Have you ever been somewhere that has cooked over 48,409 pounds of Mississippi catfish in a year? How about a place that uses roughly 23,760 44 oz. cans of sorghum molasses annually? Anyone? Ok, for the few of you who have, how about going to a restaurant that not only serves all of that but also 73,440 pounds of Arkansas okra each year? I’m guessing I’ve narrowed down those who can relate, just a bit.

For you skeptics out there, such a place does exist. It is called Lambert’s Café and it has locations in Sikeston, MO and Ozark, MO. It is known as “the only home of throwed rolls” and it is notorious ‘round these parts!

Understandably some of you may wonder how it got that nickname. As a repeat guest I am eager to tell you. They actually throw the rolls to you. No joke. Like, across the room, over handed, pitching of rolls going on all around you and yours. How it works-the roll guys cart in their rolls and when you see them you (feel free to) holler at them and, in turn, are chucked a delicious, warm, Lambert’s roll! It’s like feeding time at the zoo! Only we get to be the animals, the food is much better than fruit and dried pellets, and at the end we have to pay for it-not the state and fundraisers (don’t I wish!).

It is a down-home circus and I love going there! A live pianist plays saloon-style music. You see them playing as you walk in and (since the place is huge) the music is pumped through speakers throughout the restaurant. The walls are lined with old license plates and pictures. There are picture booths and arcade games in the entrance (extremely handy considering the waiting line is generally a doozy!).

And the food! Your drink will be served to you in a massive cup. And it is bottomless, I assure you. The warm and friendly wait staff continuously rotates the dining area handing out okra, potatoes, sorghum (for the great rolls), black-eyed peas, macaroni and tomatoes, and honey. This is all part of the dining experience-free with your meal. Although-now they have added the option to just get the “pass-arounds” as an entrée. And I am telling you-if you don’t go that route make sure to try and save room for your meal because you will be stuffed in no time!

Lambert’s makes for a great getaway, day trip, date, and family outing. For a restaurant that was opened by a couple with 14 cents between them, it has thrived and become one of my favorite places to dine! Go and see if you don’t roll out of there stuffed, smiling, and enthusiastically agreeing with me.