If you’re anything like me, then you can agree that when you want a burger, you want a good one. The main problem with getting a good burger out in the wild is simply… there aren’t many good places to do so. However this particular burger joint chain fits the bill for a good burger. Or two. Maybe four. In the Rochester NY area, you may find an 80’s diner-style building at one site or you may find a modern restaurant-style building at another, however the interior will always be the same. We went to their place in Pittsford and were pleasantly surprised by how great it was.
The atmosphere is very enthralling and pleasingly vintage; to the point that they were play what was essentially the official ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1’ music playlist. Tom Wahl’s is best known for its steak burger and its root beer, neither of which I tried. I instead went for their mushroom swiss burger, which is by far my favorite kind of burger, and a side of their fries. The rest of the crew on the other hand did indeed try the steak burger and I was told it was excellent.
Behold, the almighty steak burger! (With a side of thoroughly ketchup-ed fries.)
Another thing that should be said is that our order, which was admittedly a rather big order, came in record time; AND there is free refills with an assortment of sodas, juice and teas to keep the kiddos busy mixing and matching until they find their favorite concoction.
All in all, Tom’s is great burger joint at relatively cheap prices, with a very set-in-stone aesthetic that is rarely replicated in burger joints anymore. Therefore, if you’re in the Rochester area and catch Tommy’s logo out of the corner of your eye, do yourself a favor and give it a go.
Also, be sure to send us your pictures on Instagram with #canIgetaramen! Thanks for reading!
Eliot Ness, a local legend is immortalized in this small Penn-State township.
Courtesy of The Eliot Ness Festival.
Woven into the history of Coudersport, PA is a well known crime fighter, you may have heard of, named Eliot Ness. Ness was born in Chicago and achieved recognition for being the courageous, highly principled, yet untouchable lawman that has inspired countless books, movies and theatre productions to date. Best known for bringing down the arguably most famous crime boss of all time, Alphonse Gabriel Capone. Ness also co-wrote his memoirs, titled “The Untouchables”, in Coudersport, alongside Oscar Fraley in 1957. You can visit the historic ‘Hotel Crittenden’, where much of the book was created, while strolling the streets of this picturesque little town. While the book found limited success, it caught the eye of actor Desi Arnaz, who spun it into a wildly successful 1959 movie, and then later that same year into a hit TV series of the same name. If instead you are intrigued by the story of the real Eliot Ness, from the perspective of local townspeople, who knew him well, stop into Olga Gallery, Cafe & Bistro and pick up an autographed copy of this book:
Behind The Badge by Paul W. Heimel, a local resident, who has been called “The Dean of Eliot Ness researchers” by Vanity Fair
Grab a cup of coffee, and meander up and down Main St. You will happen upon a coffee shop, by the name of Cream & Sugar, which houses specialty coffees, pastries baked by a local artisan, Penn State Ice Cream, and various artisan goods, such as jams, jellies, syrups, local soaps, and candles.
A Shop-Local Paradise.
Next, you’re going to want to stop by Deb’s Candy Shop, a candy-land themed gem, just down from Olga’s, on Main St., which offers vintage, hard to find candy, and retains a classic small town candy shop charm.
Ooh, now that’s colorful!
Now, on to my personal favorite experience: The Eliot Ness Museum. The Museum is just getting started. Currently, the curator, Steve Green, is focused on vintage, prohibition era automobiles, posters of prominent figures of the prohibition era, and a few prime photos shot by local photographer Curt Weinhold, who was kind enough to take this photo for us:
This is clearly my new favorite pic of us. Photo courtesy of Curt Weinhold.
Enthusiastic about his museum endeavors, Steve, has a wealth of knowledge on the local vehicles that participate in the Eliot Ness Fest/ Vintage Car Show, which happens every July with costume contests, dances, and The Untouchables on the big screen. There are re-enactments in the streets, fireworks, and various activities throughout town. Cars of the era line the streets of Coudersport, essentially, turning it into a time capsule, according to Green. When you hear Steve talk about it, he makes you wish you hadn’t missed it. Rest assured, next year we will not. The museum, at the moment, is more of a sidewalk viewing museum, with the intention to create a much more interactive museum with a theatre and a collection of educational movies, developed by local author, Paul Heimer. If you stop by the museum on any given day, Steve is usually around, and seemingly, happy to keep you updated on the progress of his place. If you stop by on Oct. 5th, the re-enactment team will be on sight to greet you. Be sure to check it out!
The boys loved this!
If you are looking for a low key day trip, filled with Hollywood intrigue, glamorous vintage vehicles, a dash of gun violence in the streets, and small town charm, Coudersport PA, is the place to be. If you happen to go, tell us what you think in the comments.
