"Cafe society is as old as the hills." - Ian Anderson

   
     Just like when I travel, when I am at home, I want to learn more and do more in the town that I call home. Surprisingly, there is more to Tuscaloosa than Alabama football (just not on Saturdays from September-November). One of the best ways that Hunter and I learn more about Tuscaloosa is by eating at the locally owned restaurants. You get to experience an atmosphere that is different than eating at O'Charley's or McDonalds. You also get the chance to try some amazing food. Since we moved here last summer, we have fell in love with one of these locally owned places, and we aren't the only people.
     If you have every lived or visited Tuscaloosa enough, you have at least heard of and have probably eaten at City Cafe. This little amazing place is technically located in Northport, but you just cross the river, and you are at UA's campus. If you have eaten here before, you know two things: 1) Seat yourself. 2) Either get there early or get there late. It will probably be extremely busy when you go, but you won't regret it.
      City Cafe has been serving lunch and breakfast since 1974. Now, I can't say if it has always been this way, but you better get your fill from 4:30 AM- 3:30 PM, and it better be on Monday-Friday. Their weekday, morning and lunch hours may be frustrating to some, but it's working for them. I personally like that their staff gets to have their afternoons and weekends off. I also can't say if the menu has always been the same, but don't worry, it's always the same now. Everyday the lunch meat and vegetables varies just a little, but there is always something great to eat.

City Cafe in Northport, Alabama

     Just this week, Hunter and I went for lunch. On this day, I ordered a small salad, hamburger steak, and mashed potatoes. Hunter ordered his usual baked chicken strips, macaroni and cheese, and fried okra. My favorite day of the week to visit is Friday. Don't laugh, but City Cafe has some of the best fried chicken livers you will ever eat (yes, I like FRIED chicken livers). Your lunch always comes with cornbread or rolls, or just cornbread, or just rolls. And don't worry, the tea is sweet! You won't even need dessert. And for you penny pinchers, our meals for just the two of us have never been more than $15 (technically $14 and some change).

A few of the Wednesday lunch options. 

      Besides the amazing food, one of the things that I love about this place is that it looks like it probably hasn't changed much since 1974. I know some of the pictures on the walls are older than that. But the old wood paneling walls and the yellow booth seats just prove that if something is working, you don't always have to change it. Another example of that is what you see on the walls. Like I said, some of the pictures on the walls are from well before 1974, but if there has been a poster made by UA for any sport or activity from 1974 to now, I'm pretty sure it's on the walls of City Cafe. Even though I'm definitely not a University of Alabama sports fan, anyone that visits City Cafe has to admire the traditions, memories, and love that seem to encompass this place.

Inside one of the rooms in City Cafe.

     I think my favorite thing about this place is the diversity of people that you will see here. It's certainly a college student hot spot, but in one booth over, you'll have the elderly couple that has been eating here since it opened. In the next booth, you'll have a business man in the best 3 piece suit money can by. Sitting behind him will be a group of construction workers meeting their wives for lunch. And don't forget the people like us- the work from home travel agent that may have fixed her hair that day, and the night shift nurse that is lucky to be awake. I can truly say that this is a one size fits all place. 

   

Facing North on Main Avenue in Northport, Alabama. City Cafe is on the left, and Anders Hardware Co. is on the right.

     I would like to believe that Hunter and I have found our forever home, or at least our forever town.  I would also like to believe that in years to come we will be taking our kids here, and then when they are grown, they will be bringing their kids to visit us and to eat lunch at City Cafe. Time will only tell, of course. But for City Cafe, time has been good to this place. These types of places are few and far between, but they still seem to be a favorite to many. So if you're ever passing through town during the week, give me a holler, and we can meet up at City Cafe. 

     And oh yeah! If you need help walking off all that food you just ate, walk across the street and take a minute to browse through Anders Hardware Co. You'll be able to spend all that money you saved on lunch! 

Happy Travelling!