APRIL 17, 2015.
You can’t miss the sign for Lambert’s Cafe, in Foley, Alabama.
FOLEY, ALABAMA. Foley is a neat little town “next door” to Gulf Shores, Alabama. It’s just a short drive to the beaches of the Gulf. Ever since we arrived a few days ago and began asking the locals for restaurant recommendations, we kept being told, “You’ve got to try Lambert’s Cafe in the town of Foley. The food is good and you’ll have a ball.” So we went there. And the food was good. And we did have a ball.
LAMBERT’S CAFE. We didn’t have any trouble locating the joint. The place has a big sign and is definitely “The Only Home of Throwed Rolls.” Period paraphernalia is thick at Lambert’s. There is plenty to look at before or after you eat and they are pretty proud of some of the things they have on display. ‘Course if you are of the right age, some of the things might bring a tear to your eye, remembering how things used to be.
THROWED ROLLS. Made from scratch and baked fresh all day, every day…hot rolls from Lambert’s are not only fun to catch, but delicious to eat. Spread some real butter on them or get adventurous and try some country sorghum molasses on ’em. The real fun is catching a roll. Even more fun is watching other people catch them, or at least try. Dozens of hot rolls fly through the air every few minutes at Lambert’s, so be alert and have a roll. It’s a bit like Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle, Washington. Ever been there? The fish mongers toss the inventory of fresh seafood around like they’re having a game of catch in the back yard. At Lambert’s it’s dinner rolls.
Good catch!
ABOUT THE FOOD. Lambert’s Cafe serves well-prepared Southern-style comfort food in a raucous dining environment sure to delight you unless you’re not in a mood for lighthearted fun, silly pranks and a bit of organized chaos to go along with your meal. For my friends and family from San Diego, think Corvette Diner, but much better food. Fried chicken, meat loaf, chicken pot pies, hamburger steak with brown gravy and mashed potatoes, ham, fish and shrimp..you get the idea. Lambert’s is also known for its “pass arounds”…onion fried potatoes, fried okra, macaroni & tomatoes, and black-eyed peas. These are brought around constantly and are free with every meal. But look out, you can get hooked on those fried potatoes.
Memorabilia on the walls…almost like a museum.
FUN FACTS. Last year they averaged baking 520 dozen rolls per day, for a grand total of 2,246,400 individual rolls. Lambert’s cooked a grand total of 253,980 lbs. of chicken last year. They cooked 132,743 lbs. of choice round beef. It took a herd of 265 USDA choice steers to serve all of the customers! 52,322 lbs. of ham, country ham, and pork steak were served. The list goes on. It’s a busy place…there’s always a line.
FAMOUS CUSTOMERS. I won’t try to list ’em all, but here are some of the celebrities who’ve caught dinner rolls at Lambert’s: Elvis Presley, Jay Leno, Morgan Freeman, Tanya Tucker, Dennis Weaver, Trace Adkins, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and Waylon Jennings. And of course Greg and Florence Alford.
DINNER AT LAMBERT’S IS LOTS OF FUN. DON’T MISS IT IF YOU’RE EVER IN FOLEY. AND DON’T MISS OUR UPCOMING GREAT AMERICAN ADVENTURES. COME BACK SOON.
