When Blair and I lost power a couple of weeks ago, we loaded up and headed to the in-law's place in Helena, AR. Helena, as it happens, sits in-between two very important, very historic barbecue places. To the north, a little shack on the side of the road called Jones Bar-B-Q serves two items: pork sandwiches with slaw and without slaw. And the restaurant recently won a James Beard award. Yep.
Across the mighty Mississippi to the east, in a town called Clarksdale, there is an equally historic restaurant. Abe's BBQ sits at the crossroads of Highways 61 and 49-- the location where, according to legend, Robert Johnson struck a deal with the devil in order to be a better musician, and the Blues were born.
Abes is a blues diner. The decor is circa 1950. The food is delicious. The waitstaff is warm and hospitable. It's an important place to visit if you're ever in the area.
Across the mighty Mississippi to the east, in a town called Clarksdale, there is an equally historic restaurant. Abe's BBQ sits at the crossroads of Highways 61 and 49-- the location where, according to legend, Robert Johnson struck a deal with the devil in order to be a better musician, and the Blues were born.
Abes is a blues diner. The decor is circa 1950. The food is delicious. The waitstaff is warm and hospitable. It's an important place to visit if you're ever in the area.
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| Abe's Chips. To eat properly, open bag, squirt in some BBQ sauce, shake, consume. |
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| Chili cheeseburgers in the foreground, pulled pork in the back. |
Menu: ★★☆☆☆
This menu truly has a limited selection. But I don't hold that against the restaurant: you don't go to Abe's for the menu. Some kid options. Vegetarians need not attend.
Food: ★★★★☆
Greasy, fattening, and filling. Exactly what you expect. Delicious. The burgers run on the smaller side, so get a couple. The sandwiches are decent sized. Always get the chips. The tamales are part of the tamale trail, so give them a try.
Atmosphere: ★★★☆☆
If it hadn't been around forever, you would think they weren't even trying. But you're surrounded by history, and that really adds something. Think southern diner and you're there.
Service: ★★★☆☆
Incredibly sweet and respectful, but there's usually only one server on at a time, and taking care of a busy lunch service can lead to some delays.