Man I love EMT's! My first heart attack and thankfully I made it through. OK, maybe not a real heart attack but the possibility is very real if I continue to lunch at Babe's. No this isn't some strip bar and buffet it is instead, a very special restaurant near Dallas. Located in rustic old town Roanoke, Babe's Chicken Dinner House is a North Texas institution. Babe's main course menu offers only two choices: Fried Chicken & Chicken fried steak. Generous portions and all-you-can eat sides will satisfy even the biggest home cooked appetites. Built inside an old hardware store, Babe's offers an atmosphere akin to a roadhouse truck stop from a long gone era.
I
guess I looked as if I was doing some sort of spastic dance. The
waiter had noticed and he was very kind to ask if I was ok. My pride
was more injured than anything else. Anywho back to the cholesterol
fest. It took maybe 5 minutes before a heaping pile of deep fried
steak was set onto the table. Good gravy, yeah there was a big bowl of
that too, and biscuits and more. Apparently the steak is pounded out
before being batter dipped because the piece of meat covered 3/4 of my
plate. It took a while but I did finish everything and it satisfied on
many levels. The friedness plus meatness plus saltyness plus
greasiness equals comfort food. A lunch that reaches out and gives you
a big hug, like grandma.During lunch one of the local police officers was surprised when his birthday was mentioned. The crew and patrons sang "Happy Birthday", yes the real one, to him. It is nice to see a restaurant not afraid to sing the real "Happy Birthday" song and not some half assed made up version sung to bongo and tambourine. He blushed and covered his face with his gigantic forearms. It felt more like a church picnic than lunch. Out of the way and simple, relaxed and friendly, this place has found a way to make the clock tick a bit slower in a world that often moves too fast. I really like their philosophy but I think the menu may have to eventually be updated. Deep fried is like a dagger to your arteries but I guess in moderation the bad effects of the food are outweighed by the good that Babe's does for your soul. I started lunch seeing the stars generated by my throbbing ankle and I ended lunch feeling like a star.
My belly was full and I felt like I had been out for hours. That is how lunch should be. Too often I've wasted that time with a sandwich and pickle in front of my computer. Take back your lunch hour and use that time to enjoy some good company and good food. Lunch isn't the enemy so stop treating it like relative you have to send a Christmas card even though you haven't spoken in years.
Peace,
Sean