Share your favorite roadfood spots

[63air]

When I put the Trotter on the road one of my foremost goals is finding the best in local cuisine wherever I go ,not the fancy special occasion places or chains but the places where you have to stand in line because they make something so good. If they have cold cheap beer and are a real dive all the better!
I'll offer a few of my own spots.
Hometown favorites include:
Jim's Rib Heaven (Rock Island, Il) - great ribs and BBQ , bring
your own beer
Maid Rite (Quad city area) - loose ground beef sandwiches
a midwest favorite
Whitey's Ice Cream (Quad City area)- killer malts/shakes
their own icecream


In the USA:
Keys Fisheries (Marathon,Fl) Cheap, waterfront, simple good
seafood
Pierces BBQ (Williamsburg, Va) opens at 10:00a.m. and you
still wait in line
Nightengale Supper Club (Sturgeon Bay, Wi) Prime Rib they
sell 40,000 pounds a year of it

[Kistler]

When in Moriarty, NM off Hwy 40 try TTT truck stop. Great fried chicken and everything else.

Kistler

[ga501]

You are absolutely right, 63 AIR!!! Maid Rite is awesome!!!!!
They are just one of the things I miss from that area!! When ever
I'm in the area, t5hat's the first place I go!!
Wish we could import them here !!!
Steve

[Alumatube]

I am with you, 63air! I always plan our trips around FOOD!

The Bon Ton cafe in La Grange, TX (near Austin) was great, with WONDERFUL bread. I don't know if they are still open, though--anyone know?

The Kerby Lane Cafe in Austin (a couple locations) has AMAZING breakfast food (their pancake selection is great--gingerbread pancakes bigger than your plate are their specialty) for reasonable prices.

The Bluebonnet Cafe in Marble Falls, Texas is known for their pie and is a real Texas tradition.

Leon's in Pine Bluff, Arkansas (exit 39 off I-530) has great catfish and shrimp, with all-you-can-eat hushpuppies with cheese sauce.

McClard's BBQ in Hot Springs, Arkansas is where Clinton used to eat all the time, and apparently their BBQ is pretty darn good (I have never been but have heard lots of good things). They have developed some more healthful fare since Clinton lost weight.

Bubba's BBQ has yummy BBQ in Ennis, Texas, off I-45. I love their billboards - one says, "You never sausage a place!"

Just a few for now...

[Kistler]

When you people pass through Lincoln, KS -- nw of Salina on Hwy 18 try Extra Innings Barbecue

Kistler

[FreshAir]

Highway 50 between Sacramento and So. Lake tahoe (about 20 miles east of Placerville) is St. Pauli Inn. It is a German cruisine restaurant that has been a local and tourist favorite many years. The rapids of the American River that it's outdoor deck 'hangs' out near is spectacular. And yes they do feature St. Pauli Girl beer.

Neil and Lynn

[JakBluMule]

Owl Cafe, San Antonio, NM (I-25 & US 380)

Steve's Sizzlin' Steaks, East Rutherford, NJ (NJ 17 near the arena & stadium)

H&H Cafe, Macon,GA (Cotton Ave. just up the street from Capricorn Records)

Elliston Place Soda Shop, Nashville, TN (near Vanderbilt Univ)

The Rendezvous, Memphis, TN (in the alley across from the Peabody Hotel)

Scoma's, San Francisco (Fisherman's Wharf)

Dan & Louis Oyster Bar, Portland, OR (downtown on Ankeny St.)

Mo's, Newport, OR (I think they're in some other Oregon coastal towns, also)

Ivar's Acres of Clams, Seattle (on the waterfront)

Biba's, Sacramento (downtown)

Eagle Nest Cafe, Datil, NM (in the proverbial fork in the road)

`scuse me, I gotta go get something to eat.....

[Mackhopp]

When in St. Pete's Beach area last month, we tried The Wharf in Pass-a-Grille. It's been there forever, the food was v. decent when we were there (try the smoked fish dip), and the drinks were obscenely inexpensive. Atmosphere was great - loud and definitely not pretentious.

[lewster]

For lunch, stop in at the New York City Sub Shop.

Now the kicker.....THEY AIN'T IN NYC!!!!!!

They were started in Jackson Hole, WY about 20 years ago by a 'New Yawka' and the original shop is still there, but they have expanded into Oregon in a big way.....Hood River, The Dalles, Bend, Portland, Redmond, Madras.

Still owned by the same guys and still make a great sub. They bake their own bread every day in each shop and all of the subs come hot off the grill. If ou're in the area.....stop by and try one (or two) .

[Silver Threads]

If you are passing through East TN, stop off in Kingston and eat at Mama Mia's Restaurant and Pizzaria. Little german lady (82yrs old) makes her own pizza crust, sauce, and sausage. Also makes the best roast beef sandwich you have ever eaten'. She slow cooks the roast all night and makes her own french and rye bread. Try one "Italian Style". It comes with Swiss cheese, mayo or mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion, and Italian dressing! Yummy!

Also just down the road, for a great homemade hamburger try Bob's Burgers. Made with fresh hamburger meat!

A little further up in the Smokies, Bennetts BBQ and dont forget to try the fried pickles!

[overlander64]

Some of my farorites inclued:

• Mineral Point, WI -- The Pointer Cafe -- (US 151 Business Route) -- they feature some of the best regional taste treats, and their Cornish Pasty is excellent!
• Platteville, WI -- Eds Cafe -- (WI 80 and old US 151) -- An old-fashioned diner with home-made food with daily specials for breakfast, lunch and dinner -- just had breakfast there this morning in fact.!
• Platteville, WI -- Steve's Pizza -- (North 4th Street) -- pizza with a Greek Twist -- a regular stop for me anytime I am in SW WI -- in fact, I stopped there for Pizza on Sunday evening!
• Aldeo, IL -- Tastee-Freez -- (on IL 17) -- a cafe with good food and excellent ice cream -- a little off of the beaten path, but a place that I try to visit as often as possible.
• Decatur, IL -- Paul's Lakeside Confectionary -- (on 22nd St. and Cantrel) -- an 85 year tradition in the neighborhood -- exellent food, specializing in home-made chili -- my regular destination when I don't want to cook a meal after work.
• Decatur, IL -- Del Carmens East -- (on 22nd St) -- pizza like none that I have ever experienced outside of Decatur -- the sauce has a secret family recipe and it is delicious!
• Arcola, IL -- The Dutch Kitchen -- (on Main St) -- excellent cafe food with an emphasis on Pennsylvania Dutch specialties including Dutch Sausages as well as Shoo-Fly Pie -- I stop whenever passing by Arcola on I-57 or US-45.
• Jonesboro, IL -- Dixie Bar-B-Que -- (on IL 146 just West of the Square) -- some of the best hickory-smoked pork Bar-B-Que with a family secret home-made Bar-B-Que sauce that is terriffic!
• Hays, KS -- The Pheasant Run -- (on Vine Street) -- a wonderful cafe that serves breakfast and lunch with great food -- featuring Horse Shoe sandwiches that equal any served in the Springfield, IL region.

Kevin Allen

[FordTruck]

Madison WI - Michaels Frozen Custard
Raleigh NC - Sullivans
Boise ID - Mai Thai
Boise ID - Mortimers
Chicago - Sing Ha
Jacksonville FL - Trents
NO - The Original Copeland's
Popes Creek MD - Crab Shack

[tin sista]

Be sure to stop at:
Lafayette Coney Island. 118 W. Lafayette, Detroit, (313) 964-8198
have a vernors too!!

[waynemorgan]

el-reno,oklahoma-----johnnies grill*****
it is on rt 66 just of i-40 ....i sure miss it

[FreshAir]

On Highway 97 in Oregon maybe 1 -2 hours north of the Calif. border is a roadside restaurant that I lost the name of. It was a large timber frame hall with western memorabilia, elk antlers, etc. all over the walls and ceilings and rafters. Also there was a very large Avon bottle collection in several glass cases. This was all interesting to wander and look at while waiting for our lunches. Now I gotta tell you the Chili Burgers were to DIE for. Best in my life. Do any of you know this place? Can you please put a name on it for me?

Neil and Lynn

[maxandgeorgia]

63Air and Ga501, fellow Maid Rite fans! We had one for years in our little North Missouri town of Trenton, and our kids grew up thinking a great lunch out was only to be had at the Maid Rite, along with a tall bottle of COLD Pepsi, and for a special occasion, a big slice of the owner's wife's homemade pie. Whenever we travel north to Minnesota, we usually seek out a midwest Maid Rite for the trip up or down. I can make a good one, but it's never quite the same. Thanks for the memory, ~G

[B4WEDI]

Stop in and say Howdy to one of our own, Kelly & Davis !

If 'n ya'll down roun' Plains, GA....... Jimmy Carter country, be sure to get to the next town over, Americus and stop in for lunch with Kelly & Davis, and their neighbors at a buffet that is unbeatable !

Like Pork ribs ? These things are more like slabs of smoked shoulder, sweet, juicy and lean ! Down home southern cookin', made with love !

Lot's of country favorites, and incredible deserts too. Make sure you get there early, cause I ain't exaggerating when I tell you they line up right to the door at the noon hour.

Seek out Davis' Dad too for a local history lesson. ( he'll be the guy with the big proud smile )

Nice folks, everyone will make you feel at home and EXCELLENT food amid pictures of Airstreams and memories of A/S rallies on the walls..... don't be surprised to see yourself up there !

I'll be back !

[thecatsandi]

Road Kill Cafe, Kingman, AZ!

[thecatsandi]

Table Rock Grill, Boise, ID

[Jimandrod]

Pine Country Restaurant, Williams AZ

The Range Cafe, Bernalillo NM

The Plaza Restaurant, Santa Fe NM