Go on a country drive and have lunch at this Saucier staple that’s off the beaten path

Herrin’s Short Stop has been around for 18 years, and the crowds you will see here at lunch time are proof of their popularity.

It is off the beaten path, but not that hard to find.

Go north on Highway 49, exit west on Old Highway 49 and then west again on Saucier Lizana road and you are there.

The metal building the restaurant is in is nothing special, but walk in the door and you will feel right at home.

Communal seating, sincerely friendly staff and guests, and Southern-style menu that all come together and tell you that Mississippi country goodness is at hand.

The menu is made up of po-boys, sandwiches, chicken and seafood platters, ice cream and homemade desserts. The sides are all classic: fries (including sweet potato), tater tots, onion rings, fried okra, coleslaw and a few other good things. Just what you might expect in a country-style diner.

Karen Herrin is the manager, and the entire time I talked to her the phone was ringing off the hook for take out orders. There is no doubt how popular this place is with locals.

Herrin told me that the best-sellers are the shrimp po-boy, hamburgers, catfish dinner, roast beef po-boy, milkshakes and their famous banana split. I was surprised, and delighted, to see quite a few hot dogs ordered while I was there. I am a big hot dog fan, but a good one is hard to find on the Coast.

Karen confided in me that their secret is that the hot dogs are deep-fried. I should have guessed!

There is a daily $8.99 special, and the day I was there, a Wednesday, it was fried pork chop and two vegetable sides. There is also a barrel of peanuts by the front door, grab a specially provided bowl, fill it up and enjoy a few peanuts while you decide what you want. That’s pretty cool.

My overall impression was one of very pleasant and friendly folks, big portions and reasonable prices. In fact, the shrimp po-boy I saw there was the biggest I have ever seen.

Load the kids up and go for a country drive (not on Sunday!), and give this place a try. You are going to meet some friendly people and come away full and content.

If you go

Herrin’s Short Stop

Where: 23430 Saucier Lizana Rd

Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, closed Sunday-Monday

Call: 228-832-6208