Jackson Heights Life

Toddle House, on 77th street near 37th avenue was, unequivocally, the best darn diner in the world. It started out as a Tenessee-based restaurant chain named Hull Dobbs, and was established in Jackson Heights abgout 1930.  The building looked like a little cottage and specialized in fabulous hamburgers and waffles. Believe me, Toddle House was no proto McDonalds. It was open 24-7 and your meals were prepared (or choreographed, I should say) by ambidextrous short order cooks who made meals from scratch and could juggle ingredients faster than you'd believe possible.  You just sat at the counter on a low stool and watched the show unfold. Does anyone remember this late great place?

Hash Browns, of course!  The potatoes came in little white paper bags. They went into the pan with oil that flamed up like a 10 alarm fire. Next came a big shake of Paprika, and there it was -- the best potatoes ever for only .15.  I still try to make Hash Browns the Toddle House way, but I never get it quite right. 

There was. The burger was delivered to your place at the counter via an electric train. It was novel but it didn't last too long -- probably because the Toddle House burgers were lots better.

When I tell people about the Toddle House hash browns they look at me like I'm nutz. They were the best ever. I too have tried to duplicate the recipe but it always comes short. I think it might have been the cooking oil they used I remember it was amber in color.  Used to have a burger hash browns a "lime rickey" and a piece of cherry pie there for $1.25. Man talk about the good ol' days

I used to get an English muffin with butter and jelly and a hot chocolate. SOmetimes a fries. Then go play stickball in the school yard.

But the good fries were at the fish store on Roosevelt Av btw 75 & 76th Streets

If it's the fish store I'm thinking of, they had these unbelievable french fries.  For ten cents you would get a big bag of salty french fries.  There was something about the oil that made them taste better than normal fries.  Plus, they were cut differently than regular fries--they were big wedge like things.  They rivaled the Toddle House hash browns.