Five of us gathered for breakfast on Sunday and traveled to South Tacoma Way to dine at The Homestead. One of the hardest things to do at The Homestead is to walk past their bread and pastry display in their lobby without stopping to order something. Please, avert your eyes and continue to the dining area. You can order on your way out to accompany your left-overs. The chances are fairly certain you will have left-overs.
We went to the large open dining room, which easily had room for our group. Peg had opted to sleep in. I was hungry for waffles, but in reviewing the menu I found no waffle package with hash browns. I was drawn to The Squatch, which had Indian Fry Bread and an eight ounce Chicken Fried Steak.
While everyone reviewed the menu and placed their orders, I watched old black and white cartoons from the 1930s on a wall mounted big screen TV. The cartoons are actually very clever . . . and I am easily entertained. I appreciate the humor and awaited my order.
I was overwhelmed by the pile of food from The Squatch. I had been mostly interested in the Navajo fry bread. The menu remarked that it was topped with a “trace” of Alfredo sauce. That’s not how I would describe it, however. I would say the white Alfredo weighed down the scrambled eggs and the fry bread. I cut several pieces of fry bread to try and loved them. With a little butter and syrup I would have been a really happy camper. The Alfredo sauce is not like an Italian Alfredo sauce. It is more of a well-seasoned white gravy. The sauce covered and drowned the scrambled eggs and fry bread. Without the Alfredo I think I would have loved the eggs with their bell peppers, onions and mushrooms.
The Chicken Fried Steak was described as a “1/2 LB chicken fried steak stacked on top of that with a dollop of more Alfredo sauce.” In reality, the Alfredo dollop coated the entire steak and only left a couple golden-fried edges peaking out. I ran out of steam with the fry bread and was well into the steak when I realized I had not seem the hash browns which I had ordered “burnt, burnt, burnt.” I asked my friends, “Didn’t I order hash browns?” I got a round of nods and Jan, mentioned that she hadn’t had hash browns from her order, either. It turned out that hash browns were not included with The Squatch, but the waitress had not questioned my request for “burnt, burnt, burnt with an onion cut up in them.” This seemed a little strange, but I sucked up my petty annoyance and finished off the wonderful chicken fried steak and Alfredo sauce.
At the end of the meal, our waitress (she was very nice) brought me a plate of perfectly fried hash browns just like I had requested . . . at no charge. Even though I had not eaten most of the Navajo fry bread, the pile of scrambled eggs, and the heavy coat of Alfredo, I was pleasantly full and happy without the potatoes. When I returned home I cooked up some of those hash browns for Peg’s breakfast. They were accompanied by a tilapia fillet and a mango-lime salsa. She loved them. I later finished off the rest with a little ham and sliced tomatoes for dinner. The only thing lacking was Alfredo. The next time I visit The Homestead I will know how to order exactly what I want . . . and I do look forward to that meal.
We have been going there for years and have NEVER been disappointed. The Homestead is an icon and we will always go back. We are always satisfied and never go away hungry!
Suzanne,
Thanks for commenting.
The Homestead has initiated quite a few remarks both directly from the review as well as other Facebook postings.
I certainly agree about the “never go away hungry” which is always a benefit.
Thanks again for sharing.
Don
My husband & I eat there a couple times a year! We would dine here every single day if we could afford it!!!! Anyways my favorite and go to meal here is the Waffle platter!! I also get it done with “the works”…. that is the only way you should eat them!!! It’s drowned in fresh strawberries, butter & whipped cream mmmm ?. I just add a little amount of warm maple syrup and the Waffle is like a little piece of heaven melting in my mouth.
Laura,
Thanks for discussing waffles. That’s what I really wanted to eat when I went there. I love waffles . . . but I like my berries un-waffled. I like butte. Lots of butter and hot syrup.
Thanks for drawing a nice picture.
Don
I love reading anything “Doman” and also appreciated Joe Boyle’s attempt to out-review him recently! You guys are my kind of funny! Reading about food is almost as good as eating it all (as if I could). Keep ‘em coming! I will enjoy second helpings digitally. Your “on the road admirer”…..Judy Hosea
Judy,
I’ve always enjoyed our friendship. Thanks for mentioning Joseph and our friendly rivalry. As you know I love food . . . grew up cooking . . . and married a great cook, too. I hope you are getting your fill of roadside attractions. Come back and let’s all go out for breakfast.
Love, Don.
Hairstead won’t be back ever after finding hairs in my breakfast so nasty. I wasn’t even given a free meal, they just replaced it on the go..Never will I go back! Beware if you go
Lonnie,
I’ve certainly seen my share of hair. Sorry for your experience. We produced training films for Pierce County Health Department, so I know what to expect and what to watch out for . . . doesn’t help too much.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
We’ve eaten there in past years and not only was the service crap so was the food and the owner was hiding in her office and when I wanted to share our shitty experience, she bailed out the back door and drove off In her Mercedes Benz SUV.
A great friend of mine cooked there for a fee years out of desperation of work (now works on the Tacoma waterfront) but constantly told us all the dirty secrets the owners hide with food preparation and little to know cleaning of the dishes.
It’s a 2 star at best.
Jason,
Thanks for writing.
I enjoy reading and watching Anthony Bourdain about kitchen secrets and stuff . . . I never send anything back if I can help it. I appreciate the warning and the history. All good to know.
Thanks for sharing.
Don
That picture of the ‘Squatch’ is a classic example of why so many americans are obese!
Coraline,
Thanks for commenting. You’re probably right, but the Squatch also provides take home for some people. For me, I wanted to try the Fry bread and enjoyed three bites after scraping the gravy back from it, but left the pile of Alfredo and scrambles eggs where they sat on top of the Fry bread. My take home box only had the hash browns which were delivered as an apology gift. I did enjoy the chicken fried steak with Alfredo, but all together it was more than I wanted to eat.
Thanks for sharing.
Don