Perkins-State College, PA

Perkins is a chain of diners much like Denny's. They serve classic American food and have an attached bakery with all manner of pies and cakes. They also take their coffee seriously; instead of the bottomless cup of coffee, it is a bottomless pot. The quality is okay, but the quantity is excellent. I am here for an early dinner before a meeting about an upcoming Boy Scout Camporee that I am helping to organize.  The rueben was even listed on the chalkboard at the entrance as the special sandwich.  Yes!

I ordered the Reuben with a side of sweet potato fries (Hooray Vitamin A!)  The waitress said that she had just had that yesterday and that it was a good choice.

The first thing I noticed about the sandwich was the bread, a nice rye, reasonable thickness, evenly toasted.  It tasted slightly of margarine.  The corned beef was layered thick.  Although it was sliced thin the way it was stacked it was like a monolithic slab.  It was slightly off center making the sandwich slide.  The sauerkraut was crisp and flavorful and the dressing was passable but barely there.  The cheese was nicely melted.

All in all an excellent sandwich but the meat dominated,  It could have stood to have a another slice or two of cheese and a shade more dressing.  The biggest area for improvement would be the layering of the ingredients.  If the meat had been "fluffed" a bit more it would have been a bit easier to eat.

Final score 4.5/5

As a side note, the sweet potato fries were tasty.

Daily Special W00T!

If you order coffee they bring you a thermal carafe, and when it runs empty they bring another, and another, and another.