Posted by Michael Stern on April 11, 2002
It's summer! That means it is time to travel Route 85 through Chesterfield, Connecticut and stop in our favorite rock-n-dinosaur store -- Nature's Art -- then plow into plates of summertime drive-in food at David's Place.
The menu at this good-weather drive-in is eat-in-the-rough fare with a Greek twist. The twist can be tasted in the form of spinach pie, a plate of savory, well-spiced spinach-and-feta-and-phyllo served with French fries and cole slaw. The list of non-Greek classics is headed by whole-bellied fried clams (strips are available, too) served on heavy cardboard plates with French fries and (optional) onion rings.
Also on the fried-seafood menu are shrimp, scallops and calamari, as well as fish 'n' chips; and for seafood frowners the fry basket turns out nice golden-crusted pieces of chicken.
Fried food is exemplary, but the sleepers on David's menu are the grinders. They are mighty hero sandwiches, their fillings ranging from demure tuna salad to a spectacular steak bomb, which means the sliced beef is topped with sauteed onions, peppers, mushrooms, and cheese. And this being a Greek-run kitchen, we recommend paying close attention to the gyro and chicken gyro grinders. They're immensely satisfying versions of the street-food sandwich, particularly good with a pile of David's fresh-cut French fries. For dessert: homemade rice pudding.
Overall: Worth driving from anyplace
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Reviewers "Must Eats" List
fried clams
($11.00)
chowder
($2.00)
french fries
($2.00)
onion rings
($3.00)
chili dog
($3.00)
"The aroma of these hot-from-the-kettle fried clams was dizzying as we leaned in to take this extreme close-up picture. Can you see how hefty the bellies are?"
Michael Stern
"You know summer has arrived when this neon sign is lit."
Michael Stern
"The chowder here is thick and creamy: pure New England style."
Michael Stern
"Along with the heap of clams are plenty of David's fresh-cut French fries. In the background is sweet slaw."
Michael Stern
"There are no carhops at David's; but a walk-up window is open to the side for eat-in-the-rough style service."
Michael Stern
"David's Place is almost directly across the road from the thirty-foot-tall dinosaur that marks the entrance to Nature's Art, a rock shop full of beautiful geodes, fossils, and dinosaur bones."
Michael Stern
