Call It Out! (And Get Ready to Drool!)

Hey y'all! Guess what we did Labor Day weekend!
We went to The Beacon and ate hamburgers as big as canteloupes, while making pig noises at each other. Well, actually, I could only manage to eat half of mine, and the pig noises were accidental--they just come out naturally at The Beacon. Try it and you'll see what I mean.

Do you know about The Beacon? Maybe you saw it featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. It's in Spartanburg, South Carolina, about a half hour from our house, and it's sort of famous around these parts, by politicians (John, Fred, Mitt) and everyday folk alike. We went to Spartanburg on Saturday morning to watch this bald boy run a race...

And let me tell you, all that standing around and spectating made us hungry.
"Why starve" my man said, "when The Beacon is in town?"
I do love my man.

The Beacon isn't much to look at from the outside.

But on the inside? It's amazing. And a little overwhelming. Or should I say STARTLING!
You'd think so too, if you walked over to a mild mannered blind man taking orders and he started yelling at you.
See what I mean?


That loud talking sweetheart is JC Stroble, sort of the Guardian of The Beacon's Garden of Eating. He's been there for years, and is famous for yelling out at customers, "CALL IT OUT!" which means Hello, young lady. What would you like? If you don't know, he yells (nicely, but still it's a bit startling) to step aside and let the others go first.

As soon as you order, either he or one of these guys yells, "MOVE ON DOWN THE LINE!"

No problem! I'll do it!
Here's the rest of the line.

As soon as I moved eight feet to where that blue shirt guy is standing--I'm not kidding--my plate of Beacon Burger and fries was handed to me! Exactly as I asked for it!

Ooh boy. I didn't know it would be that big.
And look at the Sweet Tea!

Nice and dark. Strong, like I like it.
The Beacon is famous for their tea. Really famous. They make more sweet tea than any other restaurant in the USA. They even sell it at the Piggly Wiggly, Winn-Dixie, and the IGA. If you have a chance to try it, you'd better. It's amazing.
So are the fries.

That's my plate after I finished lunch (yes, I'd already eaten plenty of fries) and wrapped up the other half of my sandwich to take home.
Don't pat me on the back for showing restraint yet. I've got one more thing to show you...
Are you ready?
Get a napkin. This may make you drool!

That, my friends, is the best peach cobbler I've had in years. Oh my Lord, it was so, so good.
I must try to make some more like it this week, before all my fresh peaches are gone.

So that's The Beacon, my sort-of-local favorite Garden of Eating. Aren't local places wonder-full? What's your favorite local joint for a burger or taco or tofu wrap? I've got napkins handy, so tell me all about it!
Have a super Wednesday, y'all!
Love, Becky