Please check out their website for a complete history and menu.My goal was to eat in Hannibal, MO. I texted a friend, who was from Hannibal, and she didn't respond. I Yelped for a place to eat catfish there (which is what I was looking for) and Yelp sent me to a closed restaurant. I trusted my Garmin dash GPS and it came up with a few catfish restaurants 50 miles away and I didn't want to wait that long. So I drove through the towns on my way utilizing the business routes so it would take me off of the 4 laner (of which I am not the biggest fan of anymore). I found a couple eating an ice cream cone at a little ice cream place in some small town. They recommended the DugOut. They gave me directions as most people would - it's over that direction behind the "wedge". OK - well I headed in that direction, all the time wondering what a "wedge" was. I assumed that it was a triangular piece of property that the original town developers stuck in the middle of town because of poor planning on street design, or not expecting to need streets as wide as we have them now. ANYWAY - I walked into the DugOut and I remembered I was in Missouri (smokey restaurants are quite the norm). I checked the menu quickly and walked out.
So I drove on down the road and called and made reservations in Macon - time to call it a night and I asked Candace at the Comfort Inn and Suites if there were any places that were good to eat in town. She recommended AJ's and told me it was by the McDonalds. So when I got off the highway I headed towards the McDonalds. BTW for the benefit of those that don't know this - it is my rule that I do not eat anywhere when I am traveling that I can eat in Topeka.
I checked my Garmin for the number to AJ's and called to make sure it wasn't too late for dinner. The original owner, Al, answered the phone and I asked "How's the food at AJ's". I ask this most of the time. You can tell by the tone of their voice and the words they use if they believe in their product. Try it sometime, you will be surprised at what some people say. I believe the words that Al used were delightful and he asked me how many I had in my party, I told him one, and then he said I will meet you when you come in the door. I already felt like family.
On my way to the restaurant I saw a sign that said Georgia Peaches. So...I stopped for some peaches, they threw in some tomatoes, and invited me to their church in the morning. BTW I did go, Crossroads Christian Church and it was great. reminded me a bit like my home church.
ANYWAYS - back to AJ's (get them squirrels out of here). Al did meet me and escorted me to my table, but in doing so asked me if I would like to sit at the bar and visit with the bartender. I think maybe he thought I needed to have conversation while I ate. An afterthought to me but it was very kind of him to suggest that. Sierra and Audra were very kind informational servers and I saw that Onion Rings was something that they are famous for. So I ordered some as appetizer. I like mine with a little mustard. They were delicious and I probably should have stopped there but I didn't. These onion rings were probably the best I have ever had - the breading and seasoning was great and most of the time when you are biting onion rings you don't bite through. These you do so you don't have the slap-back of the slimy onion hitting your chin.
They had some great specials but I was in the mood for a Pork Tenderloin if I couldn't have catfish. So I ordered me up a hand cut, processed in house, pork tenderloin. And to accompany it I thought I had better get a salad instead of the fries for health reasons as it was 8 at night. 
The salad was beautifully arranged and symmetrical - may not have been a plan but looked beautiful. Dressings were all made in house along with the garlic croutons (of which I got a tour of the crouton making room when I finished my meal). I had the blue cheese dressing and it was great with a bit of a bite and the feta cheese crumbles were a nice addition. Oh and there was a half loaf of warm french bread in a bag as well. 
The tenderloin was the thickest pork tender that I think I ever ate. It was definitely the tastiest. I could only eat half of it - I got a to go box for half of it. I was trying to figure out how I could save room for dessert as well and I decided that by the time I got checked into my room I might like dessert. So I got a Summer Berry Creme Anglais to go. The dessert was a great ending to my day in my room. 
During my meal Mike, Al's son, came over and introduced himself to me and we had a very nice conversation. He shared with me some of the history of the place and invited me for a tour of the place as well as his aging room, where he ages all of the beef for approximately 90 days (in total). I am thinking to my self "hmmm all this beef I don't know whether I would have the ability to resist. So after I finished eating I found mike and got the tour of the crouton making area, got a chance to see the kitchen and Mike shared his aging techniques with me. What a joy this was (Mike was in long pants and a long sleeved shirt, and I in shorts and tee shirt) it was a bit chilly in the aging room, but I enjoyed it none the less. It was truly the highlight of my trip back from the wedding.
So Heaven it wasn't but I would suspect that their are some angels that are aging beef for people like Mike and I when we get there. AJ's is a 5 star restaurant in my book. It has a rustic ambiance that makes people feel comfortable and a room off to the side with table cloths so that you can have that upscale meal if you like. They do a Batter Dipped or Chargrilled Imported Lobster Tail that I might have to bring Betsey back for. And when they serve the steaks they use a aluminum steak plate, which the steaks have been cooking on. And the serve them over three sterno burners to keep your steak hot throughout your meal
I will be back anybody else in for a ROAD TRIP!
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| A sign in the men's room. Certainly the motto here at AJ's. |
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