Jean's Cafe - Starkville MS

Mama Jean with some customers.

This is a difficult place to locate.  It is tucked away in the midst of several buildings.  When you find it, you need to establish one singular idea in your mind: you WILL order the cheese wontons.  You will do this because (1) they are very good, and (2) Mama Jean will hound you until you crawl under one of the tables, naked and cold, and break like a little girl into tears.  Save yourself and everyone else in this tiny establishment the trouble and just budget an extra $5.00 into the dining experience.  'Mama' Jean is a pistol.  I mean I really like her.  Some people won't. She takes the term extrovert and obliterates it. Jean knows no strangers, and knows no fear.  This place would not be what it is without her.  But remember she is a master salesperson.  She will have you buying a $20.00 of lunch if you are not careful.  She will suggest add-ons, off the menu 'specials', and will even ask if you want another order of cheese wontons.  You thought one order would meet her quota, but you were wrong.  Fortunately, the quality is excellent no matter what you order, and no matter how weak/strong your willpower is to say no to her, she will send you off with a sincere smile and a full belly.

Crown Restaurant - Indianola MS

Buttery, nutty, decadent, and Southern.  The Crown has been in business for over 30 years, and it is the perfect place for Southern Baptist ladies to swallow calories and swap gossi...er...small talk.  I patted my mouth on my napkin and Paula Deen's likeness appeared on it.  The ambiance here is very Southern Living, but not so much as to offend masculinity.  They could cover me in doilies for all I care.  Their Catfish Allison is naughty.  And they serve all-you-want beer bread to assist in sopping up all the butter out of the casserole dish.  The sweet tea is accordingly magnificent, and the coffee is complimentary.  They have a dessert buffet if you really want to turbocharge your exodus into morbid obesity.  This is how to get fat in genteel fashion, y'all.

Catfish Allison

King Gyros - Fort Wayne IN

Gut Busting

King Gyros is concerned.  It is concerned anyone might order its food and leave with any pang of hunger remaining.  This is the largest gyro I have ever eaten.  You can order extra pita bread.  Do it.  You will need it.  Very tasty, too.  But very, very large.

JT's Falafel & Kabobs - Corinth MS

Corinth, Mississippi isn't on my radar for Middle Eastern cuisine.  This place was a surprise.  It is another questionable looking sliver in a strip mall that pleasantly exceeds expectations.  The chicken shawarma plate was delicious.  No funky stuff in what I ate.  The pita was warm and soft, and hummus was excellent.  Go figure...Corinth.

Bozo's - Mason TN

Love the neon sign, but don't bother if you want BBQ.  I had one of the worst examples of a pulled pork sandwich ever.  I hear an elderly woman bakes homemade pies for this place.  Maybe the pies are great, but I'm not sure it can be redeemed on dessert alone.
A scene in Walk The Line was filmed here.

Lotus Family Restaurant - Memphis TN

Lotus Family Restaurant has been in business since 1980.  Strange I have only recently discovered it.  I lived in Memphis three years and had no idea it existed.  Unlike some Vietnamese restaurants in the Bluff City, it is a dinner-only place.  The exterior looks sketchy, and the interior reminds patrons that clutter can be comforting.  Really, the decor has no real theme, and I kid you not, he has the venerable poker dogs hanging as a tapestry to the right of the entrance.  The 'he' to whom I refer is Joe.  Joe is the owner, and I think his wife does the cooking.  I went on a very cold night, and Joe apparently is cost-conscious when it comes to utility bills.  The place was sparsely inhabited, and the folks there were visibly uncomfortable with the barely 60 degree temperature.  I didn't shed my coat during the meal.  Reviews say it takes a long time to get food, but I only waited 10 minutes.  I ordered the pho.  Normally different options of pho are presented on a menu, such as brisket or tripe.  Not here.  It's just pho.  But it was fine pho.  The broth was perfect.  Pho can be very salty in its lesser incarnations, but this stuff was beautiful.  Think of chicken noodle soup with many more dimensions of flavor.  It was the perfect meal for consumption in a under-heated establishment as I could feel my innards respond with a satisfactory glow within seconds of ingesting its wholesome goodness. I ordered chili sauce on the side (apparently the only option...usually in other such restaurants all the garnishments are presented on separate plate for the guest to choose).  My nasal passages were definitely stimulated, but it wasn't a painful burn.
I was the last person to leave that evening, but before I did I had a 45 minute conversation with Joe.  He seems to be a gentle man with many stories he is willing to share if one is willing to listen.  He spoke of how he emigrated from Vietnam after the war, and as many older Asians are apt to do, he told me all about his children and extended family.  Don't go here if you are in a hurry.  Go for a quiet meal in a delightfully haphazard environment with time to savor the food and experience for what it is, and to accept what it is not.

Tacky Shack - Oxford MS

The Tacky Shack is a 'wacky' burger joint in a strip mall on Jackson.  It is definitely a tacky place.
The burger was a pleasant surprise; it was one of the best I have had in a long time.
Not only was the burger delicious, but so was the second.  Tuesdays are buy-one-get-one free.
I couldn't eat both at one time, but it is a great deal if you have someone to share it.  I did not.
The marinade they use is the secret.  Very flavorful and juicy.
The waffle fries were tasty.
This VW bug next to the fountain drinks helps with the tackiness.