CASSVILLE — A “Sunday drive” on an icy January morning, meandering up Old Route 8 in a float of snow swirling around the evergreens and foothills, really needs no destination. In any season, it’s downright mystic. But neighbors who call the humble hamlet of Cassville home or “Sunday drivers” signaled by a road sign to turn onto Firehouse Road have a place to pause and gather in Wendy’s Diner.

Adjacent to the Cassville Fire Department, Wendy’s welcomes you with curb appeal: comic, colorful signage; gingham cafe curtains; and a neon OPEN sign glowing through the window. Inside, a cozy room rings with the clank of silverware, conversation, and home cooking. A row of chrome, big-bottom stools lines a red Formica lunch counter. A few booths border an open space dotted with tables, through which two waitresses weave and work to top off mugs with fresh coffee.

Breakfast spills over the edges of platters as Wendy Brown, hostess, owner, short-order cook, ice cream scooper, and Jill of all diner trades, prides herself on the two hallmarks of her eatery: “big portions at fair prices.”

And she’s not kidding. Two eggs made to order, with a mound of hash browns just brown enough on the outside, and just tender enough on the inside, four extra long slices of bacon, all bordered by marble rye toast hit the table for less than 10 bucks. This place is known for giant pancakes and half-pound burgers for just $6.99. Brown locally sources all the potatoes they mash, bake, hash, or home-fry from Pryputniewicz Paris Hill Potato in Sauquoit.

“And we bake all our own bread right here,” Wendy added, “including the hard rolls.”

Diners ranged from a doting mom prompting a toddler to dig into a Mickey Mouse pancake, a bearded man at the counter donning a hoodie boasting the name of his farm, to what had all the trappings of a first date at the two-top on a far wall.

“The people,” Brown lit up when asked what was the best thing about helming her homey little diner, which had been her dream since she was a little girl.

“I grew up cooking with my mother,” she said.

One day, 15 years ago, she and her husband, Mike, were driving home from Utica to West Winfield when a For Sale sign at the intersection of Old Route 8 and Firehouse Road caught Wendy’s eye.

“Turn-key,” said Wendy. “It said it was turn-key and that’s what got me.”

So they turned around so she could jot down the phone number, and they haven’t looked back since that “turn-key” sign made her girlhood dream come true.

Wendy credits both her husband and daughter, Niki, for working side by side with her to keep the hash slinging seven days a week.

Said Wendy, “It’s truly a family business.”

Wendy’s welcomes the occasional passerby who turns in off the road for an ice cream cone or a warm meal on a long drive. Mohawk Valley locals will sometimes cross city lines, prompted by word of mouth about the food and friends. Mostly, though, they serve folks who live nearby, especially the farmers.

“We serve a lot of farmers,” Brown proclaimed with evident pride, “we are farmers ourselves.”

Every morning at 6 a.m., the doors open as the roosters crow. Wendy’s serves traditional breakfast and lunch menus Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, they’re open until 8, per ‘upstate rules,’ serving fish fry. Saturdays offer breakfast or lunch until 1 p.m., and Sundays serve breakfast until noon. During ‘Drive-in Season,’ Wendy’s throws up the sash on their ice cream window and stays open for supper all summer.

Wendy’s regulars need no excuse, but if you’re a neighbor not yet counted among them, come on over. For fellow Central New Yorkers, consider this the word-of-mouth that tempts you over that Cassville town line.

The portions are generous, the prices are right, and the people make it all worthwhile.