By T. Jensen Lacey

If you like classic Southern cooking with a healthy twist, you’re in luck. Cheryl’s Café in Spanish Fort offers a wide array of lunch options and plenty of choices for the most finicky eater. 

Their sandwich offerings include Mitch’s Reuben, the creation of Cheryl Barnes’ son Mitch Murphy (together they run the restaurant). One of my favorites is Cheryl’s Chicken Salad, which they can put on your choice of bread. 

Another favorite is their Turkey Cranberry sandwich. You can order your sandwich with a side dish (coleslaw, fresh fruit, potato salad, and more) or a cup of homemade soup (last time we were there, they made a delightful Crawfish Bisque and a robust Corn Chowder).

For those diners who want a lunch on the lighter side,  Cheryl’s offerings include a Seasonal Veggie Plate and a Caesar Salad with grilled salmon.

If you desire more fare like Grandma might make, you can enjoy their homemade Chicken and Dumplings, Hamburger Steak, and a Parmesan-crusted pork chop. The sides with these entrées include field peas, baby limas, butter beans, mashed potatoes, and more.

A big plus for those on a gluten-free diet is that all their gravies (whether atop mashed potatoes or hamburger steak) are gluten-free and over-the-top delicious.

If you have room for dessert, you can have your choice of blueberry bread pudding, strawberry cake, lemon or blueberry icebox pie, or banana pudding, to name a few. 

The staff is friendly and efficient, and the service at Cheryl’s Cafe has been consistently great for all the years we've been going. The dining room is always welcoming, cheerful, clean, and bright. No wonder Cheryl’s Café has been a Spanish Fort tradition since 1998!

The phone number for Cheryl’s Café is 351.626.2602. They are open 11 am-2:30 pm weekdays. Their address is 6580 Spanish Fort Blvd., Suite D (in the Walgreens Shopping Center). 

I recommend you go hungry!