Grant's Bakery is one of the few real bakeries that I am aware left in Maine. Back when I was a kid MacDonald's Bakery in Gardiner was the greatest place to get baked goods, breads, cookies, donuts, and more.
Grant's is similar in that you can get cakes, cookies, donuts, baked goods, breads, hot soups, and of course being in the heavily French community they have creton, tourtiere pie, and on Saturdays the traditional baked beans and brown bread.
I have been there many times in the past, but on this visit I picked up a peanut butter whoopie pie, and a couple ginger and molasses cookies. I've never bought anything from there that I didn't like.
When I was a kid MacDonald's Bakery made these frosted gingerbread men cookies that were similar to these made by Grant's, however MacDonald's frosted theirs completely covered all of the cookie and not just around the edges. Although these are close, they are not as good as MacDonald's were.
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Simones' Hot Dog Stand has delivered their World Famous Hot Dogs to the residents of Lewiston for over a hundred years, since 1908. I had only been there once prior to my visit on Friday April 8th.
I arrived just before the lunch rush and sat at the counter. Besides Hot Dogs they offer a large menu of breakfast and lunch items. On Wednesdays steamed hot dogs are just $1, a deal you can't beat.
I myself got the #1 combo which is two steamed hot dogs, french fries or onion rings, and choice of beverage. I got the hand cut french fries. I watched my server cut two potatoes withe slicer and drop them directly into the fryer. Can't get fresher than that!
The buns are New England Style top split and were steamed to perfection, the steamed dogs are Jordan's brand red snappers, any my beverage of choice was an ice cold Moxie, the official soft drink of Maine! The whole mead was delicious!
The Steamer
Everyone working there that I had interaction were super nice making you feel right at home. I wouldn't hesitate to go back in the future.
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According
to my mom I first went to Val’s Drive In when I was just a few weeks
old back in 1979. I recently took my 10 week old son Wesley to Val’s
and my Mom noted I was younger than him
the first time.
Val’s
first opened in 1959 as an A & W Root Beer Drive In and became
Val’s in 1974. As one of the only 5 Car Hop Drive In’s left in Maine, that
I know of, Val’s is open seasonally from mid-April
to Early October and is the only one that has no inside seating. Val’s has
no marked parking spots but the vehicles are corralled well by the car
hops who have always been dressed in red tops and white bottoms. They
are very prompt, but don’t forget to blink
your lights for service.
Val’s
is known for their delicious homemade Root Beer that they serve in ice
cold frosty mugs. They also use to make their own Orange soda, and in my life
time of going there I have never tried it,
which is odd as I love Orange soda, I truly missed out. You can buy their Root Beer but
the Quart and Half Gallon.
Val’s menu has featured the same daily specials and the prices have only gone up slightly over the years. Monday thru Thursday you can get a Hamburger, French fry, & frost Root beer for $4.50.
Friday thru Sunday a large Onion Ring is only $2.99, Tuesday’s Hot Dogs are only $1.25 and Wednesday’s Hamburgers are $1.35.
Their
menu features a specialty burger called the Heart Attack which is
burger with double bacon and double cheese. Another burger not on the
menu is the Triple Bypass a triple burger with
three layers of bacon and cheese between two grilled cheese
sandwiches.
I
went to Oak Hill High School and used to go to Val’s all the time back
then, now I live a little further away, but always make it a point to go
a couple times each season for their delicious
food and fantastic Root Beer.
If you're in the area you need to check it out, and even if you're not in the area it's worth the drive!
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Later Readers!
These two photos were taken in 2002, you can really see the changes.
Here's a commercial for Val's that I found on You Tube
Update: 4/18/2016
Last fall a drunk driver crashed into Val's sign knocking it down. They replaced it with a new sign this years. It's nice but it doesn't have that classic drive in feel.
