I love dives. I seek out dives and little hole-in-the-wall places. Rusty taco trucks are my thing. Happening upon them on a road trip makes the experience of good food all the better. A long drive is as much about the food as it is about the journey for me, and our trip from South Carolina to Texas did not disappoint last week.
I was well into adulthood before I realized that not everyone has the same relationship with food that I do. I don’t ever remember food not being at the forefront of my mind. Everyday. All day. I no more than finish a meal before I start thinking about what my next meal is going to be, and where it is going to come from. Forget to eat? Doesn’t happen to me. Long drives are no different for me than any other day. I’ll spend an afternoon whiling away the hours on a road trip dreaming about what kind of restaurant we’ll stop at next.
Road trip dining wasn’t always as interesting for us as it is now. When our kids were younger, the budget – and picky eaters – drove us to the usual fast food restaurants. When you have a four-year old who only eats chicken nuggets your options are limited. I remember my oldest son coming home from a trip with his high school girlfriend’s family and marveling at the idea of them pulling over and eating at a steakhouse. The sum of his reality had been pulling into a parking lot where he and his younger brother would head to the Taco Bell next door, while his little sister was taken into a McDonald’s by one parent. The odd parent out would run over to Subway and get sandwiches for the adults. Steak n Shake was also a perennial family favorite on road trips, and is still universally loved by all of us, much to the chagrin of my now daughter-in-law whose family ate at the steakhouses.
Incidentally, when it came time for our other son to dine out with a girlfriend’s family for the first time, he came home amazed that appetizers had been ordered saying, “I’ve always seen them on menus, but I didn’t know people actually ordered them!”
Our first road trip find last week was in Jackson, Mississippi. Courtesy of Yelp we stopped in for an early dinner at the Beatty Street Grocery. link: Beatty Street Grocery
It’s not far off I-20 but sits in an industrial/commercial neighborhood that felt just a tad bit sketchy in the late afternoon. There was an adult video store up the block, and the strip club across the street seemed to be doing some brisk business with the after work crowd from the looks of the parking lot. We circled the restaurant thinking it might be closed and we almost drove away. But deciding you can’t judge a book by it cover, we opted to put our faith in the wisdom of the Yelpers.
Since closing time was looming, we hurried back to the grill and ordered to go. The burgers had been well reviewed so I ordered one. I asked the cook what else was good that would be quick and easy for her. Without hesitation she told me, “The fried bologna sandwich.” I balked at first, but it was closing time and she was being very gracious. I went ahead and ordered it.
I don’t remember the last fried bologna sandwich I ate. It’s been decades no doubt. But this was one of the best sandwiches I have ever eaten. She had a slice of tomato, thick piece of bologna, and some sort of fresh tangy relish that was to die for, all on buttery, thick slices of grilled bread….to. die. for.
The owners were closing out their receipts for the day, but couldn’t have been friendlier while we waited for our food. Customers rushing in minutes before closing are not always received with open arms. We chatted about our travels; they told us to beware of a town ahead of us that was a renowned speed trap; and we shared a wonderful few minutes with a genuinely delightful couple. We will be back again one day.
We were equally lucky on our return trip. Lunchtime was looming as we came upon Hawkinsville, Georgia. Once again I put my faith in Yelp. I honestly have good luck with Yelp when we are on the road. Reviews must be considered carefully but I find them more reliable than those to be found on TripAdvisor.
Yelp pointed us to The Grill and it couldn’t have been a better choice.
The lunch crowd was very local, but we were welcomed none the less. While perusing the menu I have to say I considered the fried bologna sandwich wondering if lightning could strike twice. I mean, maybe fried bologna is my new thing, right?
We listened as our waitress rattled off all the specials and new items that were not printed on the menu. I was briefly drawn to the possibility of the “Grilled Cheese Burger” which was described as two grilled cheese sandwiches serving as the bun that book-ended a 1/4 pound beef patty…or a double patty if we preferred. But instead, my mid-western girl’s heart stopped when she mentioned the pork tenderloin sandwich. I remembered the fried and breaded pork tenderloins of my youth that you just can’t find outside of the middle of the country. (Thanks to Culver’s they are slowly spreading the goodness of tenderloin sandwiches around, but not fast enough.)
The waitress continued to describe specials launching into their new hot dog option which included mushrooms, onions, bacon, cheese, and chili. With a wave of the hand we stopped her mid sentence letting her know she had us at ‘two deep fried hot dogs on a bun’….
The reality of my sandwich was not what I had envisioned. It turned out to be a deliciously sweet pulled pork tenderloin with grilled onions that was most tasty. We were both happily satisfied with our selections as we considered dessert: Pineapple. Cheese. Pie….don’t skip it…. Our waitress mentioned that they had been messing around with recipes in the kitchen and had stumbled on the idea of Pineapple Cheese Pie, and that it was now their best seller. We see why. link: The Grill
As a very honorable mention, I don’t want to overlook the dinner we stopped in for at The Anthony in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Our plan had been to stop again in Jackson on our return, but sadly the Beatty Street Grocery closes at 2 pm on Saturdays. Our meal at The Anthony was deliciously spot on- a shrimp po’ boy and a fried boneless chicken thigh with biscuit and gravy– and I would happily stop in again anytime. link: The Anthony
I can’t end a discussion about places worth pulling over for on a road trip without pointing you to Home Grown in Atlanta. I will drive out of my way to eat here. I’ve had several fabulous meals here and hope to have many more to come! I’m always looking for reasons to drive through Atlanta just for this one. Link: Home Grown
Whatever did we do on road trips before Yelp?
You’re so funny!