Ham's gets a new menu for fall

Ham's, a college restaurant staple in Greenville, has a new menu for fall 2009. I discovered that the menu still has many of the basic items that college students love, but also incorporates some new items as well as brings back old popular items.

For the starters on the menu, some of the favorites, such as homemade chips and Thumbs and Toes, have stayed. However, the restaurant did away with the fried mushrooms to bring back onion rings, a classic favorite. They also did away with buffalo shrimp and added sliders instead.

Ham's also got rid of some more summery items, such as the chef salad and the garden salad. As far as entrees go, the grilled chicken skillet, the Hawaiian sirloin, the steak and rib combo, the rib and shrimp combo, baked spaghetti, the fried chicken sandwich and the beef wrap are not a part of the fall menu.

However, while many items are gone for the season, I was pleased to see that items like the Rodeo Burger and the Two Car Burger have been added. As well as a rib combo with a crab cake, a crab cake plate and a crab cake sandwich.

Warren Robertson, general manager for the Greenville Ham's, said a lot of the reason for a change in the menu is so that food can be made fresh every day and the restaurant can rotate items. He said the restaurant has a deal on crabmeat currently, which allows the restaurant to serve more items containing fresh crab.

The menu is generally very extensive and continues to have many options, but Robertson also noted that making a more manageable menu for the kitchen staff helps guarantee a fresh product.

Not only did the food menu change, but the beer list for people of age changed as well. There are still the full times beers, which include Sunset Lager, Ocracoke American Wheat and Peg Leg Pale Ale, but new seasonal beers have been introduced. The seasonal beers include Double Peg Leg Imperial I.P.A., J. Allyn's Robust Porter, Tiki's California Gold, C. Brown's Pumpkin Ale and in October the Oktoberfest beer will be added.

Ham's still has the same laidback atmosphere and fun college hangout feel, but now it has a new fall menu to give people the opportunity to sample some new things and receive the freshest food they possibly can.

In the spring, the menu will change again, as it changes every fall and spring season. College students and families who come to enjoy good basic food and watch a game or just have a casual meal with friends will have a new opportunity to eat some of their old favorites, as well as indulge in some new fresh items.

To find out more information about the Greenville Ham's, call 252-830-2730 or go to Hamsrestaurants.com to find out about the Greenville location as well as other locations.

This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.