You know you're in a "roadfood" restaurant when...

I was at http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=1505 last week. One identifying factor for me to immediately know that I am in a "roadfood" establishment is that look from the locals of "you ain't from around here, are you?" Don't get me wrong, not a word was said. Nor was I made to feel uncomfortable. Just something that made me chuckle a little bit.

My other favorite is...

....when you don't see pictures of the food on the menu (the Chinese restaurant is the notable exception!).

You just don't get that in Applebee's.

Anything else that folks think immediately identifies a "roadfood" place?

When there are snapshots of family members stuck up on the wall behind the cash register.

Do you need a menu or do you know what you want hun?

When the bottles on the tables look like this:

I would say anyplace local qualifies as roadfood. Good roadfood is harder to qualify. Really boils down to the food and the care that is placed into preparing it. There are clues, like the items mentioned above, but the real treasure is in the food.

When there are police cars and pick up trucks in the parking lot.

Here are some clues--
1. If the name of the place includes the word 'CAFE', but at the end of the title, not the beginning.
2. The menu contains a list of Specials for the week (by day), text only, and Xeroxed , not printed. (Better Yet, purple ink ditto-sheet).
3. A gravel covered parking lot, even if "In Town".
4. A large sign in the window or door that let's you know the place is "AIR-CONDITIONED".
5. Taped to the counter by the register is a xerox-copy of a review by Jane and Michael Stern.

quote:

Originally posted by RubyRose

When there are snapshots of family members stuck up on the wall behind the cash register.

I know I am thinking of Katz's Deli here, but I also think of photos of the owner, or autographed photos of celebrities.

Come to think of it, but I was at Ring Side Steak House in Portland, OR last week, and they had such photos, too.

Steve

When you look at the next table and The Mayor is sitting there?

Or...once you've looked around, soaked in the atmosphere and eaten the food, you believe that there is no other place you've ever been that's quite like it, and that being there makes you feel quite comfortable and content.

There are lots of framed pictures of every single team in town from the little kids "T-Ball" to the "Old Guy's" basketball team.

There is a donation jar by cash register for some local person that needs some financial aid because of an illness.

a small display of some sort of handmade items for sale

a bunch of raffle tickets for a local group trying to raise money

family photo's

And most important of all, by the time you leave you have a "feel for the area" and have made at least one new friend, whether it be the server, the owner, the owners children, or another customer!




P.S. I forgot a couple of real important ones!

The waiterperson does not say "My name is Carl, and I will be your server."

The hostess, if there is one, does not hand you one of those creepy gadgets to hold in your hand where the lights flash and the cheers erupt and you know that your table is ready.

When the waitress/cashier's four- and five-year olds are playing in the next booth over.

When there are mounted deer/hog/bass trophies on the wall. Especially grand if there's a catfish.

Screen doors are good.

Don't forget calendars from the local telephone/insurance/funeral providers...

When the guy making your sandwich constantly teases you and everyone else in the line (Manny's - Chicago)

When the guy behind the counter yells, "Sweet beef, fries" to the food preparer after you give your order (any Chicago Italian beef stand)

quote:

Originally posted by Spudnut

When you look at the next table and The Mayor is sitting there?

Or...once you've looked around, soaked in the atmosphere and eaten the food, you believe that there is no other place you've ever been that's quite like it, and that being there makes you feel quite comfortable and content.

How would you know that he is actually the mayor? I don't he'd wear a sash like miss teen Iowa. I guess it would be the way other customers talk to him.

Syrup,
With as many photos of me as there are scattered thru these forums, I would hope you would recognize the Mayor when you saw him (me)???
Just in case you were referring to some other Mayor, Look for the necktie,and the companion who does the legwork of chasing down the refills of Iced Tea and a fresh bottle of Catsup for the Mayor's Fries. And listen to him(her) greet EVERYONE who comes thru the door by name.

When you hear these words, "Hey Hon, what are ya havin'?"

We had lunch today in Kingston, NY at the Midtown Chophouse Restaurant -it's been at its "new" location for only 32 years - it was forever before that located about a mile further downtown. I hadn't been in the place for about 30 years and some things had changed. It used to be open 24 hours, now they serve only breakfast and lunch. Chops are no longer on the menu ( they served a great pork chop and gravy in the old days), but the ambieance is still plain, warm, and friendly - a real roadfood place. I had a nice cup of lentil soup and a hot roast beef sandwich with fries. Mrs Seafarer had a very nice chicken soup and a very tasty Spanokoptia (sp?) - the owner is Greek. The chef/owner came out to talk to us - he had never seen us before and wondered where we were from and how come we came to his place? He said he knows all his regulars, doesn't see a lot of strangers, and is happy when someone new finds the place. Being Armistice Day (Veteran's Day to you youngsters) the kids were not in school so the waitress' kids were playing around the place (she's the owners daughter in law ) and Grandma was babysitting in a rear booth. How "roadfood" can a place be?

Oh yes, and there was a trio of stuffed ducks up on the wall behind the counter that the owner had shot!

cheers, John

Cheers, John

quote:

Originally posted by Howard Baratz

When you hear these words, "Hey Hon, what are ya havin'?"

Ditto.

When the waitress calls ya "Hon", or "Sugar", or "Sweetie", you've found a place that probably serves real roadfood.

Dearfolk,
One of my criteria is that when I'm in a town I am not familiar with, I see a police car and pull in and ask the officer. I've never been refused an answer to this question anywhere. More than once, I've been escorted through a maze of streets to a place I never would have found otherwise. That's how I've experienced at least a dozen places over the years, none of which were disappointments. (The only one that comes immediately to mind is Williams' Cafe' in Augusta, Georgia. "The other place across the street is good, too," the officer told me, "but today Williams' has BBQ and hash on the lunch menu. I don't want you to miss that.")
From now on, y'understand, every new find gets reported on here. I just haven't much been anywhere, and am not apt to go far until gasoline comes down at least a whet. Going back to Williams' (and whatever the place is across the street) is a priority.
Painfully Unwanderingly, Ort. "The Human Barnacle" Carlton, Stuck Inside Athens, Georgia With The Roadtrip Blues Again.

You know you're in Roadfood place when:
The waitress says, "Y'all want dessert? We got a nice banana pudding!" And we say, we'd LOVE dessert! Can we have another rack of ribs and forget about the pudding??!! (Dreamland in Birmingham)

You're in Martinsburg, Nebraska, at Bob's Bar. You ask the barmaid/cook/waitress (she does all three)......."Um, what's better? The burger or the pork tenderloin sandwich??" And she replies, "I really don't give a damn!" Ok, we'll have the burgers!!!

You're in Athens, GA at the Normaltown Cafe and you see......YES! ORT.!!!

Or in Tennessee and you happen to spot the Three Wise Men (Mr. Mayor, Sundancer and Bushie)....NOW YOU'RE TALKIN ROADFOOD!

The framed first dollar bill behind the cash register? A burger that did not come from a food service company? That round glass thing on the counter that has slices of pie in it? Homemade jam/bbq sauce/pickled peppers/etc. for sale above the register? When the server shouts the order into the kitchen?

A pitcher of sweet tea sitting on the table waiting for you,the waitress brings you some hushpuppies before your meal and she already knows what you gonna have!

When I stop there because I read about it here..............

If I fit in the booths with room to spare!!!! and the waitress looks familiar---and at breakfast or lunch there are real work trucks in the gravel lot thats actually owned by the neighbooring lot but full of folks in here eating and looking for leads on where they will find indoor work this winter in the slow time.

You know you're in a "roadfood" restaurant when on today's lunch
buffet is:

Entrees: Southern-fried whole catfish, pulled BBQ pork, Southern
fried chicken, roast beef, roast chicken
Veggies: Mustard greens, butterbeans, peas, baked beans
Sides: Fresh rolls, hush puppies, and cheese grits
Soup and salad bar
Your choice of pie for dessert (I chose the chocolate mint pie)

And the parking lot begins to fill up 10 to 15 minutes before
the restaurant opens

you have to write down your order, your table #, and get your own sweet tea.

(The Blue Light Cafe'-Ruston, LA)

When you're not actually "in" a restaurant, but ordering from a pavement, dirt path, etc. as you stand at a counter. example: Pat's, Geno's, The Crab Shack, etc., etc.

....or, in a market or grocery store.

carl reitz