The best restaurants are often not advertised on television, but through word-of-mouth. Sometimes it's also not the big cities that have the best food, it's those tiny towns that are hiding the most scrumdiddilyumptious restaurants in the state. They're just waiting for you to discover what's inside, which is why we've decided to showcase a town full of tasty surprises! Here is one small town that's full of great food to eat, no matter what time of day.
Welcome to the historic and scenic Council Grove. Their charming streets are full of life and architecture, but we're sniffing out the best meals in town.
Our first stop is Donuts 2 Diner, where you can snag a donut of many kinds, made fresh and perfect for a morning's breakfast.
In addition to tasty donuts, they also have breakfast sandwiches and biscuits and gravy. Yum! They're closed Monday and Tuesday, but open Wednesday-Sunday from 6 am to 11 am. Make sure you get here early, or they might sell out!
Our next stop is the historic Hays House, the oldest continuously-operating restaurant this side of the Mississippi river.
Everything from the outside, to the interior, to the food reminds you of another place in time. Handmade pies, fried chicken, and mashed potatoes take you back to another generation, where things were much simpler than today. Wednesday evenings mean a fried chicken buffet, drawing in people from all over. They're open seven days a week, but close at 3pm Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.
Next up is the Saddlerock Cafe, a place where you can find fresh baked bread, and "Food that grandma would fix at home if she had four hours and wanted to do all the dishes."
Which includes their amazing strawberry pie, of course. Make sure you call ahead if you're wanting a pie, or else you might not find one by the time you get there! They're open seven days a week, but close after lunch Sunday through Wednesday.
Finally, there's the Trail Days Cafe & Museum that makes the food part of your museum experience.
They serve Native American, Old World, Early American, and 20th Century foods here, with meanings and history behind each dish. The Victorian parlor is an amazing scene that takes you back in time, as you explore the house before your meal. If you love homemade food and history on display, this is the perfect place to try here in Council Grove.
After your road trip to the historic Council Grove, you should check out these 17 homemade classics that are just for a Kansan's tastebuds.
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