Bally Family Diner

8:53 - 10:04 am

Driving down Route 100 through Bally, you will pass many established homes and businesses, including one that looks like it belongs in the middle ages. Formerly known as The Pied Piper, the Bally Family Diner has recently reopened under the new name but same decor. The exterior colors and design do not match the new signage attached to the outside. We visited this diner in hopes that it would be better than the Pied Piper once was (which is setting the starting bar a little low). We welcomed two guest reviewers to our breakfast, a couple known as Muffin but Trouble in the breakfast review world.

Our breakfast journey began in a very tiny booth. Maybe it was tiny because Ben and I are large people, or maybe we are too used to sitting across from one another (thanks Muffin but Trouble). Or maybe the booths are just small. The waitress was brand new, like first day on the job new. She was very sweet but extremely awkward and could not answer basic questions about the menu.

Bethany

I got decaf and water. The water was pretty good. I think it tasted a little bit chlorinated but not too much. The decaf coffee came out cold so I didn't really drink it. I think it would have been good but I didn’t order hot coffee to have it served cold. 

I ordered a farmer scramble because there was not a breakfast wrap on the menu. The description on the menu says it consists of potato, onion, green pepper, cheese and sausage. It does not mention any eggs, leading me to ask the waitress if it comes with an egg. The lack of confidence in her response of “I think so but I’m not sure” was reassuring. Spoiler alert, it did come with egg, but I did not know until it came out to the table. I wish I would have ordered the egg over easy because it came out as a very hard scrambled egg (which was overcooked, dry, and lacked flavor). Overall the skillet part itself was good. The potatoes were nice and oily, with crunchy veggies and tasty sausage. It definitely needed some salt and ketchup, but I feel like at this point, it is a standard addition.

One of my favorite things from my time working at Butter Valley Golf Port was the grilled sticky bun. I was thrilled to see it on the menu and ordered one. What a freaking disappointment. It was so dry and flavorless. I was so sad that I ordered it. Totally not worth my time or calories.

Ben

I forgot to take notes. The OJ was very standard. The hollandaise was flavorless. Really, the whole meal was forgettable. Hence the short review.

Muffin but Trouble

Upon ordering, the lemonade was unfortunately underwhelming, quickly losing its appeal as the ice melted, leaving behind a diluted and unremarkable taste. The French toast, seemingly made with Texas toast, was disappointingly light on the egg coating, resulting in a dry and flavorless bite. Given the two small, pre-packaged syrups provided for three slices of bread, the overall dish felt lacking in both texture and flavor. It might appeal to those who favor a more subdued breakfast, but for those who enjoy a richer experience, this version left much to be desired. The bread itself wasn’t as fresh or soft as I would have hoped, which further detracted from the dish’s appeal.

On a more positive note, the sausage patty was perfectly executed—well-seasoned and satisfying. Typically, I’m left feeling content after a hearty breakfast, but I found myself finishing the meal with room to spare, perhaps still in need of something more substantial. 

The iced tea, while appropriately chilled, could have benefited from a fresher taste. The scrapple, on the other hand, was a highlight—seasoned and cooked just the way I like it: soft on the inside with a crispy exterior. Unfortunately, the cream dried beef, which is my go-to breakfast choice, fell short. It was pasty, flavorless, and not nearly as enjoyable as I’ve experienced in other establishments. The hash browns, though decent, were unremarkable and certainly didn’t stand out.

In conclusion, while some elements of the meal were pleasant, overall, the experience was underwhelming, leaving me wishing for more vibrant flavors and fresher ingredients.

New name, same bad food