Po-Po'sCafe

Lunch & a Little History, in the Hill Country
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Po-Po's was built as a dance hall in 1929, near a town called Welfare, TX.  You could get a 5-cent burger and a soda pop for the same.  If you needed something more exciting than that during prohibition, the bootleggers peddled their goods just outside, for 25 cents a shot.

​EATS!
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The neon sign shows what the place focused on when The Burgons bought the hall in 1950.  Families from the Hill Country and San Antonio made a trip of it, to dine at Po-Po's!  

Lots of Signs
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Just inside the green doors, we found a set of sturdy wooden doors, covered with info.  I kind of liked the reminder that Po-Po's is "south of the tension line", so we should expect to relax and take our time.  
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Greeted by Plates!
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It was early for lunch on a Friday, so there were no crowds.   With daytime lighting and few people to distract, the plate collection jumped out at us in a mighty festive way!  The collection reflected the travels of Mr. and Mrs. Burgon over the years. Evidently they took a big trip once a year and instead of postcards, they bought plates!  The walls and beams in the front room and the bar were covered with shiny china!

And the back room was even more packed.  The menu says there are 2,200 of them, but they may have added more since that write-up.
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Sitting on Stage!
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Don and I headed towards the back of the room where booths and windows were lining the wall on a higher level.  Evidently we were on stage!  This is where the fiddlers and banjo players and all the other performers once performed!  I was pretty delighted with the retro, cream colored booths!

Our View
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Our booth had a great view of trees and grass, just beginning to green up at the end of March!  I couldn't get enough of these plates.  I asked Tracy, our delightful server, which was her favorite plate.  She pointed to one across the room and laughed. "It's that one that's decorated by some kid's artwork!"  It reminded me of a Mother's Day gift I received 20 years ago.

​The Feast

I hardly needed more than a sandwich, but I just had to order the daily special.  Meatloaf and mashed potatoes with choice of gravy and fried okra!  Don was not a bit healthier with his fried shrimp, green beans and onion rings.  I loved my meal of comfort food and I kind of liked it that Tracy nearly scolded us for not touching the special honey that was served with the biscuits.  We did as we were told and we were glad.
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Tracy
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We had the best time talking with Tracy, who has worked at Po-Po's off and on since she was 18.  "I refuse to work on plate cleaning days!"  She teased.  It was funny to imagine the place closing down for days while all the plates are removed and washed!  I also loved hearing that Tracy, who served our comfort food, actually lived in Comfort, TX.  "We love Comfort!"  I practically shouted.  I told her about our stay the night before at Camp Comfort, which was an old bowling alley converted into a lovely B&B.  "Oh sure, I know it." She remembered her daughter's bowling party there once.  

Small world!  Gotta love small town dining!