Southern Living says these are Alabamaâs 10 best meat-and-threes
Meat-and-three is algebra you can eat.
And in Alabama, good meat-and-three restaurants – country-cooking/soul-food spots where customers chose one protein and three sides from the menu – are considered sacred.
Almost as sacred as classic barbecue joints.
On May 17 Southern Living’s website published the 10 top results of their recent readers’ poll of best Alabama meat-and-threes.
The list also includes blurbs about each restaurant, written by the magazine’s travel and culture editor, Tara Massouleh McCay.
(Southern Living doesn’t appear to indicate if the poll results were listed in any particular order or not.)
Southern Living says: “Fried green tomatoes or butter beans? Go ahead and get both. Whatever you do, don’t pass on the pie.”
Kia Tyndale fills a to-go order at Pannie-George’s Kitchen in Auburn, Ala. Tyndale started working at the restaurant as a teenager when her mother and sisters opened it in 2005.(Bob Carlton/[email protected])
Southern Living says: “Everything on the menu rotates at Pannie-George’s save one item: the fried chicken. Order it, alongside black-eyed peas, candied yams, and creamed corn.”
Johnny’s Restaurant has been a hit in Homewood, Ala., since chef and owner Timothy Hontzas opened his popular “Greek and three” in 2012.(Bob Carlton/[email protected])
Southern Living says: “Homegrown ‘Greek ‘n’ Three’ where souvlaki and keftedes shine alongside chicken pot pie and 15-hour pot roast.”
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City Cafe in Northport, Ala.(Ben Flanagan/[email protected])
Southern Living says: “The ‘three’ part of your order can include everything from string beans to cobbler.”
Blue Plate Cafe, a favorite Huntsville lunch spot, is hoping to open its dining room later this week.
Southern Living says: “Blue Plate is famous for its melt-in-your-mouth pot roast, but you should also make sure to order at least one veggie in casserole form. Hashbrown casserole and broccoli casserole are both top picks.
The fried chicken at Mary’s Southern Cooking in Mobile, Ala., is legendary.(AL.com file photo/Mike Brantley)
Southern Living says: “Friday specials include oxtail, pig feet, and hog maws. On Sunday, you can order chitterlings, and on Mondays liver and onion and turkey necks are featured.”
Martin’s Restaurant in Montgomery, Ala., is famous for its crispy fried chicken and it crusty cornbread muffins.(Bob Carlton/[email protected])
Southern Living says: “Martin’s also does two things only a true Southern eatery would. One, they offer the chicken pulley bone in addition to fried breasts, thighs, wings, and drumsticks. And two, they serve pineapple casserole.’
Southern Living says: “You’ll still have your choice of nearly every Southern comfort food under the sun, but you’ll also find some not-so-traditional offerings like a small beer and wine menu, plus the option to sip on a mimosa or Bellini with your meal. Whatever you do, make sure to order the strawberry pretzel salad for the perfect bite of nostalgia.”
Southern Living says: “You can count on classics like country fried steak, rice with gravy, and fried green tomatoes. You’ll also find some color in the dessert spread that includes banana pudding, key lime cake, and peach cobbler. Note: At the time of publish, the Dothan location was closed due to fire damage sustained in July 2022.”
The pecan chicken salad plate with fresh fruit, lemon tea bread and a frozen fruit “delight” is one of the signature dishes at the Claunch Cafe in Tuscumbia, Ala.(Bob Carlton/[email protected])
Southern Living says: “The turnip green soup (a Monday special) and pecan chicken salad have both found themselves on lists of must-eat dishes in Alabama.”
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