Back...... at The Sutter.... Part 1

Yes, we haven't written here in some time.  Yes, yes.... it's life, the universe, and everything... Ya know?

It only seems fitting the first post after a long hiatus would be a revisit to the last place we officially reviewed.  The General Sutter Inn in Lititz.

This time, it was quite a bit more than dropping in for a spot of lunch.  You see, after the last visit back in.... March?.... I made a reservation for a future Saturday night stay at the Inn.  It was a birthday gift for Herself, and a chance for us both to unwind after all the changes in our lives.  We have both taken new (more challenging) jobs, and 'fun' has gotten harder to come across. (Fun... Fun? Where are you hiding? *peeks under a rock*)

That future date is now just past, so lets have us a nice talk about how it went!

Our room reservation was for Saturday night, with a 3pm check in time.  Our plan was to arrive mid-morning and partake of the 'Full English Breakfast in the Bullshead Pub, which is part of the General Sutter Inn.  After that, walking the town and enjoying the small (and interesting) shops.  Then, back to the Sutter for an afternoon of relaxing on their patio with adult libations and snackies. (And ducks and POKEMON!)

But wait... there's more!

After an afternoon on the patio being cared for so well, we planned to check in and go enjoy the room for naps and yet more relaxing. After that, with friends joining us, dinner reservations in the fancy dining room, to be followed by Scotch flights and even more time in the Bullshead Pub.  After a night of carousing and celebrating Herself's birthday, it was to be a short stagger to the room and a nights sleep, followed by a lazy continental breakfast which came with the room.

That was our plan, and we ..... mostly..... stuck to it.  Mostly sorta. When we could.

Let us begin with the 'Full English Breakfast' in the pub.  We arrived around 10ish, perhaps a bit before, and had no worries getting a table.  The Pub was maybe half full, with people enjoying a morning Pint, Coffee, and the breakfast.  Here's how they bill it:

Full English Breakfast, every Saturday 8 til 11
Includes English bacon and sausage, eggs, baked beans, mushrooms, tomato, toast, tea, and coffee. $9.95.  Black pudding an additional .75 cents per slice.

The signs on the pub tables pointed us to the bar for service, so there I made journey to.  Now, the pub itself is a wonderful place, with an old world atmosphere and the feeling of being transported
across the pond to a traditional English Public House. (Think Shaun of the Dead's Winchester, but with more class.)

The (super) hard working barkeep took our orders, and promptly poured me coffee, got her hot tea, and began creating the Bloody Mary's I'd requested as well.   The breakfast order went off to wherever such things go, and we carried our lovely drinks and coffee back to our pub table.

The Coffee.... decent stuff.  Nothing crazy good but a quite workmanlike brew.  The Bloody Mary's, however.... that barkeep knows what he's doing.  They were strong, with enough heat to completely dispel any leftover fuzzies after a night out.  Excellent flavor that didn't leave us wanting.  If you enjoy a good Bloody Mary, these were a perfect accompaniment to the Breakfast.

The 'Full English Breakfasts', delivered to our table by a scampering young waitress, were most welcome.   Sadly, the list of components seemed to have gotten lost between the menu and our table. Herself's plate was lacking the 'English Bacon' (what we yanks pretty much call ham) and my own plate lacked the big grilled tomato that just makes the plate. The barkeep was kind enough to snag Herself a small plate of bacon.  My tomato.... I just let it go. (Himself hates the Devil Fruit, as he calls it anyway.)

The breakfast was okay.  Nothing exceptional, but a nice mix and it's understandable how the Wiley Brits might consider this a good way to start the day.  In my opinion, it will never replace a good ham and cheese omelette, with crispy/creamy home fries on the side and some good rye toast.  That said, we'll go back and have it again.  Paired with a Bloody Mary, it's a wonderful way to start a Saturday morning.

Here's a tip:  Slice the sausage up, and run it through the baked beans on it's way to the enmunchening.   Significantly good eats, that is. Oh and to the pub, get some marmalade, it was the only thing my breakfast really lacked. 

Altogether, with tip and drinks, I think we spent about $40 on breakfast for the two of us.  Not bad for a treat, but a bit much for everyday.   The pub environs and the Hella-Good Bloody Mary's made it worthwhile.

 Hitting the street in beautiful downtown Lititz on a gorgeous day, we wandered our way through:

• A used and new book store
• A fancy clothing store (I sat outside on the thoughtfully supplied bench) It was very expensive, but they were having an 80% off sale. I did well for myself. 
• a Knicky Knacky store (bench for me again)
• The Tomato Pie restaurant (more on this great place later)
• A lovely park (ducks that ate from my hand!! and POKEMON!)
• The Wilbur Chocolate store ( I did NOT sit on a bench for this one)
• A Cheese Shop  (A LOT more on this exceptional place as soon as we can!)

Yeah.... both the Tomato Pie and The Savory Gourmet (Cheese shop) deserve their own reviews, and will get them as soon as we can.

Himself will advise you we ate our way through Lititz this glorious day and he is not entirely wrong. Breakfast at the Pub, which was nice. Those Bloody Mary's were outstanding! Then a walk around Lititz, a stop at Tomato Pie, which warrants it's own review. 

Anywho.... we wandered back to the Sutter a few hours before our check in time, there to settle in on the patio for drinks, whatnot, more drinks, and people watching (Our favorite sport).  We lucked into a wonder of a waitress, Lorri  (Laurie?  We didn't ask for spelling. We suck!).   She managed to not only keep our glasses full (and plentiful), but also tempted us into trying some excellent snackers as well.   Hell, she even joined our table for a few moments to kibitz and make us really feel at home.

Myself, I began the session with a light German Pilsner, and it wasn't bad.  For seconds though, I fell back to a wonderful English offering they have on tap called 'Old Speckled Hen'.  The name has something to do with a rusty old delivery truck, so you just know it's gotta be good..... and it is!

Herself had something richly alcoholic, as we were planted for the rest of the day.  She can share it with you, because I'm forgettin what it was. Barrel aged Gin Old Fashioned, I tried my way through the house drink menu, you cannot go wrong. 

The snackers that Lorri (sp?) tempted us with.... good noms indeed.  First up, a flatbread with goat cheese, a house sauce, shaved onions, and some nasty green stuff.  As a bite to go with the beer on a brilliant day, quite tasty.  The tomato sauce had a bit of sweetness that suited perfectly.  I'm sure the Arugula would have counterpointed, but I scraped that weed off onto Herself's share.

Along with the flatbread, a serving of their 'House Pickles' to split.  These are thin sliced sweet pickles, dipped in light batter, and fried crisp.  They come with a spicy aioli to pick it up a bit.  I myself was a bit skeptical at first, but quickly had to rein in my grabby hands to leave Herself a few to sample.

I really am enamored of these fried pickles.  Expecting a more bitter and garlicky flavor, I was surprised at the lightly sweet and crispy nature.  Dipped in the spicy aioli, they really are a great snack in that setting.  Honestly?  I'd go back just to relax on that patio, while Lorri brought us more Speckled Hen and house pickles.  It was a perfect moment this weekend.

We wiled away the afternoon sipping tasty adult beverages and snacking on Primo munchies, awaiting our check-in time.  Around 2pm, I checked at the desk and they were happy to let us have the room early.  Yay!

We happily settled ourselves into our room, took showers, and got some rest. The plan involved much later carousing, so we-uns wanted an afternoon... nap.  

Up next:  A fine room. Friends join us.  New dinner plans evolve. Much nomming of good food happens.  More pub-ery occurs.  Beer! Cocktails! Beer!

Also up next, a few flaws in the service that might just have been avoided.  Perhaps not at the 'Bad Sutter!  No treats!' level, but Things Might Have Been Handled Better, certainly. 

Part II HERE......