Some Good Ol' Country Cookin'

The Hen House serves up another delightful meal of homemade cooking

Story and photos by Angela MacMurray

I have, without a doubt, found myself a piece of heaven on Earth. It stares at me from a green ceramic plate, awaiting my weapons of attack. Like an artist with a blank canvas, I carefully decorate my colossal buttermilk pancake with the proper ingredients. Golden brown, fluffed with deliciousness, the pancake steams with warmth and the aroma of butter.

A bell rings, disrupting my mind and forcing me back to reality as another eager customer will soon receive their own personal piece of indulgence. The Hen House, located on route 4 in Kingsbury, NY, has been serving customers for decades. The tiny red diner has served as a crossing point between Vermont and New York for thousands of hungry travelers.

With simplicity keeping the restaurant at home, old friends and new friends circulate the dining area as greetings and conversation are exchanged. The same smiling faces welcome customers throughout the day, eagerly awaiting their dining requests. Bustling around the packed dining room, waitresses go above and beyond to bring their customers the best service possible.

Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner; the Hen House is in constant creation of homemade specialties. Starting the morning with homemade bread and fresh coffee, customers are not straying too far from the family table while dining here. Simple breakfast specials, lunch sandwiches, and dinner feasts are all members of a very fair price range.

The small diner holds a variety of adornments regarding the country lifestyle. With a beautifully hand-painted floral pattern bordering green and plaid wallpaper, the rooster and hen border encompassing the diner brings the country life to full effect. There are a variety of table sizes as well as an old fashioned bar for guests to seat themselves upon entering. The bar serves not only as an optional dining space, but also as a home for a variety of rooster and barnyard knick-knacks placed throughout the diner.

A small corner table encompasses my guest's feast this morning. Looking out of the plaid printed curtains, I take in the scenery of the old farmland surrounding the restaurant. My dining guest is indulging himself on his plate full of two eggs over-easy, homemade rye bread, and most importantly; the infamous Hen-House home-fries. Our bill comes to a whopping eight dollars as our friendly server suggests a slice of pie to take along for the ride. The idea is almost tempting, but my guest and I have had our fair share for the morning meal.

As we say goodbye to various friends and fellow diners, we notice a little girl entering the restaurant. Our server enthusiastically greets her by name and quickly sets up a high-chair for her. The mother is quickly behind the small girl, smiling and greeting each of the individuals within the diner.The Hen House makes everyone feel at home. I glance back at our table in the corner, make a mental note of my empty green plate, and promise to come back soon.

Have you ever visited the Hen House?