The Pearson House
"His" Review
His: Mike Woody

It seems that every year I end up with an Entertainment Book, either as a gift or having purchased one myself in support of a fundraiser, but for some reason, I never end up using it. The main reason is that I never remember to get it out of my glove box, where it usually sits, doing me no good.

I decided to change that, so I dug it out and, searching for dining options, I selected The Pearson House in West Milton. Located at 28 North Miami Street, we passed it by a couple times without spotting it, which is routine for me and in my defense, it was dark and raining. Fortunately, Christina was able to guide me. There's a reason she is included in these assignments.

To step inside the Pearson House is to go back in time, as the dining room lacks the modern luxuries of many contemporary establishments, which isn’t a bad thing. The atmosphere is comforting and swarms with friendliness. We took our seats in the back room, passing by many tables filled with happily satisfied customers.

Our server immediately arrived with a smile to get our drink orders as we scoured the menu. There are a number of selections to choose from, including: catfish, shrimp, meatloaf and chicken gizzards. After much deliberating, I chose the Swiss Steak with Onion Rings and Corn Fritters on the side, plus Pumpkin Bread. The pumpkin bread came out quickly, still slightly warm and abundant with flavor.

When our main course arrived, I immediately felt like I was back home, all that was missing was Judge Judy blaring on the television. In today’s society the taste of home cooking might not appeal to many families and is the reason they go out, but I’ve been fortunate to have parents who are good in the kitchen so the reference is a compliment. I would compare my Swiss Steak to those prepared by any blessed cook in his –or her-- own home. This is ‘home cooking’ in its truest form; often promised but rarely delivered. At the Pearson House, meals aren't frozen only to be heated up later under false pretenses, but are actually fresh. There is nothing fancy in the presentation, but the taste speaks for itself. No need for a garland or other techniques that are too often only used to cover up shortcomings.

The Swiss Steak was tender, hot and covered in gravy; a real taste of home. My onion rings were also a tasteful delight, with its flaky breading. I would have enjoyed a few more but the amount provided was most likely already more than I needed. And the Corn Fritters were a rare treat, something I can’t get at home. The fritters also came with a bottle of syrup. With the Pearson House being known for their homemade pies, I had to provide my reading audience with the full experience and have a piece. Almost any flavor imaginable is available and I decided on the Chocolate Turtle. Sounds like heaven, right? While I have no complaints, I feel like the hype from the title didn’t quite live up to the taste. It did however go down with ease.

My meal was under $8, plus the pie, and the cost was further mitigated with the use of the Entertainment Book. Regardless of whether you have a coupon or not, I would suggest visiting the Pearson House. It's a taste of home, only you won’t have to do the dishes afterwards.


Pearson House – Her Review

By Christina Smith

If you’re looking for a Miami Valley restaurant that has a stress-free and homey feel, the Pearson House should definitely be on your list of places to try. Located at the crossroad of State Routes 571 and 48 in downtown West Milton, the Pearson House has been satisfying the locals for 24 years by serving up some good home-cooked meals and a friendly retreat.

At first, Woody and I had a little difficulty locating the restaurant but, with a quick phone call, we found it without any further problems. We parked in the back and walked around to the door on a newly paved and well-lit sidewalk. Walking into the restaurant, there was a handful of senior couples and families with children. We immediately noticed the blackboard with the nightly dinner specials. We also noted that no one came to greet us and show us to our seats. After about three minutes, a waitress in passing said, “You can go ahead and sit yourselves anywhere you like.”

There were both table-and-chair and bench seating available in two different rooms. Woody picked out a window bench seat in the back room and, as soon as we sat down, we were waited on for our drink orders and given menus.

The place had a cozy, family-oriented atmosphere in a building that had been around for at least a hundred years. The room temperature was comfortable, and I was surprised that I didn’t feel one cold draft even though I was sitting by the window.

Debbie, our waitress, greeted us promptly and took our dinner orders. I was amazed at our luck to have been served by Pearson House's veteran waitress, who has been a faithful employee for 19 years! After looking over the menu, I opted for one of the four nightly dinner specials: the Roast Beef with two sides of my choice (I had the lettuce salad and real mashed potatoes with gravy) and my choice of bread.

The food was warm; well-portioned, and made its way quickly to our table. I definitely savored the pumpkin bread. Mmmmmm! I also tried one of the 25 flavors of homemade pie: peanut butter. I had asked for the peanut butter and chocolate pie, but the peanut butter was pretty good. Mmm ½.

As far as being handicapped-accessible, it’s a little snug, but possible. The restrooms looked tight from the outside, but once inside, they were roomy and clean.
The cost was roughly about $6 to $9 per dinner and they proudly accept the Golden Buckeye Card.

Overall, the food was good. I really enjoyed the rich history of the building and the laid-back atmosphere. Another 'plus' was being able to use a coupon out of the 2008 Entertainment Book. This is certainly a place that will see my business again in the future; what about yours?