Southern Manners

Just a quick detour off I-26 in the town of Columbus, Southern Manners is a truly well-mannered town cafe known to locals and food-seeking travelers for its handsome, skillfully prepared cafe standards.

At lunch, that means well-stacked deli sandwiches, burgers, soups, and salads; but breakfast is the main meal of the day, starting at 6:30am. There are crisp, generously fruity Danish pastries and icing-smothered sweet rolls, hefty plates of biscuits and gravy, and a frequent morning special known as the Sunrise Sampler. That’s a tender pancake topped with a spill of hazelnut syrup and fresh strawberries, a single egg, and your choice of bacon or sausage.

Beyond its exemplary Main Street menu, I recommend Southern Manners for its attitude and ambience. A town favorite where there’s frequently a wait at peak mealtime (when the upstairs dining area gets opened up), it is a cozy, quirky spot that also serves as the town deli. The modus operandi is to place your order and pay at the register, then find a table to which your meal is brought from the kitchen.

Note that Southern Manners is closed Wednesday and Sunday.