Eatin' Along I-55, St. Louis and South-- Part 1

From the March 13th Chicago Tribune Travel section "Throwing fun food ideas to I-55 travelers" by Denise Joyce.

We've driven I-55 from St. Louis to Mississippi several times in the last four years and knew well about one of the places she talked about, Lambert's, but not the others.

IRON BARLEY, ST. LOUIS-- Featured on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" and "Man v. Food." 5510 Virginia Avenue. Minutes west of I-55 in a south St. Louis neighborhood. Suggests the Monte Christo double hot dog or the Philly Beef & Chez or the pricier "yes-they're worth it entrees." Now that double dog sounds real good!


LAMBERT'S CAFE, SIKESTON, MISSOURI-- As Yogi Berra messed up the duck, "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded." Still the place to go as all those "Throwed Rolls" billboards proclaim. Long, long list of recommendations.

I had seen something about it on a food network and talked with buddy Cajun as well. I couldn't remember the name, but then saw that billboard coming out of St. Louis heading south. We reached Sikeston in the dark and stopped, got a room at the Super 8 and had quite an experience.

It can be crowded (we've never had to wait but have never been in the house during the prime rush hours). "But diners stop by for a reason: a lively party atmosphere and a bounty of decent food supplemented by free 'pass arounds,' including fried okra, fried potatoes, macaroni and tomatoes, black-eyed peas and sorghum and honey."

And then, there are those huge, hot, floppy rolls that get thrown to you when you raise your hand or make eye contact with the "pitcher." You can have it thrown from across the room or for more the more timid, next to your table. Either way, you 'gotta catch one of you want one.

We Never Drive By One. --RoadDog