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Donna from Shawnee, KS on 3/9/2015 12:11:37 PM:

Yeah, I know it's a weird question but my biking companion is letting me make all the plans, and has asked for only one thing -- that we find some fried chicken along the trail. (Why? Because he only allows himself to eat fried chicken when he's on vacation.) We're riding from Sedalia to Hermann. Any suggestions?

dc from Jefferson City on 3/9/2015 1:04:30 PM:

Nicks's family restaurant in Jefferson City at the airport.
We are available to serve you Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on Friday we reopen at 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sundays 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

If you are traveling later in the day come on into Jeff City and go to Welcome-inn again which is open all day. Same great family recipe. 130 E Dunklin

Donna from Shawnee, KS on 3/9/2015 1:26:02 PM:

Thank you! That actually works out perfectly.

Donna from Shawnee, KS on 3/9/2015 1:31:01 PM:

Or not! We'll be travelling through Jefferson City on an early Saturday morning. Other suggestions?

ArkyKenny on 3/9/2015 3:05:23 PM:

On the east end, you will pass by a large number of C-stores, bars, restaurants, etc. (i.e. Treloar, Mokane). In the middle and west, Marthasville, Jeff City, Columbia, Booneville, Sedalia, and Clinton will all have it, as will the C-stores you pass through in places like Pilot Grove.

Jim from St Thomas on 3/9/2015 4:37:57 PM:

I'm pretty sure Trailside Café in Rhineland will have fried chicken. I would also check with P4 Pub and Grub in Tebbetts and Riverfront Bar and Grill in Portland. Click on the city name on the map above to get the phone numbers.

Anonymous on 3/9/2015 9:41:57 PM:

I don't have interest in any of these places, but I prefer the bar in Portland to the food at Rhineland....though I really like staying at Dollhouse B&B. That's just my taste/preference.

Donna from Shawnee, KS on 3/10/2015 7:47:02 AM:

We're at the Dollhouse, so that's good news. Lots of options here! Thanks!

MAH from Blue Springs on 3/10/2015 1:25:43 PM:

If you can work out visiting Nick's, I would try it. I give 2 thumbs up for their fried chicken. We've been there twice for their fried chicken. A short ride away from the North Jefferson trailhead!

oldgeezer from Beaufort on 3/13/2015 11:27:50 AM:

You have Nick's, Churches, Lee's, Kentucky Fried plus the grocery stores in Jeff City. But the best chicken is at Johnny's Steak and Pizza on MO Blvd. in Jeff City. He fries it and then steam smokes it with Greek spices. Yum yum!!!

Donna from Shawnee, KS on 3/13/2015 1:02:13 PM:

Greek chicken sounds yummy! We're not looking for chain or c-store chicken, just some local diner-ish place that does good old-fashioned pan-fried chicken. I read somewhere that the Riverfront Bar & Grill in Portland is really good, and also the Claysville Cafe in Hartsburg.

Jim from St Thomas on 3/13/2015 2:31:51 PM:

The Claysville Store does indeed have great chicken. It in Claysville about 3 miles east of Hartsburg. They are only open Saturday 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm and Sunday 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm so if you're holding to original schedule you'll be past them before they open.

mrodemeyer@socket.net from Hartsburg on 3/14/2015 12:11:48 PM:

Without a doubt the Claysville Café is the best on the trail, best chicken, best people. You can't beat the Hooibrinks (Mark and Laura). Fine, friendly folks.

Anonymous on 3/17/2015 4:48:58 AM:

Pack some boxes of KFC. Not a problem.

Dotty Manns from Hartsburg on 3/25/2015 7:41:35 AM:

Pan fried chicken at Dottys Cafe every wednesday this summer. Stop on by. We are back!!!

Donna from Shawnee, KS on 3/25/2015 12:53:02 PM:

Wish we were going to be there on a Wednesday! I'm hoping we'll see you for breakfast :-)

oldgeezer from Beaufort, on 3/27/2015 7:41:08 AM:

I have been eating at Johnny's Steak and Pizza for 35 years, the last 28 driving 80 miles one way. My wife and I, sometimes friends and neighbors, make the trip about once a month. Not only great chicken, but great Greek pizza, giros, steaks, and Greek salad. During the week at lunch, they have a great buffet.

If you find better chicken on your travels, let me know where. My wife, 2 friends, and I will be there tonight for supper. That is 160 miles round trip to eat! And no, I am not related or affiliated in anyway, just love the chicken and other food there.

Donna from Shawnee, KS on 3/27/2015 11:19:19 AM:

Geezer, that's some lofty praise! I'm trying to figure out how to get to Johnny's from the trail. I don't want to veer too far off the path. Jeff City is a scary place to drive, much less ride a bike.

oldgeezer from Beaufort on 3/27/2015 12:46:51 PM:

Take the Katy trail spur and cross the Missouri River Bridge. Turn right onto West Main. West Main to left on Brooks St. Brooks to right onto West McCarty St. West McCarty to left onto Hughes St. Hughes St. to left onto Dix Rd. Dix Rd to right onto MO Blvd. Go about 200 yards to Johnny's on the right. Total of 3.6 miles. You can eat and extra giro for the extra miles!!!

I have taken this route a few times on my bike from the Katy. Traffic is not bad except at rush hour and just before and after noon. Try to make it to Dix Rd. and Missouri Blvd by 11 am and you should be alright. Enjoy your meal and wait for the noon traffic to die down before returning to the Katy.

Anonymous on 3/27/2015 6:57:32 PM:

I like Johnny's but I wouldn't ride that route just to eat chicken.

MidSouth from Rogersville, MO on 3/27/2015 7:42:34 PM:

I think a granola bar would hold me over until I got to Dotty's...LOL

Doug from Bluffton on 3/28/2015 10:24:36 AM:

I think it would be a lot simpler for someone from out of the area to just take W. Main to Dix left to Mo. Blvd. right. Dix Road over hwy 50 being the only part testing their nerves.

Gary from Near Tebbetts on 3/29/2015 9:32:27 AM:

Another possibility is to take Boliver to Dunklin Street, then take the Greenway Bike Trail to Dix road. This will bypass most all of the little nasty traffic areas.

Gary from Near Tebbetts on 3/30/2015 9:39:55 AM:

One minor correction, you'll need to get off the Greenway Bike Trail at Southwest Blvd., otherwise you will find yourself going the wrong way on the one way Dix road.

Cathy from Jefferson City on 3/31/2015 11:51:27 AM:

I hate to be negative, and I know I should phrase this in a way that won't hurt anyone's feelings, but I like to communicate clearly. so here goes: many local people in Jefferson City are not impressed with Johnny's. So I don't recommend you bike there early Sat. morning (they probably won't even be open then). I looked back at the beginning of this thread and read a few posts and you said your companion wants fried chicken, where can you get it, and you'll be in the Jefferson City area early Sat. So forget about fried chicken in Jefferson City, unless you will be here at lunch or in the evening. Then try Nick's Family restaurant at the airport (see hours he posted) or plan to spend the night in Jefferson City and take a cab to the Welcome Inn Again. Definitely do not ride your bike to Johnny's. And for that matter, do not ride your bike on Missouri Blvd. I love Jefferson City, but many drivers here are not educated about sharing the road with bikes. For that matter people who drive on Missouri Blvd. don't know how to share the road with other cars!

Anonymous on 3/31/2015 6:10:05 PM:

How is it that if in your ( and others) opinion that someplace is subpar, that if you say so, it is negative? I find going with the flow and agreeing that all should just keep the rose colored glasses on to be a far greater debacle than stating an honest opinion. Being honest is a positive thing to do.

oldgeezer from Beaufort on 3/31/2015 8:55:51 PM:

Donna from Kansas, I have ridden the route to Johnny's several times with no problem. When you get to Missouri Blvd, you don't have to ride on the street. If traffic is heavy, you can walk your bike on the grass. It is not that far from Dix rd. And if you do eat at Johnny's and don't like the chicken, I'll pay for it. Best chicken I have ever eaten!!!!!

I just read your 3rd post about early Saturday morning. Johnny doesn't open until 10 or 11. But my offer still stands for you and your companion. If you do get to Johnny's, try the buffet and sample everything. Good luck.

Donna from Shawnee, KS on 4/1/2015 9:47:59 AM:

Well, who knew fried chicken was so controversial? We'll be spending Friday night in either Hartsburg or Jeff City, and we have to make it to Rhineland Saturday. Johnny's in Jeff City then would be a Friday night thing (assuming we don't stop in Hartsburg) ... which means that Saturday, we could possibly find chicken in Portland at the Riverfront B&G, or that evening at the Trailside in Rhineland (where I've read the food isn't that great, but they do have a fried chicken buffet on Saturday night). Anyhoo ... IF we make it to Jeff City Friday night, we'll probably give Johnny's a shot, not just for the fried chicken but to check the place out on Geezer's recommendation :-) And maybe we'll just take a cab there.

Anonymous on 4/1/2015 9:31:59 PM:

I'm a little confused. How many days are you taking to do Sedalia to Hermann?

Donna from Shawnee, KS on 4/3/2015 7:58:53 AM:

Wednesday through Saturday. Wednesday, Sedalia to Pilot Grove; Thursday, PG to Rocheport; Friday; Rocheport to Hartsburg or JC; Saturday, to Rhineland. We regularly do 20 mile treks on trails with hills so it shouldn't be a problem ... in fact, I'm anticipating a reasonably low-key trip.

Jim from St Thomas on 4/3/2015 11:49:54 AM:

That should be a fairly easy ride. The there is a long steady climb from Clifton City to Pilot Grove that catches some folks by surprise. I think I would roll on in to Jeff City Friday so you won't have almost 50 miles to do on your last day. There is lodging fairly close to the bridge and the Capitol grounds and Governor's Garden are nice to stroll around. Arris' Pizza is right across the street from the Capitol and is a local favorite if you can talk your friend out of eating chicken. :-)

oldgeezer from Beaufort, MO on 4/24/2015 7:04:16 PM:

Donna, have you ridden the Katy yet? I hope to ride from Dutzow to Clinton and back next week if the weather is decent. I will eat at Johnny's going and coming back! I hope to make it in 3 days. If not, it will take longer!

Sharonbikes from Kansas City on 4/27/2015 9:51:22 AM:

Nicks at the Jeff City airport has my vote for best fried chicken in town! I don't much care for Johnny's. I wouldn't ride my bike on Missouri Boulevard unless I absolutely had to. If you are up for adventure, Everest Cafe in. Jeff Cify has amazing and healthy food. It's along Missouri Boulevard up the hill from Target and Wal Mart. Google for the address. No fried chicken, though.

Sharon

Donna from Shawnee, KS on 4/27/2015 2:11:17 PM:

Our trip is in June. We decided to spend the night in Jeff City instead of Hartsburg so HOPEFULLY we can make it to Johnny's or Nick's, depending what time we arrive and our energy/adventure level at the end of the day!

Cathy from Jefferson City on 4/27/2015 5:40:02 PM:

It seems to me that someone who is so determined to eat fried chicken on their vacation would also be anxious to eat the best ice cream in the world - yes, I am referring to Jefferson City's Central Dairy. They are open Mon. - Sat. 8 am - 6 pm, and Sun. 10 - 6. One of their banana splits easily feeds 2 people. In case you aren't aware of their reputation, they are considered one of the major tourists draws for Jefferson City. Right up there with the Capitol and Governor's Mansion. Enjoy your ride.

Sharonbikes from Kansas City on 4/27/2015 8:33:40 PM:

Mmmm-mmmm. Central Dairy.

Donna from Shawnee, KS on 4/28/2015 9:06:40 AM:

I'm just trying to keep the boyfriend happy :-) He'd LOVE Central Dairy. I don't eat carbs, so I'm out on Central Dairy AND fried chicken.

dc from Jefferson City on 4/28/2015 9:11:53 AM:

Central Dairy is within a block of Welcome-Inn Again which has the same great fried chicken as Nicks.

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