Blue Plate Cafe

When you’re craving down-home food based on old family recipes, add Blue Plate Cafe to your itinerary. 

Jerry Sparks opened the meat-and-three in 2003, sourcing recipes from his mother and grandmother. Word of mouth about the savory food spread like wildfire, and he opened a second location in 2015. Sadly, Jerry passed in 2019, and the new location closed in 2020.

The good news is that the Spark family continues to manage and operate the Governors Drive location, keeping Jerry’s legacy alive. The family recipes are deeply rooted in traditional Southern ingredients and cooking techniques, ensuring you get the Real McCoy!

Unlike most meat-and-threes, Blue Plate Cafe serves breakfast. Classics range from eggs and bacon to omelets, pancakes, and burritos. 

The family’s recipes shine on the lunch and dinner menu, with classics like slow-cooked pot roast and chicken with dumplings.

From its inception, owner Jerry Sparks was proud to see high-end Mercedes beside weathered pickup trucks at the restaurant. Jerry’s friendly nature attracted diversity, treating everyone like family while serving his family’s time-honored and time-tested meals. 

Beyond food and vibe, this downtown diner is close to Rocket City’s top attractions like the Von Braun Center and Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment. Such convenience makes planning your sightseeing around hearty meals easy. 

Whether you’re looking for authentic Southern cuisine or this is your first time sampling it, visit Blue Plate Cafe.

Vibe

Once a former AutoZone, the renovated facade showcases the cafe’s iconic blue sign illuminated by vintage lights. A long, red awning covers the entrance, providing shade and protection from Mother Nature.

Inside is a classic diner vibe, with an aluminum backsplash in the exposed kitchen and spinning bar stools at the counter. Instead of booths, the dining room has wood tables and chairs. 

The homey ambiance attracts a variety of diners, from families to old-timers. When doors open at 6 AM, you’ll spot business professionals, landscape crews, and families grabbing a bite before a day at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. 

No matter when you visit, Blue Plate Cafe is packed! While this adds to the energy of the place, it feels more like a family reunion than a jam-packed cafe. 

Blue Plate Cafe: Menu & Drinks

Start your day on the right foot with the stick-to-your-ribs Blue Plate Breakfast. You get two eggs cooked to your liking and either hash browns, cheesy browns, tater tots, grits, or cheese grits. Still feeling hungry? Add biscuits, gravy, bacon, sausage, bologna, country ham, or country-fried steak for an additional cost.

After exploring the Cook Museum of Natural Science in nearby Decatur, Alabama, head to the cafe for mouth-watering lunches or dinners.

Options rotate daily, ensuring something fresh and tantalizing whenever you visit. While the classic meat-and-three sides are available, you can downsize with two sides or order the vegetable plate for dietary or vegetarian reasons.

As mentioned, the chicken and dumplings are a hearty hit! The comfort classic features tender, slow-cooked chicken with fluffy dumplings in a seasoned broth. 

The pot roast will take you home to Mom’s Sunday meal with its tender beef in brown gravy with potatoes and carrots. The rich, savory flavors will have your taste buds dancing with joy.

Other meats include Southern fried chicken fingers, meatloaf, pork chops, BBQ pork, chicken fried steak, and chicken with stuffing. 

The sides showcase what Southerners have always preferred, with staples like green beans, mashed potatoes, corn, mac & cheese, pinto beans, and turnip greens, to name a few. 

The sweet tea reigns supreme as a Southern staple on the drink menu. It’s a refreshing companion to any meal. Not ready to dive into the sugary sweetness? Then, order the unsweetened tea. You’ll also find soft drinks, coffee, milk, and juice options.

Dining at Blue Plate Cafe elevates an Alabama getaway with home-grown flavors, a welcoming ambiance, and a dedication to Southern hospitality.