Where Does RiverOtter Eat?

After many a year driving over-the-road, I've become quite "burned out" on most truckstop food, and most chain restaurant food as well. IMHO - there isn't really a whole lot of difference between the restaurants at the T/A, the Petro, and the Flying J - I find their food to be bland and uninspired. On top of that, I've eaten at Taco Bell, Wendy's, Arby's, Subway, and McDonald's so much, that I can literally instruct a new cook how to make any item on the menu.

So, I've made it a point to find places to dine that are "off the beaten path", so to speak. Restaurants that not only have good food, but either have parking for trucks, or are within 1/4 mile of a truckstop.

Here are some places that I highly recommend --

Tacos El Zarape -- Ontario, Oregon -- In the back of the Pilot truckstop in Ontario, Oregon (Exit #376), is a small wooden building that contains some of the best Mexican food this side of the border! Excellent food, great prices, and the best horchata I've ever drank! Their chorizo and egg breakfast burrito is beyond comparison!

Maggie's Cafe -- New Florence, Missouri -- Located just off of I-70 at Exit #175 on the NW corner of the intersection next to McDonald's, is a large building that looks almost like an auction barn. Don't let looks decieve you, this is Maggie's Cafe - one of the best places to eat along I-70! Real homecooked country-style food, and a strawberry-rhubarb pie that is to die for! It's almost impossible to go away hungry, the portions are more than plenty!

Coleman's BBQ -- Fairfield, Texas -- On the northeast corner of Exit 198 on I-45 in Fairfield, Texas is a Shell station. Inside the Shell station is a small BBQ joint, that has some of the best BBQ around! Admittedly, it's hard, if not almost impossible, to find a bad BBQ joint in Texas - they're all good! Coleman's BBQ, however, is better than most! Maybe it's the BBQ sauce - a perfect mixture that's not too spicy, not too sweet, not too smoky, but just right in all aspects. Maybe it's the wonderful flavor of their somked meats, or maybe it's just their hospitality - but this is absolutely worth stopping for!

Middlesex Diner -- Carlisle, Pennsylvania -- This is located about 2 blocks due east of the Flying J truckstop in Carlisle. There is room to park a few bobtail tractors, but you really can't park a tractor-trailer here. It's a great diner, open 24/7, and has a wide variety of good food - breakfasts, lunches, and dinners! The meatloaf is good, the chicken parmesan is great, but I personally recommend the broiled seafood platter with a side salad that has the homemade hot bacon dressing!

Cruel Jack's -- Rock Springs, Wyoming -- I-80, Exit 99 in Rock Springs, Wyoming, located inside the Conoco truckstop. Best #### BBQ'd buffalo burger you will ever eat, period! A buffalo burger, fries, baked beans, salad, and iced tea, plus a nice tip for the waitress, and you'll still get change back from a $10 bill!

These are some of the places I actually plan my itinerary around when I happen to be travelling in their respective areas, so that I know I can have a good, decent meal, instead of the same ol', same ol'. I've enjoyed many a meal at these places, and I hope you will too!

/s/ RiverOtter