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DINING OUT:
Plainville Farms Restaurant8450 Brewerton Road (Route 11)
Cicero, NY
(315) 699-3852
(View Map)by Tony Regitano
When Americans gather around their dining tables in November to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, the overwhelming majority will have the traditional centerpiece to their meals: turkey. Eighty-one percent (81%) say turkey is tops on their Thanksgiving menus. Ham comes in a distant second with 6% of respondents.
The traditional meal is the capstone to a day on which most Americans say they have reason to give thanks. Forty-two percent (42%) will enjoy their Thanksgiving meals at home and 41% will do so at a relative’s home. Eight percent (8%) say they’ll share their feast with friends and 5% will skip cooking and visiting all together by dining at a restaurant.
In the Central New York area, there is only one place to go for the ultimate Turkey Day dining experience. The Plainville Farms Restaurant located at 8450 Brewerton Rd. (Route 11) in Cicero is your best bet. Actually, it’s a best bet for ANY day of the year!
Plainville is a pleasant, casual eatery of rooms decorated in a classic American-style and color scheme adorned with murals that demote the Thanksgiving experience. Restaurant manager Ron Niedzwiecki makes a point of their use of almost all natural ingredients. The commitment is evidenced by a magnificent hydroponics display/experiment just inside the main entrance. His goal is to go all natural in the near future. All of the food is made at the restaurant.
Part of the menu concentrates on well prepared American classics – Pork Tenderloin ($9.99), Pot Roast ($9.99), Fisherman’s platter ($12.99), Natural Roast Beef dinner ($11.99), Pan Seared Salmon ($9.99) and Turkey Parmesan ($9.99)
There is also a selection of specials, sandwiches, burgers and salads on Plainville’s surprisingly diverse menu. Recently, Plainville has added wine to its offerings. The Wine list leans heavily toward moderately priced New York wines but also offers imported brands: Alice White Chardonnay (Australia), San Giuseppe Pinot Grigio (Italy) and Alice White Shiraz (Australia). There’s a choice of wines by the glass or bottle.
But let’s not kid ourselves. This eatery knows who it is. One goes to Plainville to eat the turkey; and turkey is what this restaurant does best. Turkey day used to mean that mom and family spent the day cooking while the males of the household crowded in front of the television to watch football games and eventually doze off on the couch. But those old traditions are fading, and today many families instead gobble up reservations for Thanksgiving dinner in a local restaurant. At Plainville Farms it’s important to make reservations early if you want to escape from your kitchen in November.Certainly, Thanksgiving Day is the most appropriate occasion for visiting Plainville, but this establishment offers perfectly prepared Turkey every day of the year with all of the fixings! The restaurant offers, according to its menu, "A Buffet for Every Appetite." The Thanksgiving Dinner ($12.99) includes the Bountiful Harvest salad bar plus, the featured turkey (white and dark meat), vegetables, squash, real mashed potatoes and baked potatoes, stuffing, turkey chili, soup, home made gravy and more. The buffet also offers carrot cake and cookies. They also offer "The One Plate Buffet" ($10.99) that is a one trip excursion to The Thanksgiving Dinner buffet.
We tried the Turkey Soup first and it was mouthwatering and had so many pieces of turkey in it that it was a meal in itself. The salad bar was one of the most extensive and freshest we have ever encountered. The turkey was carved before our very eyes and was moist and scrumptious. It was complemented by fresh cranberry sauce and Hubbard squash that literally melted in your month. Of course, the stuffing was exceptional covered with very light but savory turkey gravy. We also sampled a turkey chili that had a bite to it , baked ham and fried haddock. Also, Plainville offers specialty meals like corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day and other holidays. I had the "no sugar added" apple pie which tasted as good as any apple pie I had ever had. This pie is very popular with seniors who come regularly to the restaurant and are afforded special discounts. If apple doesn’t tickle your fancy, try the delectable berry pie. Turkey tenders, turkey pot pie, turkey sandwiches and turkey and biscuits are also listed on the bill of fare as specials.
Recently, a Sunday Breakfast Buffet ( $8.99) was added that includes ham, strata, scrambled eggs, turkey and biscuits, French toast, hash browns, sausage, waffles muffins, fresh fruit, salads, cereals, and much more. This buffet has become increasingly popular for the after church multitude here in the northern suburbs. .
But, Plainville is essentially a family eatery. The 300 seat establishment was nearly filled on a Wednesday night with families; young and old, seniors, singles, and groups. Plainville also has a bakery where it creates all of its baked goods as well as selling whole turkey’s especially during the holidays. The restaurant provides corporate catering and hosts wedding rehearsals, birthday parties, and communion celebrations.
They offer a VIP club which awards a customer $10 for every $150 that they spend. With all of the regular returning clientele this is a valuable incentive.Bob Bitz started the establishment 34 years ago. It started as a small stand that turned into a store then developed into a thriving eating place; an evolution from a turkey farm to an established eatery that is now owned by Mark Bitz. Plainville Farms is a family restaurant that gives to the community. Recently, Plainville gave 20% of all its client’s check for a day to the Rescue Mission’s "Hearts for the Homeless" program. They also support Senior Citizens for the Holidays through various agencies. This a business that caters to families with delicious fresh fare and supports families and people that may not be as fortunate as you and me.
It was obvious while speaking with Manager Niedzwiecki that his and owner Bitz’s number one priority is to provide an excellent and consistent product. Plainville delivers in both of these areas.