A restaurant's food offerings may be the main reason why most of us choose to visit, but it's not the only reason.
With so many restaurants to choose from, things like location, reputation and aesthetic can make all the difference in deciding whether to give a place a shot or return.
Food site Tasting Table recently put out a list of the quirkiest restaurants in every state, highlighting restaurants across the country that stand out for their unusual settings, creative themes and memorable dining experiences. In other words, the kinds of places that offer more than just a meal.
Here's what Tasting Table selected as Missouri's quirkiest restaurant.
Home of the throwed rolls
In what comes as a surprise to no longtime Missourian, Tasting Table crowned Lambert's Cafe as the
quirkiest restaurant in the state.
Founded in Sikeston in 1942, Lambert's specializes in Southern-style comfort food, with dishes like country fried round steak, chicken and dumplings, and BBQ pork steak. And while the main courses are indeed rave-worthy, what the restaurant is really known for is its rolls — or, perhaps, how they're delivered.
Lambert's is famous for its tradition of tossing freshly baked dinner rolls to customers across the dining room, hence its nickname "Home of the Throwed Rolls."
The practice reportedly began on an extremely busy day in 1972, when then-owner Norman Lambert was walking around asking customers if they wanted any rolls. Given how busy the lunch rush was, an impatient customer waiting on his roll offhandedly remarked, "Just throw the !%* thing!" So, Lambert acquiesced and threw them a roll, spurring other guests to join in on the fun and have their rolls be thrown too.
And the rest is history.
What Tasting Table had to say about Lambert's
"At Lambert's Cafe, you go for not a meal but an entire experience. Along with fan favorites like the country fried steak and fried zucchini, there are rave-worthy hot rolls. You'll have to be on your A-game, though, as staff have been throwing them to customers since 1976. Say yes to toppings like apple butters and syrups, along with the fried okra."
Lambert's locations
Lambert's has three locations, with two in Missouri and one in Alabama.
- Sikeston location: 2305 E. Malone Ave., Sikeston
- Ozark location: 1800 W. State Highway J, Ozark
- Foley location: 2981 S. McKenzie St., Foley, Alabama
Hours vary by location, so it's worth checking before you visit.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: This iconic Missouri restaurant was named the state's 'quirkiest'
