The Rocket

Issue date: 1/18/08 Section: Focus

Media Credit: Meagan Gribbin The Yellow Creek Inn Restaurant offers a variety of meal options at a reasonable price. [Click to enlarge]

It's your first weekend back at the Rock. After that exciting week of class, who wouldn't be ready to relax for the weekend?
If you're anything like me, this means that it's time to go out and find something fun to do! Since the party doesn't start until at least 10, that leaves plenty of time to grab some friends and get something to eat.

For those who may be missing home already, I would recommend BJ's Yellow Creek Inn in Jackson Center. Here you can find home-style food and a welcoming environment that will make you feel like you're back in your own dining room.

Located right off Interstate 79 on Route 62, it's a 20-minute drive from SRU. With a menu sure to please just about everyone, the drive is worth it. Their menu includes a wide variety of appetizers to start, but be careful because some of the dinners are portioned to feed a family. After choosing appetizers, there are a number of meal choices such as soups, salads, wings, sandwiches, pasta and steak. And don't forget to save room for what's in store on the dessert menu.

Food & Beverage
I started my feast with the appetizer platter. This included an assortment of fried food from the appetizer selection, such as fried mushrooms, cauliflower, cheesy potato bites, jalapeno poppers and dill pickles-the first in the area, the menu claims.

While some of the items looked like they may have spent a little too much time in the fryer, the platter was the typical artery-clogging good time. The sides of marinara sauce and ranch that came with it were the perfect compliment for the breaded delights.

Between the starter and the main dishes was the side salad. There was nothing extraordinary about this part of the meal. A plate of lettuce topped with onion, one
cucumber slice, one cherry tomato, and of course a side of my newfound love, ranch.

As for the main courses, my selection of fettuccini primavera, I must say, was an excellent one. Fettuccini noodles, cooked just right, absolutely smothered with alfredo sauce and topped with cooked carrots, broccoli and cauliflower. And to top it off (my favorite!) two thick slices of garlic toast. The serving was definitely enough to keep me satisfied for dinner and lunch the next day as well.

Despite the large selection of desserts, including apple dumplings, deep-fried cheesecake and at least five types of pie, I chose to finish with a simple chocolate fudge sundae. This came complete with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped topping and a cherry on top.

Prices
The prices were very reasonable and certainly reflected other family-style
restaurants (think Luigi's). Even on a college student's budget, Yellow Creek is a nice, once-in-a-while mini splurge.

Appetizers ranged from $2.99 to $5.99. Most of the salads and sandwiches were moderately priced at about $6 to $7. Steak and pasta meals leaned more toward the $10 mark. Nothing on the menu exceeded $13. The desserts fell between $1.99 and $3.50.

Environment
The homey atmosphere was easy to get used to. The entrance is like walking into the
foyer of a house. Depending on how busy they are, you can either wait to be seated or seat yourself.

The main dining room included about eight booths on either side with four tables in the center. There is another dining room that looks like it could accommodate larger
parties. Through a big doorway on the other side of that is the "smoking section," which has two booths and two tables.

There is also a small, full bar with about eight stools. They offer carry out six-packs with a small variety of popular beers.

With the seating arrangements fairly tight, Yellow Creek isn't the most private of settings. The antiques and other unique objects hanging throughout the restaurant give the impression of grandma's house.

Service
The waitress was very attentive without being overbearing. As soon as my guest and I were seated, we were brought drinks. She stopped back twice before we were ready to order appetizers, which came within five
minutes.

We then ordered our main dishes. As soon as we were finished with one portion of the meal, the next was in front of us.

The Bottom Line
With a great small-town feel, excellent service, and practical prices, there's no reason not to try it out. The location may be may be a little farther beyond a walk down Main Street, but it sure does beat the same old same old. Why not try something different this weekend?


Meagan Gribbin is a junior communication major and the advertising manager for The Rocket.

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