I'm going slightly stretch the definition of north and south a little and just refer to my geographical location. I had a week of vacation to burn out so Miss Meena and I decided to visit her brother in Benton Arkansas on Tuesday. I had hoped to revisit a Cajun Buffet in Bryant but they went belly up last year, denying me the opportunity to get some good oysters, sausage and crawfish so I decided to hit Brown's Cafeteria/Country Store, home of the 100 ft Buffet Line which had been recommended to me, but at the last minute I remembered Meena had never been to Hot Springs except to the Garvan Gardens. So I told my Garmin to find it. We were only about 30 miles away so no problem. The Spa City Donuts place was closed for the day by the time we arrived so I wasn't able to see if the counter lady from my hometown was still there. A short drive down the main drag and we pulled up to The Colonial Pancake Restaurant on Baritie St. A quaint little joint with enough room to be comfortable but not so small you're cramped, welcomed us. Liquids are served in small plastic Mason Jars in keeping with the country theme. Meena ordered a Reuben Sandwich and chips for $7 and change while I requested the chicken wings and fries. A customer just leaving had recommended them. Now I've had chicken wings around the country and being in the poultry business, I know wings. These were sectioned but were still large, meaty and delightfully flavored, accompanied by season fries were the equal of what I had thought was the best Arkansas wings I had had to date at the small biker/banger hangout in Little Rock I wrote about several months ago off Shackleford Road. A dab of ranch sauce, a splash of Frank's and I was set. Meena preferred my wings to her reuben which was pretty good being loaded with what was obviously a home style cooked brisket. We're supposed to return to Benton in about 3 weeks so I may just stop again if I don't decide to try another of Hot Springs' offerings. Louie's Grill on Walnut in Rogers is another place I've gone to a couple of times now. I've heard some people I know didn't care for it but I haven't been disappointed. My last trip I got the dish known as Chicken Louie's Too. a nice chicken breast topped with bacon, cheese and mushrooms for $10.49 with 2 sides, I chose the fried green beans and garlic mashed potatoes. Quick, close, cheap and convenient, all the things I like. North to Joplin, Miss Meena and I went to the charter signing for Star #490. Joplin has some good things coming up that #464 needs to take advantage off. After the signing we cruised the death zone which like Frankenstein's Monster is coming alive. We dropped into Big R's BBQ at 1220 E. 15th St. 417-781-5959. A kitschy old place with all kinds of memorabilia decking the walls, the first thing you see is a glass fronted cooler loaded down with cream topped pies. Lemon, blueberry, coconut, strawberry, chocolate- too many to name but everyone except the coconut looked good to me (personal thing). 11 of us made it so we settled into the fairly comfortable chairs to peruse the menu. They've got everything but I wasn't looking for BBQ as Meena and I are supposed to go the Buck Nekkid for dinner, Smoked pork chops were the special last week so I'm hoping. Anyway back to Big R's. I hadn't had a fish sandwich is years so I ordered the pollack fillet, large battered, on a hoagie bun with pepper jack, only mistake I made was not telling them to leave off the tartar sauce (hate that stuff). a side of 1/2 of a smoked polish sausage link completed the meal as I wasn't interested in potatoes, beans, salad etc. Meena went with the Wings and Rings, beer battered onion rings and 10 hot wing sections. After she had trimmed the pile down to a manageable size by passing them out to others (I got one) she settled down to work. I liked the wing, decent flavor but the ones in Hot Springs were better, and beer flavored anything is not for me, but the one ring I sampled was good just a little greasy. I should have gone with the daily lunch special. Thai Chicken strips, Wussy Burger (apparently a small hamburger) as apparently pie was part of that. I had to order a piece of lemon cream to go. Both meals with water were $7. 99 and the pie was $3 and change. From what I saw on others plates, the food is pretty good and the usual burgers are 3/4 lbers. When I first moved to Rogers, there was a Big R on Walton in Bentonville where the Acambaro is and I went there once before they closed down. I believe it was owned by the same family. I seldom get to Joplin but this place is going into the Traveling Diner's memory banks for a return trip so I can check out the BBQ. Oh yes, the pie made it home safe to Rogers and I sampled a little before I started this column. I can hear it singing to me right now, its not opera but it is grand.
P. S. Perry got the Wussy Burger and fries.
