Paw Paw Patch

The “lost art” of cafeteria-style dining is alive and well at the Paw Paw Patch. The restaurant, opened by Joyce Melton and her family in 1985, serves home-style meals that are both quick and delicious.

“[Customers] come here because it’s fast and because it’s almost as good as Mama makes,” said John Bertolini, the restaurant manager. “I get comments that the food is just outstanding and they can walk in the door and be sitting down eating in two minutes, which is a big plus for the business area.”

The Green Springs Highway restaurant has been in Melton’s family since 1965, when it was an ice cream shop called Dairy Snack. The shop sold hamburgers for 15 cents and Coca-Cola for a nickel. The family decided they wanted to be a full-service restaurant in 1985, and the Paw Paw Patch was born.

“It was a family desire of my father’s just to have a country cooking, cafeteria-style restaurant,” said Melton, who is now the owner.

The restaurant was named after Melton’s father, whom his grandchildren called “Paw Paw.” The paw paw tree on the front sign has special significance for Melton as well.

“[My father] used to sing us the song, ‘Way Down Yonder in the Paw Paw Patch,’” Melton said.

After 25 years in business, the Paw Paw Patch’s convenient and tasty food has earned the loyalty of many Homewood customers and employees. Bertolini described the restaurant as a “big family” where they know the regular diners by name and the staff rarely changes. One employee, in fact, has been with the restaurant since its Dairy Snack days.

“We have a lot of people who eat here every day and have eaten here every day for 25 years. Some of them come twice a day,” Melton said.

The Paw Paw Patch menu always includes several classic favorites like Fried Chicken or Steak and Gravy, which come with two vegetable sides and a choice of a dinner roll, cornbread or jalapeño cornbread. They also offer a different special every day, with options like Monday’s Chicken and Dumplings or Friday’s Fried Catfish. Dessert choices include Cookies and Cream Pie, Banana Pudding and daily cobbler selections.

“My menu has basically been the same for 25 years, but we do change it daily — a little variation — to give that person who comes over and over a variety,” Melton said.

Popular menu items include the Country-Fried Steak and Gravy and the Fried Catfish, which Melton’s father used to eat every Friday. Bertolini’s personal favorite is Wednesday’s special, Meatloaf.

“It’s made from scratch,” said Bertolini. “We use all fresh ingredients in our homemade meatloaf, and to me that’s a big plus.”

Bertolini and Melton are considering adding new vegetable and entrée choices, such as Carrots and Veal Parmesan, in the future. However, Melton’s classic menu built on family recipes will largely remain the same.

“If it’s not broke, you don’t try to fix it,” Bertolini said.