Fried food-o-rama at Rock Island Family Restaurant, Holland

Are fried foods a separate layer on the food pyramid. I sure hope so.

I stopped at Rock Island Family Restaurant on M40 just south of the interchange with I 196. It’s basically a truck stop restaurant, but one with a nice interior and good service. I went in with an open mind and absolutely clueless as to what I was going to have. Most of the time, I have a specific food category I’m looking for (burger, nachos, bacon-wrapped ice cream cookie), but in this case, nada. But when I saw the fish and chips special, I was set.

Rock Island Family Restaurant

They certainly didn’t skimp on the fish. Two big pieces of deep fried goodness were waiting for me aloft a bed of nicely fried fries. That’s what I’m talking about. The fish was nearly perfectly, though a crispier breading would have moved it into the perfect range. Still, they tasted good, as were the fries.  And a huge glass of Mt. Dew kept the afternoon sleepies away.

Fish & Chips

Now, not everything in my fish basket was fried. I’ll have you know that there was not a smidge of breading cooked in oil on my coleslaw, which is why I didn’t eat it all. Come on, let’s get some deep-fried cabbage on the menu, people.

So if you’re in a truck, of the semi-kind or otherwise, stop in to Rock Island. If fish isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other things on the menu, including nachos. (Yes, I do occasionally pass them up .)

Dixie Luau pizza at New Hollland Brewery

It was visit #3 at New Holland Brewery in, where else, Holland. The first time I tried the corned beef, which was excellent. The second time, I had an Italian sub, which was OK. This time, I tried the Dixie Luau pizza. If nothing else, it wins on the oddest name on the menu.

What does one put on a Dixie Luau pizza? Good question: Prosciutto, bacon, pineapple, banana peppers, and cheese. Basically, it was a bonus version of a Hawaiian pizza. I was a fan of everything but the banana peppers, which I normally like, but I didn’t think they mixed well with the pineapple. It was like a little sour battling more sour for supremacy of the pizza. More sour won.

Dixie Luau pizza, New Holland Brewery

My coworkers gave me good reviews of the pulled pork wrap and the chicken-pesto pizza, so I may try one of those on my next visit, because I’m sure there will be another. But I’m still waiting for some nachos to rear their beautiful head on the menu. Come on, NHB, give me some meaty chips and cheese!