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If you like home-style cooking, big portions and friendly service, you'll want to check out Hamilton's West Side Café. The restaurant, in the former home of Fat Wally's, has only been open a few weeks, and has already developed a regular clientele.

"We have a lot of regulars who eat here once or twice a day, and it's like a neighborhood family," said Beverly Moore.

Moore manages the restaurant, which is owned by her mother, Edna Hart. Hart said she decided to open the restaurant after a time of prayer.

"I was praying about what I should do with my life, and while praying it came to me that I should open a local restaurant, so here I am putting my faith in God," Hart said.

The cafe offers a daily breakfast menu featuring various egg dishes, pancakes, french toast and scrambled eggs topped with ham, sausage, bacon, onion, mushrooms and cheese.

Sandwiches include deli selections, such as the West Side Club — which is stuffed with ham, bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese and mayo — and Edna's Homemade Chicken Salad, which has become a customer favorite.

"I get a lot of requests for my homemade chicken and tuna salad as well as my chili and cole slaw," Hart said.

Hot-off-the-grill sandwiches include Edna's Famous Reuben with piles of corned beef and sauerkraut, smothered in melted Swiss cheese. Other grill items include a Spicy Chicken Filet and an Icelandic Cod Fish sandwich.

"I cook here, like I would cook at home, so my portions are big, but if I won't eat it, it won't get served," Hart said.

There is a senior menu for those who don't want as much food and who are older than 55, and children younger than 12 can enjoy selections such as chicken tenders and burgers from the Something for Little Ones menu. The restaurant also features various burger-basket selections, and the Good Ol' Fashioned Dinners Menu includes a hot, open-faced roast beef sandwich, as well as chicken breast and fried shrimp. On Fridays, there is a weekly fish fry after 4 p.m., and the Sunday dinner special is fried chicken with a choice of two sides and a salad.

The West Side Café offers a variety of desserts as well as a soup and lunch special of the day. Carry out is available.

CONTACT this writer at tlhrsly@cinci.rr.com.

HOW TO GO:

WHAT: West Side Café

WHERE: 752 N. W. Washington Blvd., Hamilton

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday. Breakfast is served 7 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and all day on Sunday. Dinner is offered from 4 p.m. to close daily. The senior menu and children's menu is offered all day.

COST: Breakfast menu ranges from $.89-$7.99, Deli sandwiches are $4.89-$5.99. Hot sandwiches are $4.49-$6.79, Dinners are $6.79-$10.29. Senior menu items are $4.39-$6.49, children's dinners are $3.49. Soups are $2.99 for a bowl, and $2.29 for a cup. The Friday fish and Sunday chicken dinner are both $8.99

MORE INFO: (513) 867-9378

CRITICS CHOICE: Opened Face Hot Roast Beef