An order of Bacon and Ranch Potato Skins is a great appetizer to share with friends during a meal at Creekside on Main Café.
If you’re looking for a charming spot for a casual lunch or dinner, consider Creekside on Main Café in Erwin. This eatery has been a delightful discovery since I enjoyed my first meal there back in May.
This eatery, which opened in July of 2013, is getting ready to celebrate its first anniversary of doing business. A simple and straightforward menu offers a range of specialty sandwiches, salads and burgers, as well as a handful of entrees and daily specials.
I’ve only recently discovered this cozy dining spot and have already enjoyed several meals there. The eatery offers an extremely pleasant and comfortable dining environment. Seating is available at tables with black metal chairs cushioned with black vinyl upholstery. The walls are painted in medium and pale muted tones of aqua and eggshell white. A collection of antique salt and pepper shakes adds one of the more whimsical touches to the decor. Each table is equipped with a unique pair of salt and pepper shakers in different shapes, including tropical fish, hummingbirds, police cars, tea pots, churns, watermelon slices and much more. I thought it was a simple but fun way to add a conversation starter to the environment.
Other decorative touches include hanging lamps and potted flower arrangements. The walls are decorated with old weathered window frames, each pane backed with scrapbooking paper in a variety of colors and patterns.
We started with an appetizer listed on the daily specials board: Bacon and Ranch Potato Skins, and we weren’t disappointed. Five generous skin-on potato planks arrived, each loaded with melted cheese, crumbled bacon and a generous drizzling of our choice of Ranch or Cajun Ranch Dressing. We chose the Cajun, and loved that it added a zesty zing to this popular meal-starter.
Entrees include a Chicken Tender Platter, Hamburger Steak, Bruschetta Chicken and Sweet and Spicy Pork Tenderloin. These offerings are augmented with occasional daily specials such as Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken and Meatloaf.
Sandwiches on the menu range from the Farm Philly Cheesesteak and Turkey Supreme to the Creekside Club and a Traditional BLT.
The Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich, accompanied by Onion Rings and a Fruit Medley.
There’s also quite a selection of burgers and chicken sandwiches, including versions such as the Jalapeño and Cheddar, Cajun and Swiss, and Souped Up Sliders, which consist of two sliders with tangy grilled onion sauce and American Cheese.
There’s also an Italian Burger, which is seasoned with garlic and topped with a medley of fresh chopped tomatoes and Provolone cheese, as well as Creekside on Main’s own version of a Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich.
There’s also some space on the menu devoted to salads for those wanting a lighter meal. Choices include a Seasonal Salad, which features a mix of greens with diced apples, red onions, pecans and a poppyseed dressing, as well as a Caesar Salad made with Romaine lettuce tossed with crunchy croutons, parmesan cheese and a traditional Caesar dressing. Other salads include the Creekside Salad, which is basically a Chef Salad, and a Garden Salad. Grilled chicken can be added to any salad for an extra cost of $2.
The food is served on beautiful, mismatched vintage plates, bowls and dishes, all decorated with attractive patterns that add to the down-home feel of the eatery.
I’ve long been a meatloaf fan, so on my first visit to Creekside I could not resist ordering this classic comfort food that was available as a daily special. It was a hearty meatloaf with a plentiful amount well-seasoned hamburger meat, onions and green bell peppers, all topped with a spread of ketchup. I accompanied my meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy and a small Caesar Salad.
As much as I liked the meatloaf, my favorite item so far has been the Sweet and Spicy Pork Tenderloin. It’s the delectable peach topping added to a couple of grilled pork tenderloins that makes this such a tasty main course. The pork was grilled perfectly, and the sauce really made the dish. The peachy sauce is more sweet than spicy, but it does add just a little extra zip!
I accompanied this meal with Green Beans and Broccoli Casserole, which consisted of a cheesy mix of breading and broccoli florets. The Green Beans are enhanced with onions and nicely seasoned.
Friends that have accompanied me to Creekside on Main Café have given enthusiastic reports on such items as the Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich and the Chicken Bruschetta.
The café’s version of a Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich uses honey mustard dressing — which you apply to the sandwich yourself — instead of mustard, which makes this sandwich a somewhat sweeter version than is typical. Otherwise, this sandwich sticks to the traditional grilled chicken breast topped with ham and a slice of Swiss cheese.
The Chicken Bruschetta is one of the more innovative entrees and features a grilled chicken breast topped with freshly prepared Creekside bruschetta. It’s served with a choice of two sides, which can include French Fries, Onion Rings, Cole Slaw, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes and Fruit. For an extra cost, an order of fries can also be enhanced with cheese, bacon or chili.
There’s always a home-made sweet available for concluding a visit to Creekside on Main Café, including cakes, pies or cookies. During my most recent visit, I enjoyed a piece of Chocolate Cake with a Cream Cheese Icing. Cookies are also a big hit, and offerings can include Snickerdoodles, Chocolate Krinkle Cookies and No-Bake Cookies.
Creekside on Main provides a great lunch destination with tasteful, homey surroundings and good-tasting good. I’ll definitely be back, and next time I think I’ll try one of those burgers! There’s also a kid’s menu, so it’s a great place for the whole family. If you visit, be sure to let them know they came recommended.
AT A GLANCE: Creekside on Main Café and Catering, 857 Rock Creek Road, Erwin. 330-6329. Monday-Tuesday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Menu items $7.99 and under. Credit cards accepted. Carryout available. Catering services available.
This column is also available at http://www.cartercountycompass.com/2014/06/creekside-main-cafe-offers-lunchtime-dining-erwin/
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