Food and Drinks

Over the years I have done a few stories on the New York Catskill Mountains and I have done a few stories about places I have enjoyed eating at. Well recently while I was once again up in the Catskill Mountains, I went to a 50’s Thyme Diner called “Johnny B Good” located at 5806 RT 23 in the NY Town of Acra.

I was upstate in the Catskills Mountains at my Sister’s for the Holidays. My Mother, My Niece and I where out checking out the area. After looking around a bunch of really cool antique stores in the Town of Catskill itself We where all getting Hungry.

Now as I have said before I love to eat! Now my Sister being my Sister well she too loves to eat and I had heard her and my Brother in Law mention Johnny B Good as a great place to eat more then once. So it was the place I wanted to check out!

As we arrived right off the bat I could see from the outside it really looked like an Old style 50’s Diner. Now It seems these days everyone has a catch or a thyme to get you threw the door. So as good as the place looked from the outside, I was going to wait before I gave it a thumbs up. As we entered I could see they hadn’t missed much with the 50’s (and a little bit of the 60’s) thyme on the inside. We sat down and started to look threw our menu’s and order some food. As I looked though the Lunch and Dinner section of my menu I saw all the meals had names that helped to take you back. There where meals called the Peggy Sue Special , Jimmy Durrante Rueben , La Bamba Burger , Tarzan of the Jungle Salads and the Wimpy Burger (For Wimps) to name just a few. Now being a Biker I felt an obligation to order the Marlon Brando Mushroom Cheeseburger with Onion Rings.

While waiting for my food I started checking out the Breakfast Menu and found a few more Classic meal names like the Rita Hayworth Cheese Omelet , The Cisco Kid Chili Cheese Omelet, The Jolly Green Giant Veggie Omelet and I am going to have to go back to try some of their Hot Rod Pancakes!

I then got up and started to look around at all the great 50’s Memorabilia Johnny B Good’s had to offer hanging on the walls. There where of Course pictures of the King “Elvis”, some old Movie poster’s , Pictures of many of your favorite 50’s stars, some Classic 45s, some of those old plastic circle things you used to have to put inside the 45’s so you could play them on your turn table, (did those things have a name?) and even some old personal Pictures brought in by friends of the owner Bobbi.

I got to meet and speak with Bobbi the owner. I found her to be extremely Friendly. After just a few moments talking to her I could tell she really loves the place. There was no hiding the fact that she puts her heart and Soul into giving Johnny B Good that Nostalgic feel of a 50’s hang out. It really is a place where everyone feels at home enjoying a meal with Friends.Bobbi told me during the Summer months Johnny B Good holds many Cruise Nights and many people from far and wide show up in Classic Cars and on Classic Motorcycles. They all hang out showing off their rides talking and eating! On a hot Summer Night both the young and old love to stop by and enjoy an Old fashion Style Ice Cream Soda or Root Beer Float .

Now as I have said before how a Restaurant makes you feel just being there does count for something, but when it comes right down to it the Bottom line is taste and there Bobbi and Johnny B Good’s have the most important blast from the past down and this is good old fashion Quality and Taste.

I recommend you stop by Johnny B Good when you are out Cruising up in the Catskill Mountains! Just make sure to remember while in the Catskill Mountains taking this trip back in time at Johnny B Good’s “Nobody puts Baby in a corner”!!!

Be sure to check them out on-line at Myspace.com/JohnnyBGood50

Like I have said before, I am no Gourmet Chef or expert on fine Cruise. I do how ever know what I like. Recently Me and a Buddy of mine stopped at the Meson Ole Diner in Southampton on Long Island in NY, A Mexican and Spanish Restaurant.

Some of you may know I am a Biker, As any Biker knows some times the greetings we get when we walk into a place can be a look of “Oh No” and a half hearted “can I help you?”, Is it right? Well of course not, but that’s a different article. The Greeting We got at Meson Ole was a very warm friendly one and we felt welcomed in.

The Decor of the place was great and you could almost believe you where some where down in Mexico. We where promptly brought over some Nachos and Salsa and some fresh hot Bread and Butter. We ordered a Pitcher of Sangria, A drink I do not believe I have ever had before but I enjoyed none the less!

We ordered a Bunch of food and the Service was pretty fast. Now even the best service means nothing if the food is not good, Well the food was incredible. We ordered a set up where you made your own Pepper Steak Burritos and also a plate of Ham and Cheese Burritos. It was all made to perfection, The Pepper Steak was served in a separate pan and it was still sizzling when it was placed safely on the table ! I could not have been happier with the taste and preparation of the food! While we where enjoying the meal the waiter made sure we where happy at all times. When the Bread was finished more was served to us. We ate so much ran out of Burrito wraps, That is not a complaint because as soon as it was notice more where quickly brought to the Table.

I eat at many places as I really love to eat, But some times I come across a place like the Meson Ole Dinner where I feel I must share the experience with others! I was happy to find out that the Meson Ole has 8 locations across Long Island NY and two in Naples Florida (That’s a bit of a big jump in the Chains Locations) Good food can sometimes be hard to find, Both Great Food and Great service at one place can be almost imposable to find these days! So If you are a fan of Mexican and Spanish Cuisine check out the Meson Ole Diners in the Long Island NY area or when you are near Naples, Florida and let me know what you think of them.

Your Bro L.J. James AmericanBikerX.com Listen to LJs Radio Show at BikerLowDown.com

I have heard many say over the years, That you can not have a biker friendly bar and have all Types of bikers hanging out Together! It has been said that 1% MC’s, Military MC’s, Fire MC’s, Law MC’s,Sport Bike MC’s, Outlaw MC’s, AMA Clubs, MRO’s, Independent Riders and everyone else can not get together and have a few drinks without there being problems!

I have heard many say there would be nothing but fights and problems at a bar like this and no one would want to go to there! I had always believed it was nothing but a Bunch of Bull Sh#t!

Well for around two years now Michelle and Anthony the owners of JDs Place 1005B Fulton Street (Rte 109) Farmingdale on Long Island in NY have proved that Bikers from all corners of the Motorcycle world can come together have a few drinks and get along!

They have proved that given a place where all are welcome that not only can everyone get along, But that these Bikers can come together and accomplish many great things for their Community! The Long Island Bikers and MC Members who hang out together at JD’s have worked together and supported each other while hosting Charity events at JD’s Place to help many of the less fortunate on Long Island! These Bikers have also come together and crossed barriers to be there for each other in both good times and bad! JD’s Place may be a small Long Island biker bar, but when it comes to helping to change the whole biker world, It is huge!

To those out there that think they know about Bikers, Please keep telling us what we are not Capable of doing and we will be more then happy to keep proving you wrong!!!

If you want to “Have a Good Time On Rt 109″ check out JDSPLCE.com