Ask a foodie: What's your favorite small-town restaurant?

Matt Glenn

There are so many good places around with these small towns it's only a matter of finding them. Out in Jackson there is Tractor's Classic American Grill that never disappoints with their large menu. Or you can go over to Gordonville, Missouri to the Gordonville Grill with their nice atmosphere and friendly staff. And always recommended is the East Perry Pub LLC in Altenburg, Missouri with their "Pound Pub Burger." Go check them all out!

Mary Castillo

Can you call a restaurant your favorite if you have only been there once? I am an equal opportunity foodie. My friends know this. This week I had a tough time narrowing down my pick from so many great options. I checked in with my friends and only ended up with more suggestions. One in particular stood out. My friends assured me I could not make a fair assessment without trying a little restaurant with homestyle cooking located in Perryville, Missouri. I ran this by a friend who happens to be a Perryville native. She enthusiastically vouched for Park-Et Fine Foods, further explaining that even relatives from Chicago insist on a visit to the restaurant while in town. One friend described it as "the last real American greasy spoon." I was intrigued. How could I resist? I headed out on a Saturday afternoon, thoroughly enjoying the winding country road along with the peaceful view of rolling fields, cows, barns and wildflowers. Upon entering the restaurant I was met with a smile by the server and seated while the sound of classic George Strait played in the background. It was down-home casual, the kind of place you imagine locals head to for breakfast on a Sunday morning. I ordered the country steak, green beans and mashed potatoes, and was not disappointed. I was told by friends and even a couple of strangers I met along the way that the pie would be worth the drive. I ordered my favorite: coconut cream pie. It was delicious. In fact, I am already looking forward to a return trip to try out their breakfast menu. Park-Et has definitely been added to my list of favorites.

Nick Johnston

Buffalo chicken sandwich with slaw, hot sauce, ranch and bacon on a bun, with fries at Mudcat Coffee House in Oak Ridge.Submitted by Jessica Medlock

Since moving to Cape Girardeau, my favorite small-town restaurant has been Burrito-Ville. Let me clarify: this is my favorite "small college town" joint. Why? Because it has great value (huge portion sizes), the food is consistently good, it's clean and it is locally owned. Plus the staff is engaging and friendly. Sure, there are other local gems like Pilot House and Port Cape Girardeau that I also enjoy a lot. However, when recommending a local place that has a small college town feel, I send people to Burrito-Ville. I get "chicken dirty fries" or the "West Coast Club Burrito." Happy eating!

Rebecca LaClair

I have a fierce undying love for small town eateries. They tend to be creative and they have to have excellent food to pull people in; otherwise they wouldn't last. Mudcat Coffee House in Oak Ridge definitely has excellent food and it really pulls the people in. I know I say this often, but I think we are blessed to live in the part of the country that excels in this: the people here are simply nice, good people that want to share amazing food. Their street-style tacos had fresh ingredients, beautiful colors and a wonderful array of flavor combinations. My favorite was the "Baja Fish Taco" with pickled onions, but honestly, their fish is the best fried catfish I've had in the entire area -- so that put the taco way over the top. If you are a fish fan, come and fight the crowd on Fish Friday for all-you-can-eat fish. It's worth the fight.

Jessica Medlock

I decided to try somewhere new for this article so Becky suggested Mudcat Coffee House in Oak Ridge. Can't miss the place; it's right next to the post office before the 4-way on the right. Mudcat is in an old building with great ceilings. It was Friday night, catfish night, just so happened to have live music too. The catfish was really good, hot and flaky on the inside! I ordered white beans and sausage as a side; I would go back and order just a bowl of that, super full of flavor. My son, Tristan, ordered a buffalo chicken sandwich with slaw, hot sauce, ranch and bacon on a bun -- also full of flavor, but not overwhelming on the heat. Everyone working there had a great smile, welcoming attitudes. And I need to go back and try the coffee.

Mary Anderson

As I sit down to think about my favorite small-town restaurant, one specific musical jingle moseys its way into this Cape Girardeau raised head of mine: "Gordonville Grill -- Prepare to be surprised!" (Wow, I realized how tough it is to sing a jingle by English text only ... I suggest you YouTube it to get the full effect). Gordonville Grill is the perfect destination for a casual, comfortable and tasty family eating experience. The restaurant sits in an old brick store building. When you walk in, you'll be greeted to a warm and comforting atmosphere. The booths are large and roomy and will fit the whole family without any space bubbles being popped (the booths even feature hooks to hang purses/coats on ... it's the little details in life like this that make me smile). After you've walked in and sit down, you should have one main mission: order two (not one ... you'll need more than one) plates of the Gouda and cheddar Potato Cakes for an appetizer. Gouda is good, especially when featured in this dish. These cheesy, fried mashed potato disks are one of my top five dishes in the Southeast Missouri area. Imagine Tater Tots that were "fixer-upper'd" by Chip and Joanna Gaines: tots improved/flipped to such epic proportions, you'll hardly even recognize them. For an entree (if I chose not to make the potato cakes my entree...), my go-to is the fried catfish. However, Gordonville Grill has phenomenal juicy and flavorful burgers, as well! If you and your family are in the mood for casual American dining with a Southeast Missouri twist, skip all of the bicker on "where should we eat?" and head out to this place! You will not be disappointed in the amazing quality of the food and the service. Don't forget about the potato cakes!

Ellen Gipson

Growing up in Morley, Missouri, with a population of just around 600 it is difficult to find a smaller town, so anywhere that has a grocery store and a gas station one could consider big city. But luckily as a child we traveled a lot, and every time we crossed the Cape Girardeau bridge into Illinois near a mealtime, we knew we'd be making a stop at Dixie Barbecue in Jonesboro, Illinois. Their pit-smoked pork is unique to the region because it is thinly sliced/shaved vs. pulled and it is served on a toasted hamburger bun drizzled with the most interesting sauce -- a sweet and tangy, rose-colored sauce that may be based on Catalina dressing. That is an absolute guess; we haven't quite cracked the sauce code yet! Their menu is also full of traditional small-town favorites like burgers, straight cut French fries, chicken fingers, onion rings, salads, soups and chili. To complete the Dixie experience you must try their chocolate milkshake. Although soft-served, it is rich, thick and creamy. Right off Route 146 before the Jonesboro town square, Dixie barbecue makes a delicious barbecue pit stop.

-- Compiled by Joshua Hartwig