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Sounds much like what I found soon after moving to Brooklyn and stumbling upon Marco Polo in Carroll Gardens.

Really should've mentioned G. Esposito & Sons pork store. They specialize in pork, but are a full butcher. They also make great, and huge, sandwiches, prosciutto balls (which are fried rice balls with cheese and bits of prosciutto in them) and a KILLER house-made sopressatto.

Back when I could still eat like a pig, the first time I tried the Schmitter, I had two double Schmitters. The waitress said she'd never seen anyone do that. Good times.

Nine times out of ten anyone Kenny's rude to had it coming. Plus, his schtick is part of the charm of the place. Also, part of why prices are so high -- he knows he can get away with charging what he wants because people are going to keep coming. That said, a lot of the choices give you heaps of food on your plate. His sliders are really good. I'm fond of the high school hot lunch: turkey sandwich in a bowl along with stuffing and gravy. Some of his soups are inspired; I'd advise you to pick the least likely one and you'll probably really like it. Most of the breakfast dishes are good to great. Patsy's cashew chicken is really tasty too. Get there if you can, whyusesfork. And bring cash, 'cause it's cash only.

They may be good, but Paesano's has the best sandwiches -- including roast pork -- in all of Philadelphia. AND fantastic roasted potatoes.

Bessfour, give it another try. In the past 10 - 15 years I've had at least one meal a year at Lugar's (a friend always makes us go there for his birthday dinner), and quite a few of them have been meh. In that same period I've gone to Keen's a whole bunch (though not quite as many times) and have never had a bad meal or experience. Though I must say that I had the prime rib as a lunch, in the pub, and wasn't all that impressed. Then again, it was the only time I didn't have the mutton chop.

I prefer Eisenberg's Sandwich #9 (named in honor of Eliot Spitzer). It's hot tongue on rye.

You can get a semi-decent ripoff at This Little Piggy in the E.Vill.

Seconding BobInVa, here. Coffee Time is great stuff. Anyone in NYC wanting to try it, you can find it at the Food Emporium near Union Square. And save yourself from being ripped off paying the outrageous price Momofuku Milk Bar charges for coffee milk.

No, Schiff's is a meat store and supermarket in Scranton.

And that's the impostor. I stupidly added "Lunch" when the original is just Coney Island. Here's their Web site: http://www.coneyislandofscranton.com/CIOS1/Welcome.html The place is all spiffed up now, after is was gutted by an arson last year. So glad they stuck with it and reopened.

The only way I found it was thanks to printed out Mapquest directions, and even then it was tough.

Joe and John are great guys. According to them, they used to be hippies and hardcore gamblers, but they got religion and turned their lives around, eventually taking the place over from their dad, who used to cut hair in the now-vacant barbershop next door.

Clarifying a couple of things. They don't have a computer, but one of the brothers regularly goes to the public library to surf the Net. He is especially good at finding mentions of their place, which he prints and adds to their collection.

Secondly, the dogs are pan fried, but what gives them extra zip is that they are pan-fried in oil. They used to use Crisco, but it got too pricey, so they use cooking oil they buy in bulk.

Their religiosity might be off-putting to some, but they really don't shove it down your throat or preach at you (with the exception of the tracts and Bible verses on the walls). Get over that and you'll have a fine time. My girlfriend and I went there two or three times one summer, then came back late the next summer and were stunned when Joe greeted us by name. He remembered!

Oh, and the mealie is simply the finest dog I've ever had, with Coney Island Lunch in Scranton, PA, a distant second.

The Sister Schubert's Web site has not been updated with some really big news: Sam's Club is now carrying her Parker House rolls, in a 30-count package! I checked Sam's Club's site, and it looks like they are in pretty much all their stores. Great news for NYers and NJites who don't hate WalMart.

Amen, Brian! From the abundance of junk food (Tastycakes; various brands of potato chips; Frozen Run birch beer) to all kinds of Italian, Greek and Slavic delicacies. The area can't be beat.