If you know what a “tater hawg” is... you might be from Effingham County. No, it’s not a baby pig or a fishing lure or even the nickname of a stand-up comedian. It’s the specialty on the menu at Poppy’s Country Cafe. The love for Poppy’s Tater Hawgs runs so deep that in some offices, Thursday is referred to as “Tater Hawg Day”.
So, what is a Tater Hawg, you ask? It’s an extra large twice-baked potato smothered with melted cheddar cheese and minced chicken or pork barbecue. Mercifully, the fluffy potato mixture is not overly rich. There is a lot more potato than ‘cue, so after you’ve eaten all of the topping, douse it with more of their tangy mustard-based barbecue sauce to help you finish off the potato. I can’t say that I had ever previously put barbecue sauce on a baked potato but in this situation it seemed perfectly natural.
Barbecue had been Poppy’s mainstay, but recently the owners shifted focus from daily barbecue to country style food. Two entrees are offered per day including pork tenderloin, fried chicken, beef stew, chicken pot pie, 1/4 smoked chicken, fried white fish with grits and hamburger steak with rice and gravy. I ordered the latter, expecting something like Salisbury steak with rich brown gravy, but got one-and-a-half thick burger patties in a light broth over rice. Fortunately, the grilled onions on top lend good flavor. I would rather eat these hamburgers grilled and on a bun with a side of their tastier red rice, which is flavored with bits of ham, onions, bell peppers and tomato. It is rather sweet though, as is the corn muffin. The green beans are properly seasoned with bacon and cooked until they are plenty tender but not falling apart. Other sides include traditional favorites such as black-eyed peas, macaroni and cheese, Brunswick stew, potato salad and coleslaw. I appreciate how they finely chop the coleslaw and the barbecue which makes it easier to eat without abandoning one’s manners. My kids like both better this way too.
The service is fast casual, so order at the cashier and wait for your food to be brought to you. The dining areas are the former living room and bedroom of this quaint little house. The cozy atmosphere makes it easy to visit with friends and neighbors at the next table over. It’s an ideal setting for homestyle cooking.
So, next time you’re in the mood to pig out on a weekday, head over to Poppy’s Country Cafe for a satisfying lunch.
QUICK PICKS
For the barbecue plate: Thursdays only
For the biggest of appetites or a dish to share: Tater Hawg (Thursdays and Fridays only)
For the light appetite: salad or wrap with smoked meat of your choice
For the piglets: chips, cookie and choice of hot dawg (note UGA spelling), hawg dawg, pb&j or pizza for $5
POPPY’S BBQ AND COUNTRY CAFE
Where: 205 N. Laurel St., Springfield
Phone: 912-754-0886
Web: “Like” them on Facebook
Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday (no longer open evenings)
Price range: $8-10
Alcohol: no
Catering/take-out: yes