Bruce Cafe: Where the Locals Eat
If you want a real mom-and-pop “retro” experience in the south, Bruce Cafe is your place. We came here on the recommendation of a gentleman we spoke to outside of a gas station. He told us it’s where all the locals eat, so we were intrigued. Eating here is like stepping back in time. I suspect this fare would be what any southern Granny would serve up for Sunday dinner. Plus, the inside is filled this kitschy decor likely to be found in Granny’s house (if Granny was into taxidermy and plate collections).
At just $7.50, the Daily Special plus three sides advertised on the table placards is a good value. I had the beef tips and my husband had the chicken and stuffing. Given the choice, I’d recommend the chicken and stuffing. The chicken was tender and the cornbread stuffing was flavorful. Portions were generous. While the beef tips were tender, they were bland. Salt and pepper helped a little, but good food shouldn’t require additional seasoning. All of this was served up by a waitress with the highest blonde hair and brightest blue eyeshadow this side of 1988.
On the downside, I am not so sure Bruce’s would pass any food safety inspections. My daughter swears she saw the waitress reuse the biscuits on the table next to us for new patrons (I can’t make this stuff up, y’all). Plus, the restrooms are outside just past the two Shop Vacs and box of slightly rotten apples. That said, we were glad to have the authentic southern cafe experience, and for us it was worth the risk.
Bruce Cafe
Hwy 20
Ponce de Leon, FL
(860) 835-2936
We love good, home cooked, country food but this was not even fit for human consumption! It was all straight out of a can and not even warm to touch and the fried chicken was so greasy that i could hardly swallow the 1 bite that I took! My husband has a cast iron stomach and he couldn’t even finish his food! Even if it was free 3 times a day, starvation would be a better option! It is by far, the nastiest most horrible food we have ever attempted to eat and we can’t even find it in ourselves to give it 1 star for food or cleanliness. I wouldn’t even think about serving this to my dog and a homeless person would prefer to be hungry than to eat this pathetic excuse for food! Do not waste your time or money to go eat there because if you are wanting home cooked edible food, then this is not the place to go to!