Apple Blossom Diner

On Thursday, July 10, 2014 I had lunch at the Apple Blossom Diner at 1359 Berryville Avenue in Winchester. Located on premises vacated several years ago by Shoney's Restaurant, the Apple Blossom opened on June 28.

The hours at present are 6:00 AM-10:00 PM daily, but may change after their pending Grand Opening. The phone number is 540-545-8500, and carryout service is available.

The Apple Blossom shares a parking lot with Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries, and has at least one handicapped space. The entrance is through a vestibule at the left end of the building, and presents you with a waiting area with seats to your left and a receptionist-cashier's station at the back wall. To your right of this is a glass display case showing mouth-watering pies and cakes.

One of the changes of the floor plan from Shoney's is a counter further to your right along the back wall, with eight stools. It fronts the kitchen behind it. The other side of the aisle along the counter has a row of booths seating two, against a low partition.

This aisle ends in a now open area where Shoney's had their food bar and buffet offerings, and a number of tables for four are here now. The small room in the back corner has six tables seating four.

The aisle on the other side of the low partition has booths for four on both sides, for a total of eleven. The front of the restaurant next to the parking lot has the sun room featured in Shoney's original layout, with seven tables seating four apiece.

The décor uses a lot of white now; that and good lighting gives the room a pleasant, airy ambience. I heard no background music, and saw no TV screens.

I was seated in one of the small booths across from the counter and given a large, multi-page menu. The main categories included Appetizers, Homemade Soup, Fresh Garden Salads, Side Orders, Sandwiches, Wraps, Triple Decker Sandwiches, Hot Open Sandwiches, Apple Blossom Specialty Sandwiches, and Basket Offerings.

Also, Burger Korner, Fresh Salad Platters, Italian Kitchen, Prime Steaks, Chops and Entrees, Broiled Seafood, Fried Seafood, Athenian Korner, Lighter Delights, Children's Menu, From the Griddle, Eggs, 3-Egg Omelettes,"Egg" Ceptional 3-Egg Omelettes, Bagels, Toast and Muffins, Beverages, Desserts and Treats.

This appeared to be an ambitious menu for a diner operation, but will be worth checking out over several visits. I made my selection this time from the Hot Open Sandwich category, choosing Roast Sirloin of Beef with Gravy and Mashed Potatoes.

First, this was a typical diner dish; also, my wife always chose a hot open roast beef sandwich any time it was on a menu. You might say that I did this in honor of her memory. I had lemonade as my beverage.

My hot sandwich order was actually more appropriate for lunch than dinner and I rate it merely adequate as diner fare goes. I asked for more gravy, because some of the sandwich was dry; also, it wasn't as hot as I would have liked.

I ignored the peas and carrots side dish. I plan to return for more substantial meals, such Mousaka from the Athenian Korner and Eggplant Parmigiana from the Italian Kitchen listings. I may try the Apple Blossom for breakfast because of its convenient location.

I note that four start-ups in Winchester in recent years that called themselves "Diners" didn't last: the Old Town Diner, the Valley Avenue Diner, the Valley Diner, and North Loudoun Diner have all come and gone.

In addition, everyone is still looking forward to the resurrection of the Triangle Diner, and is also wondering what the relocated Amherst Diner will be called.