Community Forums

mrblanche · 08-03-2010, 11:11 AM

In another thread, there is discussion of truck stops and their restaurants. I mentioned the move to Denny's at Flying J will almost certainly be a big improvement in most places; the Winged Hook has certainly gone done in quality over the last 10 years (and I remember when they were a northeastern regional truck stop chain).

Another member recommended Johnson's Corners, north of Denver on I-25. I've eaten there a number of times, and they're pretty good.

Truck stop food (especially the chains) runs heavily to, "Just bring me a hunk of lard. Bread it, deep-fat fry it, and put white gravy and whipped cream on it." Essentially, truckers stop at most places because, in all honesty, they have enough parking for trucks.

But there ARE a few truck stops that are worth stopping and eating at. Almost none of them are large chains, although the Bosselman locations have been pretty good. Haven't been there in a few years, so I can't say for sure.

Here are a few of my recommendations.

1. Dysart's, in Bangor, Maine. They also operate their own truck line. Good down-home food.

2. R-Place, Morris, IL. I-80, exit 112, northeast corner. Try to get there on a night they're serving walleye. This place almost always has a line for the "town" side. The trucker side is seat-yourself.

I'd like to hear your recommendations.

Clay L · 08-03-2010, 12:30 PM

Although it isn't a truck stop there is parking for them in back and it's only a couple of hundred yards off I70, Meridys Steak House in Russell KS is well worth stopping for.
They have the best rib eye steaks I have had anywhere including some pretty famous steak houses.
Pricey but large (16 to 18 ounces I think). I got two to three meals off of one.

bdaball · 08-03-2010, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrblanche

In another thread, there is discussion of truck stops and their restaurants. I mentioned the move to Denny's at Flying J will almost certainly be a big improvement in most places; the Winged Hook has certainly gone done in quality over the last 10 years (and I remember when they were a northeastern regional truck stop chain).

Another member recommended Johnson's Corners, north of Denver on I-25. I've eaten there a number of times, and they're pretty good.

Truck stop food (especially the chains) runs heavily to, "Just bring me a hunk of lard. Bread it, deep-fat fry it, and put white gravy and whipped cream on it." Essentially, truckers stop at most places because, in all honesty, they have enough parking for trucks.

But there ARE a few truck stops that are worth stopping and eating at. Almost none of them are large chains, although the Bosselman locations have been pretty good. Haven't been there in a few years, so I can't say for sure.

Here are a few of my recommendations.

1. Dysart's, in Bangor, Maine. They also operate their own truck line. Good down-home food.

2. R-Place, Morris, IL. I-80, exit 112, northeast corner. Try to get there on a night they're serving walleye. This place almost always has a line for the "town" side. The trucker side is seat-yourself.

I'd like to hear your recommendations.

If you aint been to Dysart's chummy, yah aint been to Maine......

The grub aint too shabby.

Lorna · 08-03-2010, 05:31 PM

We stop at Cracker Barrel a lot. Mostly because we pretty much know what we will get there. Usually they have a good sized parking lot. The worst Cracker Barrel we've eaten at is in Cordele GA on I75 GA Exit 101 but it's still not really bad... just not typical CB standards. But it still beats all the other places to eat in Cordele except for Smoakies BBQ (fantastic BBQ but no room for a big rig to park unless they finally moved into the place next to the interstate they were planning to build)
Smoakies Bar B Que - Google Maps

John Wayne · 08-03-2010, 06:14 PM

Heaven on Earth, Azalea, Or. exit 86 on I-5

mythplaced · 08-03-2010, 07:00 PM

Cattlemen's Steakhouse in El Paso

Cattleman's Steakhouse at Indian Cliffs Ranch near El Paso, Texas

Worth the drive...More than just a restaraunt

RVThere · 08-03-2010, 07:44 PM

In Kentucky, intersection of the Wendell Ford Parkway and Rt. 231. Go north from the exit and look for a BP station on the left. Big truck parking lot in rear.

I filled up on a Sunday morning and went in to pay the bill. They had just fried chicken, etc. and it smelled like heaven. I had the boys come in from the motorhome and they went crazy. We bought chicken, hush puppies, deep fried broccoli, etc. I was some of the best cooking I've ever had.

Town is Beaver Dam, KY.

mrblanche · 08-03-2010, 07:47 PM

I'll agree on the Cattleman's. But you have to know where it is to find it!

The Bosselman truck stops, mostly in Nebraska, used to be pretty good. Haven't been there in a few years.

As far as steak houses go, Heitmiller's in Waco, I-35 exit 343, is a very good one, with enough room for trucks and RV's. They don't mind if you park your RV there overnight, either. They are building a new location a little bit farther south.

Mr Nifty · 08-03-2010, 09:19 PM

deep fried broccoli? Now I never heard of that before.

denochs · 08-03-2010, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVThere

In Kentucky, intersection of the Wendell Ford Parkway and Rt. 231. Go north from the exit and look for a BP station on the left. Big truck parking lot in rear.

I filled up on a Sunday morning and went in to pay the bill. They had just fried chicken, etc. and it smelled like heaven. I had the boys come in from the motorhome and they went crazy. We bought chicken, hush puppies, deep fried broccoli, etc. I was some of the best cooking I've ever had.

Town is Beaver Dam, KY.

That sounds like a hunk of lard, salt and peppered properly of course. Yum Yum

Dave

Catch and Release · 08-03-2010, 09:52 PM

The Cowboy Steak House in Kerrville Tx gets our vote. Better steaks than Mortons or Ruth Chris.

SeeTheUSA · 08-04-2010, 02:48 PM

How about the

BIG TEXAN

in Amarillo!

Check it out - it looks yummy?:

Big Texan: Home of the FREE 72 oz. Steak

High Plains · 08-04-2010, 03:11 PM

We plan on stopping at The Big Texan in a couple of weeks on our way through Amarillo.

RVThere · 08-04-2010, 05:03 PM

My son declared the deep fried broccoli was a 'net zero' food. The oil killed you at the same rate the broccoli helped you, so you ended up with no additional health problems!

Also just stopped at a great little BBQ place in Colby, KS right off Exit 53 of I70. Butch's Smokehouse. Great BBQ and great sweet potato fries.