Prior Gump Visits

Since the blog is new, perhaps a little history is in order. The Lunch in the Gump gang are all long-time residents of the Gump who for years struggled with the paucity of luncheon eateries in Alabama's Capitol City--affectionately dubbed "The Gump" for reasons not entirely clear to anyone. Lately the number of good places to eat lunch have multiplied. Over the past few years, the Gumps have visited the following:

1. Hamburger King (Our favorite greasy greasy burger).
2. Chris' Hotdogs (Our favorite greasy greasy dog/burger and waitress).
3. The Stockyards (Buffet located somewhere in North Montgomery and great if you like a man calling you "honey").
4. Dreamland (Great ribs and a fine cheeseburger in The Alley).
5. Lek's Railroad Thai (Very tasty Thai food and decent sushi).
6. Down the Street (Good meat and 3 with TV's).
7. Ruddles Pub (Another good meat and 3 if you dare to go outside the by-pass).
8. The Farmer's Market (Buffet style down home food. Good breakfast also).
9. Capitol Inn (Buffet style meat and 3 with good chicken and desert).
10. Martin's Restaurant (Line up for chicken and cornbread).
11. The Blue Moon (East Montgomery's version of a meat and three buffet. Not bad).

I am sure I have left many out. Gang members will no doubt add to this list. As you can see, although we are gourmets in many respects, when it comes to lunch we primarily prefer basic down home Southern food in a "meat and three" format. Hopefully, we can provide thorough evaluations of these and other eateries in the future. Perhaps we will branch out. In any event please remember: We can be bought.

Lunch in the Gump Reflux 6/29/09

Wagon Wheel Ratings:
1. The food was well prepared though bland. The condiments were poor ie. generic katsup and soy bits. We did receive a cornbread basket shortly after arrival.
2. The atmosphere was open and clean. I did not visit the facilities so no comment on them.
3.The service at the Wheel was excellent.
Comments: Table #23 is in the far corner away from the eavesdropping ears of the predominantly male clientele that awaited this review. The owner apparently was not told of our presence or he surely would have greeted us, advised us of the appropriate menu items to order and comped the meal.
Overall, 3.5 Biscuits out of 5.

The Wagon Wheel

The "Lunch in the Gump" gang tried out the Wagon Wheel restaurant located at its new location at 1961 Bell Street and found it to exceed expectations which--honestly--were not all that high to begin with based upon historical performance at the old, dingy location. Parking was easy and plentiful. The place was clean, cool, open and smoke free. We were greated and seated quickly even though the wait staff did not recognize us as important restaurant reviewers. Our disguises worked again!

First, we all tried the "complimentary" salad bar. Minimalist but fresh and, of course, it did remark at how we all had lost some weight.

Doyle B. ordered the fried pope chops which he raved about along with the Blueberry Cobbler which caused him to smile with blue teeth. Brunson rated the place at 4 biscuits.

John C. ordered something fried also. He gave the meal 3.5 biscuits. He shrunk away afterwards to take a nap.

TT went "off the board" for a hamburger steak smothered in onions to which he added cheese from the salad bar. He gave the meal 3.5 biscuits.

Binion went for the Cuban sandwich and substituted a salad for the fries. The Cuban was pretty darn good but no match for something from Miami. He gave the place 4 biscuits.

All in all, the Lunch in the Gump gang paid (with tip) a little less than $10 a pop which is about par for a meat and 3 in the Gump these days.

The consensus: The Wagon Wheel qualifies for future "Lunch in the Gump" outings: 3.75 Biscuits.  They supposedly serve a mean breakfast also.