The Palmer, MA hotspot should be updated. I believe this was posted in July 2006. Some of the information is incorrect now in 2014, like the antique shop is now the Steaming Tender Restraunt, and it reads that "...any six-axle power in Conrail or CSX paint may head CSX trains." Times have definitley changed! Palmer is in Trains' Hot Spots Guidebook with more updated information. Palmer can be added to the "Hot Spots Reader Gallery." I have a good amount of photos on my Flickr account that can be used for either site along with some videos in Palmer on my YouTube account.
Say, just how is "The Steaming Tender" restaurant nowadays? Lady Firestorm and I ate there, oh, I think around 2008 when we went to the Brimfield antiques show. The food and service were excellent.
THEN, about two years later we were back for another Brimfield show, went to the "Steaming Tender" again and this time the food was mediocre and the service was a disorganized mess. Are they back to their original high standards? That second visit was a huge disappointment, to say the least.
Doesn't ANYBODY know?
I don't eat there much, but I have a few times recently. My first meal there was in 2011, which was the breakfast buffet for $9.99. It was real good! Lots of variety. The lunch and supper/dinner meals aren't bad, they could be better along with the service, but it is always good to support the station to keep the restaraunt and railfanning hotspot open. I've only eaten there 4-5 times, so I can't give a "full" review on it.
Thanks for response Vince! Sounds like there's been a definate improvement since we were last there. The service we had at our last visit, which was prior to your first in 2011 was absoutely abysmal. The wife, Lady Firestorm, is a former waitress herself and has little to no patience for incompetant restaurant service. Lady Firestorm indeed! She was in rare form that night! Her withering glare at the hostess who was supposed to be seating guests but was yakking on her cell phone was a sight to see! Practically melted the woman into the floor!
But she got the message, in spades!
Well, I think it would be worth another try!
Another try of the "Icy Glare of Death"? Or another try of the "Steaming Tender?"
One day we'll be back up that way for the Brimfield show, so we've got to know!
By the way, last time we were there Palmer had a classic old diner in the center of town that was open as a breakfast-to-lunch eatery. How's that place, it looked pretty good, but we always missed it's open hours. I believe it was called "The Night Owl."
I've never heard of it or eaten there.
Thanks for the response Vince! Maybe we'll run into each other one day!
No problem! I'll probably be at the table across from you! lol
Firelock76 Another try of the "Icy Glare of Death"? Or another try of the "Steaming Tender?" One day we'll be back up that way for the Brimfield show, so we've got to know! By the way, last time we were there Palmer had a classic old diner in the center of town that was open as a breakfast-to-lunch eatery. How's that place, it looked pretty good, but we always missed it's open hours. I believe it was called "The Night Owl."
It is actually the Day & Night Diner at 1456 Main Street in Palmer. If you time your visit right you can also visit Palmer Hobbies at 1428 Main St.
The "Day and Night"! THAT'S what it was! AND a hobby shop down the street as well! All the more reason to go back.
Lady Firestorm and I are both hard-core diner fans and typically won't pass up a chance to try any one we see, especially an old classic that the years have been kind to. Unfortunately as I said, we just couldn't make the "Day and Night."
Thank you dmoore74!
Firelock76The "Day and Night"! THAT'S what it was!
And they have a Web site.
There is a railroad.com thread on Palmer Hobbies here. This contains quite a bit of interesting information about the area...
Yep, that's it all right, just like we saw, a 1941 Worcester.
Thanks for the link Wizlish! You may find this interesting as well.
www.roadsideonline.com
Firelock76 Yep, that's it all right, just like we saw, a 1941 Worcester.
Just in case anyone doesn't appreciate what that is, here is a slightly different version of your link.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.