Since Homecoming and Family Weekend is almost here, it’s important to know all the best places to get lunch and dinner when your family and friends come to visit. So this week, I’ll be reviewing a local diner, Gus’s Keystone Restaurant.
Gus’s is located at 1050 West Main Street, less than 10 minutes from campus. It’s open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., every day of the week.
As with most diners, the menu is fairly varied, so patrons can order almost anything they’re craving. This time, I decided to get the honey mustard chicken wrap and chicken noodle soup from the lunch specials menu, and my friend ordered a burger as well as a slice of chocolate mousse cake each. We both had iced tea to drink.
The iced tea was a bit watery and needed more sugar for my taste, but the soup was a comforting classic and the wrap had a nice balance of all the ingredients. My friend was also happy to find that their burger was done just the way they’d asked, without excessive charring. The food is served in reasonably large portions and meals come with a side of crisp kettle-cooked chips, so my friend and I ended up taking our dessert to-go. It was well worth the wait to eat it. The chocolate was rich but not too sweet and the mousse topping had an excellent consistency.
Unfortunately, Gus’s Keystone Restaurant is not on the list of places that are part of the Blue Jay Student Discount Program, but with a drink, main course and dessert, each of our meals only came to a total of about $19. Considering I still wasn’t able to finish my food and we both had dessert to take back to our dorms, I’d say the diner’s portions give good value for your money. Previously, I’ve ordered chicken piccata and a quesadilla, both of which I was able to eat my fill in the restaurant and have another full meal to store in my fridge and heat up the next day.
Despite being there during the lunch rush, the service seemed pretty consistent with my previous visits, with the staff being friendly and attentive. The manager also came around and greeted each table, checking to make sure things were running smoothly.
The busyness made the space somewhat loud and crowded, but there was no wait for a table and still plenty of seats available since the restaurant has two dining rooms separated by a wall. There are both booths and tables, and we were asked which we preferred even though there were many people already seated. Both dining rooms feature minimal, simple decor, which helps create a homey atmosphere when it’s slow.
Gus’s Keystone Restaurant is a great place to sit down and have a delicious yet affordable meal with friends when the Marketplace isn’t serving your favorite or to bring your family when they make the drive to visit. There’s something for everyone on the menu, even fan favorites like chicken tenders, so little siblings and picky eaters can still enjoy pleasant and filling food.
