As my family would attest, one of my all time favorite meals is french fries and clam strips. I can be picky sometimes about food, but when it comes to this classic combo, I’m a junkie that will take any fix I can get.
This meal was from Pierri’s Central Restaurant (104 Village Square, Painted Post, NY). From Corning, that’s just a quick drive down Pultney, left on N. Hamilton and it’s kind of “hidden” in an industrial looking complex (Village Square) before you get to the highway. I’m describing it’s location in detail because it’s kind of hard to find; I didn’t know of it’s existence until yesterday when I was driving around looking for something new. From the front it looks more like a secret government building than a restaurant.
There’s parking in the front and the back, and from the back it looks more like a restaurant with patio seating in the summer. The inside is nice and it has quite a bit of seating with several dining areas. It feels like a cross between a nice diner and a family restaurant with a full lunch and dinner menu (sandwiches, wraps, steaks, seafood, etc…). They also have a daily specials menu which is quite extensive. For example, Friday’s Fish Fry has not just a simple fish fry but a variety of other seafood specialties. And Pasta Thursdays has a over 15 Italian dishes. Prices are more than reasonable (luches around $6, dinners around $10-$18).
Now back to my clam strips. Living in Florida I was a bit spoiled. The clam strips at one restaurant in particular were as long as chicken strips. However, at most places, I’m usually just hoping to find more than fried bits of batter. I was happy with the size and flavor of the clam strips at Pierri’s. The only others I’ve had in Corning were at Spencer’s and those were smaller. The strips at Pierri’s came with fries and both cocktail & tartar sauce (a definite plus; I prefer both and I always get frustrated when a place decides on one or the other for me). They also came with a lemon on the side to squeeze, which really brings out the flavor.
My girlfriend got this turkey club. A generous portion of turkey made it thick and juicy. It came with chips and costs around $6. I love clubs because you really can’t beat the value, especially at a place like this that piles on the meat.
I’m looking forward to coming back for dinner sometime. The best comparison would be with Spencers in downtown Corning. The menu items and prices between the two are similar – Pierri’s may be a tad less expensive and their daily menus keep things fresh. Reading through their website explains the history of their family, which has been in the local restaurant business since the 1940s. Give them a try if you haven’t yet.
Myles Lasco
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