By Katherine Goff

For as long as I can remember, I have been waking up on Sunday morning to take the short, two-minute drive up Maple Avenue to Westwood Fountain, more commonly known as Westwood Pharmacy, on Patterson Avenue near St. Christopher’s School. Whether I go with my family or friends, I always look forward to a quick and delicious breakfast. 

The diner, attached to a convenience store and a pharmacy, serves breakfast, lunch, and on some nights, dinner. The diner is busy every hour of the day; however, they receive a rush of customers for their most popular meal, breakfast.

Like most other classic American diners, Westwood serves classic breakfast dishes such as pancakes, French toast, eggs, bacon, and biscuits and gravy. And for lunch, they serve a variety of sandwiches, gyros, soups, and burgers.

My favorite lunch order: grilled cheese with potato chips. Photo credit: Katherine Goff.

When I was little, I always ordered a stack of pancakes and a side of bacon. Every time, I would only eat a third of my pancakes before experiencing a stomach ache from the puddle of syrup I would pour on my plate. Since then, I have learned that I enjoy saltier food for breakfast rather than sweet food. So instead of ordering French toast or pancakes, I now order one of the most popular items on the menu, The Special. 

Every breakfast restaurant has a similar menu item to The Special. For example, iHop calls it the Two-Egg Breakfast, Waffle House calls it the All-Star Special, and First Watch, a newer breakfast chain, calls it The Traditional. 

The Special consists of two eggs any style, choice of bacon, sausage, or tomato, choice of hash browns, grits, or fried apples, toast, and coffee. My order is two eggs over medium with bacon, hash browns, and white toast. I do not like hot coffee, so most of the time I will pass my cup to a family member or friend who will enjoy it.

My coffee alternative: Westwood’s delicious homemade limeade. Photo credit: Katherine Goff.

Reid Coleman (‘22) frequents Westwood nearly every weekend and states, “I have two go-to options. If I’m feeling really hungry, I will whip a Western omelette. If I’m feeling coffee and energy, I go with The Special.” 

I almost always order The Special, but on the few occasions I do not, I always know that my food will be delectable, no matter what I order. For example, Westwood makes customizable breakfast sandwiches, mouthwatering omelets, and the most adorable miniature silver dollar pancakes. 

Before a weekend outing, my family will always find a way to schedule breakfast at Westwood. Most of the time, I will stumble out of bed, throw on a random outfit, and brush my teeth for 30 seconds before sleepwalking out the door and into my dad’s car to go to breakfast. As I walk into the restaurant, the smell of French toast and slightly burnt coffee always seems to wake me up. 

This scenario happens most weekends, but my family has also made it a tradition to go to Westwood before Christmas shopping and going to buy our Christmas tree. My dad reads the newspaper at the table, my sister and I browse the convenience store while we wait for our food, and my mom always ends up finding another friend to talk to.

It seems almost impossible to go to Westwood without seeing someone you know. Families go for brunch after church, high school students will go with their friends, and young parents will bring their toddlers. I have always thought of Westwood as an accurate representation of the West End community. The restaurant is always filled with customers from ranging from seven months to 70 years. I believe this is because everyone enjoys breakfast food and spending time with their friends and family. And, the atmosphere inside of the diner is unmatched. Megan Irvin from Richmond Magazine states, “Westwood is far from being the hippest or newest spot in town, but it also doesn’t try to be.”

Stools lined up looking over the open kitchen. Photo credit: John Duke.

I will forever love sitting in the worn down leather booths, or finding a spot near the windows up front. Or, if the diner is busy and there are no available tables, I will sit on a stool near the counter that faces the open kitchen. When I sit by the counter, I am able to watch the cooks prepare the pancakes, fry French fries, and scramble eggs. The open kitchen makes the diner feel homey, as if you are in your grandmother’s kitchen. You can hear the metal spatulas, the bacon frying, and the chopping of the potatoes. 

Over the past few years, many high-end breakfast and brunch spots have popped up around Richmond, and after trying a few of them, I always end up returning to Westwood. I have never had an unpleasant experience due to the spirited waitresses and overall joyful atmosphere. 

What makes Westwood so special is the amazing staff. Some of the waitresses have been working since it opened in 1998, making the restaurant feel like home to many. They will always make sure you are satisfied with your food, and treat you like family for the 45 minutes you spend at the restaurant. 

I have not found a restaurant that shares the same delicious food and homey atmosphere like Westwood. So, although I enjoy trying new restaurants, I will always find my way back to Westwood when I am in need of a quick, cheap meal. 

Featured image credit: Jay Paul.