Feast draws large crowd
BOARDMAN
The mashed potatoes made the meal.
No question.
Isabela Spurlock didn’t need candy from the Easter Bunny — at least not this year.
The little dance and the way she smacked her lips let the 8-month-old’s mom, Jessica, know that.
Isabela was still dancing and all smiles, when not getting shoulder rides from her dad, Bryan, as the family, who lives in North Royalton near Cleveland, were getting ready to leave Mr. Anthony’s on Sunday afternoon.
The banquet center’s last seating for its gourmet Easter buffet was at 2:30 p.m., and the large room was slowly emptying out.
More than 1,000 people had come again this year to three seatings, said manager Steve Bellino. Mr. Anthony’s has been serving the Easter Buffet and a similar one on Mother’s Day for 34 years, he said.
Isabela was not the only happy member of the family.
They had dined with Bryan’s family, Monica and Gary Dunn, of Boardman, who said all the food was very good.
It had been their first time there, and it was spur-of-the-moment, Monica explained.
“They were going to go to Jessica’s parents’ for Easter dinner, and her mom got sick,” Monica said. “So [Jessica] said, ‘well, we’re gonna eat with you guys.’ I had nothing planned.”
“I saw on the news,” Monica continued, “that there were still reservations available here.”
The family would certainly consider coming back, they said.
“We have a lot of return customers who look forward to Easter and Mother’s Day,” Bellino said.
The buffet has traditional Easter standards such as honey-glazed ham and leg of lamb. There’s also chicken francaise, carved prime rib, pastas, roasted sweet potatoes, vegetables and salads. There’s bread and soft drinks included in the price, and a cash bar is available.
On the Mother’s Day buffet, Bellino said, the banquet center has boneless ribs instead of lamb. Reservations are being taken for that buffet starting this week. Call 330-758-5721.
Judi Mascardine of Hubbard had dinner with her husband, John, daughter, Jennifer, who tends bar at the banquet center, and six others.
“My son, grandaughter and daughter-in-law came in from Strongsville. ... My daughter-in-law’s mom and dad were here too,” said Mascardine, who said the family has eaten there for the second year.
She likes the atmosphere and the food at Mr. Anthony’s. “The chicken francaise was wonderful,” she said.
Nonetheless, she still cooked a ham.
“You gotta have leftovers!” she insisted.