Uncle John's

I would never have found this place if it had not been for one of my co-workers. Crawfordsville, AR. is a small farming community. On Fridays they have fried catfish and it's the best I can remember eating. The french fries were good as well. I'll be back to try other menu items in this not fancy at all local diner.

"Uncle John" Marconi, who started the restaurant many years ago, put a lot of heart and soul into this quaint little Italian eatery in the quiet farming community of Crawfordsville, Arkansas.

A 30 minute drive from downtown Memphis was always worth the time and effort to enjoy some very authentic family recipes at Uncle Johns. But when he passed away a few years ago, things just never were the same. I've been back several times, and still enjoy it, but a lot of little things have changed. And sometimes, little things make a big difference.

For instance, Uncle John's has always had outstanding sandwiches. Farmers and locals from the area still swarm in during lunch hour to visit with each other and enjoy a hearty meal. Only now, the meals are a little less hearty. One of my personal favorites has always been the Italian Roast Beef Sandwich. Thick, slabs of deli style roast beef, piled high and served between substantial slices of crusty Italian bread. But recently, my son and I had lunch there, and the bread was different - much less "substantial". And the roast beef was certainly not piled high on top, more like spread on like a thin veneer. Maybe they were running short on supplies that day, but I wanted to ask "Where's the BEEF?".

Okay, now for the good news. The pasta dishes are still as good as they ever were. The Spaghetti is something I get time and time again, and it's consistent, and yes, very hearty.

But perhaps the best thing about Uncle John's is their famed Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce. I promise you, this alone is worth the drive and I challenge you to find a better bread pudding anywhere in this town. It even rivals the best in New Orleans.

Tip:  They don't serve alcohol, but you can bring your own for a $5 corkage fee.