The "Meatloaf Paradise" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Watching TV when the phone rang.  It was my son Derek on the other end wanting to know if I happened to be watching The Travel Channel's "Meatloaf Paradise."  Told me that they had just featured the Neptune Diner as one of the eight best places in the country to get meatloaf.  The Neptune is located on Prince Street in Lancaster about a block from where I grew up.  Didn't eat there much when I was a kid, since mom and dad didn't have the money to eat out often.  Mom cooked all the meals at home and boy did she make a great meatloaf.  Topped it with BBQ sauce and bacon strips, sometimes adding cheese to the top of that.  Well, the Neptune is known for their Pennsylvania Dutch favorites such as made-from-scratch apple dumplings and shoofly pie, but it's their famous meatloaf that brings the locals out in droves according to The Travel Channel.  Derek and I made arrangements for him and his family to stop and pick Carol and I up and head to the diner for supper.  Wasn't sure if we should call and make reservations since the show had just been featured on TV, but decided we'd take a chance and hope they had 5 chairs for us.  Arrived just after dark and found a parking space in the almost empty parking lot next to the diner.  The fluorescence lights of the old-time diner illuminated Prince Street in a carnival-like atmosphere.  Headed to the door and found that we were not going to have a hard time finding a place to sit.  Young girl ushered us to our seats in the back room of the diner which was decorated in a 50's style theme with photos of old diners with classic cars in front of them and stars featuring the likes of Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and even Elvis lounging on the chairs.  The black and white tile floor reminded me of diners of by-gone eras which were famous for their greasy-spoon eating establishments.  Even though I have eaten here before, it still brings back memories of living in the neighborhood years ago and stopping for a milkshake in the summer during vacation.  I wouldn't classify the Neptune as a "greasy-spoon" diner, but not far from it.  The menu was unbelievable with easily over 100 items.  I came here for meatloaf so I chose the Meatloaf Stack which said it was Tony's old fashion recipe with beef gravy, mashed potatoes, onion rings, mushrooms and cheddar cheese.  I chose my without the mushrooms.  Derek looked at me and smiled and ordered the same, but with mushrooms.  My wife, daughter-in-law and grandson chose burgers, not wanting to have the best meatloaf on the globe before seeing how we could handle it.  The diner is owned and operated by Tony Mountis and his family of Lancaster.  I had Tony's son Alex as a high school student in the early 90s as well as knowing his other son Gus and daughter Stella who also went to high school where I taught.  Alex was featured on the "Meatloaf Paradise" episode while Gus was featured cooking scrapple on another episode The Travel Channel broadcasted a few years ago.  Our meal arrived and I looked at the plate in front of me and wondered if I could eat everything as well as wondering if I would still be alive when I was done.  The fat and cholesterol just oozed from the plate.  Grabbed my knife and fork and starting cutting one of the pieces of meatloaf.  Then Carol said, "I thought you were going to take a photo of your meal before you ate it."  Put the the utensils on my plate and reached for my camera.  Hustled through the shot and headed back towards the plate.  After a few bites I offered Carol a piece which she accepted.  Watched her eat it and looked at her for her response to the famous meatloaf.  But, she beat me to it with, "What do you think?"  I gave her my honest opinion ....... "Not my favorite!"  You know, it was good, but I think the cheeze-whiz, or whatever they draped over the meatloaf, ruined it for me.  I have made meatloaf myself for years and I must admit my pepper meatloaf was much better ..... at least to me.  Carol's meatloaf is way better, also.  Well, we finished eating and someone stopped to ask how we enjoyed our meal.  I faintly recognized her and asked her if Alex was working.  She told me that her brother was off for the evening.  Ah ha, must be Stella.  Introduced myself and the family and we talked for about 15 minutes about the show and how many people were having meatloaf tonight.  Had to triple the amount of meatloaf they made ever since the show aired.  Told her to say "Hi" to Alex for me and we headed to the front door to pay our bill.  Standing at the cash register was a fellow that looked to be my age, but with hair.  Had the same features as how I remember Alex looked as a student as well as our new friend Stella so introduced myself again and it was Tony, the famous person for whom the meatloaf was named.  I was going to ask him to visit with me some day and try really good meatloaf, but declined to do so, as my wife was listening to my every word and I didn't want someone poking me in the ribs.  Fun evening and we will return again ..... when they are featured again on TV or maybe for one of those good old milkshakes I remember from my childhood.  Yeah, that's while I'll stop for soon.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.   PS - check out the photos from the diner.

Interior of the back room with signs, photos and black and white tile on walls and floor.

Cover of the 8-page menu. 

Tony's Meatloaf Stack.

Photo I found showing the interior of the main dining room at the Neptune Diner.