Coachmans, A step back to the past, a step forward in inexpensive dining.

What: Coachmans Dinner and Pancake House
Where: 1301 S State StSalt Lake City, UT 84115
When: November 27th, 2006
Food: American diner fare.
Service: Great!!
Price: More food than you should probably eat in one sitting for less than the price of two movie tickets.

When you walk into Coachman's Dinner and Pancake House, you get the distinct feel that you might have stepped through a time warp. Coachmans has been a staple of Salt Lake City Cuisine since at least the 70's. The decor hasn't been changed since. You walk into a lobby decorated by stained glass skylights, and plants that give the impression they are impersonating silk.

The booths are made from the finest naugahyde, and are illuminated by state of the art (circa 1975) red stained glass hanging lamps, and the focal point of the dining room was a giant star of david shaped chandelier made of black painted wood, and the same red glass lights.

In short....... I loved the decor. It was delightfully Kitschy, and completely comfortable.

Immediately upon entering I could tell that most of the patrons were regular visitors. The waitresses bantered with some of them with a jovialty that comes only after repeated contact. Upon tasting the food, and seeing the prices, I could see why so many have chosen to make Coachmans a regular staple

I ordered the Chicken fried beef steak at the suggestion of our server, Leah. She asked me if I would like Navy bean soup, or tomato juice. ........ Tomato juice? I was thrown off guard by this unexpected question, so reflexively I responded with the less odd of the two options. Soup. She then asked me what type of salad Dressing? Type of potato? Oh, the Choices!

After good, but not life-alteringly good, soup. The salad arrived. According to my wife's Ranch-O-Meter. Coachman's ranch rated a 9 out of a possible 10. This coming from the woman who would buy ranch dressing by the gallon on a weekly basis to satiate her pregnancy cravings. She certainly is a conossiour.

One taste of the chicken fried steak eliminated all doubt as to why so many of the patrons appear to be regulars. The crust was wonderful. Buttery, flakey, and utterly delicious.

All in all, I think that I'm going to become one of the regular diners. Perhaps not every other day, as some appear to have been, but at least every few months. The food is good. The decor is so old it's becoming new again, and the price could not be beat.