By Maryilyn Otterson
Staff Writer

You probably won't see many tourists in Belmont Hall & Restaurant. It's not the highly visible eatery a stranger might find, as it's hidden away in a more residential area of the city on the corner of Belmont and Grove streets. The place has quite a following of satisfied customers, though, and is almost always serving meals to a good-sized number of patrons.

If you like homestyle food, big breakfasts and hearty meals at moderate prices served in a convivial atmosphere with good service, you'll probably enjoy a meal at Belmont Hall. The Commodore, my frequent dining companion, and I recently stopped in for lunch and enjoyed our meals. Breakfast is served from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and we saw some huge breakfasts being served at lunchtime. The regular menu offers appetizers including sweet potato fries, meal-sized salads, sandwiches from about $2.29 for egg salad and a "Western" sandwich of egg, ham, onions and peppers on toast for $2.99, plus wraps and burgers from around $6, served with fries. 

Entrees of beef, chicken, pork and seafood are priced around $8.50 and are served with two sides. You can choose from soup, salad, homemade mashed potatoes, rice pilaf, fries, potato salad, cottage cheese, baked beans, coleslaw, sliced tomato and pickled beets.

In addition, there are menu choices under the heading "Less filling-tastes great" that offer smaller meals at a lower price, such as ham and beans, $5.99; soup and half sandwich, $4.39; or fish and chips, $6.99. There's also a kids' menu, priced at $4.59, that includes an entrée, milk or soft drink, fries or vegetable, and dessert. They also have a full liquor license and homemade desserts.

Although he could hardly take his eyes off a giant Belgian waffle topped with whipped cream and fresh strawberries, the Commodore chose a cheeseburger with sautéed onions and peppers. It was juicy and flavorful, served medium rare on a fresh bun. Fries come with burgers at the Belmont, but he could substitute another side instead, so he chose a soup of the day, chicken and rice. It was filled with rice and some chicken pieces and was very hot. Although it was extremely salty and had the flavor of a commercial soup base, he ate it right up and said it was "OK."

I chose one of the day's specials, stuffed pepper, served with two sides, $5.99. This was a bargain lunch. I elected to start with salad, served as one of my side dishes, and was presented with a big, crisp, mixed salad with lettuce, onion rings, tomato, green pepper and cucumber, served with my choice of a very chunky, homemade blue cheese dressing. This was an excellent starter.

The pepper was filled with a beef/rice mixture, which was very mild, but the whole was enlivened by a feisty, chunky tomato sauce. My second side was mashed potatoes, mildly seasoned and, as promised, homemade. This was a hearty meal that I let the Commodore sample and he also thought it was good. Other specials included a roast pork dinner, $8.99; and a smoked turkey and bacon, lettuce, tomato and chipotle dressing sandwich.

Belmont Hall & Restaurant, 718 Grove St., has a hall for functions and caters parties. It is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day except Christmas, for breakfast and lunch, and on Friday and Saturday until 8.p.m. for dinner.  For more information, call 625-8540.