Adam & Eats: Bob and Ellie’s

Editor’s note: Adam Brandt is a graduate from the Cobra Kai School of Culinary Callousness, where he received their highest award, the Red Apron of Merciless Eating. Aside from eating and talking about eating, he makes pots, paintings, prints, books, photographs, and generally, a big mess. He has been the studio assistant at Mudpuppy Pottery for almost nine years and is attending a local university in a desperate attempt to earn a biology degree.

In the event that last week’s adventure into the world of giant burritos provided little comfort to you, this week’s visit to an old favorite is sure to do the trick. Get ready to face the Double Super Jumbo Burger w/ Cheese. (Cue dramatic movie music.)

Located right off of U.S. 271 South is the home of Bob and Ellie’s. Their new location is just a little up the road, and on the opposite side of the street, from their old location, which is now the Green Papaya.

I say “new” location even though it has been many years since they moved. Like many of the favorite comfort food joints in this area, Bob and Ellie’s has been around here forever. You can tell that from the giant Smokeeter hanging from the ceiling. Granted, there’s no smoking inside anymore, but that beast of a machine still lurks there as a reminder of the old days.

One of the things that is so comforting about Bob and Ellie’s is the coffee mugs they offer. Unlike many restaurants, B&E’s uses regular ol’ coffee mugs, like the kind that you have at your house, and all of them are different. This is a very subtle thing they have going on. By serving you coffee in a cup that perhaps says “World’s Greatest Granddad” on it, as mine once did, they are offering you a certain level of relaxation and ease. You are no longer in a restaurant, but, instead, you are over at your friend’s place having a cup of coffee.

It is subtle and brilliant on their part. Plus, if they ever break one, they don’t have to worry about finding an exact replacement, any coffee cup will do.

The food at Bob and Ellie’s is what you would expect at any truck stop/diner: simple, greasy, from-a-bag, American food. They do, however, give the food and the naming of the food, their own flair.

And by their own flair, I mean adding the words double, jumbo, supreme, or super to any or all items. Anybody can offer a double quarter-pounder with cheese, but only B&E’s offers a Double Jumbo Burger w/Cheese. Think your BLT is the bomb? Not compared to their Super-Duper BLT. Is your mind still not blown? Well, how about the Double Frito Pie Supreme? Yeah, I knew you couldn’t handle that one.

In addition to naming things awesomely, they also offer to mix things up a little, compared to most of the diners around here. Take the “Razorback Hogburger” for example. It is just a burger that has had the beef patty swapped for a sausage patty. Or maybe your Double Jumbo Burger with Cheese isn’t fancy enough for someone of your noble blood? Make it a “royal” by adding a thick slice of ham to it.

Overall, besides being kind of silly, the food at Bob and Ellie’s is consistently good and inexpensive. If you’ve never been there, you should give it a try the next time you are feeling a little down in the dumps.

Until next week, good eating.

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When he’s not beating his eggs, Adam makes time to respond to e-mails that get past his hard-ass spam filter. You can try to reach him at [email protected]

Adam also has this thing called Sandwich Control.