Tootie’s in Bristol continues to serve up Arvil Burgers, more

The history of Tootie’s in Bristol dates back to 1945.

Well, a stubborn summer cold interrupted my plans for “Burger Month 2015,” but I am feeling better and I’m returning to my July theme. This week’s quest for some of the best area burgers in the region took me to one of Bristol’s oldest eateries.

 

Tootie’s touts itself as the oldest restaurant in Bristol, according to a history printed on the back of the restaurant’s menu. Claude Vance opened Tootie’s in the fall of 1945 a few months after he returned home after service during World War II. Claude and his wife, Ann, opened Vance’s Confectionary. They sold sundry items, including hardware and Claude’s own brand of paint. They even had a lunch counter at the front of the store, where they sold burgers, hotdogs and other diner fare. In those days, the menu notes that Vance’s was the only eating establishment between State Street in Bristol and Mountain City.
The original site of Tootie’s was in what was known as the “Willie Boom” section of town. Today, the restaurant is located across from Food City. Years ago, however, a lake covered the area where the grocery store now stands. People brought in logs and floated them to a lumber yard owned by a Mr. Willie. The “boom” is a reference to the floating timbers.
In July of 1982, Claude retired and his son and daughter-in-law, Arvil and Jane vance, bought the business and renamed it Tootie’s Restaurant in honor of Arvil’s nickname.

 

Although the restaurant serves breakfast, as well as a variety of lunch items, the real star at Tootie’s are burgers like the famous Arvil Burger.

The restaurant’s interior doesn’t look to have changed much through the years. The walls are painted yellow and white, trimmed with orange. Seating is available at booths and tables, which are also orange and yellow. There’s also a couple of tables on the restaurant’s front porch.
Customers order at the front counter, and drinks are available from a self-serve dispenser or as bottles and cans from a refrigerator. There’s also a condiment station offering ketchup and other items. Some arcade games in one corner and a guitar-stumming stuffed toy dog add a few other items of interest to the decor.
Tootie’s still retains its diner atmosphere, serving breakfast all day long, as well as a variety of burgers, hot and cold sub sandwiches and other items, including Soup Beans with Cornbread, a barbecue platter and a hamburger steak dinner.

An Arvil Burger, trimmed with onion and tomato, is served with a side of Tater Tots.

The restaurant is quite justly famous for its burgers, and the star among the offerings is the Arvil Burger. Other burgers include the Famous Five-Ounce Burger, a Double Five-Ounce Burger and a Bacon Burger. Deluxe burgers are also listed on the menu, including the Willie Boom Burger, Mushroom Burger, Jalapeno Burger, a Blue Collar Burger and a third-pound Angus Burger.
I tried the well-known Arvil Burger on my very first visit to Tootie’s a couple of years ago. On a subsequent visit, I ordered the Willie Boom Burger. On that occasion, a friend dining with me got his first introduction to the Arvil Burger.

 

So, what precisely is the Arvil Burger? Well, it’s a monster of a burger that starts out as a 10-ounce beef patty. One of the secrets to the popularity of this burger is that onions are fried within the patty to lock in the flavor. It’s served on a large bun with a double serving of lettuce, tomato, onion, mayonnaise and, on request, American cheese.
It’s not fancy, but it’s juicy and made of simple but fresh ingredients. Thankfully, the bun doesn’t fall apart and holds up throughout the meal.

 

The Willie Boom Burger with a side of Onion Rings at Tootie’s.

The Willie Boom Burger is basically Tootie’s version of a chili burger. It starts as a six-ounce hand-formed patty paired with grilled onions, chili and cheese. The chili on the burger is savory, but I found myself wishing there had been more chili with this burger.
There’s a variety of side dishes to accompany your burgers, including French Fries, Onion Rings, Tater Tots, Chili Cheese Fries, Corn Nuggets, Cheddar Rounds and even Tamales.
My friend and I both enjoyed our burgers, and I also owe some other friends a big “thank you” for introducing my to Tooties.

An Arvil Burger, topped with American cheese slices, and trimmed with thick-cut onions and tomato sliced, and served with Onion Rings.

Do make sure to leave some room for a cool treat at the end of the meal. Tootie’s offers ice cream in cones, waffle cones or cups, as well as ice cream sundaes, root beer floats and milkshakes. Ice cream flavors include traditional ones such as vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, as well as less-traditional ones as Moon Pie, Cotton Candy and Blueberry Cheesecake. I love to end a visit with a deliciously smooth and creamy shake. One of my favorites has been the Blueberry Cheesecake Shake.
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AT A GLANCE: Tootie’s Restaurant, 1310 Virginia Ave., Bristol. 764-6215. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Menu items $6.95 and under. Credit cards accepted. Carryout available.

Pilot Hill General Stores pleases with burgers, barbecue and more

Photos by Bryan Stevens                                                                  The Pilot Hill General Store has stood in the Philadelphia community of Washington County for more than a century.

If it’s July, it must be time for “Burger Month,” which is quickly becoming a tradition with my regular offerings of potential dining destinations in Northeast Tennessee, Western North Carolina and Southwest Virginia.

Last year’s “Burger Month” focused on the best burgers in Tennessee’s Carter County. I’m traveling farther afield this year, although I kicked off this summer’s burger destinations with my recent blog on Sycamore Drive-In in Elizabethton, Tennessee.

A Sledge Hammer Cheeseburger with crispy Onion Rings at Pilot Hill.

My first recommendation this year is to advise readers to make a visit, posthaste, to Pilot Hill General Store in the Philadelphia community of Washington County for some really delicious, done-right burgers.

It’s not just burgers, however, that are giving this establishment its well-deserved reputation for serving some flavorful food to really give the tastebuds a workout, as I will point out.

According to the story about the store’s origins (printed on the back of the menu), Pilot Hill has served as a country store as well as a post office and courtroom for a traveling magistrate for more than a century. George Walters, a Union veteran of the Civil War, built the store in 1902 after he received a land grant once the war ended. The store’s current owners, Donnie and Denise Hall, have created a must-try destination in the middle of the rural countryside of Washington County.

Customers dine in a painstakingly recreated version of a turn-of-the-last-century general store, with long counters and cubby-hole shelves stocked with a long list of assorted goods. There’s a conversation starter for nostalgic customers in any direction they happen to glance, from old-fashioned varieties of candies to toys, dolls and games.

Sledge Hammer Cheeseburger with Cheese Fries at Pilot Hill.

The choice of burgers includes the Hammer Burger and Hammer Cheeseburger (single patty), Sledge Hammer and Sledge Hammer Cheeseburger (double patties), as well as a Lil Jenny Hamburger and Cheeseburger. There’s also a Philly Burger for the meat-lovers, as well as a Mule Burger, which features thick-cut Amish bologna, fried or cold, served with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise on Texas toast.

St. Louis-style Ribs are available at Pilot Hill on Fridays and Saturdays.

Pilot Hill also serves some fantastic barbecue, including a Pork Loin sandwiches and platters, BBQ Chopped Pork Sandwich and a BBQ Sundae. This inventive item starts with a Mason jar filled to the brim with layers of barbecue pork and homemade slaw and baked beans. Best of all, Pilot Hill serves slow-cooked, dry rub St. Louis-style ribs on Fridays and Saturdays.

Burgers remain my main focus, but this is some really first-class barbecue. A friend ordered the ribs and, after some good-natured but determined coercion, shared a sample. They were finger-licking good, to borrow an old but accurate phrase.

The Philly Burger at Pilot Hill, accompanied by Baked Beans and Potato Salad.

Like the ribs, the burgers could be a messy proposition, unless you simply shed any inhibitions about manhandling your meal. Sure, some toothpicks through the bun take a stab at holding everything together, but these are two-handed burgers so just pick them up and start eating.

You cannot really beat the Hammer Cheeseburger, unless it is with the Sledge Hammer Cheeseburger. I have also tried the Philly Burger, which is going to meet your daily caloric intake in one sitting with its three ounces of grilled sirloin added to two grilled patties, complemented with grilled onions as well as American and mozzarella cheese. I sometimes think there’s a definite correlation between messy and tasty. At least that’s the case with this juicy, vibrant burger.

The menu also offers some appetizing sandwiches, including a Philly Cheesesteak, Chicken Parmesan Sandwich, Nolichucky Chicken Sandwich and a Big and Nasty BLT (yes, that’s really its name), as well as a couple of hot dogs, including the Snapp Dog, which is wrapped in bacon and deep fried for, as the menu describes this item, “O’Brother, what a dog.”

The menu is rounded off by some platters, including a Hamburger Steak Plate and Chicken Strip Plate, as well as some salads, including a Buffalo Chicken Wedge Salad and a BBQ Pork Salad.

You’ll want to leave room for some out-of-this-world desserts, including a variety of homemade pies. Some of my favorites have included the Apple Pie (just a heavenly version of this All-American favorite and Butterscotch Pie.

You can’t go wrong finishing a meal at Pilot Hill with a piece of Apple Pie with Ice Cream.

My friend, the one who enjoyed the ribs, also had a slice of Apple Pie and declared flatly after the first bite that it was “the best apple pie he has had in Tennessee.”

In preparation for making your first visit — don’t delay, trust me — be sure to take cash. Pilot Hill General Store doesn’t accept plastic or checks.

 

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Pilot Hill General Store, 826 Snapp Bridge Road, Limestone, Tennessee.  Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. 423-202-0289. Cash only.

Butterscotch Pie at Pilot Hill.

The interior of Pilot Hill harkens back to its roots.

Plenty of nostalgia greets visitors to Pilot Hill.

Grab some candy on your way out of Pilot Hill General Store.

Pilot Hill shows hints of its history as a traditional general store.

Cases of Coca-Cola bottles on the front porch at Pilot Hill.

Pies displayed beneath a glass case.

A little friend at Pilot Hill.

Take time to browse when visiting Pilot Hill.

Welcome to Pilot Hill.

Pies and pastries displayed beneath glass cake stands at Pilot Hill.

Pecan Pie at Pilot Hill.

 

Photos by Bryan Stevens                                             Placing an order at Sycamore Drive-In.

Sycamore Drive-In is one of those places you like to visit for some great comfort food, such as an old-fashioned hamburger or meatloaf sandwich.

Owner Gary Hicks and his crew have created a nostalgic environment to enjoy some old-fashioned favorites, whether it’s burgers or a densely-packed cone of delicious ice cream.

The restaurant’s history dates back to 1951 when it opened as a Tastee-freez franchise. Gary said the restaurant operated for about a decade as a Tastee-freez before it was purchased by Maxine Matherly. She and her husband operated the restaurant for about 30 years.

The interior of the Sycamore Drive-In’s dining room.

The name Sycamore Drive-In is a relatively recent incarnation for the restaurant. The original drive-in area now has been enclosed to form a small dining room.

I should emphasize the smallness of the indoor dining area. There’s a total of four tables with folding metal chairs, and a few extra chairs for those waiting for to-go orders. One of the tables can support a party of four. The three remaining tables are definitely two-seaters. The eatery does a brisk carryout business.

I usually like to eat at the restaurant. If Gary is present, he’ll always stop by the table to say hello. He and his employees are great at making people feel welcome. They know their regulars on a first-name basis.

I like to sit at one of the tables while enjoying my food and the nostalgic, small-town ambiance. While the decoration is relatively sparse in the small dining area, a few touches definitely add personality, such as a collection of vintage soda bottles prominently displayed behind the glass of the front counter.

I enjoyed a recent weekday visit with a friend to Sycamore Drive-in. We placed our order at the cashier’s window. The menu board on display behind the counter features a wide variety of burgers, sandwiches, side items, salads and dinner platters. I like that the menu items are listed with prices that include tax, eliminating the need for any mental arithmetic.

Cheeseburger with Crinkle-cut French Fries at Sycamore Drive-In.

The burgers deserve their top billing on the menu, and Hicks even has his own top-secret recipe for his burgers, which are hand-patted every morning. In addition to the standard Hamburger and Cheeseburger – both single and double versions – the menu offers a Bacon Cheeseburger, Bacon Double Cheeseburger and even a Bologna Burger.

In addition to burgers, the restaurant also offers sandwiches such as Grilled Cheese, Fish, Chicken, Egg, Ham and Cheese, Pork BBQ, Chicken Salad and Club. My favorite, which I have enjoyed on several occasions, is the Meatloaf Sandwich. The restaurant also offers an impressive Club Sandwich.

The Bologna Burger with Onion Rings at Sycamore Drive-In.

Other menu items that tempted me included the Deluxe Chef Salad, Chicken Tenders Platter and Hamburger Steak Platter. All the dinner platters are served with fries, salad and toast. In addition, the eatery offers Beans and Cornbread, which are also served with slaw and a side of chopped onions.

On my recent visit, my friend ordered the Double Cheeseburger, while I chose something – the Bologna Burger – I have wanted to try for a long time. I’ve enjoyed the other burgers on previous visits. My favorite is the simple, old-fashioned goodness of the Cheeseburger although I occasionally splurge and try the Bacon Double Cheeseburger.

Cheeseburger with Crinkle-cut Fries at Sycamore Drive-In.

Of course, you’ll want something to go with your burger. In addition to Crinkle-cut French Fries and Onion Rings, other sides available to pair with a burger or sandwich include Tater Wedges, Fried Mushrooms and Mozzarella Sticks. I paired my Bologna Burger with Onion Rings while my friend chose the fries.

My friend’s Double Cheeseburger featured two juicy patties topped with bacon and cheese. It also included all the toppings – lettuce, tomato, onion and mayonnaise. As always, it was cooked perfectly. The bun held up pretty well, too, as he enthusiastically consumed the burger.

A cone of Butter Pecan Ice Cream from Sycamore Drive-In.

I also liked the Bologna Burger, which consisted of a grilled slice of bologna served on a bun with lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo. This item again reminded me of the value of the nostalgic menu at Sycamore Drive-In. I also enjoyed the ample serving of Onion Rings, which were fried to a crisp, golden brown.

No visit to this nostalgic drive-in can be considered complete without ending with one of the sweet items on the menu. Desserts include ice cream cones, shakes, sundaes, banana splits and Hot Fudge Cake. My friend decided to try the Hot Fudge Cake, which consisted of a slice of chocolate cake topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, rich hot fudge, several dollops of whipped cream and a cherry on top. This mix of quality components made for a delectable dessert.

 

Hot Fudge Cake provides a sweet conclusion to a meal at Sycamore Drive-In.

Sycamore sells hand-dipped Mayfield Ice Cream, and milkshakes can be made from any of the available flavors or combinations of flavors. I considered one of the shakes, which are fantastic at Sycamore Drive-In, but decided on this sunny afternoon a cone of ice cream might be even better and selected a cone of Butter Pecan Ice Cream.

Another thing I like about this long-time Elizabethton restaurant is the way it appeals across various demographics. Customers included parents with young children, older couples, students and working people grabbing a quick and tasty meal for their lunch break. Several people picked up carryout orders, but a few elected to have a seat at one of the other available tables.

Vintage soda bottles on display in the restaurant.

The Sycamore Drive-In definitely serves up some solid, good-tasting burgers, as well as other items. I’ve never had anything on the menu I haven’t liked.

If it’s been a while since you’ve visited, why wait? If you’ve never had the chance to stop by Sycamore Drive-In, make an effort to change that soon.

If you go, let Gary and his staff know they come recommended by the Carter County Compass.

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AT A GLANCE: Sycamore Drive-In, 213 S. Sycamore St., Elizabethton. 547-0166. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Closed Sunday. All menu items $6.95 and under. Credit cards accepted. Carryout available.

The burgers are classic at Sycamore Drive-In.

Dixie’s Diner expands Stoney Creek dining options

 

Some friends and I made it a point to dine at Dixie’s Diner on Stoney Creek in Elizabethton this past week.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
Dixie’s Diner is located at 1791 Highway 91, Elizabethton.

The meal marked our first visit to the restaurant, which was opened last fall by owner James Harris. Upon our arrival, we were welcomed and told to seat ourselves at any of the eatery’s booths and tables. Banner-sized placards with big, friendly letters promoting slogans such as, “Live life with a twist,” and, “Here, everybody’s a regular,” adorn the wood-plank walls. The chair and benches are upholstered in dark burgundy vinyl. The dining area isn’t showy, but it is cozy, comfortable and clean, and the wood-plank gives the room a rustic touch and imparts a bit of a golden glow to the lighting.

The menu at Dixie’s Diner isn’t elaborate, preferring to keep the focus on burgers, sandwiches and a few country-style dinner platters. In addition to lunch and dinner, the restaurant also offers breakfast all day with a menu of traditional favorites such as biscuits and gravy, hash browns, pancakes, omelets and French toast.

The motivation for our recent visit was to show solidarity with the restaurant’s effort to support paper carriers let go by the Elizabethton Star. It’s rare to come across a business with a conscience these days, but the owners of Dixie’s Diner made a wonderful gesture by setting aside half of the proceeds to be divided among the roughly 16 carriers affected by the decision made by the Alabama owners of the formerly locally-owned newspaper.

The cause was particularly close to my heart since I was among the dozen employees let go in a massive purge a couple of months ago. This new weekly blog was born of that decision after I had numerous people request that I continue my weekly discussions of regional restaurants.

The day I learned of the decision that I was no longer needed at a paper with which I enjoyed a 20-year history was, understandably enough, a difficult one. Thankfully, several local restaurants made it a little more bearable. Jiggy Ray’s, a new pizzeria in downtown Elizabethton, treated me and several co-workers to a free lunch when the manager discovered what had gone down at the newspaper. It was a much-appreciated gesture. I’d encourage everyone to patronize Dixie’s Diner and Jiggy Ray’s, as well as Sycamore Drive-In in Elizabethton. Sycamore Drive-In owner Gary Hicks has been very outspoken in his support for all the community workers who were adversely affected by the decision, which was made by distant corporate heads from Alabama who had made no more than a couple of visits to Elizabethton and no attempt to actually get to know their new employees.

But, stepping back off of my soap-box, the main focus of this weekly endeavor is to introduce readers to some suggested dining destinations.

Dixie’s Diner, although tucked away up Stoney Creek beyond both Unaka High School and Unaka Elementary School, is worth the drive.

My friends and I were treated courteously and attentively by the servers, who also helped by making some recommendations on menu items.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
Meatloaf, Green Beans and Mashed Potatoes at Dixie’s DIner.

 I chose the Meatloaf Dinner, which is accompanied by a choice of two sides, which can include French Fries, Green Beans, Onion Rings, Corn, Fried Okra and Mashed Potatoes. I chose the Green Beans and Mashed Potatoes.

Other dinner platters that got my notice included Hamburger Steak Dinner, Pork Chop Dinner and a large and small Chicken Tender Dinner.

 

One of my friends, a burger connoisseur, studied the those options on the menu. Burgers come in two sizes – 4-ounce and 6-ounce patties – and are served with fries and a drink. Any of the burgers can also be ordered as a double with two patties. Options include Hamburger, Cheeseburger and Bacon-Cheeseburger. He chose the latter.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
Dixie Diner’s Bacon Cheeseburger with a side of Crinkle-cut French Fries.

My other friend considered some of the sandwiches, including the BLT and the Crispy Chicken Sandwich. In the end, he chose one of the dinner platters and ordered the Pork Chop Dinner. For his two sides, he choose Fried Okra and French Fries.

About the only other items on the menu are a couple of dinner salads and a two-Hotdog Platter. We chose to share an order of Onion Rings among the three of us. Our food arrived speedily.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the meatloaf consisted of two muffin-shaped servings of meatloaf topped with ketchup. Every restaurant serves its own version of this comfort food classic, and I enjoyed the muffin-sized meatloaf servings. The meatloaf at Dixie’s Diner is firm, flavorful and not at all greasy.

My friends also reported satisfaction with their meals. The burger aficionado enjoyed his order, which featured a six-ounce patty, topped with an ample amount of bacon and cheese, and served on a sesame-seed bun.

Photo by David Thometz
The Pork Chops Dinner Platter accompanied by French Fries and Fried Okra at Dixie’s Diner.

My friend who ordered the two pork chops was also pleased with the only minor complaint being they might have been cooked slightly too long. The thinly-sliced chops were still well seasoned, flavorful and paired nicely with the Mashed Potatoes and the golden-brown Fried Okra.

I also like the nicely seasoned Green Beans and the Mashed Potatoes that came with my Meatloaf.

Although we were all just too full to indulge, Dixe’s Diner does offer some sweet at the conclusion of the meal, including Funnel Cakes, Snow Cones and Ice Cream. We’ll try to get back for some of those sweets in the near future. I’d also like to make a return visit and try the breakfast at Dixie’s Diner.

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AT A GLANCE: Dixie’s Diner, 1791 Highway 91, Elizabethton. 474-0080. Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Menu items $7.59 and under. Credit cards accepted. Carryout available.

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