Lambert's Cafe III in Foley, Alabama: Home of Thrown Rolls and Great Sides

Lambert's Café began in Sikeston, Missouri, in 1942, but the legacy of the "thrown roll" didn't begin until 1976. Later, another café was opened in Ozark, Missouri, and, eventually, a third location opened in Foley, Alabama. With Gulf Shores, and, in turn, the beach, less than ten miles away, the Foley location is a great place to stop after a long drive to your vacation destination.

Lambert's is known as "the home of the thrown roll" and is also famous for their all you care to eat side dishes that come with their moderately priced meals. You won't have a hard time finding this restaurant; it's front sign is huge and stretches the width of the large building, so it's easily seen as you're driving along. The atmosphere of the restaurant is one you'll find familiar and homey, and the building is filled with large wooden tables and booths with plenty of elbow space. Your drinks will be served in large insulated mugs, so don't expect to ask for a refill too often. The menus are filled with homestyle favorites, ranging from charbroiled chicken breast (and that's the whole chicken breast, so good luck eating all of it in one sitting) to the popular Lambert Burger to grilled salmon with all your traditional favorites in between.

During my visit, I had a hard time picking out one entree from the menu. I'm a fan of liver, so I was glad to see both beef and chicken livers on the menus, and I was very pleased with my choice of beef liver with carrot and potatoes as my sides. But I was more blown away by one of my friend's meals than my own. She ordered the Chef Salad, a huge mound of garden veggies with all the standard toppings, stuffed into a large bread bowl. Suffice to say, everyone in my party had plenty to take home, especially after we filled up on the sides served in the restaurant.

Their sides are called "pass arounds" and come at no additional price. How does it work? Waiters bring around huge pots of everything from fried potatoes and onions to okra to white beans and spoon out a hefty helpings whenever you ask. These sides are delicious, especially for those who love country food. Granted, you can't pack them into a take out box, so don't even begin that scheme. However, you can have as many helpings as you'd like with your entrée. As for the thrown rolls, those are exactly what you'd expect. Roll buggies are routinely pushed around the restaurant, and customers call out to the waiters for rolls. The rolls are tossed their way and almost always caught in some form or fashion. The rolls are always hot, fresh, and ready for honey or butter.

If there's a restaurant to compare Lambert's Café to, I'd say Cracker Barrel. However, I've never had as much fun or eaten as much great food at Cracker Barrel as I did during my visit to Lambert's of Foley. If you're really hungry and wanting your money's worth in good food, check out Lambert's Café. You won't be disappointed.

Lambert's is open seven days a week from 10:30am until about 9:00pm. Also, there's a gift shop available for those who'd like to purchase one of the insulated mugs they serve beverages from, a set of the coke bottle salt and pepper shakers as seen on the tables, or a t-shirt.

2981 S. McKenzie

Foley, AL 36535

(251) 943-7655

Or visit their website for more info:

http://www.throwedrolls.com/default.asp