Port Folio Weekly - Buck Bangers - Food Section - July 4, 2000 By Alma Cianelli, Dining Editor, Port Folio Weekly Nada Deniro loves riding shotgun whenever I cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel. He's so thrifty he takes the trip just for the rush of not having to pay the toll. Usually I'm heading to the Garden State which suits Nada just fine because there's no better value than a Jersey diner, where you get great tasting food almost any time for less than most restaurants. That formula is being replicated by the Silver Diner chain with locations in Northern Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and now on Virginia Beach Boulevard just east of the Pembroke area. With their hours, if you're awake, they're probably open, and breakfast, featuring omelets, french toast and pancakes, is served all day. Dinner entrees, such as the marinated grilled salmon with wild rice, mixed vegetables, and corn ($11.99), include a garden salad, and the weekday blue plate specials are just $6.99 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sure, you can't take a Jersey diner out of New Jersey, but you can get to the Silver Diner without paying a $10 toll.
Biggest Bang: A diner staple of a half-pound burger with fries is $5.99. The appetizer combo of chicken tenders, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks is $6.49. Country fried Angus steak with country sausage gravy, roasted garlic redskin mashed potatoes and corn is $8.49. For breakfast, four thick slices of challah french toast is $3.99. You can take away cakes and pies prepared in the on-premise bakeshop, as well as party platters from $5.49 - $5.99 per person (10 person minimum/24 hour notice) and boxed lunches from $6.99 - $7.99. |