Eating scones with ghosts at Leslie’s Family Tree
r When I hear “Leslie’s Family Tree restaurant,” I think of two things: scones and ghosts. The scones are legendary for their gargantuan size (and they are delicious). The ghosts are legitimate. I didn’t take the time to go looking for them, but they have been featured on “The Dead Files” and “Ghost Adventures” on the Travel Channel. If you are interested in learning more about the ghosts, you can book a Late Dinner/Ghost Tour. So if you are looking for something different to do and are feeling brave, check it out. But back to the food, which was why I went there. Although I was tempted to get an “I Dined With a Ghost” shirt.
rOK. The scones. Delicious. Light and airy with a nice crust. The real thing that sets these scones apart is the size. While we were waiting, I saw someone pick up a couple of scones to go. I’m thinking one of those Styrofoam to-go containers with a couple small scones. So the guy gets a big box like Costco gives you when you need something to stack your items in. Honestly, the scones are the size of a loaf of French bread but wider. I don’t even know how they get a fryer big enough. The scones came out steaming hot with generous portions of honey butter. So you have this hot, delicious scone covered in melted honey butter. It has a nice crust, and the inside is soft and delicious.
rBut Leslie’s Family Tree is more than just scones and ghosts (although those are both terribly exciting). Leslie’s Family Tree has real comfort food: think chicken-fried steak, roast beef with mashed potatoes, breaded halibut and prime rib. When you order a dinner, you get your choice of soup (made from scratch) or salad (with crazy-delicious ranch), a potato dish (mashed, fried or baked) and a vegetable.
rSo let’s begin. I ordered the roast beef and mashed potatoes. Whenever I try to make roast beef, it turns out tough and dry. Every time. This roast beef was tender and delicious and covered in a thick, rich gravy. I chose the mashed potatoes, and they were creamy. It also came with a scoop of stuffing. Think Grandma’s house for dinner comfort but better.
rChicken-fried steak is not my thing. One time when I was young, I ordered chicken-fried steak expecting fried chicken. Haven’t really recovered from that. But this chicken-fried steak was delicious. It has a nice, crisp crust to it and the meat was well seasoned and it paired nicely with the mashed potatoes. It was covered with that rich, delicious gravy that I mentioned before.
rI’m a sucker for good fish. The breaded halibut was fresh and had a delicious, crisp crust. They had a delicious tartar sauce and fresh lemon for seasoning. The prime rib sandwich (Friday special) had savory, thin-sliced prime rib on a fresh bun. Oh, the buns. They have fresh-made buns that are just delicious. I also had a taste of the Gator sandwich with the roast beef, cheese and onions. Same bun. Same deliciousness. Both the prime rib sandwich and the Gator came with delicious au jus for dipping. Yummy.
rThe soups are delectable. As I mentioned earlier, they are made from scratch and totally yummy. I had the beef and vegetable soup. It had bits of roast beef, boiled potatoes, celery and a great broth. The other soup of the day was clam chowder, which was creamy and delicious with perfectly cooked potatoes. They also make their fries from scratch, and they are thick cut and yummy.
rOn the weekends, you can enjoy live music with local talent coming in to strum the guitar and play the harmonica. If you’re looking for a place to host an event or party, they have banquet rooms that can fit 70 people. Big-screen TV’s make it a great place for parties to watch big NBA/NFL games or “The Bachelor.” Plus you might get an unexpected guest, as in not alive, as in a ghost. So if you’re looking for a thrill or just want a scone that is bigger than a bread box, check out Leslie’s Family Tree at 77 W. Main in Santaquin. Open Mondays to Sundays, check out hours on Facebook.
