We arrived at Dick’s Last Resort just shortly around 11:15 am, so they had just nicely opened for lunch. We were, with the exception of the staff, the only people there....so we got lots of attention (hearty hellos and warm greetings) from the servers, manager and bartenders as we entered. We were seated at the end of a long table, and our server was out virtually immediately to issue her sharp-tongued, rapid-fire welcome spiel and throw the menus across the table.
Now, this is the second time we have visited this Dick’s, so we knew exactly what to expect. Their motto is “service with sarcasm”, and while that approach is definitely not a dining experience that everyone enjoys, our personal senses of humour really had fun with the concept on our first visit (when we had no idea what we were getting into....we ). This time, we were ready for the “attitude”....and when our server discovered we were repeat visitors, she let loose right away.
She demanded our drink orders: Jake and I requested waters (boy, did we get a ribbing for that
, complete with a very dramatic roll of the eyes and a muttered comment about being the last of the big spenders
) and Steve picked a beer. She strode away as we plucked the menus from the table and perused the lunch options, many of which had changed since our August 2014 visit.
Jake particularly liked the sign to the right of this photo....proclaiming that they were poison free for the “3rd-ish” week
.
We had very speedy, attentive, and yes...sarcastic...service here. Our waitress was back at our table in a flash with our drinks, and after emptying the tray of glasses onto the table, she set to work outfitting us with plastic bibs. Weren’t we fashionable
.
Having finally decided on our entrees of choice, we placed our food orders (to which our server replied with an exaggerated sigh...
“Thank God! It’s about time!”) and she set off in the direction of the kitchen, muttering away to herself as she left. She really did do a great job of dishing it out, but not too much or offensively so (if that makes sense). Of course, we enjoy this type of experience....so we played along and encouraged her antics, which definitely helps. Not long after we were seated, a large family group also arrived, but they had several young kids.....which really quite surprised us (and posed a real challenge for the server, too). While we love Dick’s for both the food quality and the unique experience, we also recognize that the fact that our son is an adult plays a big part in the suitability for this restaurant as a dining option on our vacation. The sarcasm and humour is very
adult in nature, so it’s definitely not what I’d consider a good pick for those with grade schoolers. We overheard the staff very tactfully trying to make sure that these folks knew that Dick’s was not your average family diner....I can only imagine how tough it is to carry out the Dick’s experience when there are little ones involved....but the family assured them they were “totally fine with it” and so they were placed at a table behind us and we got to watch their lunch experience, too.
As we waited for our food to arrive, the manager came over to chat with us for a few moments. He was happy to hear we were repeat visitors, and thrilled to know we had come all the way from Canada. I’ve got to say, I do love it when managers are that hands-on and customer-oriented. It goes a long way in making guests feel very welcomed and appreciated
.
While we chatted with the manager, we could see our server working diligently on a project in the corner of the room, so we weren’t surprised when the requisite headwear started being delivered, one by one.
Steve was first to be adorned with the mile-high personalized “hat”. Jake was enjoying a good laugh at his father’s expense when he, too, fell victim to our server’s warped humour.
I gleefully announced that I couldn’t wait to get these pictures up on Facebook. The boys warned me with evil grins that my turn was yet to come....and they had no problem with payback
.
Right then, our food came out from the kitchen.....smelling
amazing and piping hot.
Jake had chosen the Buffalo chicken sandwich with an upgrade to cheese fries:
Steve had selected the Philly cheese steak sandwich with chili cheese tater tots:
I had picked the “Big Pig”, their signature pulled pork sandwich, with the sauce on the side (at the server’s suggestion) and tater tots for a side.
One of the things we loved about Dick’s on the first visit was the food, and once again on this trip we were blown away by the quality of the meals. The food here is sooo tasty.....fresh, flavourful, big portions, just so good in every way. Especially at lunch, there is real value for the price paid, with the most expensive entree (Steve’s cheese steak with the upgraded chili cheese tater tot side) being only $11.98. Considering the amount of meat on his sandwich and the quality ingredients, we were more than satisfied.
As we dined, my “hat” was also delivered with a flourish. You don’t get to see it though, because it was less than flattering and I hate the picture of me in it. My trip report, my rules
. Let’s just say the “theme” of the message on my hat was equally as crass as that of the guys’
.
We opted out of dessert. We were much too full.
The bill was brought to our table, and we laughed right out loud at the handwritten message:
We covered the cost, left her a great tip (she earned every dollar....she made our lunch a ton of fun
) and rolled our bloated bellies out to the Equinox. Now right around high noon, it was HOT and HUMID with not a drop of rain in the forecast again today
. While we never would have expected it, it was simply a perfect day for a water park.
Our splishy, splashy, refreshing afternoon at Aquatica is up next! 
Steve is really good at the sledgehammer game! 
. I think he just needed another butterbeer 
.....for strength.
) but we're generally good for a laugh on a regular basis.
. (They really are good value souvenirs, though.....a huge minion for $6? You can't beat it!)
disneyAndi14! Thanks for joining in 
.
(my dad always told us "if God meant us to eat sour milk, he would have soured it in the cow"....so I've never had a taste for anything made with cream cheese or sour cream) . That said, we did try to get into the Buffalo Cheesecake Factory in October (for dinner the night before we flew out) but it was PACKED 
.
.
. Good thing he's chosen one I really, really like this time.....otherwise I may have had to reconsider my cream cheese fear just to ensure he got an entertaining mother in law...
.
, so we paid the $44.99, had the Guest Services agent affix our cabana wristbands, declined the offer of someone to take us to the area personally (we knew our way there by heart) and headed off to get settled in.
. I guess most folks were like us, and just didn’t have a water park in the plans for a late-December vacation. Our itinerary was flexible enough to squeeze it in on the fly, but I totally understand that many families don’t have that ability (for many different reasons). With the low attendance of the day, the guys were able to ride every single slide in the park (a couple of them multiple times) within the first hour we were there 
.
.
