Daily Press reader Carrie Watson recently sent us an email recommending her favorite eatery, Goody’s Family Restaurant in Victorville. Watson wrote, “I love Goody’s. They have wonderful salads on their board that you never see in any other restaurant. Their portions are large, and I’ve never left hungry or […]
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Daily Press reader Carrie Watson recently sent us an email recommending her favorite eatery, Goody’s Family Restaurant in Victorville.
Watson wrote, “I love Goody’s. They have wonderful salads on their board that you never see in any other restaurant. Their portions are large, and I’ve never left hungry or disappointed with the food and quality.” She added that her entire family eats there almost every day.
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She urged Dining Around to check them out, and that is exactly what we did.
In short, Goody’s lives up to its name.
A Victorville tradition
Goody’s has been part of the Victorville-Green Tree Boulevard “circle” for many years, maintaining its popularity by doing exactly as Watson said, providing generous portions of excellent food for breakfasts, brunches and lunches for families, as well as the business crowd.
Located just close to Interstate 15, Goody’s Family Restaurant looks inviting with comfortable patio dining or booths and tables inside, as well as friendly service.
Tweaking the menu
In 2005 Goody’s Family Restaurant changed hands with a new co-owner and manager, Tina Stirewalt, who had worked at the Golden Gate Chinese Restaurant for 30 years. She had dreamed of owning her own restaurant and jumped at the chance to take over Goody’s when it became available.
In addition to keeping the popular breakfast and lunch choices on the basic menu which you can see online, Stirewalt added a “special board menu,” with dishes that change throughout the week. Many of these items — special omelets for breakfasts, lunch sandwiches; imaginative salads and burgers; and desserts and fun items like fried pickles now and then — have a distinct international flair.
Imaginative dishes
Cooking is a creative endeavor. Stirewalt, her kitchen crew — including Chef Ivan, who has been with her for a dozen years, and her assistant manager — and the friendly waitstaff knew these changes were bound to be popular.
Stirewalt ensures quality by going to market every two or three days so the produce is always fresh and the meats — steaks, short ribs and more — are fresh, never frozen. Sauces and salad dressings are made fresh daily, and everything is beautifully plated and ready to enjoy.
Inspiration and then some
If you wonder about creative menu fare, here are some recent specialty-board menu items.
The South of the Border-inspired Chilaquiles and eggs came with beans or your choice of potatoes, $10.99. Another favorite was Omelet for Kings — eggs with salami, bacon, sausage, caramelized onions and Swiss cheese for $11.99.
The Asian fusion selection was a Wagyu Burger, a highly marbled burger patty with bacon, white cheddar cheese, arugula, tomato, caramelized onions and garlic aioli on a brioche bun for $12.99.
Roast beef fans selected Goody’s Pesto Sandwich with sliced roast beef, provolone cheese, roasted tomato, spinach, and pesto mayo on special rosemary bread for just $10.99.
Another popular item was Fresh Garden Chicken salad with pesto chicken served on a bed of Romaine lettuce and organic greens, slow-roasted tomatoes and bell peppers, olives and parmesan cheese, drizzled with homemade Italian dressing and topped with pine nuts for $13.99.
Tina develops recipes from her own family favorites, as well as traditional Asian fare with flavorful tweaks that remain an instant hit. Soups like homemade butternut squash with Italian sausage and spinach are a hit, and a dessert-like lemon mascarpone cheesecake has garnered many fans.
First, read the board
When the board menu made its debut, customer reaction was through the roof. Customers knew to read the board before they were seated. Quite often, there was no need to see the regular menu: The hungry diners had already made up their minds.
Eat every day
Goody’s Family Restaurant is open every day from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Order online from menufy.com or call for the board menu selections. Dine-in or takeout available
If you go
Goody’s Family Restaurant, 14096 Green Tree Blvd.. Victorville, CA 92395 760-241-1332, www.goodysfamilyrestaurant.com
Dining Around
If you would like to see your own restaurant or your favorite eatery profiled in Dining Around, please contact Kathy Young at the Daily Press by email, kyoung3@gannett.com, or text 760-953-8682.
