By Adam Sulanke

Brick House Diner: Photo credit: TripAdvisor user duffey3700.

Do you like a restaurant with an array of options? If yes, then Brick House Diner is the place for you. Sandwiches, pizza, burgers, tacos, and flavorful desserts make Brick House a hot spot for people in Midlothian. Brick House opened right on Midlothian Turnpike in 2004, in a singular brick building right across from Midlothian Middle School. 

When you go, the first impression will be the tricky and tight parking lot. If the diner is crowded, then you might have trouble parking. The lot is tiny and in rough shape. The diner itself is small, appearing to have space for only about 120 people (which seems like a stretch). I felt claustrophobic and like I was invading people’s personal bubbles. Luckily, they also have an outdoor section, which creates more space in warmer months.

The decor inside feels bland and dull. It has an odd color scheme, with a mix of red, black, and white, though they were not put together entirely well. The lights are much dimmer than most restaurants also, and my mom Jennifer Sulanke, a local nurse and my dining companion, said, “It was almost pitch black in there.” 

On our most recent visit, my mom and I were seated at a table in the middle of the dining room and were quickly acknowledged and helped. Our waitress was clearly well-trained, with her polite and respectful manner. She was quickly refilling drinks and constantly checking to see if we needed anything. We came in around lunchtime on a Wednesday, and although it was a packed house, the three servers effortlessly took equal care of everyone. The menu is extensive; they have something for everyone. 

Loaded chips at Brick House Diner. Photo credit: Adam Sulanke. 

My mom and I decided to each have a three course meal; appetizer, main dish, and dessert. As soon as I looked at the menu, the Loaded Chips struck my eye. The house-made original Lays-like chips are covered in cheddar, mozzarella, and bacon, and served with ranch dressing. When the plate of chips came out, my mom and I both realized we wouldn’t be able to finish it alone. This plate was an enormous amount of food. We both enjoyed the chips, as they had a perfect crunch, but weren’t too hard. They were also seasoned well, with only salt. Not many loaded fries or chips that I have eaten have had a mix of cheddar and mozzarella. They were combined well; neither outweighed the other. The cheese was melted to a point where it was hard, but also not completely melted enough to cause a mess all over hands and table. The bacon was immaculate; it made the chips even more astonishing. Imagine the perfect crisp and soft fat combined, and your envisioning Brick House’s perfectly-cooked bacon. Although these chips filled my mom and I up, they definitely made an adequate first impression for me.

For the main dish, I went with the French dip with a loaded baked potato. A French dip is a hot sandwich with thinly sliced steak, melted cheese, and an au jus on the side. I have had a number of French dips, and this was definitely not the best. It came out a little cold, and the bread was hard, causing me to fight to tear pieces off. It also had an odd seasoning to it, sweeter than most French dip sandwiches. The sweetness of the sandwich mixed with the sweetness of the au jus was overwhelming. This sandwich was definitely the low point of the meal.

Baklava. Photo credit: Adam Sulanke. 

My mom went with the chicken souvlaki, which was like a gyro, with chicken, tomatoes, onions, and a tzatziki sauce. She said, “It came out warm and was very delicious, and it made me feel like I was in Greece.” 

For the dessert and the best part of the meal, we tried the baklava. This was my first time ever having baklava, and it was impressive. Baklava is a Mediterranean layered pastry stuffed with nuts and topped with syrup or honey. My mom says, “the baklava came out warm, and the whipped cream made it very good.” We both agreed that this was the highlight of the meal.

Brick House Diner is a small and dark place, but they make up for that with solid food, good service, and a varied menu.