If you are not familiar with the "Meat and Three" restaurant concept, you are in the right place...
Thought you had heard it all, didn't you?
My guess is your weren't familiar with the term, "Meat and Three", which is what these types of dining establishments are commonly called (mostly in the South).
This web page is designed to tell you exactly what a "meat and three" restaurant is (see next section). You can find some links to a web site that will give you the low-down on where many of these places are - restaurants that serve down-home southern comfort food like mom or grandma used to make.
While it is true that the "meat and three" has been a staple of Southern food for years, this dining genre is spreading to other regions and is being included as an option in other types of restaurants.
You can click straight over to MEATandTHREE.com to find all the ones that are currently listed on that site.
Thanks for checking out this Squidoo Lens - please come back again soon.
New Table of Contents
- What is a "Meat and Three" restaurant?
- Twitter Search - meat and three
- Latest Meat and Three Restaurants added to MEATandTHREE.com
- A Bento Box at a Meat and Three Restaurant?
- T-shirts that celebrate the "Chef" in you (or your household)
- Found a "Bento Box" Meat and Three Restaurant
- Quick Survey
- Flickr Photos (#1)
- Take a kid to a Meat and Three Restaurant
- Provide some feedback to the Meat and Three restaurants that you visit
- Flickr Photos (#2)
- New Meat and Three Restaurants Blog
- eBay Auctions of Interest
- Loveless Cafe on YouTube
- Top 5 Cities on MEATandTHREE.com
- Alabama Meat and Three List
- Kentucky Meat and Three list
- South Carolina Meat and Three Restaurants
- Tennessee Meat and Three list
- Meat and Three Blog Posts from Google
- Alabama Coach Company opens in Montevallo, AL
- Let me hear from you
- Get to know my other Squidoo Lenses
- New CafePress
What is a "Meat and Three" restaurant?
Definition taken from MEATandTHREE.com by permission
The simplest definition is: a dining establishment that offers a meal consisting of a choice of "one meat" and a choice of "three sides" or "three vegetables".In broader terms, a meat and three is any cafe, restaurant, or diner (usually non-chain), generally in Southern locales and generally owned by single proprietors, that provides food at reasonable prices to all types of clientele from blue collar to business professionals and politicians, with a typical plate that consists of one meat, at least three vegetables (sometimes two), and either a home-made biscuit, roll or cornbread. A drink, such as Sweet Tea, is often included in the "Meat and Three" price. Daily specials and combo's can be found on typical laminated menu's; on chalkboards hanging on the wall; or even on plain handwritten or copied pieces of paper. Business hours can start early, where the "Meat and Three" also offers breakfast, and can go to an early-afternoon close just after the lunch crowd; while some stay open from early in the morning until late in the evening; and others are open for just a few hours during lunch.
The "meat and three" concept is a pretty basic one, but there are endless combinations that make this genre so interesting.
Click here to go to the MEATandTHREE.com official definition page - please note that clicking the link will open up a new browser.
Twitter Search - meat and three
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- Mickie_G
- Comfort Food in Birmingham, AL: Meat and Three Restaurants in Birmingham, Alabama / http://tinyurl.com/ylq6xue
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- JaimeHuffman
- Fun service at Oasis this morning. Now off to Sweet Tea for an amazing meat and three and banana pudding!
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- Bomb46Wendy
- meat and three. Living in the south is good. Catfish, mac n cheese so yummy. cool
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- Sunshinetalia
- .@lukecarbis thank-you for not being a 'meat and three vege' kinda guy. I am indebted to your mother for that one I think. :-D
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- maurydavis
- Just finished unloading my sons uhaul and having meat and three with staff at Deb's Cafe. In office working my fingers to the bone!
automatically generated by Twitter
Latest Meat and Three Restaurants added to MEATandTHREE.com
Byron, GA
Kuntry Villa
Louisville, KY
Andrew's Restaurant
Richmond, KY
College Ashland Marathon Mart
Opals, Too
Taylor's Billiards & Lunch
Columbus, MS
Mary's Kitchen at Elm Lake Golf Course
Hattiesburg, MS
Nanny's Country Kitchen
Charleston, SC
Hominy Grill
Martha Lou's Kitchen
Greenville, SC
Carson's Country Kitchen
Brentwood, TN
Vittle's Restaurant
Chattanooga, TN
Wally's Restaurant Downtown
Wally's Restaurant Eastridge
Franklin, TN
Barbara's Home Cooking
Bishops
The Daily Dish
Hermitage, TN
Vittle's Restaurant
Madison, TN
The Dinner Bell Restaurant
K & F Cafe
Maryville, TN
Gracie's Restaurant
Mount Juliet, TN
Baker's Cafe - previously located in Goodlettsville, TN
Murfreesboro, TN
Jeff's Family Restaurant
Honee B's Kafe
Nashville, TN
417 Union
At the Table
Carol's Place
Donelson Park Cafe - previously Sylvan Park Donelson
Sylvan Park East
Vittles Restaurant
Austin, TX
Threadgill's Restaurant
To blog: Latest additions as of 5/29/07
Kuntry Villa
Louisville, KY
Andrew's Restaurant
Richmond, KY
College Ashland Marathon Mart
Opals, Too
Taylor's Billiards & Lunch
Columbus, MS
Mary's Kitchen at Elm Lake Golf Course
Hattiesburg, MS
Nanny's Country Kitchen
Charleston, SC
Hominy Grill
Martha Lou's Kitchen
Greenville, SC
Carson's Country Kitchen
Brentwood, TN
Vittle's Restaurant
Chattanooga, TN
Wally's Restaurant Downtown
Wally's Restaurant Eastridge
Franklin, TN
Barbara's Home Cooking
Bishops
The Daily Dish
Hermitage, TN
Vittle's Restaurant
Madison, TN
The Dinner Bell Restaurant
K & F Cafe
Maryville, TN
Gracie's Restaurant
Mount Juliet, TN
Baker's Cafe - previously located in Goodlettsville, TN
Murfreesboro, TN
Jeff's Family Restaurant
Honee B's Kafe
Nashville, TN
417 Union
At the Table
Carol's Place
Donelson Park Cafe - previously Sylvan Park Donelson
Sylvan Park East
Vittles Restaurant
Austin, TX
Threadgill's Restaurant
To blog: Latest additions as of 5/29/07
A Bento Box at a Meat and Three Restaurant?
Who will be the first to try it.
8/11/07 update: I found one! (Read this section first, though. Then, go down two sections/modules to read about it.)----------------------------------------------------------------
I just came across an interesting Lens about Japanese Bento Boxes (http://www.squidoo.com/mrbento/). As I was reading about them, I thought that incorporating Bento Boxes into the meat-and-three concept, for their take-out boxes, could be interesting. The Americanized version would probably be a bit different, but it might be fun to see a meat and three try it.
There are plenty of creative people out there who could probably create a little niche for themselves. A place like the White Trash Cafe in Nashville - can you imagine what their Bento Box might look like? I am sure they would have a lot of fun with that.
Just a thought. If anyone hears of a Meat and Three Restaurant starting up something like this, please let me know (see the "Contact Me" on the top left of this page, under my Bio).
Photo courtesy of Flickr member: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zesmerelda/969181748/
T-shirts that celebrate the "Chef" in you (or your household)
I'd Give You The Recipe But.. White T-Shirt
Price: 20.99 
Don't Mess With The Chef White T-Shirt
Price: 20.99
Trust Me I'm a Chef Dark T-Shirt
Price: 24.99
Chef Ash Grey T-Shirt
Price: 20.99
Found a "Bento Box" Meat and Three Restaurant
Madison, AL is the place
Believe it or not, I happened upon a restaurant that offers a Bento Box as a "meat and three" ... or is it, a "meat and three" as a Bento Box ... in a Bento Box. In any case, it is located in the heart of Dixie ... in Madison, Alabama, a town that's just east of Huntsville.
Surprisingly (or maybe not), the place is called "The Bento Box". It is described by Mike Kaylor of The Huntsville Times as an "Oriental meat-and-three diner" in his July 19, 2007 article (find it on http://www.al.com, search for "The Bento Box"). You can get a "meat and one" or a "meat and three", packaged as a box lunch in the fashion of the popular Japanese lunch boxes.
When I wrote about this idea in a section/module above, I had no idea that one of these actually existed, but it made perfect sense to me. And, now, here I find one while looking for something else in Google. I know more and more ethnic dining establishments will be trying out the "meat and three concept" - it's just a matter of time.
I actually traveled very near to this place a couple of weeks ago when my son and I made a side trip down to Huntsville to eat at Dreamland BBQ, one of his favorite places. Now, I have another reason to visit the area.
If you visit "The Bento Box", drop me a note about it. You can reach me via the "Contact Me" link (above and to the left) under the "Bio" section. Or, go to MEATandTHREE.com for more information.
Click here to see The Bento Box's contact info.
Surprisingly (or maybe not), the place is called "The Bento Box". It is described by Mike Kaylor of The Huntsville Times as an "Oriental meat-and-three diner" in his July 19, 2007 article (find it on http://www.al.com, search for "The Bento Box"). You can get a "meat and one" or a "meat and three", packaged as a box lunch in the fashion of the popular Japanese lunch boxes.
When I wrote about this idea in a section/module above, I had no idea that one of these actually existed, but it made perfect sense to me. And, now, here I find one while looking for something else in Google. I know more and more ethnic dining establishments will be trying out the "meat and three concept" - it's just a matter of time.
I actually traveled very near to this place a couple of weeks ago when my son and I made a side trip down to Huntsville to eat at Dreamland BBQ, one of his favorite places. Now, I have another reason to visit the area.
If you visit "The Bento Box", drop me a note about it. You can reach me via the "Contact Me" link (above and to the left) under the "Bio" section. Or, go to MEATandTHREE.com for more information.
Click here to see The Bento Box's contact info.
Quick Survey
Please take a moment to tell us if you've ever heard of a "Meat and Three" restaurant
"Meat and three" restaurants have been around for years. However, they are most heavily concentrated in the Southern region of the U.S. I want to change that. I would like to not only see more people introduced to the "meat and three restaurant" concept, but also would like to see more entrepreneurs open "meat and threes" in other regions of the country - expand it way beyond where they are currently concentrated. Also, it would be neat to see ethnic food concepts experiment with the "meat and three" format.
In the meantime, I would love to see how familiar the Squidoo site viewers are with the "meat and three" concept.
Thanks for your input!
Loading poll. Please Wait...
Take a kid to a Meat and Three Restaurant
Moms and Dads, Grandmothers and Grandfathers, Aunts and Uncles. They take kids to all kinds of places. And, there are all kinds of "Take Your Kid to ____" days out there throughout the country. Some of them include: work/office, zoos, ball games, camps, movies, fishing, car shows, golf courses, concerts, theaters, colleges, lakes, parks... you get the point.
Well, what about making it a point to take a kid to a Meat and Three restaurant, cafe or diner? Either as the main course, so to speak, or as part of a trip to one of the previously mentioned places. As summer is nearing and the kids are getting out of school, you are bound to go "somewhere" in the next few months, and you will most likely need to eat on the way to or from your destination. So, why not add a little "meat and three" to your trip and introduce the kids to one of these great little spots?
A meat-and-three restaurant can be a fun place to take the kids, especially the meat and threes that have some character to them, either in the building itself or the decor. Click this link to read the entire article on MEATandTHREE.com's HistoryBlog (please note that clicking on this link will open a new browser. Since there is a 2500-character limit to modules on this lens, the entire article won't fit.)
Well, what about making it a point to take a kid to a Meat and Three restaurant, cafe or diner? Either as the main course, so to speak, or as part of a trip to one of the previously mentioned places. As summer is nearing and the kids are getting out of school, you are bound to go "somewhere" in the next few months, and you will most likely need to eat on the way to or from your destination. So, why not add a little "meat and three" to your trip and introduce the kids to one of these great little spots?
A meat-and-three restaurant can be a fun place to take the kids, especially the meat and threes that have some character to them, either in the building itself or the decor. Click this link to read the entire article on MEATandTHREE.com's HistoryBlog (please note that clicking on this link will open a new browser. Since there is a 2500-character limit to modules on this lens, the entire article won't fit.)
Provide some feedback to the Meat and Three restaurants that you visit
Meat and Three owners need some love, too!
In early May, I got to wondering about what kind of feedback Meat and Three restaurant owners are getting from their customers. That sparked an idea for a blog article, which I wrote and added to the MEATandTHREE.com History Blog on 5/4/07.
The article has some suggestions about what customers can do to provide feedback to the owners of the Meat and Threes that they visit. Since Meat-and-Three Restaurants are loosely organized as a dining genre, direct feedback is probably the best way to go for now.
If you are interested in finding out more, please take a look at the article, read it, and take part in letting owners know how you feel about their place. Remember, owners are people, too. And, owners need you to show them some love.
Of course, one of the best ways to help is to take the time to visit them often, provide a nice (even exceptional) tip for great service and satisfaction, and personally tell them what you think. You will feel good about being an active voice in propagating the future of this slice of American history, and they will appreciate your honest feedback as long as you provide it respectfully.
Read the entire article by clicking this link - and note that clicking the link will open up a new browser.
The article has some suggestions about what customers can do to provide feedback to the owners of the Meat and Threes that they visit. Since Meat-and-Three Restaurants are loosely organized as a dining genre, direct feedback is probably the best way to go for now.
If you are interested in finding out more, please take a look at the article, read it, and take part in letting owners know how you feel about their place. Remember, owners are people, too. And, owners need you to show them some love.
Of course, one of the best ways to help is to take the time to visit them often, provide a nice (even exceptional) tip for great service and satisfaction, and personally tell them what you think. You will feel good about being an active voice in propagating the future of this slice of American history, and they will appreciate your honest feedback as long as you provide it respectfully.
Read the entire article by clicking this link - and note that clicking the link will open up a new browser.
Flickr Photos (#2)
More Meat & Three Restaurant Photos
This module shows the second group of photos from my Middle Tennessee Meat and Three Photo Tour. Take a look!
See all of the Photos on the MEATandTHREE.com Gallery page - arranged by name or by city.
The entire gallery can be seen on Flickr - just click here to check it out.
curated content from Flickr
New Meat and Three Restaurants Blog
I decided to try out Google's blogging solution several days ago and am finding that it is easy to use, and is more effective than my previous blog at increasing traffic. The new blog address is: http://meat-and-three-restaurants.blogspot.com/
Please check it out and subscribe to it. I'd love to have you along for the ride.
You can reach Blogger.com at http://www.blogger.com It's quite easy to get started and get rolling quickly. The price is pretty great, too!
Please check it out and subscribe to it. I'd love to have you along for the ride.
You can reach Blogger.com at http://www.blogger.com It's quite easy to get started and get rolling quickly. The price is pretty great, too!
eBay Auctions of Interest
See if one of these items makes sense for you
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Loveless Cafe on YouTube
Top 5 Cities on MEATandTHREE.com
As of 6/13/07 (click link to go to City listing)
This list shows how many are within the city limits. Of course, a city like Nashville, Tennessee has many towns and suburbs just outside the city limits. Those little towns account for many more Meat and Threes ... so don't forget to check them out, too.
- Nashville, TN
- #: 30
- Birmingham, AL
- #: 25
- Atlanta, GA
- #: 17
- Greenville, SC
- #: 12
- Memphis, TN
- #: 8
Alabama Meat and Three List
Here's a sampling of Meat-n-Threes in Alabama
If you know of a meat-and-three that is not on this list and, especially, not on the Alabama MEATandTHREE.com page, PLEASE let me know about it.
- Mama Ella's Country Kitchen
- Alexander City, AL
- Bert's on the Bluff
- Birmingham, AL
- Deep South Homestyle
- Chelsea, AL
- Country Junk-Shun Cafe
- Gadsden, AL
- Alabama Roadhouse
- Huntsville, AL
- Tiny Diny Family Restaurant
- Mobile, AL
- Pierce's Country Cooking
- Montgomery, AL
- City Cafe Northport
- Northport, AL
- 15th Street Diner
- Tuscaloosa, AL
- Shorty's Cafe
- Valley Head, AL
Kentucky Meat and Three list
If you want to see a list of Meat and Threes from the state of Kentucky, click on this link. You will find contact information and you can vote for the one that is your favorite.
South Carolina Meat and Three Restaurants
Not a full list, but enough to get you started
If you know of a meat-and-three that is not on this list and, especially, not on the South Carolina MEATandTHREE.com page, PLEASE let me know about it.
- Bill's Restaurant
- Anderson, SC
- Martha Lou's Kitchen
- Charleston, SC
- Doc's Barbecue & Southern Buffet
- Columbia, SC
- Buck's Restaurant
- Easley, SC
- Carson's Country Cooking
- Greenville, SC
- Westwood Restaurantt
- Greenville, SC
- Dino's Clock
- Mauldin, SC
- Paw's Diner
- Seneca, SC
- Pop's Grill and Cuisine
- Simpsonville, SC
- Box Car Cafe
- Woodruff, SC
Tennessee Meat and Three list
Tennessee is probably the most popular state for Meat and Threes - there are a ton of them in the Volunteer State. Click this link to see the list of Tennessee Meat and Three Restaurants. It's a Squidoo lens made just for this purpose. You can link over to MEATandTHREE.com to find contact information for each Meat and Three on the list, and cast your vote for your favorite(s).
Meat and Three Blog Posts from Google
Alabama Coach Company opens in Montevallo, AL
Alabama Coach Company
710 North Boundary Street
Montevallo, AL 35115
(205) 665-1009
See their MEATandTHREE.com page at:
http://www.meatandthree.com/al/alabamacoach/
Opens new browser
If you would like to send any photos or comments about this Meat and Three restaurant to me, please click the "Contact Me" link in the "Hi, I'm mn3guy" section (above, top left). Photos cannot be sent in this way, but I will be glad to get back with you to tell you how to do so. Thank you.
710 North Boundary Street
Montevallo, AL 35115
(205) 665-1009
See their MEATandTHREE.com page at:
http://www.meatandthree.com/al/alabamacoach/
Opens new browser
If you would like to send any photos or comments about this Meat and Three restaurant to me, please click the "Contact Me" link in the "Hi, I'm mn3guy" section (above, top left). Photos cannot be sent in this way, but I will be glad to get back with you to tell you how to do so. Thank you.
Let me hear from you
Ideas or comments about this lens, or Meat and Threes?
If you have information you would like to share about "Meat and Three" restaurants, cafes, or diners, I would love to hear from you. If you know of a "Meat and Three" that is not on the MEATandTHREE.com directory (http://www.meatandthree.com), please tell me about it. Suggestions or comments about this lens or MEATandTHREE.com are welcome, too. Don't forget to include any news or events that are occurring at a "Meat and Three", like a concert, small group meeting, political rally, etc.
submit
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Reply
- GrillGirl GrillGirl Jul 8, 2008 @ 9:46 am
- I did an article on Meat and Three at Suite. http://southerncuisine.suite101.com/article.cfm/meat_and_three_restaurants_in_the_south
Just wanted to make sure that I got you credited on the web site and blog. If I got anything incorrect in linking to you, let me know please. I want readers to be able to find your info and restaurants list. Tks.
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- Silver_Lotus Silver_Lotus Apr 25, 2008 @ 9:27 am
- Great lens! Don't forget about Food Network's show "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" -- most of the places Guy visits are hardcore Meath and Three!
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- beeobrien beeobrien Apr 11, 2008 @ 9:47 am
- Funny thing. Since I moved to South Texas, I haven't seen a meat and three. Guess it's more taqueria country. Your lens reminds of my years in Georgia. There's something special about the atmosphere in those cafes. 5*****
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- Aika Aika Sep 20, 2007 @ 4:28 am
- Thanks for sharing about the "Meat and Three" restaurant concept, never heard it before. Only in your lens. :)
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- Independence Independence Sep 16, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
- Intriguing. I had no idea that these diners and restaurants I stumble upon were actually part of a genre. Thanks for the information.
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- Meloramus Meloramus Sep 11, 2007 @ 1:38 am
- Sounds very tasty! 5*!
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- Jimi Jimi Sep 8, 2007 @ 10:52 pm
- mn3guy,
Until visiting your lens I've never heard of a meat nad three restaurant. Your lens is informative and well done. I'm going to have to pay Childers Eatery a visit now. Thankya!
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- Rusty-Quill Rusty-Quill Sep 1, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
- Thanks for swingin' on by my lenses, and your input on my Family Vacation Idea lens. Sounded like you had a fun trip! I could go fer a good Meat and Three right about now. =)
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- ForeignFilmFanatic ForeignFilmFanatic Aug 29, 2007 @ 11:45 am
- Great lens! I'm enjoying your blog too...it's getting me in the mood for a road trip planned around Meat and Three's....:) 5*!
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- GOLDSMITH GOLDSMITH Aug 27, 2007 @ 1:47 am
- Hi awesome lens, I have voted you 5 stars, here is my lens online business visit it once if you like it vote my lens. Thank you...
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Reply
- Retro_Loco Retro_Loco Aug 25, 2007 @ 6:12 am
- Thank you for visiting my Vintage Aprons lens. Some of us are trying to diet over here! I LOVE southern cooking! Great lens, 5 stars. ~Vicki~
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Reply
- tbee407 tbee407 Aug 23, 2007 @ 2:44 pm
- I love the lens!!!
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- gsberger gsberger Aug 22, 2007 @ 7:31 pm
- Thanks for visiting my Tubal Reversal lens. I enjoyed yours and have given it a 5 star rating!
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- Lesley_Feeney Lesley_Feeney Aug 22, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
- Thanks for visiting my lens. Yours is awesome. A 5 Star rating. Cheers!
Lesley
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- JanaMurray JanaMurray Aug 21, 2007 @ 7:20 am
- Meat and Three would do well here in Asheville, NC. We need more Southern Comfort food type restaurants. Nice work,5*.Asheville Real Estate
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