PERHAPS THE SMOKETOWN DINER should consider changing its name.

"We have such a widespread menu, people tell me all the time this shouldn't be called a 'diner,' " says Sandra Hazelton, who owns the establishment with Dolores Sellers. "They say, 'This should be the Smoketown Restaurant.' "

The women opened the restaurant in November 2004. Both had previously worked as heads of the kitchen at the Gap Diner, and each has more than 20 years of restaurant experience, but neither had owned a place before.

"We heard from a friend that the place was available," says Hazelton, of the site that formerly housed Dinner with Dee Dee. "We took a look at it and fell in love with the place."

They spent about two months getting it ready to open, keeping the decor very similar to the previous establishment.

Operating their own restaurant has been harder than they expected, Hazelton says, but very rewarding.

"We're quite impressed with ourselves," she laughs. "It's been going very well. The hardest thing was making our own clientele."

The Smoketown Diner caters to locals, including a fair share of Amish people and a group of men known as the "Do Nothing Club."

As Hazelton explains, "This is a group of older gentlemen — some retired, some who aren't — and they meet here five days a week to have breakfast and shoot the breeze."

Customers are drawn to the restaurant's diverse offerings — found on the jampacked six-page menu.

"For breakfast, our specialties are our country-style eggs, which we mix with potatoes, ham, onions, peppers — anything you can think of," Hazelton says.

Four lunch specials and at least five varieties of soup are featured daily.

"We make our own soups, and we try to do something a little different," she says, noting that a day's choices might include anything from Maryland crab to cream of butternut squash soup.

The restaurant seats 70 at tables and booths and offers customers a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

"It's very cozy, and people tell us they just love it in here," Hazelton says, adding that she and Sellers enjoy dressing up the restaurant for any holiday with their own homemade decorations.

"Our regulars tell us this is the best-kept secret in Lancaster."

RESTAURANT: Smoketown Diner

ADDRESS: 2481 Old Philadelphia Pike, Smoketown

PHONE: 394-2539

DATE VISITED: Friday, Jan. 19

TIME VISITED: Noon to 1:15 p.m.

ON THE MENU: Breakfast served all day; appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees

GOOD IDEA: All menu items are available to go by calling ahead to the restaurant.

TASTE TEST: Diner No. 1: Smoketown surf & turf burger, $5.95; with fries, $1.40. The 3-ounce burger was topped with 2 ounces of broiled crab cake, plus melted cheese. While the menu said "crab cake," the topping more accurately resembled pure crabmeat; it was melt-in-your-mouth good. Homemade fries made a delicious complement to the burger.

Diner No 2: Grilled turkey and bacon melt on sourdough, $6.95; cup of tomato soup, $1. The tasty sandwich was stuffed with turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato and melted cheese and smeared with mayo. Served with applesauce and a soda, it was quite reasonably priced. The creamy tomato soup was a great warm-up on a winter's day.

COUNTDOWN: We were greeted and seated promptly. Our waitress, who appeared to be covering all the customers in the place, kept things moving smoothly.

PRICES: Three pancakes, $3.30; homemade cream beef on toast, $2.75; eggs Benedict, $4.29; baked potato stuffed with homemade chili, $6.25; chef salad, $6.95; mushroom Swiss burger, $4.75; chicken cheesesteak wrap, $5.95; breaded cod sandwich, $4.95; two grilled hot dogs, $3

Total for two people, not including tax and gratuity: $14.55

PLASTIC ACCEPTED: Visa, Mastercard, Discover

ATTITUDE: The restaurant has a homey feel, with country decorations, tables in the middle of the room and booths lining the walls.

AIR QUALITY: All nonsmoking

DRESS CODE: Casual

HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE: Yes

HOURS: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

RESERVATIONS: Taken

PARKING: A parking lot is located behind the restaurant

ONE MORE THING: Be sure to pick up a complimentary homemade peanut-butter-and-chocolate cookie on your way out.

Dining on a Dime appears the first Wednesday of the month in Your Life and features meals $10 and under (per person), not including tax and gratuity. Know of an inexpensive spot serving some great food? Tell us by calling 291-8755 or by e-mail at yourlife@LNPnews.com. blog comments powered by Disqus