218 Main St., Suite 110, Trussville
655-0330
www.cafeonmainfood.com
Lunch served seven days a week. "We add a touch of class to the traditional 'meat and three' restaurant." Vegetables are hand-selected from the Farmer's Market and prepared in the traditional Southern way. Every Thursday the traditional Thanksgiving meal for lunch and dinner is offered. Also known for fried green tomatoes, baked tomatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, fried chicken and banana pudding.

1900-1st Avenue North, Irondale, Alabama
956-5258
www.whistlestopcafe.com
This historic lunch spot was the setting for the novel "Fried Green Tomatoes at the WhistleStop Cafe" by Fannie Flagg and the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes." With over 70 years of tradition, it serves up old-fashioned Southern cooking like fried chicken, roast turkey, fried okra, mashed potatoes, butter beans, biscuits, and, of course, fried green tomatoes.

312 Main St., Trussville
655-8248
Serving meat-and-three lunch for more than 20 years, Joel's steam table typically holds four meats and nine to 10 vegetables, such as macaroni and cheese, fried okra, green beans, turnip greens, creamed potatoes, cabbage casserole and pinto beans. Fried green tomatoes are cooked to order.

1603 Center Point Parkway (Eastgate Shopping Center)
853-0029
According to City Scene's 2004 review, white tablecloths and fresh flowers dress up a cinderblock storefront. Go early, or you risk chicken and dumplings with gummy dumplings and dried-out macaroni and cheese. High marks, however, for beef stew, chicken pan pie, squash casserole, fried green tomatoes, creamed corn, green beans, fried okra, and carrot cake. Lunch only.