Growing up in Pottstown The Half Way House was one of the “ritzy” restaurants in the area. Having eaten there a few times in my lifetime, it was a bit shocking to see the place close down. However, what was moving into the old style stone house restaurant looked really interesting, a Japanese – Hibachi Restaurant!

Josh and I being avid sushi consumers watched the ongoing progress that was taking place. While the look of the building did not change on the exterior something had to be happening indoors because of all the remnants that were housing themselves in the parking lot while the renovation was occurring.

One evening while out doing some shopping we both decided Chinese -or Japanese – was what we were in the mood for. Being that we were in the Boyertown area we decided to try the little place on 73 located right off of Rt. 100 ((right near Sevilles)). We pulled into the lot and kabam the place was packed!!! We hadn’t ever eaten here, but were always curious and had been told that the food is good and a good price. Needless to say we still haven’t eaten there. We head to see if “The Halfway House” is open….

Arriving this place is just as packed as the little hideaway in Boyertown. We decided what the heck and went inside. Opening the door the entire interior had changed drastically! No more small quaint old-fashioned rooms with fireplaces! We now have an open waiting area with Mr. Miagie behind the counter of the register, a bar – not stocked ((that should have been a sign)), and a few other couples standing waiting around. On the first floor alone there were 3 or 4 hibachi stations as well!

Being escorted to our seats, we are taken to the second floor ((another difference – The Halfway House didn’t have seating on the 2nd floor)), again either 3 or 4 hibachi stations line the walls and a dining area located at the top of the steps, where we were seated. Already seated were two other couples, each having their own tables. This is where the fun begins….

Once seated we begin to overhear our neighboring tables discussing the food etc. Not thinking too much about it, we sit and begin to wonder if a drink order is going to be taken. Not seeing a drink menu we found odd, but then thought possibly it was a BYOB and the bar downstairs was not really a bar?! A little odd, but a possibility none the less. Once a waitress comes to take our order we do find out that the liquor license has not arrived so alcohol is not being served….okay…no big deal, we don’t need alcohol. After we place our drink order, we hear one of the neighboring tables inquiring about their check. Here we come to learn that while the food was good, the service was slow. Apparently that when one orders from the sushi menu and the other from the dinner menu your selections won’t come out at the same time! Timing is crucial in the restaurant business especially when serving entrees. Not only did this tables food come out at different times, they inquired with the man of the table -who ordered from the dinner menu- if he would like a box, here the lady of the table had not yet received her sushi order, she just looked at the waitress and said, I’d like my food! Now after waiting a good 45 minutes they still had not received their check.

Oh boy we thought, what are we getting ourselves into here? We were told by all the surrounding tables that the food is good but the service is just really slow. The table right next to us had sushi rolls that looked scruptuous and they said how good the rolls were, but that when they arrived the table who had been waiting for their check had been waiting for their food and then their check and that hopefully they wouldn’t be waiting as long. HA, they waited just as long, if not longer! Josh and I received our dinners ((yes at different times, his main dish came out before my sushi)), and were nearly done before their check arrived. We had a great time laughing and poking fun at how Mr. Miagie was downstairs with his abacus calculating everyone’s checks! Seriously that was the big hold up. Waiting for 45 minutes for your check is a bit extreme.

Josh and I luckily didn’t wait as long as these other couples did, but we were afraid that a new restaurant would be built up around us while we sat and waited for our check! We’ll probably give the place another chance, maybe hibachi next time!

The good thing we did learn was that the abacus still works and seriously we learned about a few other sushi restaurants in the area that are top notch. We already tried the one out and were both very very impressed with the food!

So while the service and Mr. Miagie’s calculating tactics were probably the slowest ever experienced, the food and entertainment of our surrounding tables made the experience enjoyable!