An eating adventure in Kentucky

Speaking of crazy trips to Kentucky, we went cross country with this one so Betty Lou could experience the state’s most unusual restaurant ... Patti’s 1880’s Settlement at Grand Rivers, Ky.

Patti’s is actually a series of three restaurants housed in what was once a little motel in Grand Rivers, population 350. It was started by Patti and Bill Tullar in 1977 as a hamburger joint and ice cream parlor. Since then it’s grown like Topsy into a facility that serves more than 350,000 customers a year and tops the Favorite List of a number of publications. You may have seen about it on Tennessee Crossroads, which is one of our favorite shows by the way.

“OK, what’s the hurry?” Betty Lou asked. She’s not a big fan of my driving, which tends to be a bit “swooshy” on curvy roads. “I want to take you to this restaurant,” I explained, not adding that it was off 1-24 near Fort Campbell.

“Hmmmm, I am starving,” she answered. “It’s not another barbecue joint is it?”

“Well, they may serve barbecue on their huge menu. What I want you to see are the desserts. Bigger than my head,” I told her.

“That’s pretty big,” she said, “but not so appetizing. What do you mean?”

“The pies, the cakes ... they are 10 inches to a foot tall. Huge. And the servings are monstrous too,” I explained.

“I want to experience the pork chops again,” I explained. “I’ve never seen so much food in my life and it is very tasty. We are talking quality and quantity here.”

“Pork chops? I’m not in the mood for that,” Betty Lou said.

“No, you will be ordering the Kentucky Hot Brown,” I told her. “It’s huge with layers of turkey and cheese.”

“We could always split something? Is this the place your parents love?” she asked.

“Yes indeedy. They always stop on their way to the casino,” I said. They go for the shrimp pasta.

Once we arrived, Betty Lou had to agree Patti’s was quite an experience and not quite like any other restaurant we have visited.

Patti’s 1880’s Settlement is about two hours from Nashville and about three miles off I-24. It’s located in Grand Rivers, Ky., at the northern entrance to Land Between the Lakes. Take I-24 to Exit 31. Go south for three miles on 453. Then take the first left, go a quarter mile to the stop sign.

http://www.pattis-settlement.com/index.htm