One of the hidden delights of America's "Rocket City" lies just south of Huntsville Hospital and the so-called "medical district." The reason many people are apt to pass it by is because it is located in a nearly 100-year-old house. One has to look carefully for a rectangular, Pepsi-sponsored sign on the west side of Whitesburg Drive in the midst of boutiques, professional offices, and the like. But inside Duffy's Deli, the hungry customer will find a selection of sandwiches and soups that will make him or her feel like he or she has found an oyster in the rough.

White chili is the specialty of the house. The owners claim to sell gallons upon gallons of it on cold days. Full of beans, chicken, and a clear broth, and covered with white cheese, it cannot be beat as a lunch-time pick-me-up. The tortilla soup is somewhat spicier. About 30 different sandwiches are offered, along with "baskets" of chicken, catfish, or shrimp. Of course, for the light eaters, there are the customary salads.

But the best thing to do is make it simple and order a cup or bowl of white chili and pair it with a sandwich. In the wintertime especially, this is a clearly winning combination. This reviewer chose corned beef, after being told that pastrami was not being served anymore because the owners could not get the best quality available on a consistent basis.

The decor is wooden, pub-like, with a full array of Alabama and Auburn football memorabilia and a sports-bar-like arrangement of two big-screen TV sets, usually tuned to ESPN. This makes it ideal for Saturday afternoons in the fall. Come in, spoon down a bowl of white chili, munch on a sandwich, and knock down some cold ones while rooting for the home team.

Eggs and novie: supremely savory and aromatic beyond all description. That's half a toasted bialy in the background.

Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama has received a lot of national attention in recent years for its exemplary North Alabama barbecue. But most folks don't know that, just 30 miles to the east in the considerably more cosmopolitan city of Huntsville, one of Big Bob's sons, David, set up shop back in the 1950s to give the people working at the nearby Redstone Arsenal a taste of his father's style of closed-pit cooking.

Located in southwestern Huntsville, David Gibson's Barbeque is a bastion of traditional, uncomplicated Southern cuisine, as well as mid-20th century decor, with the classic wood paneling in the small dining area. The region's traditional pulled and chopped pork takes center stage on the menu, but don't overlook the fine rendition of North Alabama barbecued chicken, featuring the famous "white sauce" of mayonnaise, vinegar, and black pepper, drenched all over the poultry. David Gibson's also serves a catfish sandwich, for non-BBQ eaters in your crowd.

But take this reviewer's word: order a "jumbo" barbecue sandwich and you won't go wrong. Underneath the top of the bun lies some of the most succulent, smoky pork available in those parts, topped with a medium-shredded, vinegar-based coleslaw--be sure to say "hold the slaw" if that's not your thing. Sprinkle a little vinegar-and-pepper sauce, and you have a miniature barbecue feast.

This is a perfect place for take-out, particularly if you're visiting attractions such as the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, just a short drive away. It's definitely a taste of North Alabama for not much money.

It only took a minute for the sun to start showing its melting power on this custard tower!

Well situated for an impatient appetite arriving at the Buffalo Airport, Charlie the Butcher’s is an essential stop for anyone who wants to sample the Nickel City’s unique sandwich, “beef on weck.” Slow-roasted beef, tender and pink, is sliced thin and piled on a hard roll that is crusted with pretzel salt and kummel (caraway seeds). The top half of the roll gets dipped briefly in beef juice. The sandwich is served with only a pickle spear as garnish, although many customers slather it with eye-opening horseradish from the Broadway Market (where Charlie Roesch’s grandfather started this beef dynasty in 1914).

It’s a no-frills restaurant. Place your order at the front window with its fabulous view of the carving block, then pay and find a seat at the low-low counter or a table topped with oilcloth. All seats provide a nice view of the kitchen, where you’ll see Charlie himself, with a large staff of accomplished helpmates, slicing cabbage, tending soups, and cutting beef to order. Sandwiches are served in cardboard boats; and it’s customary to bus your own table.

By the way, Charlie’s menu extends beyond beef on weck; and everything else we’ve sampled is first rate: Buffalo-made hot dogs and sausages grilled over coals, chicken spiedie (a boneless breast that is marinated and grilled), and such daily-special sandwiches as meat loaf (Tuesday), and double-smoked ham (Monday). The beverage list includes the local favorite, Loganberry, as well as Charlie’s personal favorite, Birch Beer.

This happy humanoid steak is Pilgreen's "mascot": His Royal Highness, T-Bone King.