Cape & Islands News

Orleans Homeport 40th Birthday celebration December 13-19

EDITOR's Note: Our good friend Moses Calouro is related to the owners of The Homeport Restaurant in Orleans, that quintessential Olde Cape Cod bistro which began long before Julia Childs and/or haute cuisine. He wrote this report for us on the restaurant's 40th birthday.

Return to simpler times and prices from your childhood at Homeport
Coffee for 5 cents and dinner for less than $4 for its 40th birthday bash

This is the Homeport Restaurant on Main Street Orleans today. It's old time Cape Cod next to Friend's Market and across the street from the Orleans Post Office.

If you haven't discovered the Homeport in Orleans, you haven't discover old time, home cooking at yeasterday's prices... even when they aren't celebrating a birthday.

Coffee five cents? Shepard's Pie under four dollars? What is going on? The Homeport Restaurant is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The small red brick building with the blue awnings on Orleans' Main Street started as a drug store back in the 60's. When its soda fountain starting gaining popularity the buildings owner, Robert Peno, sold the business to one of his employees Mrs. Brown (remember Brownie's Texaco, also in Orleans?) who, in 1968, turned it into a place where you could get a great breakfast, lunch and dinner at a great price.

That is the spirit by which the Homeport operates today. Good, hearty food at a fair price.

In the early 70's Jack Shields bought the restaurant and added a great dinner menu. Now the Homeport is owned and operated by Jessica Knight, a young lady who started working (handing out flyers and washing dishes) at the restaurant when she was in her early teens.

To commemorate the anniversary of this down home food establishment, prices on select breakfast, lunch and dinner items have been reduced. When was the last time you got a great dinner out for less than five dollars?

Jessica and her crew at the Homeport invite you to stop in and join them in celebrating the legacy of the little brick diner on Cape Cod. Some of the great food you'll find year' round are at special prices this week, such as these for breakfast:

• A Short Stack of Buttermilk Pancakes or Raisin Bread French Toast for 2.99
• Our famous Breakfast Sandwich for 1.99 or a great Cheese Omelet for 3.99

For lunch try:

When was the last time you saw a Lobster Roll served with French fries for $5.99?

• Homeport Burger-1.99
  Grilled to your liking served with French fries.
• Hot Pastrami-2.99
  Lean pastrami topped with Swiss cheese served on grilled rye with French fries.
• Grilled Rueben-2.99
  Lean corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing on grilled pumpernickel and served with French fries.
• Lobster Roll-5.99 served with French fries
• Grilled Prime Rib Sandwich-4.99
  (These last two are going to hurt) Lobster salad on a grilled roll or the Homeport's prime rib grilled on a bulkie roll and served with French fries.
• Haddock Sandwich-2.99
  Broiled or Fried haddock topped with lettuce, tomato, cheese and tartar sauce with fries
• Tuna Melt-2.99
  Homeport's fresh made tuna salad with sliced cheddar cheese served on grilled rye with potato chips.

And later in the day for dinner you'll find:

How about Haddock lightly breaded and golden brown served with French fries, coleslaw, and tartar sauce for $4.99.

• Roast Prime Rib-5.99
  Slow roasted prime rib served with choice of potato and vegetable of the day.
• Fish & Chips-4.99
  Haddock lightly breaded and fried golden brown served with French fries, coleslaw, and tartar sauce.
• Shepherd's Pie-3.99
  The Homeport's own Angus browned beef cooked and seasoned with corn and topped with mashed potatoes, served with a grilled roll.
• Cheese Lasagna-4.99
  Four cheese lasagna topped with a marinara sauce served with a grilled roll.
• Half Roasted Chicken-4.99
  A half of a chicken slow roasted and served with potato and vegetable of the day.

So please come on in and return to simpler times.

Be sure to say "Hi" to Jess, Deb, Nancy, Cindy, Patrick, Gail, Heidi K., Heidi B., Roxy, Melanie, Becca, Andrew, Nicole, Chris and the whole crew at the Homeport.

They'll be there serving breakfast, as always, starting at 5:30 AM and dinner from 3:00 until 5:00PM. Don't forget to look for their five dollar dinners all year. Enjoy!

Anniversary specials start Saturday, December 13th and run to Saturday, December 19th.

Read the previous Cheap Eats feature on the Homeport here.