May 7, 2018. Madison, Mississippi. Sal & Phils.

We have driven by Sal & Phils a hundred times but until Sunday, had never gone in to eat. Ken and I thought it was only a bar. And we noticed that the front parking lot was always full so we just drove by. Amerigo, a fancy Italian restaurant we have dined at many times is just across the street and on the same side as Sal & Phils, but still we drove on by. April, our day helper, often took her grandmother out for lunch so she knows all the good restaurants. She had recommended Strawberry Cafe so I asked for another referral. She suggested Sal & Phils or Burgers & Blues. I looked them up and decided on Sal & Phils. As it is often crowded, Christina and I decided on an 11:00 brunch. We did everything right. Our arrival coincided with their opening so we were taken to a room at the far end of the restaurant. And we had the room all to ourselves the whole time. Our friend John had told Christina about their food but somehow or other we paid no attention. Ken and I were correct in that they have a bar which is a separate room but as they got successful, they obviously expanded down the strip mall so now the restaurant is huge. Fortunately the food was excellent. The place is a little funky: kind of a fancy Road Kill Cafe. The first thing we did was order 2 dozen oysters on the half shell. They were delicious. Ken ate 10 all by himself. Fortunately, Mary Frances and Kendria do not eat oysters which left the four of us to eat the other 14. I ate shrimp sautéed in butter. Whew. What a treat. Our brunch was festive as Kate has completed her school year at University. And we were ready to celebrate MF's graduation from high school. The company was excellent as was the food. Once again, April did not lead us astray. Sal & Phils is a great place. And not crowded a bit at 11:00 on a Sunday morning.