Food Can Be a Place Branding Treat
Chandlerthinks has recently turned 10 years old! To celebrate we are reflecting and highlighting the top places we have journeyed while doing our place marketing and branding. Here are the TOP TEN memorable placemaking restaurants we’ve dined at along the way. Truthfully, there were dozens of memorable places to eat. It was more difficult culling […]
Chandlerthinks has recently turned 10 years old! To celebrate we are reflecting and highlighting the top places we have journeyed while doing our place marketing and branding. Here are the TOP TEN memorable placemaking restaurants we’ve dined at along the way. Truthfully, there were dozens of memorable places to eat. It was more difficult culling the list down to only ten. We encourage you to stop by to do the same when you’re in these areas.
Top Ten Memorable Placemaking Restaurants
H&H Restaurant; Macon, GA
This may be the best soul food on earth. Not only does it deliver mouth-watering goodness expected from a southern meat and three, but the story of the Allman Brothers getting their start oozes from the walls. This place is such an institution it’s owner, Mama Louis, was featured on the cover of the Georgia state tourism guide a few years back.
Dinglewood Pharmacy; Columbus, GA
Pull yourself up to a soda fountain bar stool and order the Scramble Dog. Selling over 600 wieners a week, this local treat features a long hot dog covered in chili and oyster crackers. Sop it up!
The Little BBQ Joint; Independence, MO
Some places feel like good food and this one does it. A little unassuming and minutes outside of Kansas City, inside is a salute to motorcycle riding and roadtrips. They slow smoke everything, contributing to the reputation that has put KC BBQ on the map. Two words: mouth watering.
Walnut Hills; Vicksburg, MS
Southern cooking is expected in Mississippi. The folks at Walnut Hills Restaurant in Vicksburg still manage to surprise even the most savvy critique of fried chicken and collard greens. Eat it family style at Walnut Hills. Guests sit around a giant “lazy Susan” allowing you to turn trays of food your way. What? The only thing this place is missing is a wheel barrow to cart guests back to their cars.
Belews Dairy Bar; Aurora, KY
Located near the shores of Kentucky Lake, this is a classic drive-up style dairy bar. Families line up by the car loads awaiting their chance at the famous Belew’s Burgers. Ask anyone, they are worth the wait.
Honey’s; Fayetteville, TN
Sometimes food can be the “calling card” of an entire community. The Slawburger, a packed hamburger topped with a mustard-based slaw, has become exactly that for the town of Fayetteville, TN. In fact it can be celebrated annually at the Slawburger Festival. Honey’s is one of the few local spots that visitors and locals alike flock to grab a slawburger (or two).
Eskimo Joe’s; Stillwater, OK
No one visits Stillwater without visiting Eskimo Joe’s. Their tshirts can be spotted around the world and are often met with a smile and a nod, creating a bond among strangers. If you’ve been, you ate the cheese fries. This place serves over 9,000 plates of cheese fries each month (that was not a typo). Do it.
Bubba’s Poboys and Seafood; Thibodaux, LA
A trip to Southern Louisiana is simply not complete unless you can get an overflowing plate of crawfish. Bubba’s delivers. In fact, Bubba himself may deliver your food and pull up a chair to chat. No need to use a napkin until the end, it will likely not do you much good until you’re completely finished. Locally caught crawfish, prepared by authentic locals deep in the Cajun culture.
Hap’s Grill; Salisbury, NC
It’s amazing how many people describe this place as a hole in the wall. It’s true. Lines are long daily as patrons await a Hap’s Dog, covered in chili. You can smell it around the corner. Truly an original.
The Stilt House; Cedarburg, WI
The name of this place says it all – it’s a house on stilts. Literally. A wonderful unique setting on Cedarburg’s beautiful historic Washington Avenue. Grab a seat next to the window and a craft brew (they have quite the selection).
Now who’s hungry? If you have a place that didn’t make our list, no worries. The more you explore, the more you uncover.
Cheers!
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