Bartonsville, PA

Since I needed a break from the buzzing week, lots of energy spent without a lot of money made! Decided to stop in for a cup of hot honey Ginseng tea at an old haunt "PADERA BREAD"in Bartonsville, PA ... But without expending any more energy I thought let's activerain blog an e-mail sent to me with a great quote!

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see."

- John Burroughs

Big Daddy's Family BBQ was formerly Big Daddy's Family Restaurant in Mt. Pocono just across from Mt. Airy Casino until a fire destroyed the location. Fortunately, the owners were able to rebuild and rebuild they did with a beautiful restaurant located on Route 611 in Bartonsville next to the Comfort Inn. Everything about Big Daddy's is diffferent and most of it is for the better. The atmosphere and ambiance are terrific as they have a nice country/western saloon called "The Barn" in a seperate section of the restaurant and they have lots of different entertainment from karaoke to line dancing. The main restaurant has lots of comfortable booths and has clean restrooms and a game area for kids. We were sat promptly which was nice for a Saturday night and our waiter was friendly but a little slow. The have a lot of menu choices, which is good if you aren't a fan of BBQ. I ordered an appetizer for my family to share of jalepeno poppers, mozzarella sticks, onion rings and chicken fingers which was fried crispy and it was very tasty. Generous portions were common throught the evening. My entree was the BBQ Rib Combo where you can choose any two lunch size portions for $18.99. My order came with baked beans (very tasty w/ bacon in it) and coleslaw (just ok) but there are no substitutions (BOO!). My wife and son each ordered BBQ chicken and they were satisfied with their meals. My ribs were just ok. The baby backs were ok, they have a nice sauce but I guess they paled in comparison to the beef ribs which would have been nice if they had more meat and less fat on such a huge bone. The beef ribs were really greasy but they had good flavor, just not enough meat. Either way the meal was very filling, I ordered a drink from the bar (A Hurricane) that took very long to arrive but was nice when it did come out. All in all, Big Daddy's Family BBQ gets a big B as my rating. A fun time with good food and lots of it equals a nice spot to dine in the Poconos.

If you love great hibachi in a nice clean, quiet atmosphere without all the flair and expense of a certain "destination", then Ichiban Hibachi Steakhouse in Bartonsville, PA is the place for you and your family. Located in the Bartonsville Plaza along with such establishments as Moe's Southwest Grill and Yuppy Puppy, when you first enter, you walk into a very charming, clean lobby that has a fountain. A second set of doors leads into a very roomy and clean bar area and two distinct dining areas, one for regular dining and one for hibachi. Prices are very reasonable and Ichiban has lunch specials as well. Looking for one of their coupons will save you a few dollars, making an already good deal, better. Portions are generous and you are entertained by top hibachi chefs who know how to put on a good show. Ichiban Hibachi Steakhouse is a must if you appreciate quality hibachi at a fair price. There are other places that try to impress you with style, but Ichiban gets my highest rating. A+

If you want a great hot dog with a wide array of toppings, or other great food items like hamburgers, italian sausages, fries, knishes, and more, then you should pay a visit to Hot Diggitee Dog located right on Rt. 611 in Bartonsville. Bordering the Pocono Creek, Hot Diggitee Dog is a great place to park your car on a nice day and sit outside on one of their picnic tables that offer a great view and the delightful sounds of the creek. But the great eats are sure to please you. I just had two delicious Sabrett hot dogs topped with chili and a Gabila Coney Island Style Knish. Yum! They also feature skinless hot dogs as well and Hot Diggitee Dog is the "Home of the Footlong", so if you think you can handle the ultimate hot dog, "The Footlong", then Hot Diggitee Dog is the place for you! You can also schedule parties on their lovely grounds for birthdays or other occasions. I would love to see you there.

A big day in Bartonsville today! At 8am, the new Giant grocery stored opened their doors! Located where the old truck stop was, it is prime location, nestled near Routes 80, 611 & 33. It looks like a large store as I drive by! There is also a new Red Lobster located in the same complex, which should be opening soon. The Giant hired 240 full and part time employees! More good news for the Poconos!