James the Food Slayer—Kings Family Restaurant—2/5/2023

History/Backstory

At the time that I’m posting this blog, another Kings Family Restaurant has bitten the dust. According to TribLive.com, the Allegheny Township location closed on Sunday at 2 p.m.. That leaves the beleaguered family restaurant chain with five locations remaining, and doubt as to whether the chain will make it through 2023. Open stores left include Hempfield Township, Canonsburg, Franklin, Kittanning, and in Ohio, Wintersville.

I posted about Kings when the Delmont location closed in April of 2021. I worked at that location out of college, so the closing hit me very hard. I posted six things about the location, three facts and three things I could have done better.

Yesterday morning, I was hungry for some country fried steak and eggs, so I decided on eating breakfast here.

Service

I walked into the location around 8:30 yesterday morning. There was a Valentine’s Day tree set up in the vestibule. I was greeted with a smile and my server took great care of me. She poured my coffee and took my order quickly. It helped that I knew what I wanted as it made her job easier.

I’ve eaten at this Kings many times and I remember some of the servers from long ago. A few came over from New Stanton when it closed and that helped this location as well as the Frownie. One of the servers from my old store was working there too and she always does an amazing job.

My food came just as quickly as I ordered it and my server made sure I was satisfied. I’ll give service an outstanding grade of A+. I tipped her well too.

Menu

The menus have changed over the years and some things have come and gone. But the selection is still pretty good, regardless. The prices, yes they’re high, but times are tough and the company is trying to remain afloat with the stores that remain open. Judging by the other options they are trying to compete with other chains as well. Cookies n’ Creme pancakes and Nashville Hot Chicken are what’s cooking in 2023.

You have some great breakfast and lunch options available. The Wake-Up breakfast is still a choice, as well as the egg bagel and K-Boy and other craft burgers. Nothing like it used to be though. Soups on the menu include Beef Vegetable and Broccoli Cheese and dinners include Meatloaf and their cod or hand-breaded fish dinner, as well as Chicken Parmigiana. Their famous hot apple pie which was on the menu back in 1967 is still a choice if you have room for dessert.

Grade: B-

Quality

I was very satisfied with the quality of my food. The cooks did an excellent job preparing it. Everything looked good and it filled up the plate. I wasn’t asking myself, “Where’s The Beef?” Coffee was very filling too. I’ll have to come back and enjoy a fish dinner, meatloaf, or hot turkey sandwich because I might not have much time left.

Grade: A

Summary

I made the right choice for breakfast and it’s nice to see that Kings is still operating, albeit with a skeleton crew of stores. The staff loves their work and it breaks my heart to see what this chain has become. I really wish Hartley would have kept it in the family but it is what it is. When you look at Eat’n Park and compare Kings to them, there’s a reason why one is doing better than the other and I really can’t explain it.

It’s official, we’re down to a handful of locations and, if I’m guessing right, Hempfield and Canonsburg will be the last ones to close.