Jimmy's Mart --- who else here is a fan? (Columbia: credit card, food)

[IM42A]

(copied from another thread, to be continued here, to avoid thread drift)


Jimmy's Mart on Two Notch near Sesqui is in a class all by itself. I eat there once or twice a week, had their breakfast this morning (biscuit, gravy, eggs, bacon, less that $6 for the whole plate). Their chili vaguely reminds me of Cincinnati-style chili, though drier and not as saucy. A chili dog "all the way with ketchup" is one of life's simple pleasures. Sarah and the little black girl with the short hair, don't know her name, are both dear ladies. They are closed on Sundays, and they close the kitchen on federal holidays.



EDITED TO ADD: Jimmy's is, indeed, "the gold standard" IMO where hot dogs in Columbia are concerned. I've been dining there for years. There is absolutely nothing fancy about the place, and there are signs on the wall reminding diners to pay for their food before eating, and to avoid profanity. (I don't suppose they'd tolerate someone shouting "hey, these hot dogs are pretty ****ing good!", even though that's precisely what they are. )


Presumably they are devout Christians, as they are closed on Sundays, the whole store, even the gas pumps. (I may be having a false memory of having bought gas there one time on Sunday, put in my credit card and it processed without a hitch. I was able to do that one time years ago in Summerville, to which I told my wife "and this is why I love this country!".)


At one time, TBH, the hot dogs themselves (i.e., the wieners) were of mediocre quality, kind of "airy", they didn't hold you long, though the sauce was full of flavor. They have evidently changed their supplier (used to see the Sysco truck there all the time) and the wieners are much more substantial now, truly a meal on a bun. The catfish stew and the chili all by itself are good too. And don't pass up their breakfast, it's very special.

[DemanoRock]

I have been there for breakfast before and really enjoyed it. But its location is just out of the way for me to make it there for breakfast in any kind of regular way. As for lunch, I am almost never in that area when I think about it, and when I drive by and see the signs, I am not hungry. Now because of your post, I am going to try to get there soon.