4 Places To Get A Home-Cooked Meal Away From Home
These four homestyle cooking restaurants offer classic comfort food sure to fill your belly and warm your soul
Get that fresh-from-the-oven feeling at these joints that’ll make you feel right at home.
If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then these four homestyle cooking restaurants—where hefty portions of familiar foods are served in warm, welcoming settings—sit at the heart of their local communities. In other words, these spots are the next best thing to eating at Grandma’s house, and (in most cases) you don’t even have to clear the table after dinner.
Mickies Dairy Bar in Madison, Wisconsin
If there’s one dish that can give new meaning to game-day eats, it’s the Scrambler at Mickies Dairy Bar. A massive, layered pile of scrambled eggs, “Yanks” (read: hash browns), omelet toppings, cheese and gravy, the dish is a perennial favorite among football fans and University of Wisconsin–Madison students who flock to Mickies before Badgers games. And while the restaurant sits in the shadow of Camp Randall, UW-Madison’s stadium, there’s more than just a convenient location that’s allowed this cash-only greasy spoon to remain a fixture of Madison’s dining scene since 1946. Namely, that’s huge portions, student-friendly prices, and nostalgic decor that recalls a simpler time when a cheeseburger cost 40 cents. Just check out Mickies’ original 1950s menu, which still stakes a claim to a small section of the restaurant’s wall space.
The Grill at Great Bridge in Chesapeake, Virginia
Who would have guessed that you could find a killer Philly cheesesteak south of the Mason-Dixon Line? A sub roll stuffed full of shaved ribeye, melted cheese, green peppers and onions, Philly’s signature sandwich is one of the most raved-about offerings on the menu at The Grill at Great Bridge. If you’re skeptical, consider this: Gary Pile, who opened the restaurant alongside his wife, Ann, in 1993, was raised in the City of Brotherly Love. The cheesesteak is rivaled in popularity by one other thing on the menu: the pie. Spanning key lime to the crowd-favorite NuttyButty Cheesecake, the pies are made by Ann. Try them for yourself seven days a week, but be sure to arrive early: The tiny, cash-only eatery, found approximately 30 minutes from Virginia Beach, only serves breakfast and lunch.
Verona Village Inn in Verona, Pennsylvania
Come hungry to Verona Village Inn in Verona, Pennsylvania, where portions are generous.
Don’t be misled by Verona Village Inn’s nondescript exterior. Locals consider this family-owned Italian restaurant, located in a town about 10 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, an institution. Founded in 1983 by husband-and-wife team Tony and Lena DiIanni, the humble spot has earned a loyal patronage through reasonable prices, friendly service and generous portions of homestyle Italian cuisine that’s deliciously familiar. That’s due, in part, to the fact that the menu hasn’t changed much over the years. Moreover, Lena still makes the sauces, which top chicken parm, meatballs, various pastas and shrimp scaloppini (one of the most raved-about dishes). Like the food, the decor keeps things old-school, while a small footprint keeps tables in demand.
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room in Savannah, Georgia
If you’re planning to eat at Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room, bring a hearty appetite—and some patience. A 90-minute wait is the norm at this long-standing Savannah lunch destination, where Southern food is served family-style in a tiny dining room. Bowlfuls of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, black-eyed peas and the like are passed between diners seated at communal tables, creating an intimate experience that’s only heightened by the establishment’s homey vibe and historic charm. Before Sema Wilkes took over the property in 1943, the handsome brick building had long served as a boardinghouse. Know before you go: There’s no menu, the establishment only accepts cash, and when you’re finished eating, you’re expected to bring your dishes to the kitchen.
Ready to travel? Find hotels in Madison, Chesapeake, Verona, Savannah.
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