By By Jack Greenhill
During the years I've lived in Hartselle the complaint that "Hartselle doesn't have any place good to eat," has been an almost constant refrain.
We may need to change our tune.
With the recent opening of Oh! Bryans Steakhouse, Hartselle now has two steakhouses (Red House Grill and Oh! Bryans), two Mexican restaurants (Lil', Mexico and El Portal), one Chinese restaurant (China Wok), one sitdown barbecue restaurant (Pig Stand), at least three home-cooking cafs (Johnny's, Main Street, Weekdays Deli) along with four local flavor eateries on the north side of Main St. (Picket Fence, Willie's, the Coffee Cup and Main Street Bistro).
Out on Highway 31, Roy Mim's Dari Delite offers chicken fingers imported from heaven. We also have to include McDonalds, Burger King, Hardees, Taco Bell, Sonic, KFC and way down south, the Dairy Queen.
If you want to lose weight while you eat, there is always Subway.
When I got to looking around, I realized that Pizza Hut is the only "sit-down" restaurant specializing in "Italian" food in town, though I hear Main Street Bistro puts on a pretty good Italian spread on Thursday nights and Yummy's serves a hearty plate of spaghetti with a salad.
A new addition to Hartselle's roster of businesses that offer to do the cooking for you is the home-style take out concept of Grandma's Kitchen.
Let's not forget that both Domino's and Papa Johns will bring a hot pizza to your door, if you can wait.
Whitt's and Home Style crank out their own local versions of barbecue for you to come and pick up.
Rumor has it that the Conoco at 31 and Stewart St. has a respectable breakfast and lunch.
Oh yeah, Wal-Mart has the Radio Grill.
Huddle House still has the 24-hour market cornered at the interstate.
So far I've mentioned 33 places you can get a meal in Hartselle.
I'm pretty sure there are more, so please don't be offended if I missed you. Give me a call and I'll give you a try too.
If you start to think about it, Hartselle really doesn't have a shortage of restaurants.
Except if you are looking for a seafood meal.
That's right, there are no restaurants in Hartselle dedicated to preparing the bounty of the seas, or rivers for that matter. We don't even have a Captain D's.
Oh, Roberts' Catfish, where art thou? Alas, only a fading memory.
Arrgh, matey. Blow me a hornpipe and throw me a red lobster. OK, I'll settle for a catfish.