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I can not for the life of me understand the Trowbridge's attraction. It's WAY over priced and and basically basic. We have some family that has moved away and always wants to go there when they visit. I'm a big eater and it would probably take $30 for me to get full. My wife bought a small styrofoam coffee cup of chicken salad to take home and it was $5, I'm thinking I could make maybe 1 good sandwich out of it. Someone please explain it to me??? Chilli dog, you've got to be kidding me?
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I have lived away from the Shoals area for 27 years (which is where I was born and raised!) and when I visit there I love to go eat at Trowbridges!
My parents (especially my Mother) took me when I was young and I took my daughters there when they were young and we lived there. Now I just wish I could take my Grandchildren!!
It's the hot dogs, chips and bottled cokes with ice cream for dessert. Yum Yum!!
Trowbridges is one of the only places that has remained the same though out the years and I love it!
I have a theory (and it doesn't include the ice cream): Only locals think Trowbridge's is great. My oldest and I don't get it. Neither of us are from here. My wife and youngest, both born here, love Trowbridges. I've sent out of town family there, they don't get it.

And folks, the chili-dogs aren't anything special. I was told I had to try the chili-dogs. Come on! It's a boiled hot dog with canned chili on it.
I'm not from here, but I did go to school here and came back for a short stay. Our goal is to move on as fast as possible, but I still like Trowbridges. I prefer Rivertown Coffee for chicken salad, but I do like Trowbridges chicken salad. For us, it's the ice cream and atmosphere.

You are on to something though Crusty. It is a local "thing" that some people just don't get.
kontan, what is Rivertown's chicken salad like? My actual favorite chicken salad is Chik-fil-A's. So if it's closer to that, I definitely want to try it. My mother makes it really chunky, puts chopped grapes and pecans in it. It's to die for.

Crusty, I've never had the chili dogs at T. I always go by and get an ice cream cone if we are walking around the downtown area and/or UNA.
The chilidog was just like a Krystals chili pup to me. I never experienced the growing up with part. I was raised in Muscle Shoals and going to Florence was like visiting another country. BTW, my wife loves the chicken salad at Zaxby's also. I guess if I try it a little more I might learn what to order that will fill me up for lunch under 10-12 bucks?
quote:
Originally posted by T S C:
It isn't just a local affection, it is at least state-wide:

100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die

Ricatoni's clocks in at #76, Trowbridge's has an entry at #77. Dales is at #78, and the 360 Grille #79.


Ugh, that list is suspect, at best. For example, having lived in Anniston, I can assure you that the BBQ is way better at Betty's than at Goal Post. And the catfish platter at Top o' the River didn't warrant a mention? Bogus!

Also, there are 223 entries on that top 100 list. Big Grin
quote:
Originally posted by thehippiegirl:
friendly service,
that cracked me up! every time I think of trowbridge's, I always think of that prudish old lady who never smiled, and acted like you were pulling her hair when you asked for something. they even put her bulldogish smirk in the trowbridge's painting. she was never "friendly".
quote:
Originally posted by CrustyMac:
I have a theory (and it doesn't include the ice cream): Only locals think Trowbridge's is great. My oldest and I don't get it. Neither of us are from here. My wife and youngest, both born here, love Trowbridges. I've sent out of town family there, they don't get it.

And folks, the chili-dogs aren't anything special. I was told I had to try the chili-dogs. Come on! It's a boiled hot dog with canned chili on it.


I kmow for a fact that Trowbridges makes their own chili. IT IS NOT CANNED.

THey also make their own chicken salad and pimento cheese.
quote:
Originally posted by Buck Wheat:
quote:
Originally posted by CrustyMac:
I have a theory (and it doesn't include the ice cream): Only locals think Trowbridge's is great. My oldest and I don't get it. Neither of us are from here. My wife and youngest, both born here, love Trowbridges. I've sent out of town family there, they don't get it.

And folks, the chili-dogs aren't anything special. I was told I had to try the chili-dogs. Come on! It's a boiled hot dog with canned chili on it.


I kmow for a fact that Trowbridges makes their own chili. IT IS NOT CANNED.

THey also make their own chicken salad and pimento cheese.


I stand corrected. I don't know why they waste the time, it tastes exactly like Hormel chili. Frowner
You are right, CrustyMac, their chili does taste like Hormel.

The last time I went to Trowbridges my husband got ice cream because I recommended it. I had not been there in possibly 30 years and didn't know they no longer made their ice cream. Too bad. I used to pick some up for my grandmother when she wanted "a dish of cream." It was good in the old days.
There was an article in the TD many years ago that explored their ice cream legacy.

If I remember correctly, at some point, they had to quit making their own ice cream, but they found a maker who used their recipes. Then the recipes got lost somehow, so it isn't the same ice cream. I'll stress that comes from an easily confused memory.

I still like the ice cream, it is reasonably priced, and they load up an ice cream cone. Also, since they have gone non-smoking (and particularly since the waitresses don't all stand in the corner and smoke), I actually like going there a lot better than I used to. I don't go expecting a good meal, though.
All I remember about Trowbridges is going there with my grandmother to get an orange/pineapple ice cream cone - then she'd take me to the stamp store so I could "buy" something with the stamps she got when she purchased groceries at Big Star.

I would stay the night with her and Paps on Friday night, spend all night putting the stamps in the books and get up on Saturday morning to go to "town".

Oh, those memories!
We used to walk there for lunch in between classes at UNA. I go there not for the food, but for the memories. It's been a while, but I used to take my kids to see Leo and then walk to Trowbridge's for icecream and a coke. They loved it! They always wanted to sit at the counter. I'd much rather pay $5 for a sandwich and coke there than go to Chuck E. Cheese and waste $25 on nothing but noise, plastic and grease.

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