By Valerie Franchi, Contributing Writer
Westborough – Harry’s Restaurant on Route 9 in Westborough has always been a popular with the after-church crowd and for good reason – it’s the perfect place to meet for a relaxing breakfast or lunch on a lazy Sunday.
My friend and I were fortunate to arrive during a lull, around noon on a dreary Sunday. The smell of hot food, a cozy booth and a warm, friendly environment certainly brightened the day. The folks who came in after us weren’t so lucky and had a bit of a wait for an open table.
After receiving our coffee, steaming hot and strong, we scanned the menu. The “Comfort Corner” caught our attention. It features home-style favorites including soups and stews, mac ‘n’ cheese, American chop suey and chicken pot pie. All of those sounded perfect on an overcast chilly early winter day.
The menu also featured a wide variety of pastas, seafood, chicken and barbecue entrees. For lunchtime, there are mile-high burgers and sandwiches, including the hot pastrami sandwich – the first thing Harry’s served when it opened in 1946 when it was called “Harry’s Famous Hot Pastrami.”
The menu has recently been expanded to include more healthy options, such as baked and grilled items and a wide array of salads. But Harry’s still serves its well-known favorites, fried clams and lobster rolls, all year-round.
We decided to start with our favorite appetizer, the sweet potato tots ($4.50), which were absolutely delicious. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, they had the perfect blend of sweetness and saltiness. Don’t forget to ask for ranch dressing on the side for dipping.
Both breakfast and lunch selections were tempting, but I opted for the Harry’s Benedict ($9.95) – a double portion of the breakfast favorite featuring Canadian bacon and a poached egg on an English muffin doused in homemade Hollandaise sauce or cheese sauce, if preferred. It comes with a generous side of their spiced home fries. All of it was delicious and satisfying.
My friend couldn’t decide, so he found a dish that could be either breakfast or lunch – the Monte Cristo ($7.50). This hot and hearty sandwich (I snuck a bite) is filled with steamed turkey, ham and Swiss cheese sandwiched between two slices of Texas French toast. It was even more scrumptious when dipped in maple syrup.
As usual when we eat at Harry’s, both of us were so full, we couldn’t think about dessert. One of these days, we will have to stop in for just coffee and a piece of their homemade pie.
Harry’s is cash only. It is located at 149 Turnpike Road (Route 9), just west of the Lyman Road intersection. The hours have changed for the winter season: Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
For more information or for takeout orders, call 508-366-8302 or visit www.harrysrestaurant.com.