I read a piece over the summer from one of my favorite small town newspaper columnists, where he bemoaned the fact that many Georgians consider Macon "South Georgia." In that column, he noted that it is farther from Dalton to Valdosta than it is from Washington to New York City, and that in order to get from Washington to New York, you have to go through a whole other state (Delaware), and what a shame it was that many Georgians never make that trip. That distance analogy stuck with me, as did his recommendation of a Middle Georgia stop (on the way to South Georgia) in Montezuma to eat at Yoder's.
Well, on a recent whirlwind through the state for work, I had the "opportunity" to make that very drive from Valdosta to Dalton, and also to eat at Yoder's.
This is quite the operation for a restaurant that is quite honestly in the middle of nowhere. It's about 15 miles off of I-75, and yet despite their somewhat remote location, they maintain a 60+ seat restaurant, bakery, and gift shop. The food is served cafeteria style, so you grab a tray, help yourself to pie (yes, you want the pie), and are served by some sweet, smiling Mennonite ladies, pay, and then take a seat in the country-decorated dining room. It's impeccably clean, neat, and welcoming.
I asked one of the servers for her favorite items on the line that day, and I happily settled for her recommendation of the country fried steak with white gravy. A generous, salty-fried portion, I accompanied it with turnip greens (okay) and fried okra (better than average). It was the giant wedge of pie that set this meal apart, and the pie options were overwhelming that day. They had at least a dozen varieties on display, with Pennsylvania Dutch classics like shoofly, to Southern favorites like Pecan and Chess pie, all of the cream classics (coconut, chocolate, peanutbutter, etc), and a couple of fruit options as well (blackberry, traditional apple, crumb apple). The cost of a meal here is reasonable, but the pie, at $1.85 is a true steal.
On your way out, high on pie, you'll be tempted by the baked goods in the bakery, including everything from bread, to pound cake, to cinnamon rolls, to whole pies to-go. I managed to resist the temptation, but next time, I doubt I'll have that restraint.
If you find yourself down this way (Andersonville, another must-see South Georgia attraction is just around the corner), Yoder's is certainly worth a visit, or even a detour off of the interstate. read more