Shelley Taylor
Feast in the '50s
Published on Wed, Jul 28, 2010 by Shelley TaylorRead More Taylor
Hi-way 101 Diner
392 W. Washington St., Sequim
683-3388
6 a.m.-9 p.m.
Monday-Saturday
7 a.m-9 p.m. Sunday
$-$$
What welcomes with curbside vintage gas pumps, pays homage to icons Elvis, Marilyn, James Dean and Bogie, and will serve you up a tasty burger and fries and a hand-dipped milk shake?
It's easy to step back in time to those yearned-for days of the '50s; just take a seat at the Hi-way 101 Diner.
Once a gas station, it must've gotten plenty of business from vacationers enjoying the freedom of the new car culture. In 1990, it became what it is today: a humble diner - with all the required diner menu choices.
The '50s are recreated in candy pastels awash in a haze of pink neon. The floor is a highly polished checkerboard of black and white; the counters are lined with shiny chrome swivel chairs; and for your weary feet, an old-fashioned foot bar.
Dig that crazy '57 pink T-Bird jukebox. A model car collection, old "new" car advertisements, movie posters, a gallery of Red Skelton clowns and glimpses of Western heros Roy Rogers, The Lone Ranger, and, of course, The Duke are posted everywhere.
The open kitchen reveals stacks of rainbow-hued Fiestaware awaiting their next serving.
In the background, the Everly Brothers are singing "Wake Up Little Susie."
Greg and I found our way to the "101" on our first trip to the peninsula. I've enjoyed many a tuna sandwich there, along with sweet potato fries with plenty of ketchup.
Diner tip: Forget that knife to coax your ketchup out of the bottle. Just turn the bottle upside down, look for the raised "57" on the neck of the bottle and give it a good hit. Heinz folklore says that's why the "57" was put there!
Doing dinner at the '101'
We recently met friends Rick and Marty for dinner. They turned me on to the budget-saving 101 Frequent Diners Card. Ask for one.
Dinner at the diner opened up new possibilities - we usually go for lunch.
Marty and Rick ordered the Hickory Smoked St. Louis-Style BBQ Ribs and Liver & Onions, respectively. But Greg was in the mood for breakfast and he was in luck - it's served all day. His Mexican Three Egg Omelet was filled with jalapeño peppers, onions and Monterey Jack cheese under a generous helping of salsa.
I thought I'd try some '50s-style comfort food and got their ultra rich Macaroni & Cheese swimming in oodles of cheddar, mozzarella, American and the unexpected blue cheese. The accompanying salad with crisp lettuce, shredded carrots, red onion, cucumber and red cabbage, was topped with fried wonton croutons.
They make the majority of their salad dressings: raspberry vinaigrette, ranch, 1,000 island, French, honey mustard, blue cheese, Italian and Caesar.
It was hard passing up their warm garlic bread, but a girl's gotta find some way to redeem some calories.
Rick's grilled liver had plenty of caramelized onions and was sliced in such a way to make it tender; his potato choice, hash browns, was nice and crisp.
Marty's pork ribs were pretty darn big, juicy and tender, and covered in smoky sauce. For her two sides, she chose slaw and those sweet potato fries.
About a week later I had a hankering for a "101" hand-formed burger and met friend Judie for lunch.
My Johnny B. Good burger of 100 percent fresh-ground chuck was layered with lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo. And I splashed on a ton of yellow mustard. Their homemade slaw was the perfect complement.
Other burger choices were California Dreamin' with bacon and guacamole; the Blue Moon comes with blue cheese crumbles, bacon, jalapeño, Swiss and brown sugar sauce; and the Great Pretender, their garden burger on an onion bun.
They also offer Chicken Burgers, ask for the Peggy Sue, Big Bopper or Little Deuce Coupe.
Instead of grilling one big 7-ounce burger, they split theirs into two medium patties. It cuts down on cooking time so patrons can enjoy their burgers, get in and out and back to work on time.
The pillowy booths allow you to spread out and hold your burger with both hands.
Judie ordered the homemade Hickory Smoked BBQ Pulled-Pork Sandwich and she said it was "just amazing."
Since they "concoct" their own soups, we both had to try this day's tomato with tomato chunks, bacon, pepper and onions. Very tasty.
Big salads were hard to pass up: Dungeness Crab Louis, shrimp, Cobb, taco, chef and Caesar all looked great.
Pasta dishes include Dean Martin Spaghetti Bowl, Chicken Parmigiana and Uncle Bob's Spaghetti Loaf layered with ricotta and Alfredo sauce and marinara.
And lots more - something for every appetite. Save room for dessert including homemade berry pies, lemon burst short cake or Mississippi Mud Pie with coffee ice cream, Oreo crust, chocolate syrup and whipped cream.
A burger will cost ya less than a 10-spot; there's no charge for the journey back to the '50s.
Shelly Taylor and her husband relocted to the peninsula from California. By her own admission, Taylor likes to eat.
392 W. Washington St., Sequim
683-3388
6 a.m.-9 p.m.
Monday-Saturday
7 a.m-9 p.m. Sunday
$-$$
What welcomes with curbside vintage gas pumps, pays homage to icons Elvis, Marilyn, James Dean and Bogie, and will serve you up a tasty burger and fries and a hand-dipped milk shake?
It's easy to step back in time to those yearned-for days of the '50s; just take a seat at the Hi-way 101 Diner.
Once a gas station, it must've gotten plenty of business from vacationers enjoying the freedom of the new car culture. In 1990, it became what it is today: a humble diner - with all the required diner menu choices.
The '50s are recreated in candy pastels awash in a haze of pink neon. The floor is a highly polished checkerboard of black and white; the counters are lined with shiny chrome swivel chairs; and for your weary feet, an old-fashioned foot bar.
Dig that crazy '57 pink T-Bird jukebox. A model car collection, old "new" car advertisements, movie posters, a gallery of Red Skelton clowns and glimpses of Western heros Roy Rogers, The Lone Ranger, and, of course, The Duke are posted everywhere.
The open kitchen reveals stacks of rainbow-hued Fiestaware awaiting their next serving.
In the background, the Everly Brothers are singing "Wake Up Little Susie."
Greg and I found our way to the "101" on our first trip to the peninsula. I've enjoyed many a tuna sandwich there, along with sweet potato fries with plenty of ketchup.
Diner tip: Forget that knife to coax your ketchup out of the bottle. Just turn the bottle upside down, look for the raised "57" on the neck of the bottle and give it a good hit. Heinz folklore says that's why the "57" was put there!
Doing dinner at the '101'
We recently met friends Rick and Marty for dinner. They turned me on to the budget-saving 101 Frequent Diners Card. Ask for one.
Dinner at the diner opened up new possibilities - we usually go for lunch.
Marty and Rick ordered the Hickory Smoked St. Louis-Style BBQ Ribs and Liver & Onions, respectively. But Greg was in the mood for breakfast and he was in luck - it's served all day. His Mexican Three Egg Omelet was filled with jalapeño peppers, onions and Monterey Jack cheese under a generous helping of salsa.
I thought I'd try some '50s-style comfort food and got their ultra rich Macaroni & Cheese swimming in oodles of cheddar, mozzarella, American and the unexpected blue cheese. The accompanying salad with crisp lettuce, shredded carrots, red onion, cucumber and red cabbage, was topped with fried wonton croutons.
They make the majority of their salad dressings: raspberry vinaigrette, ranch, 1,000 island, French, honey mustard, blue cheese, Italian and Caesar.
It was hard passing up their warm garlic bread, but a girl's gotta find some way to redeem some calories.
Rick's grilled liver had plenty of caramelized onions and was sliced in such a way to make it tender; his potato choice, hash browns, was nice and crisp.
Marty's pork ribs were pretty darn big, juicy and tender, and covered in smoky sauce. For her two sides, she chose slaw and those sweet potato fries.
About a week later I had a hankering for a "101" hand-formed burger and met friend Judie for lunch.
My Johnny B. Good burger of 100 percent fresh-ground chuck was layered with lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo. And I splashed on a ton of yellow mustard. Their homemade slaw was the perfect complement.
Other burger choices were California Dreamin' with bacon and guacamole; the Blue Moon comes with blue cheese crumbles, bacon, jalapeño, Swiss and brown sugar sauce; and the Great Pretender, their garden burger on an onion bun.
They also offer Chicken Burgers, ask for the Peggy Sue, Big Bopper or Little Deuce Coupe.
Instead of grilling one big 7-ounce burger, they split theirs into two medium patties. It cuts down on cooking time so patrons can enjoy their burgers, get in and out and back to work on time.
The pillowy booths allow you to spread out and hold your burger with both hands.
Judie ordered the homemade Hickory Smoked BBQ Pulled-Pork Sandwich and she said it was "just amazing."
Since they "concoct" their own soups, we both had to try this day's tomato with tomato chunks, bacon, pepper and onions. Very tasty.
Big salads were hard to pass up: Dungeness Crab Louis, shrimp, Cobb, taco, chef and Caesar all looked great.
Pasta dishes include Dean Martin Spaghetti Bowl, Chicken Parmigiana and Uncle Bob's Spaghetti Loaf layered with ricotta and Alfredo sauce and marinara.
And lots more - something for every appetite. Save room for dessert including homemade berry pies, lemon burst short cake or Mississippi Mud Pie with coffee ice cream, Oreo crust, chocolate syrup and whipped cream.
A burger will cost ya less than a 10-spot; there's no charge for the journey back to the '50s.
Shelly Taylor and her husband relocted to the peninsula from California. By her own admission, Taylor likes to eat.
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