Late Breakfast...and Believe it or Not, More Shopping

 ...continuing with the family visit and Laurie's sister Bonnie and Bonnie's husband Bill.  Yes, we were out eating yet again!  This time we decided to have a late breakfast or brunch, just before shopping a bit more.  Breakfast is a bit of a challenge here in East Tennessee.  There are a fair number of OK or average breakfast destinations but we have yet to find one that sets the world on fire and we've been here for more than 15 years.

This is Don Delfi's Pancake House and Restaurant.  Another similar style restaurant occupied this spot in Farragut/Knoxville Tennessee prior to Don Delfi's start up in 2020.  We've eaten here a few times before, both prior to and since the current owner's business began.   

Don Delfi's dining room is more than double the size shown in this photo.  The tables are well spaced and there are booths as well.  The restaurant always seems well maintained.   

So, how was the food?  It had been about 2 years since we had last eaten here as it's not close to our home. 

This time I'll start with my breakfast... It's the Country Fried Steak and Eggs with hash brown potatoes and 3 over easy eggs.  It also came with toast or a biscuit. ($12.99) One must admit that this is a big breakfast for the money given restaurant prices these days.

The eggs were cooked perfectly and the hashbrown potatoes were decent but just a bit too crispy.  I like country fried steak but this one didn't hit the spot.  Whether it was or not, it tasted like a previously frozen commercially breaded chopped steak.  

What was I thinking when I took this photo?!  Horrid angle... In any case this was Laurie's breakfast, just a Belgian waffle with butter and syrup and a side of bacon. ($10.74) The bacon was good and the waffle was OK.  She skipped the powdered sugar on the waffle.  We're kind of spoiled by the malted waffles that we make at home so a comparison is tough.

This was Bill's breakfast.  He likes just about everything so this was an appropriate breakfast for him to order.  It's the Melting Pot Skillet. ($13.99) Starting with a base of fried cubed potatoes, it was then layered with bacon, diced ham, sausage links and onions, covered with American, cheddar and Swiss cheeses, then topped with 3 fried eggs.  A biscuit or toast is also included.  

Bill enjoyed his breakfast but on hindsight, he decided that he should have ordered a less complex skillet breakfast.  Of course, as previously noted, the portion was huge!

Bonnie kept it simple.  She went for a short stack (3) pancakes with butter and syrup with a fruit cup as a side. ($10.99) The pancakes were good and she enjoyed her fruit cup.  If I remember correctly, Bill did purloin one of her pancakes, one of his favorite foods.

Don Delfi's Pancake House and Restaurant is located just off US Hwy 11/70 in Farragut Tennessee at 120 West End Avenue.  This restaurant is open from 7 AM to 3 PM Monday through Saturday and from 8 AM until 3 PM on Sunday.  Website: https://www.dondelfispancakerestaurant.com/order. 

So what did we do next?  A little shopping of course...

When Laurie and I last visited St. Louis Missouri and spent time with Bonnie and Bill, Bonnie directed us to a new Painted Tree Boutiques location near their home.  Stupid me... When I was looking for things the ladies would like when Bonnie and Bill visited us, I discovered that we also had a Painted Tree Boutiques location in Knoxville.  So of course, we 'had to' check it out.

The difference between the new Painted Tree location in St. Louis Missouri versus this more established location was night and day.  Whereas the St. Louis location had plenty of unoccupied booths and minimal shopping appeal, I wasn't so lucky here!  More variety for sure with some antiques, books, clothing, lots of decor items and even a booth that stressed Tennessee Volunteer's Orange!  There wasn't much to attract male shoppers so Bill and I eventually ended up sitting on a bench at the front of the store as we waited for our wives.  

Yes, that is Laurie checking out with her purchases at Painted Tree Boutiques.  She did find a couple small items she had to have.  She looks happy doesn't she?  The worst part is that she's now a repeat shopper, with a special fixation on some coffee scented candles.  The positive for me is that the coffee smell (a little sweet), is so much better than most of the overly sweet smells that many women seem to favor.

Guys, we are doomed!  This boutique malls are springing up from Spark Nevada to Virginia Beach Virginia and from Chicago Illinois to San Antonio Texas.  Dallas and Houston both have 6 locations!  The store count is in the mid-50s and growing fast.

This particular Painted Tree Boutique location can be found at 9630 Kingston Pike in Knoxville Tennessee.  The store is open seven (7) days a week... The company's website is at https://paintedtree.com/.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit! 

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave