrikas, opened its doors on January 9, 2007. Many of you may recall George's first incarnation at the current location in the 1980's and early 1990's. You may also be familiar with George's Pizza, both on South Queen St. (still in operation) and previously on East Market St., also owned by the duo. With George's restaurant, these local businessmen have brought back the charm of the American diner, while providing the comfort of the contemporary restaurant.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Nick to learn a bit about the history behind George's. He told me that his father has been working in the kitchen for 40 years, beginning as a young Greek immigrant of 13, making salads. By the time he had turned 19, from all his hard labors, George owned his first restaurant. Nick had taken a different path in life, graduating from Northeastern University in Boston, with a Finance degree. He found no pleasure working with banks, mutual funds, or real estate, though. He was raised in restaurants and found it a natural fit to return to the kitchen with his father. Thus, with Nick's 6 years experience and George's 40 years, George's Restaurant has a very qualified team to run the business. Nick also serves as the restaurant's manager.
The restaurant's menu is a true mixture of influences. It is drawn from a variety of Pennsylvania Dutch favorites, while incorporating a bit of Italian cuisine with its pasta dishes, basic American fare with its steaks, seafoods, and chops, and even Asian cuisine with stir frys. Nick pointed out that many spices and seasonings used come from his family's Greek/Mediterranean background to add some additional flavors to the meals. With so many choices, I know I'll be able to find something to interest me on the menu!
Nick went on to inform me that the restaurant features daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner specials, features lunch combo platters starting at $4.95, and has a Homemade Early Bird Dinner Special Monday through Friday from 2 to 5 for $5.95 which comes with a side order and pudding. My curiosity was piqued by the pudding's inclusion, so I asked. "My dad makes all of our pudding here. He's well known for his tapioca and rice pudding. We also have homemade chocolate pudding." But what of the other desserts? Are they made in house? "Only the cheesecake. That's dad's secret recipe. I could probably ask him about it, but he's very tight lipped with it. The other desserts we buy from a supplier." Homemade cheesecake? Note to self....%20of%20georgesinsidecounter%20(320%20x%20240).png)
As I mentioned earlier, George's Restaurant has the feel of a diner to it. Everything from the external architecture, to the counter inside, to the dessert display case, to the servers who apparently refer to themselves as waitresses, make me feel as though I am in a diner. But the decor is that of a restaurant. The walls are a burnt red with panelling behind the counter, a very attractive combination. The artwork on the walls is tasteful without being overdone. The large windows have contemporary treatments. This is obviously no ordinary diner. This has a very friendly feel to it; a family feel; even a fun feel. Heck, I would bring a date here. This could be both fun and romantic!
Not all dating and romance has to take place in expensive environs, of course. Many of the most romantic dates I have been on were centered around having fun with my girlfriend, getting to know each other on a more personal level. For that reason, I decided to pick George's Restaurant for my next destination. George's is located a few blocks from a popular bowling alley in York, PA, and is easily reached on East Market Street (RT 462 East). This makes it the ideal spot for that second or third "fun" date. This would great for a breakfast date, too, I am sure.
The Experience
When I arrived for dinner, there was a sign instructing diners to "Seat Yourself," so I did. The tables are plentiful, as are booths. There were even empty seats at the counter. I chose a table seating two. My server brought me a menu and took my drink order. I scanned the menu, noticing the Specials list right away. Deciding that I could enjoy anything on the regular menu on a return visit, I decided to choose from the specials; since Nick had emphasized the local PA Dutch flavor of the cuisine, I decided on the Pork and Sauerkraut. This comes with a soup or tossed salad, so I went with the salad, figuring the entree was going to be soupy enough. My server returned, and I placed my order, choosing the raspberry vinegarette for my tossed salad.
Within moments, I received my salad. The vegetables were fresh, crisp, and colorful. There were no signs of having been left out for hours. Most importantly, I had ordered the salad without tomatoes, and it arrived without tomatoes. Point for my server. There was, however, water in the bottom of the salad, showing that the vegetables had not been thoroughly drained after having been washed. This is not a cardinal sin; just a minor faux pas.
I finished my salad, and my server, with a smile, asked me how it was, and cleared my bowl. Moments later, she arrived with my entree. The serving was sizeable. The pork and sauerkraut were presented atop a pile of mashed potatoes stiff enough to hold a peak. That, in my book, is a good sign. Now I should let you know, although I am mostly of Italian descent, I do have Pennsylvania Dutch in me and enjoy pork and sauerkraut very much. My late grandmother, may she rest in peace, made the very best I have ever tasted. So Linda, George's cook, was up against a wall. I took a bite. The flavor was different. The sauerkraut was not sour, but sweet. There were no caraway seeds. The pork was properly cooked and delicious. The mashed potatoes, as suspected, were very good. Although different from what I was used to eating, this dish is extremely good.
Once I finish my dinner, my server clears my plate and asks whether I would like any dessert. Although I am rather certain of what I would like, I ask her to list the choices for me. The variety of desserts seem endless: cakes, pies, puddings, ice cream, and cheesecake. It is this last that I have been anticipating, so I ask for the cheesecake. My server surprises me by asking if I would like a topping, listing strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and chocolate syrup. Although I am sure that all of these would only intensify the experience, I would like to try the cheesecake for it's own wholesome goodness, and decline the offer. My server retrieves my cheesecake from the dessert case and serves it to me right away.
Ladies and gentlemen, the piece of cheesecake sitting in front of me is not your ordinary piece of cheesecake. It is a true slice of New York Style cheesecake--thick, soft, and with a graham cracker crust only on the bottom. I take my first bite and discover that it is creamy and not sickeningly sweet, the taste reminiscent of the ricotta cheesecakes I have enjoyed in Philadelphia. This, my friends, is a grand finish to my meal! What it lacks in creativity it makes up for in taste and value. It becomes obvious why George guards this recipe so closely; I would not wish to share this secret with anyone who may give it to my competitors. I only hope that Nick can get get him to share it with me!
Here I grade my dining experience. I grade on 5 factors: Atmosphere, Service, Presentation, Taste, and Value. These areas are scored on a 0 to 10 scale with 0 being the lowest and 10 being the highest.
Atmosphere: 9.5 All in all, George's Restaurant was very comfortable. The big open room, however, could have used something to break up the cafeteria-like feel. I realize that the patrons and servers need to walk around freely, but some strategically placed plants would accomplish this without interfering too much. I am very impressed by the fact that George's is an entirely Non-Smoking facility.
Service: 10 My server was wonderful. She smiiled, was polite, did not make me feel rushed, and was able to help me with my order when I asked for assistance. I found her attention to my needs on a scale that I would expect to find at a much more expensive restaurant. I am pleasantly surprised to find it at a family restaurant.
Presentation: 8 The dishes were served without anything to dress them up. Only the salad had any color, which is a requirement for a salad. I am not saying that the kitchen has to do magic with the presentation, or create works of art; however, the addition of a simple sprig of parsley to the very brown pork and sauerkraut would help make the dish more appealing to the eye. Even the cheesecake could have used a shake of powdered sugar on the plate, again, just for the visual effect. Also, the water in the salad hurts presentation since the diner expects to receive a salad that has been drained.
Taste: 9.75 This was a very difficult to make. The salad was crisp and fresh, but it was but a salad. The dinner was excellent, but as I stated, it was sweeter than expected. I realize that there are probably a million ways to make sauerkraut, and this is now one that I truly enjoy; however, it was not the greatest sauerkraut that I have ever had. It is a very very close #2, but not quite #1. The cheesecake was phenomenal. That goes without saying. I would make a trip to George's Restaurant if only for the cheesecake. My cholesterol level would hate me, but my tastebuds would love me forever.
Value: 9.5 This is great food at great prices. The portion sizes are large, the quality service is friendly, and the feel of the restaurant is warm and fun. George's is a real community gathering place where you do not have to spend a week's paycheck to take your family out to eat.
George's Restaurant is open from 6 am to 9 pm Monday through Saturday and 7 am to 9 pm Sunday
George's Restaurant | 3608 E. Market St. York, PA 17402
Ph. 717.755.2460 | Fax 717.755.2461
05 April 2007