Vernon’s Thunderbird Diner — Restaurant in Hammonds Plains

Vernon's Thunderbird Diner has been on my list of places to visit for years. Today, we finally had the chance to go. Was our first and last visit in one.

We got in and placed the orders fine enough, but it took a long time for a Vernon's poutine, a classic burger with rings, and fries chicken dinner to come out. Ok, it was a little busy, dining room was maybe half full? The patio wasn't busy. Take out could have been. Let that go.

The food came out and 1 of 3 were wrong. Ok, no problem. Said we ordered the burger without cheese. The waitress took it back and returned with the cheese scraped off. That's a hard stop. Remake the burger. Sent it back again, asking for it to be remade. By the time it came out, we were 3/4 the way through eating the other meals.

The Vernon's poutine was ok. Full of burger that wasn't overcooked. The onions were not caramelized as advertised, but at least cooked. The gravy was running. Not many cheese curds. But, overall, edible and not worth complaining about in the restaurant.

The fried chicken was...bland. It reads like chicken dredged in flour with no salt or pepper. Where was the flavor???? When I saw they sold it as a family meal, I expected something....good. Some spice or herbs, even if not the 11 used by the Colonel. Very bland. It was almost disgraceful to the chicken.

The strawberry shortcake may have been the saving grace to the meal. While the biscuit was a little dry, it did soak up the juice well and we decided that was a benefit and not a detractor.

As the waitress never asked about our meals, we simply ate it and went on with our day. Overall, it was an experience, just one we won't repeat for nearly $100.

They need to fix some quality issues in the kitchen and the staff needs to remember that they provide an important service...

Oh! And tips on their debit machine start at 18%. No. Especially not for the level of service we received today. (Yes, we tipped equal to the tax on the meal, but given the only attention we received was to be given drinks with no offer of refills, the meal with no check in to see how it was, and dessert with some small talk as if that makes up for the experience...they are lucky we tipped that much).

Very...

First visit to Vernon's. Surprisingly busy for 1:30 pm on a Thursday.

Seated promptly and drink orders taken. They are licensed. The on-line menu makes no mention of that nor of their old fashion milkshakes listed on the chalk board. A missed opportunity. A nice selection of craft and commercial beer on tap.

The eating area is all hard surface and being quite full, it was loud and difficult to carry on conversations. The Lombard Effect was in full flight. That can be tamed if management so chooses.

There are daily specials. Thursday was corned beef and cabbage. No mention of daily specials on the website. Another opportunity area.

The corned beef and cabbage was a generous helping. Included were boiled potatoes, a slab of boiled rutabaga and carrots so technically a New England Boiled Dinner. Judged 10/10 and coming from a Newfoundlander, that's very high praise.

Hot turkey sandwich was very good. There were mushrooms in the gravy which are not mentioned in the menu and could result in an unnecessary returned meal. Peas and corn on the side were on the tough side but the main meal was very good earning an 8/10

Pan fried haddock, the fish was as good as it gets. The herb marinating was fairly heavy in garlic which might not be to everyone's taste. Side veg was broccoli and carrots. The carrots were amazingly tasty. Tartar sauce was homemade and very good. French fries were okay. Properly cooked but for some reason had no taste. 9/10, the fish carried the day.

Club House sandwich did all it should. The menu said it was served on local bakery bread but it sure seemed like it was Bens. Side was an upgraded Caesar salad. Nice to see dark green leaves in there as opposed to the quick way of using the tasteless Romaine hearts. Croutons had been refried – a nice touch and the Parmesan was cut. The salad missed the mark because the kitchen was trying too hard. There was too much dressing, bacon, croutons and cheese. Dial all that back, shave the cheese rather than slice it and the salad will be a winner. 6.5/10

Our server, Kelly G., simply knocked it out of the park. ...

Drove for 30 minutes to try a new place with friends. We had researched the menu and were looking forward to their soup and a few other dishes. Staff was very friendly and polite in seating us with menus.

Took over 8 minutes to have some one get our drink orders which was 4 waters and 4 milk shakes. 7 more minutes before the waters showed up and our food order was taken. 2 appetizers were ordered (salad and a bowl of soup). Waitress confirmed twice the were wanted as appetizers. One person ordered a cheese burger plain. He repeated 3 times nothing on the burger but cheese. Waitress confirmed it.

5 minutes later shakes arrive. 27 minutes later food arrives. Waitress sets the main dishes in front of 2 people and the salad down. Then goes to get the rest. When she came back with the other 2 mains I said the soup and salad were supposed to be appetizers. She just said oh shoot. Do you want them now or take them off your bill? I said I didnt want them now as our main dishes would get cold. She said fine. Then placed the burger covered in lettuce, tomato and mayo in front of my friend. when he said this isnt right she just said oh you wanted nothing at all on it? And took his plate back to the kitchen. When she brought it back the burger was correct but the fries were cold.

We then had to ask a girl clearing a near by table for silverware as none was provided to us. And again had to ask the same girl for vinegar as our waitress was nowhere to be found.

At no point in the 2 hours we were there were we offered any extra water. I drink alot of water and ended up drinking 3 of the 4 glasses of water. Food was ok. Not great and definitely not worth the 30 minute drive. I was still charged for the salad the waitress had out on the table but not the soup. I feel I should have not been charged the salad either as it was her mistake.

Definitely won't be making a Special trip here again. Maybe if I'm in the area I would try it again...