Olgas Kitchen, Fairview Heights, Illinois
A long time favorite of mine, I've been to different locations many times. Pictured is their Peasant's Soup, something I've made at home with pretty good success.
Of course, they're best known for their Olga sandwiches, similar to gyros, but their pita bread is slightly sweet, and definitely delicious.
Over Christmas when we did our last road trip, we finally managed to stop in at Lambert's Cafe, home of the Throwed Rolls, at their main location in Sikeston, Missouri. Their original location in Sikeston closed in 1981 when their new and larger site opened, which was quickly outgrown and their current site opened in 1988. In case you're wondering, a Throwed Roll is exactly what it sounds like, a roll that is thrown, usually from well across the restaurant, to your waiting hands.
The rolls are darned tasty, and are large and fluffy, or, depending on your catching skills, flat and misshapen, but still just as tasty, especially with some sorghum on top.
The dinners themselves are large enough to feed a small army. I ordered the Chicken Fried Round Steak, which came served in a huge skillet. That very small utensil on the left is actually a full sized fork, just so you have an idea of the size of the portions involved.
My son ordered the Hamburger Steak, a full pound of beef smothered with tasty veggies:
As if the meals weren't enough on their own, the waitstaff rotate through the restaurant with even more food they will happily dish out: Fried Potatoes & Onions, Macaroni & Tomatoes, Black-eyed Peas, Fried Okra, Hot Rolls, Sorghum, and Apple Butter.
It is virtually impossible to leave this place and still be hungry, wear loose fitting pants and leave your belt at home.
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