(Credit: Erica Kritt)
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The first page lays down the law: no substitutions, no cell phones, gratuity added to parties of six or more. I'm a big fan of substitutions, but I followed the rules and dealt with it. My friend, the rebel that he is, received a call while we dined -- and he actually answered it. Lucky for him, there was no confrontation.
While our food was prepared, we took a self-guided tour of the restaurant and bar. Golden West is the kitschy, non-commercial version of Applebee's or T.G.I. Friday's. Instead of posters of Elvis, the walls are covered with the somewhat more refined images of "Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper." In fact, according to our waitress (who was noticeably flair-free), the owner diligently searches for paint-by-number paintings to fill the restaurant.
The East-meets-West restaurant offers up both Mexican-style meals and foods like Thai chicken and mint salad or Vietnamese shrimp. The country tunes and the wooden Chinese dragon carving may appear to represent opposing philosophies, but provide an excellent reminder of the eclectic influences that inspire Golden West.
Dish: Choosing a meal was staggeringly difficult. I went for the apple and Brie sandwich -- a unique blend of pesto, melted Brie and crisp apple slices. The dish came with either peanut noodles, garlic fries or side salad. I opted for the peanut noodles. My friend ordered the turkey Brie and chutney sandwich with the garlic fries. Everything was warm and fresh. My Brie and apples felt like a healthier version of a perfectly melted cheese sandwich.
Damage: My sandwich and noodles were $6.75, and half my sandwich went home with me. My friend's turkey chutney came to $7.25 plus $1.25 for a soda with free refills. Being a fan of plain old water, I had plenty of change left over. After our meal, the waitress asked if we would be interested in a free (key word: free) slice of sweet potato pie. If there is one thing I love more than good food, it's free food. According to our waitress, a local baker supplies the restaurant with her pies. If Golden West doesn't sell all the pies by a certain time, they have to be thrown out or given away. Thus, free pie!
Decision: Despite the Hampden "color" and the strict no-substitution policy, Golden West should be as much of a draw as its neighbors, Café Hon and Holy Frijoles. Plus, it's got a really awesome collection of paint-by-number Jesuses.
