Trackside Café: Lazy Sunday Brunch

Our Sunday began with a cold and windy walk through town, to try and find Gerry’s Trackside Café and Variety Store. If you walk up Tan Lane, take a left when you reach the top, then keep walking, you’re on the right path. We trudged through the snow for 10 or 15 minutes, making sure to wave to every car, as per the Academy policy, then finally spotted the red “Gerry’s” sign. We crossed the street, but then paused. We were stumped—how could we actually get into the restaurant?After searching and meandering around the building, looking around walls and poking our heads in doors, we found ourselves inside the restaurant. The quaint building sits almost ten feet from the train tracks, and is nestled tightly between a bakery and a laundromat. As we walked through the doors, we weren’t greeted by a typical restaurant setting. In fact, we weren’t greeted by a restaurant at all.When you enter Gerry’s, the first thing you see is the smiling face of the cashier in the variety store. The restaurant portion, a small cluster of tables and a long diner-style bar, lies behind the store. A few windows dot the walls, and the room has a warm, yellow glow. Once we were seated, we found ourselves absorbed into the casual atmosphere. In a nutshell, Gerry’s is the perfect place to spend a “Lazy Sunday.” It’s quiet, peaceful, welcoming and although the walk there is a bit long, especially during the snowy winter months, the food is top notch and we think it’s well worth it.When confronted with the menu, we were stuck once more. We must have spent at least twenty minutes just reading through the dishes. We decided to play the odds and go for a range: the “Exeter” which is a platter of eggs, bacon, sausage, french toast and hashbrowns, as well as chocolate chip pancakes and a cheese omelette. Of all of these, the “Exeter” was the standout. Warm and delectable on a cold Sunday morning, the platter will satisfy any future customers. The hot chocolate was also amazing, and we strongly suggest getting it with whipped cream (it’s homemade—we asked). The service is quick, and although the waitresses can be a bit snarky sometimes, we give their service an overall 7/10.With our bellies full and our wallets nearly empty, we left the restaurant, an extra order of homefries in hand. After a few hours of gorging ourselves, the walk back didn’t seem too bad and we were back on the snowy campus in no time. Gerry’s really is a great way to lighten up a dreary Sunday afternoon. Overall, its a great experience. We give it a four star rating (nobody’s perfect). To anyone who is considering going: do it. You won’t regret it.Much love,Will and Nolan