Oh How I Love Thee, Geraldine

Geraldine's Counter - American Classics (5 Stars)
http://www.geraldinescounter.com

Chris and a co-manager friend of his from Starbucks invited me to have brunch with them. As always, I suggested Geraldine's since they were in my neck of the woods. I've mentioned it before, but Geraldine's Counter is delicious and our Saturday rendezvous there proved to be no exception.

Somehow, Geraldine's chef staff manage to make their French Toast (this time with fresh strawberries) crispy and fried and delicious, yet moist and savory. I'm pretty sure they deep-fry the custard-soaked bread because it's a wonderfully unusual texture and you can't help but lick your plate clean! It's always served with 100% pure maple syrup and usually berries or fruit of some sort.

For me, only the Chicken Fried Steak would do (oddly enough, it's not listed on their online menu). The steak is thinly pounded and the coating thick (but not "bread-like") and crispy. The sausage gravy is chunky and plentiful and my scrambled eggs were moist, light, and fluffy. I typically ask for no hashbrowns (theirs are long and shredded and so delicious when extra crispy) and instead got a side of fruit (melon, pineapple, and grapes). (As an aside, I realize the plate may appear a bit empty. Remember, I got the fruit on a separate plate instead of the hashbrowns, and, to be honest, the plates are actually quite large. There's definitely more than enough food here for one.)

We were promptly seated, had great service (as usual), and the food was wonderful. You just can't go wrong with Geraldine's!