The first Rutter’s Farm Store opened in 1968. From my research (I do about 5 minutes before I write these) Rutter’s started as a regular farm and then a Dairy company later on… They probably should’ve stuck to that.
My experience with Rutter’s starts with none other than Sheetz. It’s no secret that Sheetz and I don’t have the best relationship, They get rid of literally everything I enjoy like they’re targeting me specifically. Well, Sheetz tried to do the same thing to Rutter’s by moving into their town (York, if anyone cares. But I know you don’t). Rutter’s then decided ” WE’RE GOIN TO TAKE OVER ALTUNA BAYBEH” (I assume this is a York accent), so They opened three stores right in the heart of Sheetz’s territory. It’s like a gang war in Blair county, Except it’s just two gas stations going at it.
So now to where I come into this, my beef with Sheetz dissolves and returns a few times a year, the latest reason being they got rid of Trashcan cookies. So, I’m always looking for a replacement store during these beefs( I thought I had found it with Speedway, but don’t get me started with that.) I had heard good things about Rutter’s and that they had mashed potatoes, so I was all in on giving them a try.
So the time comes, I pull into the parking lot and head into the store. The first thing I look for when checking out these new stores is Banana Nut Muffin Tops, my favorite thing Sheetz got rid of (If any store has them, they automatically would shoot up to the top of my list. no one has so far) and sure enough, None. OK, onto everything else. At first glance, Rutter’s is a regular PA store, until you get to their food menu, which is huge. They even have Lo Mein, which I don’t thing I’d ever get from a gas station (That’s just asking to spend the night on the toilet). I decided to try their “Dinner Basket Combo”, which basically is something big, a side, a biscuit, and apple sauce. I picked fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy (Which I like that they have), cannolis, and a frozen lemonade. This is the last positive experience I have with this place.
I went to the pisser after ordering (I always do at gas stations to kill time, I also have the smallest bladder of a human ever), when I came out someone was asking people if they were order xx (I can’t remember the number, so that’s what people do right?). It was mine. They said they didn’t have mashed potatoes, and asked if I was okay with fries. Sure, I don’t care, But that’s strike one.
So while I’m waiting for my food I look around a little more. They had hat and ready small apple pies to go, which is a great idea. For some reason they thought wrapping soft pretzels up and letting them sit in the cold was a good idea, must be a York thing. (Have you ever had a cold soft pretzel? They ain’t good.) Weird idea, but okay. Also they have their own brand of Tea, so no Galiker’s support. I will say the one other thing I liked was they have packets of every condiment you could ever want for free.
So 10 minutes later my food comes (A little long, but I understand. Fried chicken takes a while to cook. And in the words of Tyler “T-Money$$$” Weakland, “I’d rather have overcooked chicken than undercooked”), I head out to the car to dig in. Guess what? To them fried chicken means chicken strips. Their menu is very deceptive, Everywhere else chicken strips is very clearly labeled chicken strips. The picture is even hard to make out what exactly it is. They also are about a step up from McDonald’s strips, not good, but not awful. The fries tasted fishy, not like weird, but literally fishy. The biscuit is good, but biscuits are like a soup sandwich, pretty hard to fuck up. The applesauce was prepacked Mott’s which was cool with me, I love that shit, The cannolis are again a victim of a deceptive menu. You get two, but on the menu one is the size of both of these put together, they’re good, but like my grandpa used to say “Don’t piss on my head and tell me it’s raining”. The frozen lemonade is phenomenal. I can’t say a bad thing about it, It tasted like someone froze a fair lemonade.
So sure, if you’re a fan of being lied to or the old bait and switch, check out Rutter’s. I’ll bet they’re the favorite store of amateur magicians. Also, I’m not even convinced they have mashed potatoes, it seems like a big trick to bring people in to me.
One great thing came out of this whole experience though. The beef with Sheetz is off. I’ll join forces with Sheetz to beat Rutter’s like when superheroes and supervillians team up to beat someone worse. Until they piss me off again, then I’ll call off the beef again. Sheetz and I are in a toxic relationship, they can do whatever to me and I’ll eventually come back. We’re destined to do this forever.
So in closing, Rutter’s, I am not a fan. Get a logo that doesn’t look like it was made in 1977 at a disco.
Sheetz, please bring back the Banana Nut Muffin Tops
Goin' Overboard! 