Restaurant Review - Mother's Table

Today was the kind of Sunday made for sleeping in, which is exactly what I did. Allowing myself the rare luxury of a gradual emergence from my bed, I got my fill of Paige Davis and TLC'c Trading Spaces on television and decided it was time to think about getting some late breakfast. I have never been one to eat alone if I can avoid it, so I gathered up two willing accomplices and headed out with no real destination in mind. I decided to drive up Penn Avenue by the Marquee Cinemas at the Steamtown Mall to see if anything perked my interest in the way of a late afternoon movie and there, on the right, I saw Mother's Table and decided that it might be divine providence that we should have our long awaited breakfast there...it wasn't.

The decor in Mother's is really cool I must say. It is interesting, kitschy, and retro but in a genuine and tasteful way. There are plants here and there, interesting photos, prints and objets d'art, all complemented by pleasant subdued lighting. The gentleman who greeted us at the door inquired as to the number in our party, promptly bussed a table in the window which had been recently vacated, and sat us. I was really happy with our table and we perused our menus and chatted as we took in the bounty of sights, in the way of decor and clientele, that populated the place.

A few minutes passed and our waitress appeared. She, whom I shall henceforth refer to as Hilda, had that "I have way too many tables so don't expect much from me thank you very much" look about her and she apologized for the wait and took our complete order. The breakfast menu was pretty standard fare from which I chose a ham, cheese and mushroom omelet and my friends had a fried baloney, egg and cheese on a hardroll and a short stack of blueberry pancakes with a sausage patty. Much to my surprise, Hilda invited the two of us that ordered breakfast platters to visit the buffet area to help ourselves to fruit, danish, or homefries. Here, dear reader, is where the train came off of the rails.

I walked up to the buffet area looking forward to a bit of danish and fruit. There was a large bowl of canned peaches combined with fresh melon, a chafing pan full of potatoes, a tray of portioned danish, and not a plate or bowl in sight. No problem... I asked Hilda where the plates were and she said she would get us some, but alas it was not to be.

I went back to my table rather than stand in the middle of the crowded dining room and figured I'd remind Hilda when she brought our food. I was then asked a question that no one wants to hear during a Sunday breakfast outing; "Does this cream smell OK to you?" It didn't, It wasn't. Surely, I thought, Hilda will be here momentarily to sort this all out. Minutes dragged by, my friends unable to drink their polluted coffees. After way too long, I got up, determined to find if not Hilda, then anyone to get us new coffees and oh yeah, the plates for the buffet, although my appetite was already heading south fast.

I asked another waitress who cheerfully and quickly produced a stack of plates for the buffet just as I saw Hilda heavily laden down with our orders, heading for our table. I took the opportunity to grab a few danish and some fruit for the table and heard the woman who brought the plates to the buffet ask Hilda, who had by now delivered our orders, "Did they tell you about their coffees?" She replied that yes, she had been told. That was the last we saw of Hilda during our visit. No "How is everything?", no "May I freshen your coffee?", not even so much as a glance. Perhaps she was out having a smoke.

In all fairness, I want to say that the food was fine. The omelet was ample, freshly made and well presented. The sandwich was only okay (the egg was a bit rubbery), but the homefries were excellent. The blueberry pancakes were quite nice and the portions were adequate without going overboard, but the coffee was mediocre at best. Honestly, in the world of diners up and down the valley, with a few notable exceptions, there is not a tremendous amount of variation in menu. The most effective means of setting one establishment apart form another is in the area of service.

Mothers really has a lot going for it. The physical space is great, the food quality is fine, the price is fantastic, and they do seem to try to offer a little more than the usual, the fruit and danish bar being an example. The lunch and dinner menus were very interesting too and may well be worth a try at some time in the future, but Mothers however, at least judging by this morning's experience, is hamstrung by the waitstaff. I am not sure if it is a training issue or just the wrong people trying to do the job, but it should be addressed by the owners. I know it is difficult to attract and keep quality employees, but the many local eateries that offer excellent service provided by a pleasant, well groomed wait staff bear testimony that it is possible. Come on Mothers, you can do it! We are rooting for you.

Mother's Table
117 Penn Avenue
Scranton, PA 18503
(570) 969-0260