On the Road Again – Backroads to St. Louis Missouri (#2)

…continuing with our backroads adventures as we wander toward our final destination, via Owensboro Kentucky.  It was time for lunch and I’d discovered a likely place to stop while checking/researching the possibilities on-line.

I can’t remember just how I discovered the Esto Country Store and Café on the Internet…but it sounded like a place that we’d like.  The building is plain and unexciting for sure…and it is really in the middle of the country despite a Russell Springs Kentucky postal address.  

As you can see from the photos, it isn’t really a country ‘store’ in the usual sense of the word.  Of course technically, a restaurant is still a ‘store’ in that one can buy things there…

The look is plain and simple.  The premises were clean and Esto Country Store and Café had a nice Tuesday luncheon crowd.  The server was pleasant and helpful…and Darrell, who is mentally challenged, (buses tables and cleans up), knew everyone and they all greeted and chatted with him.  America at its best…    

So the customers were mostly locals and everyone was friendly.  I’m sure that those facts help keep customers coming, but for us the stunner and winning formula were the prices!  A patty melt for $8.78 with French Fries or a Salmon Plate with 2 sides for $13.99...and 4 Pieces of Fried Chicken with 2 sides for $11.99.

Then there were the Specials for the day.  How about a Meat Loaf Platter with 2 sides for $10.99 or a Loaded Baked Potato with a Grilled Cheese Sandwich for $6.99!  I was beginning to think that we were in an alternative universe…

We started out with one of Laurie’s favorites, Fried Cheese Curds. ($4.99) Please note that we’d eaten quite a few of these tasty morsels before I remembered to take a photo. 

Laurie opted for the Crispy Chicken Sandwich for lunch. ($4.99) She backed up her sandwich with an order of the Seasoned French Fries ($2.49) which we shared.  The sandwich was large, actually the hunk of fried chicken was too large for the bun.  It was a satisfying sandwich and the seasoned fries were very good…

OK…When Laurie saw “Big Red” on the menu, she knew what I’d order.  Big Red is a fried bologna, cheese and egg sandwich on grilled Texas Toast. ($4.29) It was perfect! 

We should have stopped eating but then we saw this pie sign and the variety of choices grabbed us.  Fourteen choices!!

We decided that we’d just order one slice of pie and share it.  We went for the Butterscotch Pie.  It wasn’t overwhelming with too much butterscotch flavor and that meringue was really impressive.  It had been many, many years since we’d had butterscotch pie and we were glad we ordered it.  Once again, note the price!  When is the last time that you had a nice slice of pie for only $2.99?!

We had a very nice lunch.  I drank water and Laurie ordered unsweetened ice tea.  Given inflation and current restaurant prices, it was stunning that we paid only $21.64 for lunch before taxes and tip!  What a pricing ‘throwback’… I learned that this restaurant has been in business for 6 years.

Esto Country Store and Café is located at 4624 KY Hwy 379 in/near Russell Springs Kentucky.  Phone: 270-343-3320.  Open 7 days a week.  Facebook:  Esto Country Store & Cafe | Russell Springs KY | Facebook.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave