Mystery Diner: Firehouse Restaurant is a West Walnut Street landmark

I've always had a kind thought for the folks who work and live on Johnson City's West Walnut Street.As a callow youth studying hard at East Tennessee State University, the Walnut Street merchants were kind enough to employ me when my bank account was dwindling at the same rate that the cost of textbooks was increasing. Here's a "Thank you!" to the team of Jack and Darrell and especially to you, Tom, both for the employment and the people skills this shy Yankee transplant learned from all of you.Now that the West Walnut Street makeover is in full swing, the public can begin to see what the merchants and residents have to look forward to. Though changes are in the offing, some landmarks will remain as a reminder of what West Walnut Street once was.One of these locations is the old West Walnut Street Fire House No. 2, which has been doing business since the late 20th century as Tom Seaton's Firehouse Restaurant.First impressionsWith West Walnut Street's current road and property work in progress, the best way to get to the Firehouse Restaurant is to take West State of Franklin Road to its junction with West Watauga Avenue and take the turn toward its junction with West Walnut Street. Ample parking for the Firehouse Restaurant is directly in front of you across West Walnut Street, with the restaurant itself on your immediate right.The interior of Firehouse Restaurant is paneled with rough-cut and smoky-gray boards with all kinds of firefighting memorabilia found everywhere, the largest being a fully operational 1925 Seagrave Suburbanite firetruck in what once was the main garage and is now the restaurant's lobby and carry-out section.The dining area can accommodate 130-plus guests on two floors and a glassed-in side porch. Restrooms are on the first floor just off the entrance to the porch.SelectionsIt had been another sultry summer day when my dining partner informed me that our kitchen was too hot to cook in, that we were going out for supper, and that it had to have good food and also to be "someplace nice." Fortunately, the Firehouse Restaurant fulfilled both those requirements, and 10 minutes later the two of us were being seated on the side porch by our server Trinity, who supplied both with menus in hand.My dining partner opted for one of the Firehouse's bacon and cheddar burgers ($11) cooked medium well, with a bowl of their incomparable broccoli salad acting as her side order.My choice was the pulled chicken salad ($10) with an a la carte side order of Firehouse's broccoli salad as well ($2).How it tastesTrinity had our suppers in front of the two of us in just over 15 minutes.My dining partner was very pleased with her bacon and cheddar burger. The cooks in the Firehouse kitchen still know how to grill a patty of lean ground Angus beef to the medium-well condition my dining partner prefers. The bacon and cheddar elements were both prepared properly, the bacon cooked through and crispy-textured, the cheddar still bubbly, smooth and tasty.Her side order of broccoli salad was incomparable as usual, with just the right accents of crumbled bacon bits, sunflower seeds and chopped red onions in the mayonnaise-based dressing with the broccoli.My pulled chicken salad was also good. The bed of chopped and chilled iceberg lettuce was accented with sliced Roma tomatoes, some crunchy croutons added for texture and chunks of cold, fresh cucumber — just the thing for your tummy on a steamy summer's day. Add in some of the Firehouse's own cooling ranch dressing and top with some pulled and grilled chicken that's been tossed in some of Tom Seaton's own superb barbecue sauce, and you've got a meal to linger over.The bottom lineAs of this writing, it appears that the work on West Walnut Street has moved on from in front of the Firehouse Restaurant, so you can join my dining partner and I in making this landmark of West Walnut Street (and Johnson City, come to think of it) one of your regular dining spots once again. The atmosphere is uniquely historical, the service always capable and friendly (thank you again, Trinity) and the food well-prepared and delicious.So, what's keeping you?The Firehouse Restaurant627 West Walnut StreetJohnson City929-7377Tue – Thu 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.Fri – Sat 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.Dine-in, Carry-out & Home DeliveryCredit cards accepted