A few days ago, you may have seen the
White House Cafe's entry on one of this blog's daily articles. Their "ping pong ball" came up in the random selection on that day ... so I guess this is their week on MEATandTHREE.com's History Blog.
When I was thinking about a place to go for lunch today, the
White House Cafe [
http://www.meatandthree.com/tn/whitehousecafe/] sounded like it would fit the bill. So, my wife (Jeanie) and I hopped in the truck and made the short trek up I-65, taking Exit 108, heading east on Highway 76 (Springfield Rd.) over to Highway 31W; then, took a right and headed down to the corner of West Drive, in a little strip shopping center on the right called "The Gallery".
As we walked in the door, the first thing I saw was a familiar face - Thomas Vaughn, an investment advisor who worked down the hall from us in Madison when I was with
Bed & Breakfast Inns ONLINE. Thomas is one of the guys who had told me great things about Miller's Grocery in Christiana - he's an avid "Meat and Three'er" [see article at
http://historyblog.meatandthree.com/2006/12/13/added-millers-grocery-in-christiana-tn.aspx]. I look forward to hearing another of his recommendations - he's part of a group of Harley riders who enjoy taking road trips and finding great little places to eat.
After chatting with Thomas a bit, I re-joined Jeanie at the steam counter, grabbed a tray and proceeded to order some catfish. Hey, it's Friday in Tennessee, after all. I added some fried okra, mashed potatoes, cornbread and sweet tea. A quick check over at Jeanie‘s tray and I realized she ordered exactly the same thing, except that she added some creamed corn. I have to admit, I wanted to try some of the BBQ brisket so that we could get a taste of both "meats", but the brisket was not quite ready yet today (an anomalies). Somebody email me and let me know about the brisket or fill in a comment below - I‘d love to hear how it is. I absolutely love great brisket.
The
White House Cafe has sort of a Bistro feel, with brick red and mustard yellow walls, black-and-white checked floors, and wrought-iron accents as well as the accompanying decorations/pictures/signs on the walls. You will find the menu selections on chalkboards and the weekly lunch menu is posted on several sheets of paper on the walls and the door. That’s a helpful way to keep customers “in the know”. Speaking of customers, there were several regulars today, known by name by the staff. They evidently have spent some time here and have had a lot of fun picking at each other. I noticed that the catfish was quite popular today among the customers I observed.
An interesting area in the front of the dining room, not often seen in the meat-and-three restaurants I have visited, is a kid’s play area with mats and toys. No kids there today, but I am sure that is a welcome sight for the patrons who need it. In addition to the 13 or so tables, there is also a TV in the back right corner of the dining room, which today played country music videos.
Depending on the day, you could choose from pork chops, roast beef, salmon patties, chicken alfredo, chicken & dumplings, meatloaf, or fried chicken, among others, along with a number of veggie choices, a salad bar and dessert options. Not all those meats are available every day - there are generally 3 or 4 meat choices and maybe 8 or 10 vegetable (or side) choices each day. Plenty enough for most folks to find something to satisfy their desires. The
White House Cafe is really just a very short drive off the interstate, and would be worth the drive for Interstate 65 travelers to pass by the typical fast-food joints at the exit. And, if you are a local and have not been yet, stop in soon to try it out.
I’ll look forward to hearing from you soon about your visit - email me at
phil@meatandthree.com.
Phil (mn3guy)
