Saturday, July 30, 2016

Gibbs Country Store revisited

We've been to Gibbs Country Store, via the back roads from Bolton, riding as passengers with great friends.  I've been wanting to plan a return trip since then, but could never find the time til now.

Thank you Google Maps for showing us the way to Learned, MS!  Gibbs Country Store is located five miles off Hwy 18, past Raymond.  When you notice that your cell phone is down to one bar, you know your are almost there.

You can get an idea of about how long you will wait just by counting the cars along the side of the road that approaches the restaurant.  There were a lot of BMW's, Tahoes, infinities, Lexus, and a Caddy or two.

We arrived around 6:20, put our name on the list, then took a seat outside with an anticipation of an hour wait.  Thankfully we found an unoccupied bench, instead of sitting on top of an old car tag along the edge of the front porch.  Had we opted for one of the car tags, you would have been able to make out the outline of the county and State on our backside for days!

For a one street town, Learned was a happening place!  A stretch limo pulled up,  and out popped six passengers.  I hope the driver has satellite radio to occupy his time, because his cell phone was gonna be useless on in this neck of the woods.  A Chevy pickup passed by, and I figured that he had to be local because of all the mud on the side of the truck.

To pass the time, i got in plenty of bird watching.  Cars would pull up, and out would pop all these women, with
 a glass of wine in one hand and the bottle in the other.  It was quite a balancing act to manage both plus a purse!  One group of six had never been.  One of the guys said all his friends that had been said Gibbs was wonderful.  Part of the reason its so good is by the time your name is called you are starving to death!

Finally, 1.5 hours later, our name was called.  The restaurant was at capacity.  The two of us were seated at a table for four.  No sooner had we taken our seats, when the cashier walks to a big table next to us, and she proceeds to ask them to "speed it on up" as others were waiting for a seat! After that, we offered the two remaining seats up for other guests.  Enter Steve and Bob, seventy and ninety years old respectively

Johnny Crocker was there, playing his guitar, and taking requests from the diners.  The place was loud from Johnny and the wine and beer being consumed, that I told Steve and Bob that I hope I didn't yell at my wife on the way home!

Each time the back door was opened, the restaurant would be filled with the smell of charcoal on a slow burn.  I looked at our new friend Steve, and said "smell that?  Ah, the smell of money!"

As we were wrapping  up our meal, I noticed two young girls at the next table.  To fight back their hunger pains they were all in with the salad crackers and butter that the waitress had.dropped off.

Our meal complete, it was time to settle up. I love their of method of closing out your bill.  "You had two steaks, two drinks, and a dessert, $80!"  A $20 tip made it a $100 evening!

As we made it past all those fancy cars, I was so thankful that the GPS lady was waiting to escort us home!  Man! I love technology!


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