Food is a big part of the memory making process. And so, inclusion of unique restaurants, trying unfamiliar foods, and savoring a bit of the local atmosphere while enjoying a meal can dramatically enhance a road trip adventure.
In Vinita, Oklahoma, casting its shadow over Route 66, is Clanton’s Café. This venerable old restaurant has its origins with Grant Clanton, a farmer known locally as “Sweet Tator”, that had a dream of opening a restaurant. So, in 1927 he opened the Busy Bee Café.
His promotional style was fitting for a man raised on the farm. At lunch time, according to local legend, he would step out onto the sidewalk and begin banging a pot with a spoon.
Shortly after selling that restaurant, he opened a new and larger café on Route 66. That was in 1930. The current restaurant with its signature sign that simply reads EAT dates to 1947, and it is still managed by the same family. And they still offer the hearty traditional American dishes that have been popular in Oklahoma farm country for a century.
In Miami, Oklahoma (pronounced My-am-uh) there is a roadside gem from another era. Waylans Kuku with its unique and colorful signage on Route 66 dates to 1965. It is the last surviving restaurant in what was once a regional chain. Aside from the expected offerings such as hamburgers and French fries, there are also a few items not often associated with a fast-food restaurant. Have you ever tried a buffalo burger?
In Amarillo, the Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery with its heavily promoted 72-ounce (2041 gram) steak challenge is well known among Route 66 enthusiasts. But on 6th Avenue, the original alignment of Route 66 through the historic San Jacinto district, there is an often-overlooked treasure.
The Golden Light Café & Cantina opened its doors in 1946. As you might expect from an authentic Texas roadhouse, the menu offerings center on beef. But there is a twist such as Tamara’s Green Chili Cheeseburger, a traditional Angus beef cheeseburger with grilled green chilies or Charles’ Buffalo Burger using meat from the largest buffalo herd in Amarillo and two pieces of cheese with hot grilled jalapeno peppers in between.
| A bit further to the west in Gallup, New Mexico is the uniquely styled El Rancho Hotel. Built in the late 1930s and promoted as the “World’s Largest Ranch House” it was a resort that became famous for celebrity sightings. John Wayne kept a suite off the saloon. The restaurant offers an array of regional and traditional New Mexico favorites such as huevos rancheros; two eggs, corn tortillas, pinto beans, cheddar and asadero cheese, fresh avocado, green chilies, homemade salsa, hash brown potatoes and a warm, fresh flour tortilla. So, how do you discover the hidden gems in the US or Canada where you can savor regional favorites and immerse yourself in local culture? Why, by booking your bespoke road trip holiday with the experts at RouteTrip USA, of course! We test the pillows, sample the local brews, and taste the enchiladas. We work to ensure a memorable, trouble-free odyssey that is full of delicious surprises. |
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