Good times at “The Better Half”

If you're on your lunch hour and looking for your boss, co-worker or even your “other half,” chances are they're dining at the Better Half.

The Better Half Family Diner, owned by Jeff and Jenny Smith, sits on Washington St. next to Joe Sundae's and Maschari Brothers Wholesale. If the sign above the building doesn't spark your interest, the slew of people storming in and out on their lunch break surely will.

The diner is small but cozy, with an interesting theme: half “his,” with golf, military, fishing and boxing memorabilia and half “hers,” with cute signs, flowers, china and trinkets.

Breakfast is served Monday through Saturday until 2:30 p.m., and Sunday until 2 p.m., giving even the latest of sleepers the opportunity to enjoy omelets, breakfast sandwiches, corned beef hash, pancakes, sausage and much, much more.

The menu is quite large, with plenty of “home cooked” and new favorites to choose from. There's nothing on the menu I wouldn't recommend and there's plenty for everyone, from hamburgers, spaghetti and meatballs, grilled chicken, perch, Reubens, fried bologna, veal, salads, subs, steak and shrimp to a half-dozen different quesadilla concoctions, including the Florentine, with spinach, tomato and feta cheese.

One of my favorites is the meatball sub. I'm amazed at how, with only six inches of bread to work with, three meatballs — each half the size of a baseball — can fit, with room to spare for a spiced-just-right marinara sauce and a blanket of mozzarella cheese. No, not the simple shredded cheese I've grown accustomed to from other venues, but a large slice of cheese that covers everything inside.

Most of the sandwiches, subs and wraps are served with French fries, soup, salad or onion rings. The only complaint I had with my side of large steak fries was the lack of salt on them, but I guess that's what the salt and pepper shakers on the table are for.

The Better Half serves everyone's favorite appetizers, including
mozzarella sticks, bread sticks, chicken fingers and plenty of side dishes.

The prices are great, with an average dinner meal cost of $7.99 and kid-friendly platters for less than $4.

The wait time varies, depending on what time you stop in, but never more than a few minutes before you're greeted or 10 before your order is taken. It's a rare occasion when the owners and everyone else at The Better Half aren't in high spirits, so it's a family and lunch hot spot. If you're craving more food, Joe Sundae's, which serves a delectable assortment of goodies including ice cream and coffee, is right there to help you finish off your meal with a tasty treat.