Farcus by David Waisglass and Gordon Coulthart for March 07, 2025

Two weeks ago a friend and I had a late (about 3 pm) lunch at the Southport Road Cracker Barrel (one which we’ve traded with a couple of times a month for several years). She had the Tuesday special (country fried pork shops) and I had the trout. One could almost read the menu through the meat, after peeling off the heavy breading breading. The trout was barely cooked and my side dishes, pinto beans and greens, were tasteless. The biscuits were like rocks. The fact that my silverware packet lacked a spoon was no disadvantage, as I mentioned to the server, since the beans were so watery that one needed a fork to strain them. A week later, we had breakfast at the Southport Road Bob Evans — passing on the CB thanks to the previous abysmal meal and uninspired service. This time the food was OK, but we had to wait about 10 minutes for the server to arrive. She apologized because there was only one other person working tables. We placed our orders, and then waited, and waited, and waited. Our server apologized every time she renewed our coffee and tea, saying that there was only one cook in the kitchen. We noted that two or three customers left instead of waiting. (Hope that they didn’t take a chance on the CB across the road.) After perhaps another half-hour the food arrived. After we left the BE, I pondered whether these two freaks of dining experience happened because these two venues, both generally with good service and decent food, were suffering on account of Trump’s “EE-legals” witch hunt.

At least Just Judy’s is maintaining its quality and ambiance, although her prices have advanced considerably — in large measure thanks to the inflation that resulted from Trump’s year of incompetent bumbling during the COVID pandemic. Plus, Judy has tacked on a $1 surcharge for meals with eggs — thanks to Trump’s egg shortage mess. (Judy is paying about $200 for a case of eggs that cost about $65 a few months ago.)