Shelby’s
140 NE Yellow Pine Ave
Madison, FL 32340-6176
(850) 973-2098
Madison, FL
On a Tuesday afternoon as I was driving through Madison Florida near the panhandle I saw a simple metal one room building that advertised home-style cooking. Naturally I was interested. Located right off of US 90 in between a former drive in to the East and the city of Madison to the West. You pull into a gravel parking lot and find a spot to park. Don’t worry if there is not a spot near the front… keep driving, there is parking all the way around the building.
As I got in Shelby’s I grabbed the first opened table I could find. They were busy so I was near the back of the building. The place was clean except for a few tables that needed to be bused. Now for the most negative aspect of Shelby’s…. I had to wait for almost 3 maybe 4 minutes before I was acknowledged.
The servers kinda shared the responsibilities of my table. Even though I am a Coke fan (which they serve) I decided to get the tea (when in the country towns in the South, tea is the way to go). After (one) of the servers brought me my tea she needed to look around for a menu. Of course the menu is printed out daily on a piece of white paper (that is old school and awesome).
So now I placed my order: hamburger steak w/brown gravy, cabbage, rice and corn. The ladies forgot my cornbread but it was ok with me though. The hamburger steak was great, by most people’s standards the cabbage was bland (I added pepper and seasoned to my taste). The corn was yummy (that’s right yummy). And the rice was…. rice (not bad especially with the gravy on it). They did surprise me with a piece of yellow cake topped with sliced peaches which was moist and sweet and a perfect ending to a great li’l lunch.
Overall Shelby’s is now on my list of places to visit and revisit when in ‘The Big Bend’ area of Florida. The guests and the wait staff of Shelby’s make you feel as if you belong there. So much so it makes me consider living in Madison Florida. No…really, I’m serious but not so serious that I am about to move.
Review by Pie, email: pie@piesplate.com
I live in Madison and I have not gotten around to trying this restaurant out yet. Because of your review I am definitely going to visit Shelby’s in the near future. I pass by it all the time on my way into town but we usually eat at O’neal’s which is another great restaurant in Madison, Fl. Thanks for taking the time to write this review
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Okay, so thats so funny that you reviewed this place. Before my grandpa passed away, we would always eat there (my family has a farm in madison, fla). The place is hands down the best southern food I have found below the FL/GA line. Its got a great “down home” atmosphere. I love walking into the place and all the farmers are sitting at the front table shooting the breeze.
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It’s one of the only places I know that you can order sliced tomatoes as a side too
Great review! Spot on too.