Meet me at George’s Place
– Bruce Springsteen has a song called “Meet me at Mary’s Place,” but I’d rather you meet me at George’s Place. –
I’m a regular viewer of the Food Network television show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. I love learning about the unpretentious establishments around the country that pride themselves in scratch-made food and family-oriented affairs. Much to my disappointment, though, many of the diners, drive-ins, and dives featured on the show are not even within a reasonable driving distance from where I live in Maryland; but, I still marvel at the integrity behind each dish served at these unique eateries and only hope that one day I will be able to dine there.
I had never been to one of Guy Fieri’s suggested diners until this past weekend. While spending the weekend with some friends at my family’s beach home in Lewes, DE, the ominous, overcast sky on our final day presented us with an opportunity to take the Cape May-Lewes Ferry into Cape May, NJ. Of course we foodie folks had the sole intention of satiating our rumbling stomachs as the lunch hour quickly approached. All we could think about was George’s Place. Featured on DDD a few months ago, George’s Place is a hole-in-the-wall Greek diner in Cape May very well known for its authentic Greek food. We caught the 11:15 a.m. ferry just as it was about to depart, and docked in Cape May around 12:45 p.m. An intense round of UNO distracted us from our hunger pangs during the 70 minute journey.
We immediately boarded the shuttle to take us into historic Cape May, and upon arriving at the shuttle stop, we asked the information center where one could find this so-called “George’s Place.”
“We’re looking for a restaurant called George’s Place,” my father inquired.
“Of course you are!” replied the man behind the counter. Apparently well rehearsed in answering our question, the man traced a path on a map with his highlighter that would lead us directly to our food destination. Budgeted for time (since George’s closes at 2 p.m. for lunch), we hastily made our way to George’s Place.
“Table for five please!”
“We’ve had a wait since 8 a.m. this morning, but now it looks like were are free. We’ll set you up right away in one of those booths.”
We got the last table available at that moment, and since the restaurant has about 12 tables total, a matter of seconds could send you walking down the street for plan B. In fact, there was a man who had walked in just moments prior to our party and because he ran outside to find his wife, we were seated at the table he intended to have. One of the owners, the man who greeted and sat us, handled his disgruntled patrons rather sternly. After offering a clinical consolation that they would be seated as soon as another table opened up, he told them to not come back. Wow – rude, professional, or just taking care of business? You be the judge.
Nevertheless, our party of five was seated at a tiny booth, meant for four, with a folding chair on the end (in which I offered to sit). The owner returned to our table and apologized for that awkward situation that had just occurred, and in a sarcastic, almost egotistical manner bragged that his first-come-first-serve policy even led him once to deny Oprah a table. Really??
Whether Oprah dined there or not, or rather tried to, makes no difference. The food was outstanding! I ordered a vegetable pita with hummus, mixed greens, roasted peppers, and a side of tzatziki. My dining companions ordered a turkey burger with a lemon vinaigrette; chicken souvlaki; Greek salad; Mediterranean salad, which was a massive serving of mixed greens topped with feta cheese, grilled chicken, roasted red peppers, dolmades, cucumber, tomatoes, and a light dressing; and a grilled chicken and Havarti panini. Everything was delicious, light, fresh, and very reasonably priced. I found it somewhat odd that with such dedication to authentic, homemade Greek cuisine, George’s ironically serves its sandwich and pita offerings with a side of veggie sticks, those colorful freeze-dried vegetable straw snacks that taste like overly salted Pringles instead of actual vegetables. The customer has the option of substituting fries or a salad for an additional charge, but perhaps the default side option should be a little more creative… and tasteful. Overall, each dish prepared in George’s compact kitchen was incredible, and since the veggie sticks were not a house-made item, I guess the chefs are off the hook for that. (The food was so good that I realized I had forgotten to take pictures when our plates were empty! That’s why there are no pictures of the food on this blog post. Sorry! I tend to do that too often.)
Although the restaurant is cramped for space, the ambiance was actually comforting and refreshing. The small rectangular strip of dining area is preceded by the tiny, half-open kitchen, located at the entrance of the diner. The white walls are a family album, with poster-size, nostalgic black-and-white photographs of the family who owns George’s Place: each handsome Greek owner with his beautiful wife and children, and of course one group photo perhaps of the extended family (cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents). What really struck my fancy were the contemporary brushed nickel double ceiling fans that kept a cool vibe throughout the restaurant.
George’s Place may be small, but be sure to wait for a table if there is no seating available when you arrive. Tables turn over quickly because the service is quick and efficient. Customers always leave delightfully full, even the finicky couple who decided to eat a George’s afterall when they were told to dine elsewhere. I suppose good food does have a tendency to liven up someone’s mood.