Tio Wally Eats America: Dad’s Junction Cafe

I’m happy to have Tio Wally (long-time Me So Hungry reader) aboard to send in his eating adventures from across America. Here he is in New Florence, Missouri.

Greetings from New Florence, Missouri
N 38° 54.106’ W 91° 27.599’ Elev. 848 ft.

I wish I had a daytime picture of Dad’s but I showed up at night. From the Interstate it appears to be nothing more than a large storage-type building with “CAFE” prominently displayed on it. No mention of Dad’s. Or Junction. In fact, the only way to know what it’s actually called is to see the puny little reader board with missing letters (and read between the letters) or to go to the entrance (which is on the side of the building).

I’d passed the place for years. What caught my attention was two things: The number of trucks parked there and, more so, the number of cars that were always there during breakfast and lunch hours. Obviously, it’s worth a stop.

Dad’s claim to fame is Dad’s Famous Breaded Pork Tenderloin. The dinner, which includes either two sides or a salad and baked potato, is $10.39. So I ordered it, with the salad and baked potato.

As I waited for my dinner I saw plates laden with (as it turned out) Chicken Fried Steak come out. My gawd, I thought. How the hell am I going to eat all that? They were huge, HUGE!!!

Then my waitress brought my Pork Tenderloin dinner. The Tenderloin easily dwarfed the measly Chicken Fried Steaks two-fold. It was gargantuan. Although it was deep-fried it wasn’t the slightest bit greasy, with a delicately spiced breading that was flaky and crunchy, and the tenderest of tenderloins within.

The size of the thing was huge, CRAZY HUGE. I was able to eat less than half of it before I had my fill — and I was famished when I showed up.

But it came out without any gravy on it. Dry. I asked the waitress about gravy and she recommended the brown gravy with it. She brought it and it was very good, the gravy not too salty and obviously tweaked by “Dad.” But seeing the Chicken Fried Steak I wanted to try that gravy, too. She brought some and it was really thick and heavily peppered. The brown gravy was the call; always trust your server.

The salad was more than ample, crisp and fresh. The baked potato was, thankfully, on the small side. Indeed, I felt like a lightweight as I boxed up the remaining tenderloin.

As I was leaving I asked the waitress if the Tenderloin Sandwich ($9.29) was the same size as the dinner. “Yes,” she said; they bill it on the menu as “I-70s Largest Sandwich.” I thought it was so insane that I waited to get a picture of one. Now I know it’s true.

And so we roll.

Dad’s Junction Cafe, 413 Booneslick, I-70 & Hwy. 19 Exit 175, New Florence, Missouri

Tio Wally pilots the 75-foot, 40-ton(max) land yacht SS Me So Hungry. He reports on road food from around the country whenever parking and InterTube connections permit.