Some places in Alabama never got the memo that the decades kept moving. Their counters still serve slaw dogs, chicken salad sandwiches, banana splits, and limeades the way they did when your grandparents were kids.
A few of these spots have been open for more than a hundred years, and they still close on Sundays like old times. This list covers seven of them, from the Tennessee Valley down to the Gulf Coast, so you can plan a lunch stop that doubles as a trip back in time.
1. Payne’s Sandwich Shop and Soda Fountain, Scottsboro, AL
An old-fashioned Coke float is reason enough to stop in downtown Scottsboro. Payne’s Sandwich Shop and Soda Fountain sits at 101 E Laurel St, and its 1950s soda shop look makes it easy to forget what year it is.
The menu sticks to classics. Expect big homemade sandwiches, hot dogs, slaw dogs, salads, and a Classic Reuben that shows up often on lunch trays.
Dessert is where Payne’s really leans into the past. The banana split comes in a generous serving, and the ice cream portions in general are hefty enough to share.
This is a family-owned spot with a kids’ menu and high chairs, so bringing the grandkids is easy. Service runs at the counter, with seating inside and some outdoor tables too.
Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM, and it is closed Sunday. Reservations are not taken, and parking is free, with a lot and street spaces nearby.
Thursday and Saturday afternoons tend to be the busiest.
2. Trowbridge’s Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop, Florence, AL
Orange-pineapple ice cream is not something you find on every menu. At Trowbridge’s, it has been a calling card for generations, and it even earned a spot on a well-known list of 100 places to eat in Alabama.
The shop has been serving folks on Court Street in Florence since 1918. That is more than a century of cones, shakes, and quick lunches at the same downtown address, 316 N Court St.
Lunch here is simple and easy on the wallet. Chicken salad, egg salad, pimento cheese, grilled cheese, and hot dogs make up the backbone of the menu.
The banana split is a big draw too, built with three scoops of real ice cream. The dining room is small and fills up fast, especially on Friday and Saturday afternoons.
I would save this one for a weekday lunch break. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 5:30 PM, and it is closed Sunday.
3. Gilchrist, Mountain Brook, AL
Cherry limeade is practically a Mountain Brook tradition, and Gilchrist is the place most people mean when they talk about it. The historic lunch counter at 2805 Cahaba Rd has long been a piece of Birmingham-area history.
Limeades are the signature, but the sandwich board holds its own. Chicken salad, Reubens, hot beef, and a BLT with pimento cheese all have loyal fans.
Chocolate shakes and malts round out the fountain side. Chili is also on the menu for cooler days.
Unlike several stops on this list, Gilchrist opens early for breakfast. Weekday hours run 8 AM to 4:30 PM, Saturday opens at 8:30 AM, and Sundays are off.
Service at the counter moves fast, which helps on busy Thursday and Friday afternoons. Saturday mornings are the calmest time to grab a seat, and there are no reservations.
4. Stacey’s Olde Tyme Soda Fountain, Foley, AL
Look up when you walk in. Model airplanes hang from the ceiling at Stacey’s Olde Tyme Soda Fountain, and a toy train circles a ledge overhead.
That playful decor makes this Foley stop a hit with kids, but the soda fountain itself is the real attraction. Shakes, malts, and ice cream desserts are the stars, served at friendly prices.
Sandwiches are on the menu too, so it works as a light lunch stop. It also offers in-store shopping, which adds a little browsing time.
The shop sits at 121 W Laurel Ave, an easy detour for anyone heading toward the Gulf beaches through Baldwin County. A stop here breaks up the drive nicely.
Plan ahead on timing. Stacey’s is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 AM to 5 PM, and closed Sunday and Monday.
5. Chris’ Famous Hotdogs, Montgomery, AL
Chocolate milk in a glass bottle, with a hole punched in the top and a straw stuck through, is the classic pairing at Chris’ Famous Hotdogs. It is a small detail that tells you this place does things its own way.
The Dexter Avenue diner has been serving Montgomery since 1917. More than a hundred years later, it is still a mom-and-pop operation built around hot dogs topped with its well-known sauce.
Chili, burgers, and chicken sandwiches fill out the rest of the menu. Seating includes counter service, which suits a quick solo lunch.
Its downtown address, 138 Dexter Ave, puts it close to the heart of the capital city. That makes it handy for anyone exploring downtown Montgomery on foot.
Lunch is the only shift here. Hours run Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 3 PM, and it gets busy most weekday afternoons.
6. Toomer’s Drugs, Auburn, AL
Few drinks in Alabama have a reputation quite like the fresh-squeezed lemonade at Toomer’s Drugs. It is the order nearly everyone makes at this corner of downtown Auburn.
The drugstore dates to 1896, which makes it the oldest stop on this list. It sits at 100 N College St, right across from the Auburn University campus.
Beyond the lemonade, the soda fountain serves shakes and deli-style sandwiches. Shelves of Auburn gear make it a natural stop for fans and visiting families.
Toomer’s is also the only spot here open on Sundays, from noon to 5 PM. Weekday hours are 10 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday runs until 7 PM.
Saturday afternoons draw the biggest crowds. For a calmer visit, try a Tuesday or Thursday morning.
7. Dew Drop Inn Restaurant, Mobile, AL
Mobile’s oldest restaurant does not need a flashy sign to make its case. Dew Drop Inn opened in 1924, and its frozen-in-time decor shows it has not chased trends since.
The menu keeps things straightforward. Hot dogs, cheeseburgers, onion rings, and steak fries are the classics, and gumbo adds a proper Gulf Coast touch.
Daily lunch specials give regulars a reason to keep coming back. Service is quick, and there is a kids’ menu with high chairs available.
Find it at 1808 Old Shell Rd. Parking can be tight, so a little extra time helps, especially around the Monday lunch rush.
Hours run Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 3 PM, and it closes Sunday. It is a fitting final stop for anyone tracing old Alabama lunch traditions from the mountains to the coast.
From Scottsboro slaw dogs to Mobile gumbo, these seven counters prove the old ways still taste right. Pick one close to home, then share the list with whoever taught you to love a good banana split.
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