We have a new restaurant in downtown Falmouth. The Pickle Jar Kitchen serves breakfast and lunch and is now open for business at 170 Main Street. 

Going there for lunch last week and then again for breakfast on Saturday has caused me to think about what makes one restaurant a "keeper" and another, one that you visit once and never return. 

The food is, of course, of primary importance. Quality and preparation here are top notch. But it's more than that. It's inviting surroundings and friendly staff. It's the touches that make it unique - hanging lights in the windows fashioned from canning jars, the old-fashioned counter stools and display cases, the huge picture on the wall showing their block of downtown Falmouth in the early 1900's.

But then it always comes back to the food. Everything here is carefully prepared and a step above the ordinary. From the house cured pickled veggies on the side of your sandwich to the crispy hand cut French fries, there are items on the menu that make you realize that something special is going on in that kitchen.

And I haven't even mentioned the hash. Hash is hash, right? Wrong. The Pickle Jar Kitchen's hash starts with cubed potatoes and carmelized onions. You then have a choice of vegetables or meat. We had "The Garden," an amazing combination of diced squash, kale, cauliflower, tomatoes fried with the potatoes and onions. It's going to be hard to try the meat versions in place of that, but I was really tempted by the house roasted pastrami and kale hash. Next time!

I could go on about the excellent house made soup, but I'm going to stop now. Do yourself a favor and go there for breakfast or lunch. My guess is that once the word spreads, we'll be standing in line for a seat!

Check out their menu at http://picklejarkitchen.com/