Updated: My favorite places to eat on Civil War road trips

When in Vicksburg, Miss., be sure to stop here. Steaks!

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With the closing of  Dan’s Restaurant & Tap House  in June 2023, I had to revise my list of favorite places to eat while on Civil War road trips. WARNING! The Sultana burger listed below can be hazardous to your health. 

11: Frothy Monkey, Chattanooga, Tenn.: Breakfast, swirly coffee thingie, (Battlefields: Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain)

10. Ruby Sunshine, Franklin, Tenn.: New Orleans roast coffee, big portions (Battlefields: Franklin, Spring Hill battlefields)

Loretta Tacker, owner of Tacker’s
Shake Shack in Marion, Ark.

9: Tacker’s Shake Shack, Marion, Ark.: Chocolate shakes! burgers. (Home of Sultana museum and Sultana burger)

8: Jimmy Madison’s, Harrisonburg, Va.: Caramelized brussel sprouts with bacon (Battlefields: Cross Keys New Market, Piedmont, more)

7: Hagy’s Catfish Hotel, Shiloh, Tenn.: Ribs, sweet potato with cinnamon (Battlefields: Shiloh)

6: Heritage Bakery & Cafe, Harrisonburg,Va.: Coffee and neat, little outdoor courtyard, (Battlefields: Cross Keys, Piedmont, New Market, more)

5: Carter’s Pigpen, Bar-B-Que, Mechanicsville, Va.: Brisket sandwich, tea. (Battlefields: Cold Harbor, Gaines Mills, Malvern Hill, Beaver Dam Creek, more)

4. Walker's Diner, Farmville, Va.: Fast breakfasts, Outdoor dining. Great coffee. (Battlefields: Cumberland Church, Appomattox Court House)

3: Sweet Shop Bakery, Shepherdstown, W.Va.: Coffee, cheap oatmeal raisin cookies, (Battlefields: Shepherdstown, Antietam)

2. Bonnie’s At The Red Byrd, Keedysville, Md.: Breakfast, conversation (Battlefields: Antietam, South Mountain)

1A. The Press Room, Shepherdstown, W.Va.: Fabulous Italian fare, wine. Plus, it's in an old newspaper building. Who cannot love that? They don't know this, but this is the semi-official restaurant of "The Antietam And Beyond Podcast," co-hosted by yours truly and Tom McMillan. (Battlefields: Antietam, Shepherdstown)

1. Beechwood, Vicksburg, Miss.: Steaks! My gawd. So good. In November 2023, I dined here with my "psychotic connection," Sid Champion V of Champion Hill battlefield renown. We could barely move afterward. Tremendous filet mignon, reportedly from Iowa. (Battlefields: Vicksburg, Champion Hill, Grand Gulf and much more)