There was a mere hint of spring in the air, so Hammerhaid decided a trip to the “home country” was in order.
Besides Betty Lou was in need of a breather after playing host to a baby shower. Yep, her daughter Michelle is due anytime and it’s gonna be the first girl. So-o-o-o-o-o-o, there’s more than a little excitement brewing.
A short trip, a very short trip, was in order.
“I don’t want to be more than an hour away,” Betty Lou insisted.
“So where are your clod-hoppers?” he asked.
“My blue hiking boots? I have no idea,” she said.
Hammerhaid dug them up and off they headed to rural Cannon County between Short Mountain and Blues Hill. (Nope, it’s not all that hilly, but it is the Home Country.)
By the time they got there, it was snowing ever so slightly. It was a perfect time for a walk through the fields and woods. Hammerhaid didn’t even work up a sweat.
After a nice, long hike, he revealed his true intentions. “Think we have time for a Billy Burger?” he asked.
“I was just thinking of that,” Betty Lou confessed.
It was just a hop, skip and a jump over to the McMinnville Highway (US 70S), past various nurseries, along side the McMinnville Airport to Newtown, a little wide spot on the road just before Mc-Town. That’s the low profile home of “Billy’s Restaurant,” owned by Billy Foutch.
Billy’s is the home of the Gator Burger.
“It is probably the best hamburger in Middle Tennessee,” Hammerhaid said. “It’s nothing fancy, just absolute perfection with two hand-patted beef patties covered with cheese and served on a toasted bun with fresh lettuce, tomato, union and the condiments of your choice.”
Each burger is a labor of love for Mr. Billy.
“I’ve never seen anyone but Billy manning the grill,” he added. “The restaurant has a wide menu with everything from breakfast to T-bone steaks for dinner.”
And when Hammerhead gets stuck on a menu item, he usually won’t order anything else. So it’s a Gator Burger with fries for him.
Betty Lou being “oh, so much more adventuresome” ordered her usual Gator Burger, but got freaky and ordered onion rings. Good choice! The H-man discovered he likes the onion rings more than the crispy, krinkle cut fries. Fortunately, BL shared.
Billy’s Restaurant, you won’t find it on the Internet, serves a variety of short-order dishes at his new, clean-as-a-pin restaurant just off 70s. The imperceptiably slow widening of the roadway connecting McMinnville to Woodbury to Murfreesboro and ultimately to Nashville nearly closed Billy’s a few years back, but he just relocated slightly and expanded his operation.
Billy's Restaurant , 2822 Nashville Highway, McMinnville, TN 37110 (931) 668-9987.
For the scenic route from Murfreesboro, take John Bragg Highway (70S) through Woodbury and Centertown to McMinnville. The restaurant will be located on your left after Robinson Road and before you get to McMinnville’s bypass.
“I’m gonna try the chuckwagon sandwich next time,” Hammerhead swears.
Liar.
“The real question is why such a UT fan has anything to do with a Gator Burger?” Betty Lou said.
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