An Adventure to The Pandorica in Beacon, NY

My friend Roben and I took off on an adventure today, taking the Metro-North train up to Beacon, NY to try out a restaurant there called The Pandorica.  We heard about this Dr. Who themed restaurant this summer when the internet caught wind of its existence and prompted a run on Who-vians needing to try it (and who then showed up to find it very crowded, apparently, as there were then some Yelp reviews of there not being enough tables and waitresses). We took a cab from the train station to Main Street, not knowing how far it was (not very far at all, if you're used to walking around NYC a lot as I do).  I had forgotten the street number of the restaurant, so we got out a couple blocks onto Main, figuring it couldn’t be too hard to find it, and it wasn’t. (We had actually passed it already!)

It’s a modest little place, but adorable. A weeping angel hangs on the wall near the door, and there’s a cool mural on the back wall of the T.A.R.D.I.S. swirling through space. A tv hangs in the back right corner, playing episodes (10^th Dr., while we were there).  I was amused that, although there was only other one table in the whole place with people eating at it, they sat us right next to that other couple.  (I’m used to restaurants spreading people out a bit.)  We sat and were immediately asked what we wanted to drink, and we asked to look at the menu first but did say that we would like some water (which when they bring it, you get both a glass and a bottle of chilled water for the table, so if you want more, you don't have to ask).

The menu had quite a few things on it that I’d have liked to have tried. They had some lovely sounding salads, and I was very tempted by Cottage Pie, but as it was lunch and as I already knew before sitting down that I needed to save room for dessert, I ordered a meatloaf sandwich and some Earl Grey tea.  (My decision was helped by one of those sandwiches arriving at the next table for the guy sitting next to me—it looked so good I had to try it!)  Roben ordered a turkey and brie sandwich and a chai latte.  I then excused myself to go to the ladies room.

HA! The door is the door to the T.A.R.D.I.S., and it’s actually pretty spacious on the inside (yes, bigger than it looks from the corridor). I remarked later to Roben that if I’ve ever spent a visit to the ladies room giggling to myself like I just had, it would have been after having too many margaritas. 

We didn’t have to wait very long for our beverages, and I felt oh, so British when my tea arrived in a pot with a cozy and a lovely china teacup, instead of a teabag in a mug as one so often gets while out.

The food didn’t take much longer, either, and it was yummy and a generous portion. Pretty much everyone I know feels that Their Meatloaf is the Best One Possible, but this was really pretty good for not being mine (which is the Best Meatloaf Possible, of course, LOL).  The pickles on the sandwich were an unexpected surprise (they were hiding under the meatloaf, while the lettuce & tomato were on top), but tasted liked they belonged there. (You don’t have to have the veggies on it—the guy next to me had the sandwich without them.)   Roben also enjoyed her sandwich, and remarked that she’s not a cole slaw person but that she liked theirs.

For dessert, I ordered the Fish Fingers with Custard (also available as an appetizer).  It’s not real fish fingers, but battered & fried French toast roll-ups with something sweet & gooey in the center—OMG, where have you been all my life?  They came out nice and warm, and the custard had been warmed up as well.  Roben got the pecan pie, which she said was good. (But I later learned she resented her pie for not being the fish fingers!)

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The ladies who worked there were absolutely lovely, and we remarked after leaving that we definitely need to go back sometime.   And Beacon is a cute little town. We told the woman who did most of the waiting on us (I’m guessing she was the owner—she seemed in charge) that we had taken the train up just to go there, and she laughed and seemed delighted by that. She told us that the shops went on for a mile and a half.  We didn’t walk the whole stretch, but did pop into a few other stores. The one right next to The Pandorica is called Play, and is filled with gag gifts and humorous stuff like you might find at Spencer Gifts or stores like that. I could have easily dropped a lot of money in there, had I had a lot of money to drop!  I didn’t come home empty handed—I am now the proud owner of a “Spin and Fly T.A.R.D.I.S. (that I have yet to take out of the box and try). 

The last store we looked into was a combination ice cream shop (we were way too stuffed to eat any!) and Christmas decoration shop.  I saw something that, again—had I a ton of money, it would have come home with me, but I couldn’t see the price tag while it was in the case. I asked the owner, “How much is the pretty giraffe ornament?” He replied, “Oh! You have good taste…” I laughed and said, “Have I managed to pick the most expensive thing in the store?” and he laughed and nodded.  This cutie from Italy is $96 (!!!!!), but the proprietor was kind enough to let me take a picture of it.

We walked back to the train station—it wasn’t too hard to find again, and was downhill heading back.  It was a lovely day to be out doing this, albeit chilly, and we had great fun!

Just don't blink!!!