Shelley Taylor

It was "lunch with the goils" and it was a beautiful (and lately rare) sunny afternoon. So, at my suggestion, we met at Stymie's at The Cedars at Dungeness on Woodcock Road and dined al fresco overlooking the golf course with Mount Baker taking center stage.

 

As you might expect, the place was crawling with scratch players and duffers all decked out in the latest golf fashions. Pix of local celebrity golfers decorate the walls.

 

I've had lunch with the girls here several times and always enjoyed it. But then I forget it's an enjoyable option for lunch. No more!

 

We gathered at the height of lunch hour and the place was cookin' … lively … a hub of activity and most certainly including "tall tales of golfing prowess!"

 

There were seven of us at our table but still the service was attentive — and an almost-glitch was happily resolved.

 

For me, a sandwich with a fizzy sweet (diet!) drink is absolutely mandatory. But when my Pepsi arrived, it looked more like iced tea … no fizz. So, our eager-to-please server, Jocelyn, cheerfully replaced it. But the second attempt was no better. Well, sometimes the cola-dispensing machines are having a bad day. I decided to give up on the machine and asked if they had any canned cola. Unfortunately, that wasn't an option.

 

Oh well, guess I'd just have to tough it out.

 

Since I've been here before, I stuck with my Stymie's favorite, the Chicken Cherry Wrap sandwich. What's not to love with a delish blend of fresh chicken, dried cherries, fresh apples, pecans, onion, celery, lettuce and mayo snuggly wrapped in a soft tortilla ($9)?

 

But wait! Swooping in to save the day — and my meal — Jocelyn appeared with a can of diet Pepsi! What a gal! And that's the way a restaurant should be run. I don't know if anyone ran down to a market down the street or if they raided the employee cola machine, but I was very pleased and impressed with the effort.

 

Friends Marine and Candice both went for the Spicy Thai Wrap, grilled chicken mixed with the house Thai peanut sauce, lettuce, cabbage, tomato and cucumber. Just right for a hot day.

 

I sampled friend Laura's Chicken Caprese … yummy! Served on focaccia, the grilled chicken breast sported a balsamic glaze with fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil aïoli.

 

There are several salads for salad lovers to chose from. And how apropos! The mozzarella in Karlene's Panzanella Salad looked just like little golf balls! Only much tastier. Also in there were mixed greens, grape tomatoes, Greek olives with grilled rustic bread, served with the house balsamic vinaigrette ($10).

All dishes are made with fresh ingredients in Stymie's kitchen.

 

Stymie's serves a "signature" New England-style clam chowder made with its own recipe. And the soup of the day was a seafood bisque.

 

There are more than a half-dozen sides to be enjoyed: sweet potato and regular fries, tater tots, onion rings, coleslaw, "Cedar Chips," potato salad or fresh fruit.

 

All of which go well with any of their other offerings, like their Deli Style Sandwiches, including corned beef. A whole sandwich is $9, but if that's too much, they'll bring you a half sandwich for $7. I'd probably order the whole and take home the rest.

 

Stymie's encourages you to be "Meg Ryan" when it comes to ordering. An offer to "Customize It!" sits at the top of the menu!

 

Burgers are made with 100-percent certified Angus beef. One stands above the rest: the Dakoda is on the menu for $27! And it's BIG. So big the menu warns it takes 20 minutes to prepare. You get three 1-pound patties stacked with layers of bacon, ham, Swiss, cheddar and pepper jack cheese, caramelized onions, green chiles and lettuce. All topped with Steve's Famous Brandy Mustard Sauce. And, it comes with a full pound of fries! I smell an episode of the Travel Channel's "Man vs. Food" here.

 

Stymie's menu gives you lots of options from "lite" fare to entrees like Chicken Alfredo Fettuccini ($12). Or try Play-a-Round Baskets (fish tacos, tempura prawns, cod or brat sliders) and gourmet fish & chips.

Sandwich choices include a Miso Cod sandwich, French dip, meatloaf, Reuben, Steve's Philly Cheesesteak and Brewer's Bratwurst made with grilled German-style sausage, stoneground brandy mustard, sautéed onions and bell peppers on a rustic alpine roll ($9).

 

You get two opportunities for Happy Hour: from 4-6 p.m. and again from 8 p.m. to close. All the better to celebrate your first hole-in-one. Why not add an appetizer to go with: a hummus plate ($8), a pound of Jumbo Chicken Wings, or "Skin Game" — crispy potatoes topped with melted cheddar, bacon, green onions and jalepeños that comes with salsa and sour cream ($9.50). There are plenty of seafood appetizers, too.

 

If you haven't saved room, take home a dessert created by their in-house pastry chef.

 

The "goils" and I will be back again soon. We just had too much fun!