Meat and Three and Me
If you're driving on I-85 through South Carolina, stop in Spartanburg at Wade's Cafe. A reader tipped me to it last year, and I finally found a chance to stop there last Friday on my way south (and again Monday on my way north). It's a big and busy homestyle cafeteria with, even better, a sideline in mail-order frozen food. Thanksgiving is saved (because in spite of being excellent cooks in almost all ways, my Delaware in-laws can't touch a good cornbread dressing). Check out its Web site if you're heading that way.
I hope that this forum is a place where people tell me where to eat. Especially on long road trips, I live to find non-chain restaurants, diners, barbecue joints and other owner-operated eateries. But my absolute favorite category is the old meat-and-three cafeteria that, thank goodness, you can still find in most small southern towns. Turn me loose on a steam table covered with overcooked butter beans, soupy creamed corn, crispy chicken, sweet potato souffle, drippy turnip greens, not-too-sweet cornbread and very sweet tea, and you'll see an endorphin surge in action for the rest of the drive. Much to to my wife and kids' dismay, I've been known to detour 15 or 20 miles in pursuit of a reputedly worthy bowl of banana pudding.
I'm already a fan of Roadfood.com and other such tip sheets (but I'm surprised how few enteries they have along i-95 south of Richmond). But let's start our own list. C'mon, you share yours and I'll tell all about Mama Ella's Kitchen in Alex City, Ala.
By Steve Hendrix |
January 30, 2007; 2:51 PM ET
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Posted by: Alexandria | January 30, 2007 3:58 PM
The Blue and White Carryout on Rte 1 South in Alexandria. At Rte 1 and Whyte Streets. It is a gem, a true true gem. The smells alone will give you high cholestrol.
Posted by: Alexandria | January 30, 2007 4:00 PM
The Blue and White Carryout on Rte 1 South in Alexandria. At Rte 1 and Wythe Streets. It is a gem, a true true gem. The smells alone will give you high cholestrol.
Posted by: Alexandria | January 30, 2007 4:01 PM
sorry--posted twice by accident when trying to correct spelling of street in first posting.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 30, 2007 4:03 PM
Anyone have a good collection of places for when you're stuck in an airport?
Cincinnati Terminal C (delta short-hops) has an awesome English pub tucked into one corner. Malt vinegar for you fries, a dozen good English & Irish beers on tap.
Chicago used to have a great old-fashioned diner place, in the middle of the crossover from one wing to the other, but I didn't see it there the last time I went through.
Posted by: John | January 30, 2007 4:20 PM
Pig & Steak in Madison, Virginia. It's right off Rte 29 and a must stop for any one traveling between DC and Charlottesville. Excellent slow pit-cooked barbeque. The ribs are unbelievable and the portions are generous.
Posted by: UVa | January 30, 2007 4:57 PM
The Countryside Cafe, just north of Chattanooga, Tenn. on I-75. I'll cop to the fact that my cousin runs the place, but let me say that you will never eat fried okra that good, anywhere, ever.
Posted by: jaymayDC | January 30, 2007 5:22 PM
A previous poster brings up a good point about airport dining that could be its own thread. We've always found that the terminal with departures to Asia is the way to go. At JFK, you can get good udon at Terminal 1. Detroit's main terminal has terrific sushi options. Hope this is helpful!
Posted by: ColoradoChick | January 31, 2007 7:52 AM
There's an open-24-hour branch of Miami's La Carreta Cuban restaurant chain at Miami International Airport. I could rave about the quality of the Cuban cuisine but the fact that this place is heavily patronized by people who work at MIA should tell you more than I can in this space. The only drawback is that it's outside the secure area at Concourse D so if you're just connecting to another flight you'll have to leave the "airside" part of the terminal and go back through security after eating.
Posted by: greggwiggins | January 31, 2007 11:03 AM
Paschals in the Atlanta airport serves good soul food/southern cooking. I think it is in the terminal and the A councourse. The restaurant was associated with the cvil rights movement in the 1960s in atlanta and opened up a location in the airport a few years ago. Good black eyed peas and sweet potatoes.
If you're traveling down 81 try the Homeplace restaurant in Catawba, VA - first exit south of Roanoke. Just drive to Catawba and you will see it on the left. They are only open Thursday-Sunday and for limited hours but have great southern cooking (and I'm not a big fan of southern cooking even though I'm from the south) served family style. Great setting also - an old white farmhouse looking out on pastures.
Posted by: kep | January 31, 2007 1:14 PM
Monelle's in Nashville, TN. They serve breakfast and lunch family style, which consists of passed bowls of fried chicken and catfish, mashed potatoes, green beans, and all the other sides you'd expect. Some of the best food --and sweet tea--I've ever eaten.
Posted by: Sara | January 31, 2007 1:24 PM
The Smokey Pig in Ashland, Va. Just a short hop off of I-95, it's on Rt. 1. Excellent wood-smoked pulled pork, and the barbecue chicken is good too.
Posted by: Jim | January 31, 2007 1:57 PM
Just off Rt 95 outside of Fredrcksburg, VA.Take Rt 3 West from 95 for .3 miles to the Giant shopping center on the right. A GEM of a Bolivian restaurant with fantastic grilled chicken. You'll love it, so will the kids. Fresh , healthy food and lunch is $7.00!!! It's called "Oh..Que Bueno!" I hate to tell you all about it!
Posted by: Lightfoot | February 1, 2007 8:12 AM
Thanks for tip on Wade's in Spartanburg. Also didn't know La Caretta had a unit at MIA, ... whoopie. In Fort Lauderdale, Lester's Diner is open 24 hours with rib-sticking fare and friendly service.
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The Breakfast Club on Tybee Island. (plus about 20 other places in Savannah)