FORK IT: The Happy Hatter Diner, Medway

A weekday urge for late-morning breakfast brought the Gourmand and a friend to Medway, and the Happy Hatter Diner, located in the Medway Shopping Plaza at 98 Main St. (Route 109). Online reviews looked promising as was the hint of an Emerald Isle twist on familiar American breakfast items.

The ho-hum, strip mall location was not auspicious, nor was the slightly dated and well worn interior (The Happy Hatter is only about two years old, we learned, the furnishings, a good bit older!).

That's the negative. Positives there were, aplenty. Fast, friendly, and sincere service (no robotic servers here!). And the place was very tidy. The wall opposite the diner-style counter was festooned with dozens of old vinyl record album covers, spanning a few decades of the last century. Fun eye candy. And we actually heard a real Irish brogue!

Is it the food you want to know about? Well, friend had an idea that somewhere, there must be a place serving real (aka, made-on-premises) corned beef hash, and this turned out to be the place. The serving was ample and quality, very good.

The Gourmand had wanted breakfast but was tempted by the lunch special of the day, a reimagined Tuna Melt, with tomato and thin slices of red onion and cheddar cheese.  The serving size was just right, super flavorful. Would order it again. Coffee was decent.

Oh, and the fries, cut in the shape of a helix, were darn good. A bit too salty but the server suggested  ordering them unsalted, next time.

And there will be a next time. The prices were not rock-bottom, but reasonable. The extensive menu, familiar but with an adventuresome touch. Looking for a Thanksgiving Dinner to go? They do that, too!

CAUTION: The Happy Hatter is a cash only operation...