Moe R.
Yelp
I gave the Country Gourmet a great review in 2017, starting, "I don't know why I don't go to the CG more often."
Today, the best we could say is, "not bad." Everything was "not bad." And that, unfortunately, is not good.
Several things have not changed: Still large and spacious, clean, though it feels dated and a little worn. The system is the same: Order and pay, and they bring the food to you. It used to be quick, now it was pretty slow (even though we went in mid-afternoon on a weekday).
The food is still pretty wholesome, with mostly the same dishes. But what's not the same is the quality. It's "not bad." We were disappointed and would compare it to an average diner-level restaurant. The dishes were competent but bland and average. My partner said it was like a meal at an assisted living home--slow, mild, bland. Not bad.
I had a BLT. To their credit, they asked how I wanted the bacon and it was good bacon, cooked pretty close to my request. But otherwise ordinary, with supermarket-quality lettuce and tomato (and in September, they should have still been able to find fresh tomatoes), mayo on pretty average white bread. Again, not bad.
Likewise for the enchiladas. They looked good but were surprisingly ordinary, without a lot of flavor. The black beans, served on the side, were ok but looked like they had been prepared a few hours ago.
We got a lemon bar for dessert. The lemon portion was bright, flavorful, well balanced between tart and sweet but the crust was disappointing. A gluten-free shortbread (I think that was the goal here) is not difficult to make but this one was not very flavorful or buttery. Texture was ok. And the crust was weirdly thick--about three times as thick as the lemon.
Others seem to still love the CG but for us, it seems to have lost its mojo.