Where the locals go to eat

zachdowning · April 10, 2013, 03:33:01 PM

Hey there, thought I would throw this out there since I am on a roll on this forum! Good places that are "not on a tourist map" perhaps around Branson for Lunch/Dinner or early breakfast? Suggestions?

sanddunerider · April 10, 2013, 05:01:40 PM

we have touched on this topic many times....

Danna's on south 165
Little Hacienda in branson and/or hollister
reed springs pizza
shorty small's, (now that they are open again)
midtown cafe

just to name of few of the favorites

Gilligan · April 10, 2013, 06:44:21 PM

Little Hacienda
Bradford Inn
Billy Bob's Diner
Vasken's Deli

Junior · April 11, 2013, 09:17:01 AM

Branson Cafe located downtown. Farmhouse Restaurant, also downtown. Joe's Crab Shack, Branson Landing.
-
Also, go have a nice, sit down meal at College of the Ozarks...Keeter Center located in the big log building by the gate. Especially good is the brunch. Dress nice for that one, it's also going to be more expensive, but within reason.

OzarkBred · April 11, 2013, 11:23:56 AM

I can't speak for the locals, but I've always enjoyed the German food and lake views at Altenhof Inn, 680 Jakes Creek Trail, www.altenhofinn.com‎. Also, McFarlain's is a good home-cooking place at 3562 Shepherd of the Hills Expy, http://goo.gl/YCwNC.

Gilligan · April 11, 2013, 12:58:05 PM

I want to try Altenhoff, too.

sanddunerider · April 11, 2013, 01:28:41 PM

there is also a NICE italian place, celled Florintinos..!!! Excellent food! Excellent service... a little pricey!!!!.

Ketter center is GREAT place to eat... but (IMHO) the sunday bruch buffet is a on the expensive side.!! BUT YOU do get EXCELLENT service, GREAT Food, and it is a VERY nice restaraunt..

Mcfarlans is good, we eat their every other trip or so, Montan mikes i nice also...both placea are owned by the same group.. AND if you stay at Homestay, you get 10% discounts..

qwed94 · April 12, 2013, 09:19:52 PM

Well IMO Joes Crab Shack is not as good as Red Lobster, and pricier. (Then again I have never eaten at Joes in Branson. I eat at Joes in St Charles at times). Wait for Red Lobster to run their specials and go there if seafood is your desire. I have never eaten at Landrys, (I heard they are good).
I very much like Montana Mikes. I wouldnt walk next door to eat at McFarlains if I was starving to death. That is the only place I have EVER eaten that can destroy a good breakfast (TWICE). Yup they cant even fry an egg or sizzle bacon. They messed up breakfast twice. I gave them a third try at suppertime once. It was just as bad. Cant figure out how they stay a float. I certainly have eaten lots better burgers at Mickey Ds. YUCK!!!
Grand Country buffet is not too bad usually. Golden Corral is usually OK.
Ive heard Famous Daves at the Landing is good. (Never eaten there personally).
The Plantation is OK. Certainly not the best food in Branson, but generally pretty good and priced decent.
For a good burger, its hard to beat Fuddruckers

Gilligan · April 13, 2013, 02:11:43 PM

Quote from: qwed94 on April 12, 2013, 09:19:52 PM
Well IMO Joes Crab Shack is not as good as Red Lobster, and pricier. (Then again I have never eaten at Joes in Branson. I eat at Joes in St Charles at times). Wait for Red Lobster to run their specials and go there if seafood is your desire. I have never eaten at Landrys, (I heard they are good).
I very much like Montana Mikes. I wouldnt walk next door to eat at McFarlains if I was starving to death. That is the only place I have EVER eaten that can destroy a good breakfast (TWICE). Yup they cant even fry an egg or sizzle bacon. They messed up breakfast twice. I gave them a third try at suppertime once. It was just as bad. Cant figure out how they stay a float. I certainly have eaten lots better burgers at Mickey Ds. YUCK!!!
Grand Country buffet is not too bad usually. Golden Corral is usually OK.
Ive heard Famous Daves at the Landing is good. (Never eaten there personally).
The Plantation is OK. Certainly not the best food in Branson, but generally pretty good and priced decent.
For a good burger, its hard to beat Fudruckers

Joe's Crab Shack was okay at the most, and Landry's was pretty good when I was there. I like Grand Country when I can talk myself into eating at a buffet. Montana Mike's is the hub's fav place for steak or pork chops.

Sorry about McFarlains Qwed. I've always had good luck there. BUT, I've tried Billy Gails (a very popular place!!) three times, and I feel the way about it the way you do about McFar's - I wouldn't go back if I was starving!

MissinTheGreenTrams · April 13, 2013, 02:31:57 PM

I tried the GCB. Loved my waitress there, Armandina. She was amazing. But the food was just about the same as any other buffet. On the otherhand if you find the giant maps (counter maps I think they are called) you can get a buy one get one half off deal. It cost 20+ tax for two adults and a child to eat. Not bad.

I adore Reeds Springs pizza company. Its amazing. A real treat. It is off the beatin path. Downtown Reeds Springs. Way worth the trip. But on the other hand for my family, we all have individual tastes. So it costs a bit for us to eat there.

Hard Luck Diner has okay burger and fries as well as cakes and creams. For me those places are more atmosphere than super food.

I have heard nothing but good stuff for McFarlains. I hear the pie is outta this world.

qwed94 · April 13, 2013, 11:25:29 PM

I completely forgot about Hard Luck Diner. As mentioned. Its the atmosphere. You really need to try it. The food is good, not fantastic where you just cant eat anywhere else. Its just good country food at a medium price with great atmosphere.

They say Reed Springs Pizza is just amazing. Since my wife absolutely despises pizza in any variety. I will likely NEVER get to experience them.

I did get to sneak over to Grand Country Pizza buffet though. It is a very good pizza buffet.

OK---I will admit McFarlains (though I have never had a good meal there) they do have fantastic pies. Yes I forgot that they have pies that melt in your mouth. I generally dont complain much about restaurant food. (Since I managed one for 16 years before leaving for work in bookbinding). I would say McFarlains is likely OK. now. I just had 3 bad meals there. But seriously most folks say they are OK. I probably just had bad luck there, but thats enough to keep me out. There are many other places that are GOOD.

sanddunerider · April 14, 2013, 06:49:14 AM

ate at Gilleys diner last nite.... had a graet hamburger, Paige had fajitas, that would have fed 2 people only 15 bucks...next time wife and i are ggoing to split 1 of those...

pretty good food....seemed a little pricey..

KBCraig · April 14, 2013, 07:06:50 AM

I think the root of the original question is this: in this "Nashville of the Ozarks", where is Tootsie's Orchid Lounge?

Junior · April 14, 2013, 05:10:16 PM

Good redirect...and question...cause I wouldn't even know that answer. In the old days, best place to go for NO tourists was a guitar pull at a fellow entertainers house. We had at one of the Junior's homes located in a very isolated area on the southside of Table Rock, "Mother Earth Parties" where we'd sit around a campfire on a cool autumn night, drink some cold beer, play some music, smoke something that came from the bosom of "Mother Earth," and joke, talk, and sing until we were at the pass out stage. Good times. Glad I survived. That was then, this is now. Like ole Hank Williams, Jr. wrote "ice tea and cornbread took the place of pills and 90 proof..." Yes, me and my rowdy friends done rowdied on down...

Ozarks Gal · April 15, 2013, 10:22:17 AM

The Famous Dave's in Springfield is good. Haven't tried the one on the Landing yet, but I would guess it is good as well.