Finding a great place to eat can be a challenge. We have walked by places before and wondered if we should eat there or not, deliberate for a while, say, “Nah!” and head off to the next joint. This indecision often causes us to waste time wandering around searching for the perfect place. Small towns have great eats that aren’t typical chains and they are often run by families who love their craft. These “Mom and Pop” places or “Greasy Spoons” can offer the best food experiences. So, what’s your favourite small-town restaurant?

Crazy for Italian in Canada

Cuckoo Trattoria and Pizzeria, Coombs, British Columbia, Canada – Chelsey from The Ninja Gypsy

When I was in Qualicum Beach, Canada I made a special trip out to Coombs (not once, but twice) to eat at the Cuckoo Trattoria and Pizzeria. This is not your typical greasy pizza joint! Lofted ceilings combined with a romantic feeling in the air makes this restaurant the perfect scene for a romantic night out. This classy atmosphere does not come with fancy prices, though, with most meals ranging from 17-35 CAD.

The first time that I dined here I had the Linguine Creamy Pesto. Homemade noodles tossed with cream, pesto, and grilled chicken. It was so delicious that I came back wanting more and had the Maccheroni Ragu Bolognese the next time around. Made with slow braised ground beef, lush tomatoes, and red wine then topped with Parmesan cheese. These pastas are rich and filling, impossible to eat it all in one sitting so leftovers were a must. Finish it off with a handmade dessert from the bakery just up the road and you will have the perfect small-town meal.

Chelsey runs The Ninja Gypsy, a travel safety blog that gives you the best tips and tricks to keep you safe while on the road. She also founded a travel safety Facebook group for women which is now over 1,000 members strong!

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Wild West Saloon on the Alberta Prairies

Water Valley Saloon, Water Valley, Alberta, Canada – Matt and Heather from Reason 2 Roam

After a satisfying guzzle of beer, I marvel at the things ‘cowboy’ that are evident in this bar. Western Alberta has many places that are dedicated to Cowboy Culture but few can meet the standards of the Water Valley Saloon, where western working people meet and socialize.

Located about a half an hour northwest of Cochrane, Alberta, the Saloon is right along the main street of small-town Water Valley Alberta. Inside the doors, wooden clapboard walls, barn board flooring, and the bar wide mirrored backdrop immediately make you feel at home. The place is finished with yokes hanging from the ceiling, and brands (that appear real) burned into the wooden walls. The obligatory deer heads calmly survey the scene below.

Our fellow patrons are an eclectic mix of locals including some folks who look like they just came in from the range wearing coveralls and woollen jackets. These folks were hunched over their beers like a stallion guarding their harem. Others are both young and old who are out for a good time, as they chat with each other, and occasionally rise to the challenge of ‘two stepping’ on the dance floor. Cowboy hats abound, and it would not surprise me if boots with spurs could be found in here!

The food we ate was excellent – a standard burger and fries and it was reasonably priced in the mid-range level. Overall the service was friendly, the food was good and the atmosphere was fantastic. When you are looking to really explore the modern cowboy culture, then stop into the Water Valley Saloon for an evening meal and celebration!

Heather and Matt are active and young at heart adventurers. They travel full time and together have visited over 70 countries.  This adventurous couple can also be found doing extensive camping trips in a canoe, on a trail, or on their bikes. Their Reason 2 Roam is to redefine retirement and to find adventure in all aspects of their life while inspiring others to do the same.

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Meat Pie Mania in Louisiana

Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant, Natchitoches, Louisiana, United States of America – John Paul aka The Hangry Backpacker

In the small North Louisiana city of Natchitoches (pronounced “NACK-uh-tish”), Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant is a greasy spoon that has been attracting diners for over 50 years. The famous little restaurant in 300-year-old historic Downtown Natchitoches serves some of the best meat pies in the world.

The Natchitoches Meat Pie is unlike most meat pies. What sets it apart are the Louisiana flavors, a perfect mix of Cajun and soul food. This meat pie is like an extra meaty empanada, but with a taste of Louisiana. Lasyone’s dirty rice (seasoned rice with bits of meat) and gravy are the perfectly unhealthy companions for this fried piece of bliss. Add a side of potato salad, wash it down with a sweet tea and finish it off with bread pudding or strawberry shortcake. That’s a true Louisiana meal.

A meat pie is about $6. The platter comes in at $18, but it is a ton of food.

Lasyone’s is popular with tourists, but it is always full of locals. The restaurant has a strong, small-town Louisiana vibe, complete with incredibly friendly staff. Meat pies can be purchased to go as well, and you just may want a few for the road.

Natchitoches is the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase, and while it seems out of the way for most travelers, it is the perfect town for a day or two enjoying Old Louisiana. Downtown is filled with shops and photogenic scenes.

Any time I’m passing the Natchitoches exit off Interstate 49, I go out of my way for a perfect Louisiana lunch at Lasyone’s Meat Pie Kitchen, always leaving satisfied and smiling.

John Paul, aka The Hangry Backpacker is a travel blogger from Louisiana, based in Portland, Oregon with a focus on eating cheap as a solo backpacker. I love to share my food experiences, along with and other travel information and stories, from my travels eating around the world. My goal is to present travel in an honest, unfiltered way so that readers and potential travelers have a better idea of what to really expect when they travel. I hope to inspire people to try new food and get out of their comfort zones.

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Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant, Louisiana – Grant Sinclair from Our Wander-Filled Life

(Yep! It’s the same one! This place MUST be scrumptious …)

While at Poverty Point, clear across Louisiana, we heard about the meat pies of Natchitoches. When we got to Natchitoches, we heard the best place to get one was Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant.

Located a couple of blocks off Front Street and Natchitoches’ exquisite riverfront, Lasyone’s is a quintessential small, Southern restaurant. We stopped in for breakfast and, man, are we glad we did.

I had the Meat Pie Breakfast, with a meat pie, two eggs and yellow corn grits. Bonnie got the Back-Porch Breakfast with two eggs, bacon and Creole hashbrowns.

We had tried a meat pie elsewhere the night before and it was just OK. The meat pie at Lasyone’s? To die for! Every bite was savory with just the right amount of spice. The crust was perfect and it all mixed well with the yolk from my over easy eggs.

Bonnie’s bacon and eggs were fabulous and the Creole hashbrowns had just the right amount of kick. The real surprise, however, was the grits. I love grits and grew up eating great grits at my grandmother’s table. These grits were easily some of the best I have ever had.

The food was outstanding and the price was great (less than $15 per dish). The restaurant may not look like much, either inside or out, but this is one of the best meals we have had in a while.  We are going to have to return just to try out the lunch menu… and get some more meat pies!

Grant and Bonnie Sinclair of Our Wander-Filled Life are a couple of 40-something teachers with a passion for travel, especially to National Parks. It doesn’t matter what kind: plane, train, boat or their trusty truck and camper.

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Texas Roadside Stop

Hilltop Café, Fredericksburg, Texas, United States of America – Charlotte from A Wandering Web

“Inconveniently located in the middle of nowhere…” Sitting at the crossroads of 10661 U.S. Highway 87 (Mason Highway), 16 kilometres north of Fredericksburg, is the Hilltop Café. It all began in 1980 when newlyweds, Johnny and Brenda Nicholas, left their home in Austin, took their recipes and music, and headed to the Texas Hill Country to start a restaurant. Their dreams turned into reality and the Hilltop Café was born. The love of food and Texas music are alive and well today in the eclectic roadhouse and gas station turned eating establishment.

Our first visit to the Hilltop Café was for Mother’s Day Brunch. We had a beautiful drive through the Texas Hill Country to reach our destination. We had planned a day trip to Fredericksburg and wanted to go somewhere unique. After some research, we discovered The Hilltop Café and their Sunday Gospel brunch with live music.

There are cheap eats on the menu for under $10 USD. I am an Eggs Benedict nut; therefore, I ordered the Crab Cake Benedict for $16 USD. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the crab cake was scrumptious! The ambiance was terrific and the staff are friendly and accommodating. They made a spot for us even without reservations. Most importantly, make a reservation, especially if you want to sit on the side of the café where the live band is playing. There is an extra $10 charge per person for music room seating; however, you can hear it from the other side too. We’ve already made reservations for Mother’s Day brunch this year.

Charlotte (yours truly!) from A Wandering Web is a travel blogger and photographer specializing in small-towns with a focus on food, drink and history. Charlotte and her husband, Darryl, left their regular 9-5 lives to travel for six months, exploring, Texas, Louisiana, Egypt, Jordan and a host of countries in Europe. They found their peace and comfort in small towns along this journey.

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What’s Your Favourite Small-Town Restaurant?

Next time you travel through, or to, a small-town, keep your eye open for a special feasting experience. Make some notes, take some pictures and let me know what’s your favourite small-town restaurant. I can check it out to and add it to our dining list.

This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through them I earn money to buy more lunches in small towns, but the opinions are totally my own.

All pictures in this post are taken by Charlotte, yours truly, as always, unless otherwise stated.