Stopped off at a smalltown restaurant................

[JoeJames]

A little off from the "Mom and Pop" places, but a couple of years ago I needed to go back to the midwest for some family business and stopped to meet one of my customers to drop off some stuff. He took us to a place called Lambert's Diner. We had to wait for a while to get a seat, but Jeff said the wait would be worth it. That place was packed. It wasn't a small place, either. Food was extremely good and service was excellent. They are known for throwing rolls. If you have eaten there, you will know what I'm talking about. They will NOT hand you a roll, you have to catch it. This place is HUGE, and after eating there, I can see why they have gotten so big. It is not a fast food place even though it is quite large. Food is great, and all you can eat. I ended up taking almost half of what was on my plate with me. Some of the best catfish I have ever had. Bad part is, I can't remember the name of the town, but is in northeast Missouri.

One is near us; Lambert's Cafe - The Only Home of Throwed Rolls - Sikeston, MO in Southeast, Missouri...and in Ozark, Missouri.

[country gent]

House of the thrown roll. Mom and Dad ate there on vacation once.

[Texas by God]

In oil country, look for white pickups in the parking lot as well as LE cars. If there's a bunch; eat there.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[fast ronnie]

One is near us; Lambert's Cafe - The Only Home of Throwed Rolls - Sikeston, MO in Southeast, Missouri...and in Ozark, Missouri.

Sikeston is the one we went to. I just couldn't remember the name of the town. Great place to eat. Good food.

[rockrat]

At at a place near the Florida panhandle, they also had thrown rolls, about the size of a softball.

[mold maker]

The last of the Mom and Pop diners, as well as the last cafeteria in this county has closed. It's now fast food, chain stake place, or nothing. Just the memories make me hungry.

[Rick N Bama]

That's Lambert's Cafe in Foley AL.

[farmerjim]

Quote Originally Posted by Ole Joe Clarke View Post
Have you ever ate breakfast at Frank's?

No, we weren't there for very long so we didn't get a chance to. We'll have to try it next time we go through.

I have, but it has been a while.

[Petrol & Powder]

I've been in many small local restaurants: some good, most mediocre, some bad, some really bad and a few really great ones.

Surprisingly, the best ones haven't always been confined to small towns. Some of the best places I have been were in big cities. It's the people that make or break those places; the location isn't critical.
I travel a fair amount and always ask the locals where to eat.

I generally have better luck finding a good meal in a local restaurant located in a small town or deep in a big city. Suburban locations on the edge of a city are consistently the worst places to find good meals.

[rockrat]

Rick N Bama----I think you might be right!! Name sounded familiar

[Rick N Bama]

Rick N Bama----I think you might be right!! Name sounded familiar

I used to think that every trip to Gulf Shores required a visit to Lambert's, but not so much any more. Now it's "The Original Oyster House" if we can get in without a long wait.

[Dorf]

I haven't been in the area for a few years but, Moody's Diner in Waldoboro, Me. was a mandatory "pie stop" when heading Down East. Another good stop was a place on the main drag in Bingham on Rt. 201. I don't remember the name of it but the breakfast they served was memorable. Hope this helps--Stan.

[Hannibal]

Thread was dead for 5 years until today.

[fixit]

Best cheeseburger I ever had was in a small town restaurant, absolutely certain with locally grown beef, in silver lake indiana. Place didn't look like much, but, wow! It was good!

[Winger Ed.]

Place didn't look like much, but, wow! It was good!

Most of those places we refer to here as a 'hole in the wall' are like that, or started off that way.

Some of the best places I've ever eaten at looked like the ceiling was about to fall in on you,
and the formica topped tables and floor tile were so worn you couldn't tell what color they when they were new.

[fatnhappy]

My Great Uncle Charlie owned the only diner in a small northern NY town from whence my mother hailed. He and Aunt Edith made a life of it, from WWII until they passed in the late 80s. They were successful simply because they were good people and Charlie was a heck of a funny guy.
Anytime my mother went home to visit, my brothers and I were lent to Uncle Charlie and Aunt Edith as conscripted labor. Last time I saw Uncle Charlie I was headed to Burlington to see another Aunt on hospice. It was Christmas time in 88, I was home on leave. Driving through late late at night I popped in to see Charlie who was closing up. He fired the grill back up. After feeding me and BSing I asked what I owed him, he said a buck. I left a $20 tip and headed out. It always pained him to see my brother and I in uniform, his nephew was KIA. Georgie had less than a month left on his tour but was large and in charge. He was posthumously awarded the silver star.

It's all changed now. I think the diner is a flower shop and all the small homes in the town are rentals for college students.



The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lance Corporal Bernard G. Purvis (MCSN: 2391296), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with Company A, First Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 29 January 1969, Lance Corporal Purvis' squad was participating in a combat patrol near An Hoa in Quang Nam Province when the Marines came under a heavy volume of hostile fire delivered by a well-concealed enemy force. Reacting instantly, he skillfully deployed his men into effective fighting positions and unhesitatingly led an aggressive assault against the hostile unit. Completely disregarding his own safety, he repeatedly exposed himself to the intense enemy fire as he fearlessly moved about the hazardous area, shouting words of encouragement to his men and directing their accurate fire upon the hostile emplacements until he was mortally wounded. His outstanding leadership and aggressive fighting spirit inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in the subsequent defeat of the enemy. By his courage, bold initiative and unfaltering devotion to duty, Lance Corporal Purvis contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit's mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.

[ShooterAZ]

Thread was dead for 5 years until today.

That's because it was resurrected by Spammers.

[pworley1]

The community I live in has a school, two churches, and a small restaurant. There is always plenty of extra seats at the school and churches, but there is almost never an empty table at the restaurant.

[shooterg]

I have a method for finding local restaurants when we travel...
Find the county seat, locate the courthouse. There is almost invariably a small locally owned restaurant within walking distance.

True that - here it's even named the Courthouse Cafe !

[rockshooter]

as someone noted earlier- look for pickups, esp if there is a dog in the back.
Loren