Dixie Diner's pages-long menu lists tons of choices

VIRGINIA BEACH

The Burger King in Woodtide Shopping Center on Princess Anne Road that had turned Mexican became the Dixie Diner last March. While driving to and from indoor soccer and field hockey fields, I wondered if they offered hot open-faced sandwiches, cold platters and breakfast anytime.

Dixie Diner offers that and much more - including scrapple. The multiple-page menu, packed with choices, takes time to process.

Daily specials come with a cup of homemade soup, which made the cheese steak wrap ($6.99) appealing. Our server assured me I could have it with sauteed onions. The well-constructed wrap of seasoned shaved beef and no onions - sauteed or raw - was still terrific with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes and accompanied by crispy, battered fries. For a dollar, diners can upgrade to a side vegetable, potato salad, cole slaw or onion rings. Tasty mushroom barley had a kick, making us suspect the unexpected green peppers were jalapenos.

From the cold platters, my daughter ordered chicken Caesar salad ($7.99), also offered with shrimp for $8.49. Warm pita triangles surrounded romaine lettuce caressed with dressing and topped with grilled chicken and croutons. The salad was tepid, not cool and crisp, but it was appealing in its unique way.

Thinly sliced roast turkey ($9.99) served with stuffing (more sweet than savory), gravy and cranberry sauce was thoroughly enjoyed. We abstained from mashed potatoes since they were not the real deal. No matter what brand, my family dislikes the instant kind. A healthy side salad with homemade blue cheese dressing was grand.

Seafood - fried, broiled, Italian style and in combos - is plentiful at Dixie Diner. My youngest daughter ordered broiled salmon ($12.99) rare. It was fresh, but she'll no doubt order differently next time, because some scales remained and it was too done for her liking. The chicken elbow noodle soup, selected over the side salad, was terrific. Had we known we could choose a baked potato as a side, we would have opted for it over more fries.

Homemade bread pudding ($1.99), with golden raisins and whipped cream, and strawberry ice cream with whole berries made for a pleasant ending to an enjoyable meal.

Our server was friendly and accommodating, but we would have preferred more prompting about side choices. Note: Pay more attention to the menu's fine print.

Dixie Diner's owners - Fikret, Hasan and Mevlut Koltuk, an uncle, a nephew and a cousin - have brought their Turkish touch to the Dixie Diner, where choices abound for well-prepared food for a fair price.

Tammy G. Jaxtheimer, flavor@pilotonline.com