Northgate refers to the area along 31W north of the Barren River bridge. This mile square commercial zone has developed around the Corvette Plant and several motels at the I-65 interchange north of town. Warren East High School is on 31W at the northern edge of this area. Restaurants here tend to be frequented by farmers, auto workers, truck drivers, mechanics and interstate travellers. Many of the restaurants here are very small storefronts catering to a specific niche, and some are only open for breakfast and lunch. Catfish, Fried Bologna and Fried Chicken are big items. However, there are two good Mexican outlets and a Chinese Buffet, popular with tourists and visitors to the Corvette Museum. The first and third photographs here are both from the same place, a farm along 31W north of Warren East where the owner has relocated and restored a 1930s gas station, and a 1932 Ford. With a world famous auto manufacturing center and museum, plus a nationally famous racetrack which has hosted seven national championship events, the car culture is very important in Bowling Green. The upper right photo shows a group of kayakers on the Barren River, which runs along Bowling Green on three sides and provides fishing, swimming and paddling opportunities almost year round.
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Pepper's |
Puerta Vallerta's |
Smoky Pig |
Red's |
New Century |
Corvette |
Lee's |
Sonic |
Subway |
Hardee's |
Stockyard |
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Reece's Bean Pot has closed. The facility was put up for sale and a sign on the door now says a new restaurant is coming soon. We'll keep you posted. |
| The Pancake Cabin has closed. The building is up for sale. We will keep you posted if a new restaurant opens there. |
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The Corvette Cafe is located in the Corvette Museum adjacent to the interstate. You can enter the Cafe from the outside without paying to go into the museum. The Cafe is open from 8 - 3:30 daily. It's a nostalgic visit to the 1950s, with a jukebox, stamped tin ceiling, rolled and pleated vinyl benches in the booths, and 1950s movie posters on the walls. At heart, this is a classic 1955 Soda Fountain like the ones contained in most of the drugstores back then. They have obviously made a great effort to offer outstanding Milk Shakes, Malts, Ice Cream Floats, Hot Dogs, Cheeseburgers, Reubens, Grilled Cheese, Patty Melts and Philly Cheese Steaks. However, it is the 21st Century, with generations of museum visitors with more modern tastes, so the Corvette Cafe has tried to accommodate this generation. There are Quesadillas, Jalapena Chicken Wraps, five kinds of juice, flavored teas, espresso, lattes, cappuccinos and coffees. The Southwest Chili is very good and so is their Soup of the Day. There are seven salads including Hawaiin Fruit, Frito Chili, Buffalo Chicken and the old standards like Garden, Caesar and Grilled Chicken. There are five Wraps, of which we especially like the Cucumber Turkey and Swiss. Regardless of the theming, this is a good lunchtime restaurant. |
| Hardees is across 31W from Warren East High School. This location does a heavy take out business but also offers indoor seating. |
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Lee's certainly has the credentials. Lee Cummings was the nephew of Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Harland Sanders, grew up in the kitchen learning how to cook, and in 1952 hit the road with his uncle selling his franchises and their special pressure cookers and special secret recipe. Cummings became president, but in 1962 Sanders sold the company. In a clever legal maneuver, Cummings kept control of the recipe. Cummings then founded Famous Recipe. In 1981 the name was changed to Lee's Famous Recipe. Now, it's just Lee's. Basically, Lee's uses only fresh --- never frozen --- chicken, soaks it in a sugar solution, then in a mixture of spices. They hand bread it, honey dip it, and pressure cook it to seal in the flavor. So when you visit Lee's, you're getting a 21st Century, high tech version of Kentucky Fried Chicken. They've diversified somewhat into Oven Roast and Spicy Chicken, plus Breasts and Wings. A lot of attention has been paid to their Sides. A lot of people drop by just to pick up an order of Potato Wedges, Mac& Cheese, Corn on the Cob or Red Beans & Rice. but there are also Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Hot Apples, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw & Potato Salad. The Buttermilk Biscuits are also popular. |
| New Century Buffet is a very nice version of the classic Chinese Buffet. For only $8 for all you can eat, they offer the usual favorites. Or you can order off the traditional menu. From that menu, our favorites are the Mongolian Beef (sauteed beef with scallions and peppers in spicy sauce), Hunan Beef & Scallops (sauteed with mushrooms & broccoli) and General Tso's Chicken (chunks of boneless chicken sauteed with fresh garlic and a sweet and sour sauce). Of the Appetizers, we like their Crab Rangoon, Dumplings, and the Pu Pu Platter. They offer eight soups, but we think their Hot & Sour Soup is the best, with the Seafood Soup a close second. Over on the buffet, they're heavy with shrimp, chicken and pork and surprisingly without Scallops. However, what they do have is very good. |
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Pepper's is Bowling Green's best Tex Mex restaurant with two locations. Tex Mex is heavier on cheese, chili and cumin than traditional Mexican food and invented Fajitas, which are not native to Mexico. Of the Appetizers, we particularly like their "Real Guacamole" and Cheese Dips, although the restaurant's own chips and dip are also way above average. We are huge fans of Chile Rellenos and use them to evaluate Mexican kitchens since they're tricky to prepare well. Pepper's interprets them as Chiles Poblanos and after stuffing them with cheese coats them heavily in egg, which concentrates the flavor. Topped with a tomato sauce, these are outstanding. There are more vegetarian entrees on this menu than other Bowling Green Mexican restaurants offer. We think their Seafood Fajitas (which include shrimp, scallops and tilapia) are great although with the Gulf seafood supply gone we worry about likely price increases. You can create your own combination dinner for $8 : one each of any three entrees from the whole menu. A Relleno, Enchilada and Chimichanga were well worth it. Pepper's offers one of the best Grilled Seafood menus we've seen : 12 entrees, although they're mostly shrimp fixed different ways. |
| Puerta Vallerta is the Northgate location of the locally owned chain that has four restaurants. This is VERY GOOD Mexican food, worthy of that available in much larger cities. The menu is extensive, offering traditional favorites plus some originals. Of the appetizers, we like the Guacamole Dip and Chili, but there are 18 to choose from. There are six different kinds of Fajitas ranging from shrimp to steak and they're all good. Vallarta's serves a basic T-bone Steak five different ways but we think the Mexicano (topped with bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and the usual rice and beans) and Sergio Special (with baked potato and tossed salad) are the best. Their seven Burritos are all good, and there are 30 combination dinners which are tempting. But we think they make one mistake. We think Vallarta's does an excellent job with their Chili Rellenos. But they don't even list them as a featured item. They hide them in their AlaCarte list. You should definitely search for them on the menu and someone in your group should order them. Save room for dessert. Their Chimichango (fried cheesecake) is outstanding. |
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If you want to escape from the chains, franchises and packaged foods and sample some down home mid 1950s Southern Kentucky cooking, Red's is a Must Stop. There's no pretension here. It's a modest frame house on a side road (Old Louisville Road) with only eight tables. But their Breakfast Special is famous all over town ($3.90 for bacon, sausage or city ham, two eggs, home fries or grits, toast or biscuits and gravy), and if that doesn't suit you, there are four kinds of Omelets and six Egg Combos (Steak & Eggs $6.39, Pork and Eggs $5.59, Country Ham & Eggs $6.25, etc.). There are all the usual breakfast sides and entrees, from Pancakes (stack of three $3.00) and French Toast to Grits and Home Fries. Red's serves breakfast all day except Fridays. For lunch there are 24 sandwiches, and Chili or Vegetable Soup (in season), but we highly recommend their Bean Soup with Corn Cakes as a meal in itself. Whatever other sides you order, don't miss the Pickled Beets. Dinners include Pot Roast, BBQ, Roast Beef and Chuckwagon, plus Meatloaf Thursdays and Catfish Fridays. Their Catfish matches the fish specialty houses. Meat and three vegetables is $5.49. Leave room for the Peanut Butter or Strawberry Pie. |
| Smoky Pig BBQ, at this location since 1965, is another American Classic, and another Must Stop. They've been covered by most major magazines and newspapers plus The Food Channel. For $6 - 8, you choose from nine plates, or for $4-5 you choose from eight sandwiches. This is classic Monroe County Style, different from Memphis, Blue Grass, Western Kentucky or Carolina style. In Monroe County, down along the Tennessee line, the bbq sauce is vinegar based, which certainly gives the flavor an edge. The heart of their menu is their Shredded Pork Plate for $7, and the Rib Plate for $9.00, although if you're in the mood for a Hot Dog they fix a memorable one, and we have friends who swear by their Barbequed Chicken Plate for $7.25. We think the barbequing dries out the chicken a tad, although the sauce helps remoisten it. The side orders include Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Red Skin Mashed Potatoes, Mac & Cheese, and either Mayo or Vinegar Slaw. Smoky Pig offers a nostalgic beverage lineup : Royal Crown Cola, 7 UP, Dr. Wells, Nehi Orange, and Home Brewed Iced Tea. Save room for dessert, where you can pick from Turtle Pie, Chocolate Sunday Pie, Pecan Pie or Derby Pie. |
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Sonic is a retro drive in restaurant where for half an hour or so you can pretend you're back in the 1950s. They even have girls on roller skates coming out to take your order and carrying your food out on trays which hook onto your car window. The menu is the classic burger, fries, shake and ice cream, although they've updated it a little with Nachos, Onion Rings and Chicken Nuggets. They play Golden Oldie music over the speakers. On Fridays and Saturdays it's a frequent stop for guys cruising Bowling Green in their restored 50s and 60s cars, or dropping by in their Corvettes after a day at the Corvette Museum, so you might want to bring your camera. If you ride in on your Harley or Indian Head, there are a few picnic tables set up under the canopy so you can sit outside and enjoy the ambience. This Northside location has recently been remodelled and updated, but somehow still retains that Sonic atmosphere. |
Most restaurant critics won't bother with The Stockyard Cafe and indeed even many locals have never eaten there. It's only open Tuesdays from 8 til 3 and has a limited menu designed to serve cattlemen from the five counties who bring their stock to these pens for the sales. However, we think it worthy of mention here for two lunch items which are as good as any restaurant in town serves : the Barbequed Pork Sandwich and the Catfish Platter. This is pretty much the entire lunch menu. It's what the cattlemen want and they are a pretty demanding audience. Over the years, the Cafe's various cooks have learned how to fix these two entrees very, very well. The ambience alone is worth a Tuesday lunch visit. You'll be eating your catfish or bbq seated at a long table, surrounded by Stetson clad cattlemen, hog farmers and goat ranchers. Conversation will revolve around feed and futures prices, competition from South American imports, and government agricultural policies. It's as good a glimpse into true Americana as you can still find
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The famous Jared campaign where a grossly overweight guy lost 245 of his 425 pounds by eating all his meals at Subway for a year was humorous but also accurate. They brag about their eight basic sandwiches containing six grams of fat or less. Of that array, we love their Black Forest Ham, Chicken Teriyaki, and Oven Roasted Chicken. You control your ingredients, but your choices are vegetables, freshly made breads, and fatless cuts of meat. If you do want to add a little cholesterol to your diet, there are Meatball Marinara, Philly Cheese Steak, and eight other alternatives. Subway isn't into teas, soups, desserts or other menu items. You can construct a salad from the veggie sandwich ingredients but that's about it. However, if you want the best basic sandwich anywhere, Subway is your place. |
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