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Bob Evans Restaurants: In Memory of Bob
I never met Bob Evans, but I've written about him--not him, exactly, but his restaurants. You can't be the Calendar Events editor and the Restaurant Guide editor at Ohio Magazine without mentioning Bob Evans restaurants at least once a month. When those were my jobs, the magazine ran "The Best " restaurants type article. Bob Evans received the top number of nominations for one of the catagories even though it wasn't eligible. The contest rules stated "no chains." Ohioans are relentless when it comes to hearty, comfort food, and the ballots for Bob poured in.
Bob Evans died yesterday at age 89 leaving quite the legacy. Ted Strickland, the governor of Ohio even made a statement about Bob's impact on more than the Midwest gastric experience. Bob's is a story of how loving one place, his farm in southeastern Ohio grew into a mighty business that served folks passing through. Originally, he sold meals and sausage to truckers after WW II. These days, you can barely pass a major highway exit in Ohio and in several other states without seeing a Bob Evans sign. There are 579 restaurants in all.
While I don't frequent Bob Evans restaurants often, I can't remember the last time I ate at one, I always associate them with the joy of breakfast on a road trip. The last one I went to was on I-70 between Wheeling, West Virginia and Columbus. I can picture the biscuits and that bottomless cup of coffee.
Besides going to a restaurant, you can also get the Bob Evans down home experience at the Bob Evans Farm where Bob lived with his family for 20 years. The family farm has been turned into a museum and craft store, plus it still functions as a farm, although none of the animals here will end up on a breakfast table. From April to December the farm is open to tourists. Click here for the activities calendar. One day, I'll make it here. It's been on my places to go with the kids list for years.
In the meantime I may head on over to the closest restaurant to my house (about two miles) and have a biscuit and think of Bob. One of my friends who worked at Ohio Magazine with me suggested all the writers who've had a Bob connection in any way should have a gathering in his honor. We're thinking about it. He's given us all something to write about.
Filed under: History, Business, Food and Drink, Stories, North America, United States
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GJohnson Oct 26th 2008 12:45AM
Please tell me how to find your senior menu on the computer.
Jamie Rhein Oct 26th 2008 12:51AM
Hi GJohnson,
Here's how to find the senior menu. Go to the Bob Evan's website, here's the link http://www.bobevans.com/
On the left handside of the screen, you'll see a list of topics. Move the cursor to the one that says "Our Restaurants." Another list of topics will come up. Click on Menu info. Scroll down the page that comes up. The Senior Menu is right below Dinner Menu.
Hope this helps. I don't work for Bob Evans, I just wrote about Bob Evans, but thought this was one of those questions I can actually answer. I'm glad you found my post.
Justin Glow Jun 22nd 2007 12:10PM
I had an uncle named Bob Evans.
In Joplin, Missouri, in 1995 (or so), we stopped at a Bob Evans on a road trip. I ordered the chicken-fried steak, and the gravy was green. That's my only Bob Evans memory.
John Kelley Jun 27th 2007 9:58AM
A Portsmouth, Ohio friend with high blood pressure was told by his doctor: `If its on a Bob Evans menu, you can't have it.' Just the same, those biscuits are gooood!
Karen Jun 22nd 2007 1:35PM
Bob Evans Restaurant was the only place that I was "carded" (checked for age) that didn't serve alcohol. I only wanted to order off the "Seniors"
menu, AND I was OLD enough
xbird Jun 22nd 2007 3:25PM
If you can't remember the last time you ate at one, then how did you know the last one you went to was on I-70 between Wheeling, West Virginia and Columbus? And how would you be able to picture the biscuits and that bottomless cup of coffee?
Jamie Rhein Jun 22nd 2007 3:30PM
Well, what I meant was I can't remember the last time specifically but the last time I can remember a specific time was that I-70 one. I always get biscuits and I drink so much coffee it's amazing I don't float away. There is always a bottomless cup of coffee at Bob Evans. The biscuits have that sort of buttery crust and soft inside that breaks apart just right.
akl168 Jun 22nd 2007 11:20PM
I grew to love Bob Evans after spending 5 years in Ohio for undergrad and grad school and missed it after moving to DC. We'd usually stop for lunch at the one near Morgantown (near I68/I79) whenever we drove between Columbus and DC. I think I'll have an artery clogging country fried steak today in honor of Bob...
Jamie Rhein Jun 22nd 2007 11:21PM
Aren't those, this is always where we stop meals, great?
Chas Jun 23rd 2007 8:33PM
Having been employed by BEF sales division, I can recall when a then young Dan Evans said that one day they would like to have 4 restaurants in Columbus, one east, west north and south.... how many are there today??
Jimmer Jun 25th 2007 10:49PM
Living in Omaha, we're juuuuust a little too far north... and west... to be near enough a Bob Evans restaurant to go frequently for breakfast. But whenever I travel, I LOOK for one - thanks for all the great (and I do mean insanely great) sausage gravy and biscuits, Bob... RIP.