Bogie’s serves up comfort food

EVERETT – Don’t confuse Bogie’s on 41st with Bogie’s All American Diner on the Bothell-Everett Highway, which was reviewed a few weeks ago. Both serve comfort food like meatloaf and chicken-fried steak.

But Bogie’s on 41st has been around for 17 years; the restaurant was previously known as Shaun O’Donnells. Recently, Bev Nelsen and Richard Holliday purchased the restaurant and changed the name. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the new owners added dishes like Southwest-style omelets, pasta dishes and pot roast.

Before I arrived, my dining companion ordered the nachos grande ($8.55) and iced tea. She was quick to point out that the iced tea was brewed, not instant, and very good. I requested a Mac and Jack from the bar. The bar area has expanded and now offers appetizers and a happy hour menu.

We sat in the dining room, which is decorated with photos of stars from Hollywood’s Golden Era and rattan furniture for a “Casablanca” feel. We studied the menu while we enjoyed our large platter of corn chips covered in melted cheddar cheese and topped with sliced black olives and diced tomatoes and green chilies. The salsa, sour cream and guacamole were served on the side. There wasn’t very much taco-seasoned ground beef layered in with the other toppings.

For our main dishes, my friend considered the corned beef and cabbage ($10.49), which is served daily. We commented on how rare that is. She chose the chicken cacciatore ($9.99) and requested the “Cabbage Patch” soup. Both are new menu selections. I ordered the nightly special, which was a New York strip steak. But I ordered too late. The steaks were gone. So, I selected my back-up choice, pot roast dinner ($10.99) and asked for salad instead of soup.

We munched on more nachos and caught each other up on our personal news. When our friendly server arrived with our main dishes, he immediately realized he’d forgotten our soup and salad. He apologized and apologized, and quickly brought our soup and salad. My salad was made with a mound of greens topped by blue cheese and shredded Parmesan. It was passable but uninspired. My friend’s soup, on the other hand, was a tasty minestrone-like soup accented with cayenne pepper.

According to my friend, the fork-tender pot roast tasted just as good as Grandma’s, but was better because the serving was larger. The beef, topped with delicious brown gravy, melted in our mouths. And the side of mashed potatoes were real mashed potatoes, Not whipped with lots of cream. They were just mashed potatoes and some of their red skins.

My friend’s main dish was made with a chicken breast sauteed in sherry with green peppers, sliced black olives, mushrooms and onions in a red sauce over linguine. For me, it lacked spark and the pasta wasn’t al dente. My friend relished every bite and assured me that she likes her pasta cooked like that.

Unfortunately, we discovered about half way through our entrees that we’d spoiled our appetites for dinner by eating too many nachos. Fortunately, our server had take-out containers so we could reheat and re-enjoy.

Herald restaurant reviewers accept no invitations to review, but readers’ suggestions are always welcome. Reviewers arrive unannounced, and The Herald pays their tabs.

Anna Poole: features@heraldnet.com

Bogie’s on 41st

1510 41st St., Everett; 425-259-3838

Specialty: American favorites

Hours: breakfast 7 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday; lunch 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; dinner 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Price range: moderate

Liquor: full bar

Reservations: recommended for parties of six or more

Disabled accessibility: easy access

Credit cards: American Express, Discover, Master Card, Visa