Dining--Tried and True (Part 2)

The Tastiest Thin Pizza
Before the major pizza chains arrived in Huntsville, Big Ed’s ws everyone’s choice, and many still swear by it. Big Ed’s was first hidden in a small shopping center near the intersection of Pulaski Pike and Oakwood Avenue. It now has an easy-to-find location near the corner of Memorial Parkway and University Drive. It’s the oldest surviving pizza parlor in town. 903 Memorial Parkway N.W. Phone: 489-3374.

The Cream of the Crop in Coffee
If ever Huntsville had a coffeehouse, the Kaffeeklatsch is it. Anytime your tastebuds scream for caffeine, the ’Klatsch can answer them. In the ’50s, this hangout would have suited the Beatniks perfectly. Likewise, it would have beeen hip in the ’60s, and it truly was far out when it appeared in the 1970s. What’s left? The Kaffeklatsch is open daylight hours serving pastries and a variety of coffee blends. An adjoining bar is a popular nightspot, featuring blues, jazz and other unorthodox entertainment. 103 Jefferson St. N.E. Phone: 539-1636 and 536-7993.

Meanest Meat Ball Sandwich
Stanlieo’s Sub Villa believes that sandwiches are the spice of life, and the meat ball sandwich here is definitely the spiciest in town. This isn’t the only imaginative creation at Sanlieo’s, though. Try the steak and cheese or the submarine at either of the two locations. 605 Jordan Lane N.W. Phone: 837-7220; 602 Governors Drive S.W. 536-6585.

The Very Best of Everything
In searching for favorite specialty items at Huntsville restaurants, the name of one popular chain restaurant surfaces over and over again. It is T.G.I.Fridays, the place with the most extensive menu in town. Give yourself time to browse through the voluminous booklet of appetizers, brunch items, entrees, desserts or whatever suits your fancy. It is beyond belief how a single kitchen could produce so many different specialties. Folks mention the nachos, cheese sticks, chicken fingers, burgers or brunch. This is also a fun place to take the children. 4935 University Drive N.W. Phone: 830-2793.

The Best Knife-Throwing Show in Town
When you’re looking for a place to take a lively bunch of adults or youngsters, Mikato Steak House is always a crowd pleaser. The cooks juggle their knives before your eyes, speak their own style of Japanese-American language and create stir-fried finery. Areas are sectioned off to make each group of diners feel that they are having their own private party. In fact, you expect geisha girls to appear anytime. 4061 Independence Drive N.W. Phone: 830-1700.

A Cheap But Clean Meal Anytime
For years, peoople have been traveling from the far reaches of the city to feast on the hot dogs, cheeseburgers and fried chicken at Mullins Drive-In. The curb service is gone, but don’t be shy to walk in, regardless of your attire, to witness middle-class Huntsville at its best. Actually, politicians find this an attractive place for a little hand-shaking on the sly when their other hangouts are closed. Had Mullins been open when Andrew Jackson marched his men through here in 1814, they would’ve surely stopped. 607 Andrew Jackson Way N.E. Phone: 539-2826.

These are six of more than two dozen restaurants included in this Tried and True chapter of THE BEST OF HUNTSVILLE.