Tootie’s in Bristol continues to serve up Arvil Burgers, more

The history of Tootie’s in Bristol dates back to 1945.

Well, a stubborn summer cold interrupted my plans for “Burger Month 2015,” but I am feeling better and I’m returning to my July theme. This week’s quest for some of the best area burgers in the region took me to one of Bristol’s oldest eateries.

 

Tootie’s touts itself as the oldest restaurant in Bristol, according to a history printed on the back of the restaurant’s menu. Claude Vance opened Tootie’s in the fall of 1945 a few months after he returned home after service during World War II. Claude and his wife, Ann, opened Vance’s Confectionary. They sold sundry items, including hardware and Claude’s own brand of paint. They even had a lunch counter at the front of the store, where they sold burgers, hotdogs and other diner fare. In those days, the menu notes that Vance’s was the only eating establishment between State Street in Bristol and Mountain City.
The original site of Tootie’s was in what was known as the “Willie Boom” section of town. Today, the restaurant is located across from Food City. Years ago, however, a lake covered the area where the grocery store now stands. People brought in logs and floated them to a lumber yard owned by a Mr. Willie. The “boom” is a reference to the floating timbers.
In July of 1982, Claude retired and his son and daughter-in-law, Arvil and Jane vance, bought the business and renamed it Tootie’s Restaurant in honor of Arvil’s nickname.

 

Although the restaurant serves breakfast, as well as a variety of lunch items, the real star at Tootie’s are burgers like the famous Arvil Burger.

The restaurant’s interior doesn’t look to have changed much through the years. The walls are painted yellow and white, trimmed with orange. Seating is available at booths and tables, which are also orange and yellow. There’s also a couple of tables on the restaurant’s front porch.
Customers order at the front counter, and drinks are available from a self-serve dispenser or as bottles and cans from a refrigerator. There’s also a condiment station offering ketchup and other items. Some arcade games in one corner and a guitar-stumming stuffed toy dog add a few other items of interest to the decor.
Tootie’s still retains its diner atmosphere, serving breakfast all day long, as well as a variety of burgers, hot and cold sub sandwiches and other items, including Soup Beans with Cornbread, a barbecue platter and a hamburger steak dinner.

An Arvil Burger, trimmed with onion and tomato, is served with a side of Tater Tots.

The restaurant is quite justly famous for its burgers, and the star among the offerings is the Arvil Burger. Other burgers include the Famous Five-Ounce Burger, a Double Five-Ounce Burger and a Bacon Burger. Deluxe burgers are also listed on the menu, including the Willie Boom Burger, Mushroom Burger, Jalapeno Burger, a Blue Collar Burger and a third-pound Angus Burger.
I tried the well-known Arvil Burger on my very first visit to Tootie’s a couple of years ago. On a subsequent visit, I ordered the Willie Boom Burger. On that occasion, a friend dining with me got his first introduction to the Arvil Burger.

 

So, what precisely is the Arvil Burger? Well, it’s a monster of a burger that starts out as a 10-ounce beef patty. One of the secrets to the popularity of this burger is that onions are fried within the patty to lock in the flavor. It’s served on a large bun with a double serving of lettuce, tomato, onion, mayonnaise and, on request, American cheese.
It’s not fancy, but it’s juicy and made of simple but fresh ingredients. Thankfully, the bun doesn’t fall apart and holds up throughout the meal.

 

The Willie Boom Burger with a side of Onion Rings at Tootie’s.

The Willie Boom Burger is basically Tootie’s version of a chili burger. It starts as a six-ounce hand-formed patty paired with grilled onions, chili and cheese. The chili on the burger is savory, but I found myself wishing there had been more chili with this burger.
There’s a variety of side dishes to accompany your burgers, including French Fries, Onion Rings, Tater Tots, Chili Cheese Fries, Corn Nuggets, Cheddar Rounds and even Tamales.
My friend and I both enjoyed our burgers, and I also owe some other friends a big “thank you” for introducing my to Tooties.

An Arvil Burger, topped with American cheese slices, and trimmed with thick-cut onions and tomato sliced, and served with Onion Rings.

Do make sure to leave some room for a cool treat at the end of the meal. Tootie’s offers ice cream in cones, waffle cones or cups, as well as ice cream sundaes, root beer floats and milkshakes. Ice cream flavors include traditional ones such as vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, as well as less-traditional ones as Moon Pie, Cotton Candy and Blueberry Cheesecake. I love to end a visit with a deliciously smooth and creamy shake. One of my favorites has been the Blueberry Cheesecake Shake.
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AT A GLANCE: Tootie’s Restaurant, 1310 Virginia Ave., Bristol. 764-6215. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Menu items $6.95 and under. Credit cards accepted. Carryout available.

Pilot Hill General Stores pleases with burgers, barbecue and more

Photos by Bryan Stevens                                                                  The Pilot Hill General Store has stood in the Philadelphia community of Washington County for more than a century.

If it’s July, it must be time for “Burger Month,” which is quickly becoming a tradition with my regular offerings of potential dining destinations in Northeast Tennessee, Western North Carolina and Southwest Virginia.

Last year’s “Burger Month” focused on the best burgers in Tennessee’s Carter County. I’m traveling farther afield this year, although I kicked off this summer’s burger destinations with my recent blog on Sycamore Drive-In in Elizabethton, Tennessee.

A Sledge Hammer Cheeseburger with crispy Onion Rings at Pilot Hill.

My first recommendation this year is to advise readers to make a visit, posthaste, to Pilot Hill General Store in the Philadelphia community of Washington County for some really delicious, done-right burgers.

It’s not just burgers, however, that are giving this establishment its well-deserved reputation for serving some flavorful food to really give the tastebuds a workout, as I will point out.

According to the story about the store’s origins (printed on the back of the menu), Pilot Hill has served as a country store as well as a post office and courtroom for a traveling magistrate for more than a century. George Walters, a Union veteran of the Civil War, built the store in 1902 after he received a land grant once the war ended. The store’s current owners, Donnie and Denise Hall, have created a must-try destination in the middle of the rural countryside of Washington County.

Customers dine in a painstakingly recreated version of a turn-of-the-last-century general store, with long counters and cubby-hole shelves stocked with a long list of assorted goods. There’s a conversation starter for nostalgic customers in any direction they happen to glance, from old-fashioned varieties of candies to toys, dolls and games.

Sledge Hammer Cheeseburger with Cheese Fries at Pilot Hill.

The choice of burgers includes the Hammer Burger and Hammer Cheeseburger (single patty), Sledge Hammer and Sledge Hammer Cheeseburger (double patties), as well as a Lil Jenny Hamburger and Cheeseburger. There’s also a Philly Burger for the meat-lovers, as well as a Mule Burger, which features thick-cut Amish bologna, fried or cold, served with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise on Texas toast.

St. Louis-style Ribs are available at Pilot Hill on Fridays and Saturdays.

Pilot Hill also serves some fantastic barbecue, including a Pork Loin sandwiches and platters, BBQ Chopped Pork Sandwich and a BBQ Sundae. This inventive item starts with a Mason jar filled to the brim with layers of barbecue pork and homemade slaw and baked beans. Best of all, Pilot Hill serves slow-cooked, dry rub St. Louis-style ribs on Fridays and Saturdays.

Burgers remain my main focus, but this is some really first-class barbecue. A friend ordered the ribs and, after some good-natured but determined coercion, shared a sample. They were finger-licking good, to borrow an old but accurate phrase.

The Philly Burger at Pilot Hill, accompanied by Baked Beans and Potato Salad.

Like the ribs, the burgers could be a messy proposition, unless you simply shed any inhibitions about manhandling your meal. Sure, some toothpicks through the bun take a stab at holding everything together, but these are two-handed burgers so just pick them up and start eating.

You cannot really beat the Hammer Cheeseburger, unless it is with the Sledge Hammer Cheeseburger. I have also tried the Philly Burger, which is going to meet your daily caloric intake in one sitting with its three ounces of grilled sirloin added to two grilled patties, complemented with grilled onions as well as American and mozzarella cheese. I sometimes think there’s a definite correlation between messy and tasty. At least that’s the case with this juicy, vibrant burger.

The menu also offers some appetizing sandwiches, including a Philly Cheesesteak, Chicken Parmesan Sandwich, Nolichucky Chicken Sandwich and a Big and Nasty BLT (yes, that’s really its name), as well as a couple of hot dogs, including the Snapp Dog, which is wrapped in bacon and deep fried for, as the menu describes this item, “O’Brother, what a dog.”

The menu is rounded off by some platters, including a Hamburger Steak Plate and Chicken Strip Plate, as well as some salads, including a Buffalo Chicken Wedge Salad and a BBQ Pork Salad.

You’ll want to leave room for some out-of-this-world desserts, including a variety of homemade pies. Some of my favorites have included the Apple Pie (just a heavenly version of this All-American favorite and Butterscotch Pie.

You can’t go wrong finishing a meal at Pilot Hill with a piece of Apple Pie with Ice Cream.

My friend, the one who enjoyed the ribs, also had a slice of Apple Pie and declared flatly after the first bite that it was “the best apple pie he has had in Tennessee.”

In preparation for making your first visit — don’t delay, trust me — be sure to take cash. Pilot Hill General Store doesn’t accept plastic or checks.

 

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Pilot Hill General Store, 826 Snapp Bridge Road, Limestone, Tennessee.  Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. 423-202-0289. Cash only.

Butterscotch Pie at Pilot Hill.

The interior of Pilot Hill harkens back to its roots.

Plenty of nostalgia greets visitors to Pilot Hill.

Grab some candy on your way out of Pilot Hill General Store.

Pilot Hill shows hints of its history as a traditional general store.

Cases of Coca-Cola bottles on the front porch at Pilot Hill.

Pies displayed beneath a glass case.

A little friend at Pilot Hill.

Take time to browse when visiting Pilot Hill.

Welcome to Pilot Hill.

Pies and pastries displayed beneath glass cake stands at Pilot Hill.

Pecan Pie at Pilot Hill.

 

Dixie’s Diner expands Stoney Creek dining options

 

Some friends and I made it a point to dine at Dixie’s Diner on Stoney Creek in Elizabethton this past week.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
Dixie’s Diner is located at 1791 Highway 91, Elizabethton.

The meal marked our first visit to the restaurant, which was opened last fall by owner James Harris. Upon our arrival, we were welcomed and told to seat ourselves at any of the eatery’s booths and tables. Banner-sized placards with big, friendly letters promoting slogans such as, “Live life with a twist,” and, “Here, everybody’s a regular,” adorn the wood-plank walls. The chair and benches are upholstered in dark burgundy vinyl. The dining area isn’t showy, but it is cozy, comfortable and clean, and the wood-plank gives the room a rustic touch and imparts a bit of a golden glow to the lighting.

The menu at Dixie’s Diner isn’t elaborate, preferring to keep the focus on burgers, sandwiches and a few country-style dinner platters. In addition to lunch and dinner, the restaurant also offers breakfast all day with a menu of traditional favorites such as biscuits and gravy, hash browns, pancakes, omelets and French toast.

The motivation for our recent visit was to show solidarity with the restaurant’s effort to support paper carriers let go by the Elizabethton Star. It’s rare to come across a business with a conscience these days, but the owners of Dixie’s Diner made a wonderful gesture by setting aside half of the proceeds to be divided among the roughly 16 carriers affected by the decision made by the Alabama owners of the formerly locally-owned newspaper.

The cause was particularly close to my heart since I was among the dozen employees let go in a massive purge a couple of months ago. This new weekly blog was born of that decision after I had numerous people request that I continue my weekly discussions of regional restaurants.

The day I learned of the decision that I was no longer needed at a paper with which I enjoyed a 20-year history was, understandably enough, a difficult one. Thankfully, several local restaurants made it a little more bearable. Jiggy Ray’s, a new pizzeria in downtown Elizabethton, treated me and several co-workers to a free lunch when the manager discovered what had gone down at the newspaper. It was a much-appreciated gesture. I’d encourage everyone to patronize Dixie’s Diner and Jiggy Ray’s, as well as Sycamore Drive-In in Elizabethton. Sycamore Drive-In owner Gary Hicks has been very outspoken in his support for all the community workers who were adversely affected by the decision, which was made by distant corporate heads from Alabama who had made no more than a couple of visits to Elizabethton and no attempt to actually get to know their new employees.

But, stepping back off of my soap-box, the main focus of this weekly endeavor is to introduce readers to some suggested dining destinations.

Dixie’s Diner, although tucked away up Stoney Creek beyond both Unaka High School and Unaka Elementary School, is worth the drive.

My friends and I were treated courteously and attentively by the servers, who also helped by making some recommendations on menu items.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
Meatloaf, Green Beans and Mashed Potatoes at Dixie’s DIner.

 I chose the Meatloaf Dinner, which is accompanied by a choice of two sides, which can include French Fries, Green Beans, Onion Rings, Corn, Fried Okra and Mashed Potatoes. I chose the Green Beans and Mashed Potatoes.

Other dinner platters that got my notice included Hamburger Steak Dinner, Pork Chop Dinner and a large and small Chicken Tender Dinner.

 

One of my friends, a burger connoisseur, studied the those options on the menu. Burgers come in two sizes – 4-ounce and 6-ounce patties – and are served with fries and a drink. Any of the burgers can also be ordered as a double with two patties. Options include Hamburger, Cheeseburger and Bacon-Cheeseburger. He chose the latter.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
Dixie Diner’s Bacon Cheeseburger with a side of Crinkle-cut French Fries.

My other friend considered some of the sandwiches, including the BLT and the Crispy Chicken Sandwich. In the end, he chose one of the dinner platters and ordered the Pork Chop Dinner. For his two sides, he choose Fried Okra and French Fries.

About the only other items on the menu are a couple of dinner salads and a two-Hotdog Platter. We chose to share an order of Onion Rings among the three of us. Our food arrived speedily.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the meatloaf consisted of two muffin-shaped servings of meatloaf topped with ketchup. Every restaurant serves its own version of this comfort food classic, and I enjoyed the muffin-sized meatloaf servings. The meatloaf at Dixie’s Diner is firm, flavorful and not at all greasy.

My friends also reported satisfaction with their meals. The burger aficionado enjoyed his order, which featured a six-ounce patty, topped with an ample amount of bacon and cheese, and served on a sesame-seed bun.

Photo by David Thometz
The Pork Chops Dinner Platter accompanied by French Fries and Fried Okra at Dixie’s Diner.

My friend who ordered the two pork chops was also pleased with the only minor complaint being they might have been cooked slightly too long. The thinly-sliced chops were still well seasoned, flavorful and paired nicely with the Mashed Potatoes and the golden-brown Fried Okra.

I also like the nicely seasoned Green Beans and the Mashed Potatoes that came with my Meatloaf.

Although we were all just too full to indulge, Dixe’s Diner does offer some sweet at the conclusion of the meal, including Funnel Cakes, Snow Cones and Ice Cream. We’ll try to get back for some of those sweets in the near future. I’d also like to make a return visit and try the breakfast at Dixie’s Diner.

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AT A GLANCE: Dixie’s Diner, 1791 Highway 91, Elizabethton. 474-0080. Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Menu items $7.59 and under. Credit cards accepted. Carryout available.

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Do you have a restaurant you would like spotlighted? Post a message in the comments or send email to diningdestinations@wordpress.com

 

 

 

Try Paragon for classic diner fare with flair

 

A friend and I enjoyed a recent Saturday afternoon meal at the Paragon Diner, a new eatery in Johnson City. This restaurant, which opened for business in late 2013, offers classical diner fare with flair for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We enjoyed every aspect of the visit, including friendly service, good-tasting food and a welcoming and well-considered dining atmosphere.

The new diner, which is owned by Peter Simeon, Gus Coubis and Harry Arsi, offers a diverse menu. In addition to classic American diner cuisine, there’s also a nod to some Greek and Mediterranean dishes, including Baked Spinach Pie, Souvlaki, Gyros, Eggplant Parmigiana, Fettuccine Alfredo and Greek Style Spaghetti.

Located in the building that formerly housed the Atlanta Bread Company, the Paragon Diner has transformed its surroundings with well-planned focus on a stately but inviting interior design. The walls are painted dark taupe-gray and sage green, and are contrasted with white brickwork and trim as well as some tin-stamped paneling. Some unframed canvas works of art are displayed on the walls.  There’s a white-brick corner fireplace that lends the entire dining room some cozy comfort. Artistic light fixtures, ornamental faceted sunburst mirrors and floor-length windows draped with white linen curtains complete the tasteful decor. Seating is available at tables and various booths and half-booths.

Upon entering the restaurant, you can’t miss the large glass display that showcases the restaurant’s delectable assortment of cakes and pies.

Photo by David Thometz
The display case of delicious desserts at Paragon Diner in Johnson City.

Asked whether we preferred a table or booth, we chose the latter and were quickly seated. Our server, Tiffany, provided menus and took our drink orders.

As I’ve mentioned, the menu’s quite extensive, so it took some time to study the offerings, which included appetizers, breakfast favorites, salads, sandwiches, burgers, paninis, wraps and triple-deckers. The menu also listed Greek and Italian specialties, hot open-faced platters, poultry, steaks, chops, seafood and pasta.

We began the meal with a shared appetizer, which include Spinach Pie, Potato Skins, Chicken Tenders and Chicken Quesadilla, as well as Baked Feta Cheese and Olives. This last item, which also came with our server’s recommendation, sounded quite unique. This meal-starter features two slabs of baked feta cheese served on a bed of mixed greens and garnished with sliced black olives. The tangy cheese was warm and delicious and went well with the olives and greens, which had been drizzled with olive oil. Although delicious, it was a lot for two diners; I’d recommend this appetizer for a small party of four or five.

Photo by Bryan Stevens                               Baked Feta Cheese and Olives makes a nice appetizer for sharing.

We then turned our full attention to choosing our main dishes. Some of the specialty sandwiches got my notice, include the Monte Cristo and Chicken Cordon Bleu, as did some of the Greek and Italian specialties. I also considered several of the pasta dishes, including St. Luis Pasta, which features Grilled Chicken, spinach and tomatoes in a spicy Cajun cream sauce served over fettuccine pasta, and the Pasta Portabella with Chicken. The Center Cut Marinated Jumbo Pork Chops and the Filet of Sole Florentine also vied for my attention.

I decided to try the Gyro Platter, which is accompanied by a small Greek salad, sauteed vegetables, pita bread and tzatziki sauce.

My friend ordered the Chicken Breast Florentine after also considering the Chicken Marsala and Mediterranean Shrimp.

I also added a cup of soup. The selections available during our visit were Beef and Noodle and Chicken and Rice. I chose the Beef and Noodle. My friend added a cup of the Chicken and Rice Soup to his meal.

The soup arrived ahead of the main meal. The Beef and Noodle was a hearty mix of bowtie pasta, celery, carrots, peas, corn, green beans, onion and beef in a tomato-based broth. The Chicken and Rice Soup featured the same vegetables as those in the Beef and Noodle Soup, but in a milder chicken broth.

Photo by David Thometz
Lamb Gyro Platter

The main dishes arrived quickly, and we were impressed with the ample portions. The lamb gyro was heaped on a bed of seasoned rice, accompanied by sauteed green beans. The Greek salad consisted of mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes and black olives with a zesty Greek dressing. The pita bread and tzatziki sauce provided the traditional accompaniment for the lamb gyros.

My friend enjoyed the Chicken Breast Florentine, which featured layers of feta cheese and mounds of sauteed spinach over a chicken breast.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
Chicken Breast Florentine

 

Of course, after passing by that display case of desserts on our way into the restaurant, we could not resist trying some of these sweets. In addition to fruit-topped cheesecake, the available desserts included Carrot Cake, Chocolate Cake, Red Velvet Cake, Hummingbird Cake and Italian Cream Cake.

I chose a piece of Strawberry Shortcake, while my friend ordered the Black Forest Cake. My Strawberry Shortcake arrived as a tall wedge of cake that featured layers of strawberry mousse between the white cake. The outside of the cake was dusted with slivered almonds, topped with fresh strawberries and more sliced almonds and drizzled with a vanilla syrup. The cake was sweet, moist and delicious, a perfect end to the meal. My friend also liked the Black Forest Cake, which featured a rich, decadent melding of dark chocolate with sweet cherries.

 

 

Photo by Bryan Stevens
Sample a delectable dessert at the meal’s end, such as this Strawberry Shortcake.

We left very impressed. Paragon Diner should be a wonderful addition to the Johnson City dining scene. We have already returned for several additional visits. If you go, let them know they were recommended.

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AT A GLANCE: Paragon Diner, 2010 Franklin Terrace Court, 631-0628. Open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Entrees range from $5.95-$17.95. Credit cards accepted. Carryout available.

 

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If you would like to recommend a restaurant for this weekly exploration of regional dining destinations, send an email to diningdestinations@wordpress.com or call me at 423-725-2666.