The Pantry - Restaurant Reviews for Residents of Electric City

Renee Burgess is at The Sunflower Seed

Had the day off work, was running errands and didn’t feel like cooking. Parking was tight and I chose a spot in the doctor’s office lot next door.There was about a twenty minute wait, given it was Friday night. The owner, Nora, carrying two plastic red glasses, says “hello Renee” while I stand in line. The man next to me, who was sitting in a chair, says “that’s my daughter’s name.” He says she’s home from the University of Michigan and had told him about the place. She’s a biology major and wants to specialize in immunology. I tell him it’s been a rough couple of years and a good thing she’s doing. He nods, his eyes faraway into a story he’d rather not tell and I do not press. Instead, I say “I don’t hear my name much anymore.” Joanna, the cashier, calls out “Renee” and he says, “it was nice talking to you.” I told him to enjoy his dinner with his daughter.

Melanie, my server, says she hasn’t seen me in awhile. I tell her I’ve been taking aerial fabric classes  for the last few weeks. She says, “I was wondering where you were. I’m glad  to see you back.” She gives me the menu, consisting of comfort food like liver and onions, chicken pot pie, pork chops, spaghetti, chicken parmigiana, and cabbage rolls.The dinners include soup, salad or coleslaw and dessert.The chalkboard on the wall lists the choice of 10 soups for the day. Some of the choices they had were: beef barley, chicken lemon rice, French onion, minestrone and chicken noodle. I went with beef barley. Prices range from $11 - $15.An a la carte option is available with only one side. I ordered cabbage rolls with beef barley and salad. I had enough leftovers for two meals. 

Despite being short staffed, Melanie was quick and checked on me, refilling my drink  whenever she could. A middle-aged woman, maybe a year or two younger than me, and her husband were seated across from me. The television (one of three) had changed over from a blue screen and to a former actress on the CW going through her closet on the Hallmark Channel. I was trying to think of which show she used to be on when the middle aged woman asked me what I was eating. When I told her, she said she was going to have spaghetti, “but now I may have something else.” Melanie asks them what they’ll have and they both say, “cabbage rolls.” 

Melanie brought over three boxes for me without me mentioning anything and asked me what I  wanted for dessert. For dessert, they have several flavors of ice cream, which include black cherry, chocolate and vanilla. Rice or chocolate pudding was another option. You can also get carrot cake, cheesecake or a cannoli. I had the large cannoli but brought it home. 

Alison Richards

I love this place! 

Charlotte Rose

I used to be a hostess there when I was in high school. Nora was an awesome boss! She made sure we had meals at the end of the night and would jump in with serving when it was busy.

Landry Taylor

They should take the televisions out. I don’t want to watch the news or a movie while I’m eating.  

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Waverly Rowland

They raised their prices again?!? I won’t be back. 

Levi McCollum

Owen James Justin Winters Everly Baldwin Camille Parker 

Charles Drezwicki

The chicken pot pie is wonderful!

Violet Perkins

Breakfast time is full, too. We tried to get there by 11 am (the cut off for the breakfast specials) but got caught in traffic due to an accident. We got seated at 11:10. They were flexible about it and said we could still get it.