great homemade food near Richmond, Ind. (I-70)

Anybody traveling through eastern Indiana on I-70 might want to visit tiny Greens Fork around lunchtime. This place might be open for breakfast (I think so), but definitely for lunch, I think they close at 2PM. Greens Fork is on Indiana Route 38 between Hagerstown and Richmond, in Wayne County. From the east, US 35 northbound will get you to Ind. 38; from the west go north at the Hagerstown exit.

JO ANN'S CAFE
Main Street downtown Greens Fork

I was there on a Thursday at lunch. "Beef Manhattan" (which I never heard of before), this is two halves of hot beef sandwich with a large scoop of *homemade* mashed potatoes in the middle, and smothered in great homemade beef gravy. Absolutely no "nasty surprises" (gristle and fat) in the hot beef, melt-in-your-mouth wonderfulness. Only SIX DOLLARS for their daily specials!!

MONDAY: ham and beans, home fries
TUESDAY: meatloaf, mashed potatoes
WEDNESDAY: porkchops (I've been there on a Wednesday before, too, and
these are absolutely wonderful), au gratin potatoes
THURSDAY: beef manhattan, mashed potatoes
FRIDAY: walleye, macaroni and cheese
SATURDAY: chicken strips, fries
SUNDAY: fried chicken, mashed potatoes

An added bonus, for those people who like country or bluegrass music, right across the street is Happy Days which can find virtually any country music item you may want, including out of print vinyl as well as many CD and vinyl reissues of old and/or RARE material.

I would drive at least 50 miles out of the way to eat at this place!
--chartquest1954--

Great report, ChartQ. Sounds like a neat place for sure. I used to get up to Richmond more often when I was in college at Miami U in Oxford, OH. I remember driving to Richmond and just outside of town was a little state park where Gen. Burnsides from the Civil War, and the term sideburns originated, was born.

Another place I found is west of there. 1-70 at the Knightstown exit (Indiana 109). Stop in the truck stop there.. There's some Greek immigrants that took over the restaurant part. Needless to say, good home cooking, extremely fair prices, and the portions are HUGE... Just a note, a normal to go meal for one fits in about 2 large bags, and make sure you ask for any condiments and plastic ware you may need... Seems they dont give unless you ask!

Growing up in Muncie in the 50's/60's, going to Richmond meant only one thing, the state mental hospital.

quote:

Originally posted by plb

Growing up in Muncie in the 50's/60's, going to Richmond meant only one thing, the state mental hospital.

mmmmm... Hospital Food... Don't let Redtressed know, she's obsessed with the stuff...

Do they still have the worlds largest RV dealer there? (They occasionally advertise up here in Michigan)..

quote:

Originally posted by UncleVic

quote:

Originally posted by plb

Growing up in Muncie in the 50's/60's, going to Richmond meant only one thing, the state mental hospital.

mmmmm... Hospital Food... Don't let Redtressed know, she's obsessed with the stuff...

Do they still have the worlds largest RV dealer there? (They occasionally advertise up here in Michigan)..

Many many RV's are built in that area. My Dad was in the Aluminum Extrusion business and he was constantly over there from Chi making some big $$$.

Jeepguy, I thought most of that RV business was around Elkhart. Didn't realize Richmond was big into that.

Tom Raper ( what a name) in Richmond says he is the world's largest RV dealer. Most of his RVs are manufactured around Elkart in northern IN.

The truckstop at the edge of Knightstown that Uncle Vic mentioned is where we usually have breakfast before we head to the 500 and Brickyard. Another good breakfast restaurant in the area is Stacks in New Castle. Its in the old Burger Chef/ Hardees building. Their breakfast are huge, never saw a 5 egg omlet before this.

quote:

Originally posted by plb

Growing up in Muncie in the 50's/60's, going to Richmond meant only one thing, the state mental hospital.

I thought you only got to go to "Richmond" if you graduated from the 7th floor at BMH.

Richmond in Wayne county is where Wayne school busses are manufactured.

Another good eats spot in the area at the aforementioned Hagerstown is Welliver's Smorgasbord. Haven't been there in many years but it's been around since 1946 so they must be doing something right
http://www.wellivers.com/

quote:

Originally posted by Tristan Indiana

Tom Raper ( what a name) in Richmond says he is the world's largest RV dealer. Most of his RVs are manufactured around Elkart in northern IN.

The truckstop at the edge of Knightstown that Uncle Vic mentioned is where we usually have breakfast before we head to the 500 and Brickyard. Another good breakfast restaurant in the area is Stacks in New Castle. Its in the old Burger Chef/ Hardees building. Their breakfast are huge, never saw a 5 egg omlet before this.

Is Stacks on 3 (S. Memorial) or off the beaten path? Will be in New Castle hopefully in the next week or 2...

I have been through Greens Fork several times but never stopped there to eat. I will try to eat at their place next time! We have ate at Dave's in Haggerstown and like their Tenderloin.

Butch