"Elliston is the grand dame of meat and threes—it’s been doling out Southern sides with heavy-hitting protein mains since 1939. It’s the kind of place where you can still find sodas made with phosphates and milkshakes mixed with malt. Everyone from corporate office workers to cops working the local beat post up on the vinyl seats for plates of meatloaf, fried chicken, or one of the specials of the day. On the side: your choice of two or three home-cooked sides like turnip greens, creamed corn, and mac and cheese to go with one of Elliston’s moist buttermilk biscuits. And leaving without a slice of coconut merengue pie is downright criminal." - jackie gutierrez jones 2