Lambert’s Cafe – Home of Throwed Rolls
When driving on I-55 N between Memphis, Tennessee, and St. Louis in Missouri, don’t forget to stop at Lambert’s Cafe – Home of Throwed Rolls in Sikeston either for lunch or supper.
Lambert’s Cafe is the famous home of the throwed rolls. You can experience the throwed rolls and any other delicious food here that will make you want to go back.
Besides Lambert’s Cafe in Sikeston, you can find Lambert’s throwed rolls in Ozark Missouri, and in Foley, Alabama.
The first time we traveled on I-55 N in Missouri from Texas to Illinois, I saw a billboard of Lambert’s Café – Home of Throwed Rolls. I turned to my husband who happened to turn his head to me, too.
“Isn’t it the one on Travel Channel?” I asked him.
“Yeap!” said my husband.
“One of the best places to pig out or something like that?” I continued.
“Yeap!” my husband nodded.
“Let’s go there! I want to try it,” I added.
Lambert’s Café – Home of the Throwed Rolls
It was at the beginning of summertime and close to lunchtime. The parking lot was full of cars, vans, and a couple of tour buses by the time we arrived at Lambert’s Café – Home of Throwed Rolls in Sikeston, Missouri. People were lining up at the door but it didn’t make us change our minds. Fortunately, there were wooden trains and an electric wagon in the front yard so our son could play while we waited for our table.
Finally, the hostess called our name and took us to the table. Immediately I saw something flying in the air. Yeap! It’s the hot rolls! I couldn’t wait to catch them.
After the waiter took our order, we didn’t wait for long to raise our hands when we heard another waiter saying “hot rolls.” Yes, just raise your hand when you hear the waiter saying “hot rolls”. They will look around to make sure they will not miss anybody.
The roll was hot and when you spread butter on it, mmm… it’s so delicious! Soft and melt in your mouth. But be careful when they just come out from the kitchen. You have to put it on your napkin once you catch it. It was fun catching the rolls or even just watching others catch them.
Other waiters moved around constantly offering onion-fried potatoes, fried okra, macaroni & tomatoes, and black-eyed peas. These were what they called pass-around in Lambert’s Cafe, and it’s free with any meal. Our favorite is fried okra; crunchy and the breading tasted good. You could start munching on them even before your order arrived, but make sure you still have room for the main course; because the main course came with side dishes. The portion was big and we couldn’t finish them.
Best things to eat at Lambert’s Cafe
Lambert’s Cafe has a variety of food on its menu. From pork to chicken, fish to beef, they all look delicious. Also salads and sandwiches. We haven’t got to try all of the food on their menu, but we tried something different every time we stopped there.
On this first visit, we ordered catfish and gizzard and they were all great. The catfish was dip-fried to perfection. Crunchy outside and cooked all the way, and you couldn’t smell or taste the ‘mud’ like it normally does. The gizzards were tender and crunchy outside. We didn’t find a hard-to-chew one. Our son got his grilled cheese and he loved it. Nothing beat the down-home good eatin’ food, right?
At another time when my niece came with us, she tried the pork chops. She said it was delicious! I tried their chicken tenders and they were wonderful!
Here’s the link to Lambert’s Cafe’s menu.
Lambert’s Cafe in Sikeston is huge! Licensed plates from all over the country decorated the wall, as well as memorabilia and country signs.
They used to accept only cash or checks, but now credit cards and cash only.
When you finish eating and stop at the cashier, you can check Lambert’s Café souvenirs – large drink mugs, t-shirts, sorghum, and others. However, the last time we stopped there in November 2021, there weren’t souvenir shops anymore. I’m not sure whether it’s because of the pandemic or what.
Anyway, we were pleased with our first experience there and that’s where we stopped for lunch whenever we drove through the area.
Lambert’s Café Locations
As I stated above, you can find Lambert’s Cafe in three different locations. The story above was based on our visits to Lambert’s Cafe Sikeston.
Here are where you can find Lambert’s Cafe, home of throwed rolls.
Lambert’s Cafe I – Sikeston, Missouri
Address: 2305 E. Malone, Sikeston, MO 63801. Ph.: (573) 471-4261.
Hours: 10.30 am to 9 pm. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Prices: Range from $9.99 to $22.99. Kids meal, 10 & under, $6.49 to $7.99.
Payment Options: cash and credit card.
Lambert’s Cafe II – Ozark, Missouri
Address: 1800 W. State Hwy J, Ozark, MO 65721. Ph.: (417) 581-7655.
Hours: 10.30 am to 9 pm on Monday through Friday. 10 am to 9 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Prices: Range from $8.99 to $24.99. Kids meal, 10 & under, $5.99 to $6.99.
Payment Options: cash and credit card.
One summer we went to Branson Missouri and we almost eat there. But the line was long and the wait time was 2 hours. So, we decided to eat at another place. We were a bit disappointed since we already thought about catching the throwed rolls in the air.
Lambert’s Cafe III – Foley, Alabama
Address: 2981 S. McKenzie, Foley, AL 36535. Ph.: (251) 943-7655.
Hours: 10.30 am to 8 pm. Closed at 3 pm on New Year’s Eve and 4th of July. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Prices: Range from $8.99 to $21.99. Kids meal, 10 & under, $5.99 to $6.99.
Payment Options: cash and credit cards.
Have you ever eaten here? What do you think? If you haven’t been here, don’t forget to make a turn when you drive on I-55 N in Missouri.
Note: All pictures were from our first visit in 2009.
This looks really like a fun restaurant to visit – not only with kids. And the food looks very delicious too. Catching hot rolls sounds a bit scary though, but it must be possible, because they are in swing for many years already. So not too many customers with burned hands…..
It was really fun. We just stopped there again back in November. Hot rolls in the air. lol.
OMG, what an idea to throw hot rolls around for people to catch them! Does everybody catch one? Or there are some that end up on the floor? This must be quite a funny place to eat. I’d like to try it someday.
There are some ended up on the floor. Even on our table. But it was really fun!
I’d love to hear more about the history of throwing rolls tradition! I haven’t seen the Travel Channel special on the restaurant, but now I’ll have to! This is such a quirky, hidden gem. Definitely going to be swinging by to see this on my next Midwest roadtrip. I might even try the Catfish and Gizzards!
It’s just quirky, right? We never thought we would see it. Hah!
What a fun place to eat! I’m not a gizzards or catfish fan but feed me onion rings and a grilled cheese and I’m happy. You know it’s a great place when people are willing to wait on a long line. Glad they had trains to entertain your little one while you waited. I better practice catching rolls at home first.
Yep! That’s why we didn’t leave when we saw a long line.
We have a Lambert’s Cafe at Gulf Shores near us! We always eat there when we go to the beach. I especially love the “pass arounds” and the hot rolls being thrown at me. You definitely won’t leave hungry!
You even have extra for supper from the to-go box. That’s we always ended up.
How fun! I have never heard of “throwed rolls” – this is hilarious and sounds like a blast! The food looks like it tastes delicious too. Thanks for sharing about this fun place.
It is really fun, Leah! And I always like their food.
I have never heard of Lamberts or throwed rolls before – what a great place to eat. With pre main meal “munchies” I don’t think I would ever be able to eat the main meal. Glad to know that you son was not bored waiting for your table – what a great play area.
We always ended up with to-go box! Too excited with the throwed rolls! Haha…
It’s always fun finding a place we have seen or heard about suddenly while travelling. I’m a huge foodie, so this is somewhere I would love to stop and eat. I especially love the drama around the rolls and how they throw them to the customer. Glad that the experience was fun and so was the food. Reading about it did make me hungry.
I know, right? That’s a surprise of the traveling.
Another great post, Umiko! I was hoping throwed rolls were rolls which were actually thrown at guests, you did not disappoint! I’ve been wanting to visit lesser known places and never considered Missouri, but I keep seeing more posts on it! This looks like SUCH a fun experience, I would probably fly here just for this! I’d definitely be afraid of dropping my roll though, I’m not that athletic. What luck that you saw it on TV and happened to pass it without really looking for it! It’s nice to know that the other food was delicious here as well, but I’m definitely not brave enough to try gizzard!
Thank you! I think Missouri is still is one of the underrated states to visit in the U.S. If you don’t have a family to visit, maybe you don’t think about visiting it. Unless you live not too far from here. Don’t worry. A lot of people missed their rolls. 😉
LOVE Lamberts!! Such a fun restaurant! We love visiting here when we visit Branson!
I don’t know if the one by Branson is still open. We didn’t make a stop there when we went to Branson years ago. We were so hungry, we didn’t think we could wait that long.
Man, this place looks awesome. Fun for kids and delicious for adults. I’ve got to say that I would eat all that food if given the opportunity, for better or worse!
with empty stomach though, because their portion is huge.
What a fun experience! I’d never heard of throwed rolls so I didn’t imagine that’s literally what they do. I can see why you’ve been back multiple times.
Hahaha…
I’ve heard of Lambert’s Cafe, and I hope to dine there one day. Those meals you ordered look so mouth-watering. And I love hot rolls, and that’s a really interesting way to serve them. 🙂
I hope you will make it one day.
What a fun place to eat! I’ve got to admit, when I read ‘throwed rolls’ I hadn’t a clue what to expect. I’m not surprised people were queuing to get in!
Yeah! The throwed rolls are really the #1 thing that people want to experience.
Lol such a fun way to serve food. I love it when someone has this really insane idea and then goes ahead and turns it into reality!
And people love it! That’s the key.