Jonathan Byrd's Cafeteria

Posted By Michael Stern on June 12, 2011 5:39 AM

Jonathan Byrd’s boasts that it is America’s biggest cafeteria, and we wouldn’t argue. The serving line is eighty-eight feet long with a minimum of twenty entrees at any one time (serving continuously from 10:45 to 8:45 daily) as well as countless vegetable side dishes, Jell-Os, salads, desserts, bread and rolls. In need of comfort food when we first stopped by, we dined on turkey pot pie and a bowl of chicken and noodles, the latter an especially salubrious bowl of thick, soft pasta and shreds of chicken in just enough broth to keep it all moist.

It happened to be a Wednesday, so the other entree choices for the day included wiener schnitzel, stuffed peppers, smoked sausage, fried cod, fried chicken, roast beef carved to order, turkey carved to order, meat loaf, and St. Peter's fish. Each of the seven days a week has its own list of specials; and every day of the week, you can count on beef Manhattan, ham and beans, steak, shrimp, vegetarian vegetable soup, plus low-cal diet items from salad to no-sugar pies.

Among the memorable side dishes were macaroni and cheese with a good portion of crusty, chewy top-cheese mixed in with the creamy noodles from below, a buttermilk drop biscuit that was a textural joy and bread pudding laced with slices of cooked-soft apple and plenty of sweet caramel sauce.

The late Jonathan Byrd was a man on a mission from God. “I was impressed by how many significant biblical events involved people eating together,” he wrote for a story in Guideposts. As a matter of principle, he served no liquor in the cafeteria, not even in its banquet rooms, and even after his passing, the Jonathan Byrd function rooms regularly play host to gospel concerts.

fried chicken

caramel bread pudding

Greens

turkey pot pie

Corn bread stuffing

Sugar Cream Pie

Corn Muffin

Mac N Cheese

Posted By Randy Owens on January 28, 2005 11:07 PM

I had a chance to spend New Year's Eve here two years ago while I was in town on a business trip. There was an old-fashioned gospel singing going on and the cafeteria had converted to a flat rate charge of $25 which included a limited all you can eat menu and the entertainment. The main parts of the menu were the traditional baked ham, turkey, mac-n-cheese, green bean casserole, dressing, and cranberry sauce that you always HAVE to have! The food was well cooked for the crowd of about 500 people and even thought the lines were a bit slow, the staff was working very hard to move things along. Dessert was a choice of several pies and cakes and in general the meal was pleasing and appetizing.

While I was a bit dissapointed to not get the "real" food, I have to say that the staff and the people there for the event were VERY gracious and welcoming. I stood out quite a bit with my southern (NC) accent and was the subject of more than a few, "You ain't from around here are you?" comments but all in all I had a wonderful time in a clean, family atmosphere.

I came away with the impression that these particular types of gospel singing events are just par for the course in this part of the country! I would recommend it and would love to do it again.

Posted By Jason Warren on February 1, 2004 11:29 AM

Six hours of driving and looking forward to the largest cafeteria was met with disapointment. The long line of food laid out cafeteria style was fun. From the appetizers to the entrees to the sides to the desserts there was plenty to keep the brain and stomach in conflict on what to chose. However the excitement was short lived. The meatloaf was below average, thick and juicy as it should be, but low in flavor. The green bean caserole had a pungent taste to it while the biscuit was standard fare. The only highlight was a corn bread stuffing. Thick and full of texture and taste.

Service is different that you go through the line and choose your food and get a ticket from a cashier, but don't pay. Then in the Colonial style dining room servers offer drinks and other food options that can be added to your tab that you pay at the exit.