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    Mama Lou's

    3.8 (51 reviews)
    InexpensiveSouthern, Buffets
    Closed 10:30 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Mama Lou's Photos

    Business Info

    MAMA LOU'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Marley G.

    When my parents first moved to Baldwin County in 2001, we regularly visited Mama Lou's. There was a change of ownership at some point and the food and service quality took a dip. My parents hadn't been here in many years, but on a recent visit, I read new reviews posted about the restaurant and they were praising the food and service...so, I took my mother for the first time in years and it turned into four visits during my extended stay. First off, this is a kitchy, Cracker-Barrel looking place that's simple and easy and homey. But, it's original and locally owned. Everything is made from scratch and fresh and delicious. You enter through the front and proceed straight to the back to the buffet. It's double-sided with trays, plates, and cutlery. A server comes to get your drink order immediately and has it delivered to your table just as quickly. First at the buffet is the salad. There's a great choice of greens, toppings, fresh vegetables, cheese, egg, dressings, bacon, croutons, etc. They also have very delicious coleslaw. Next up in line are the desserts. They typically have three or four choices of pudding, mousse, cake, or cobbler. I will honestly say they're not the best desserts I've ever had, it the entree choices make up for it. Following are the vegetable choices. You get standard choices you'd get at any meat-and-three. Everything is fresh and hot and well-seasoned. On my few visits, I enjoyed the mac and cheese, summer squash, green beans, lima beans, black-eyed peas, collards, turnips and, of course, the fried chicken. Simply heavenly. I live in Savannah and get to eat the perfect Lady and Son's fried chicken and I will say Mama Lou's comes quite close to it. Go hungry and eat your meal of the day. You'll leave full and happy with a memorable experience. Remember to tip the staff for taking care of your messy plates and for refilling your drinks. They work hard and deserve it. Thanks to the new ownership (not sure when things changed over the years) and keep up the good work!

    Possibly the worlds best fried chicken.

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    3 months ago

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    18 days ago

    Oh my everything was delicious and fresh. Peach Cobbler was to die for. Staff was friendly. Music was even good .

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    2 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Everything is wonderful,fresh,and hot,plenty ,plus weekly menue changes for plenty of variety.

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    5 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Just not very professional. Food sat under the warming lights too long and they couldn't even get our drinks right.

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    3 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Food is good home cooking. Fried pork chops like mom used to cook. Service is good too. I wish they were open for supper.

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Servers very nice but food disappointing. was room temperature not the least bit warm.

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

    yes this is the best place ever i have been going there since i can remember there chicken is soo delicious!!!!!

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Excellent! Good ole home cooked all you can eat for $11 wow only open for 4 hours a day

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    8 years ago

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Mama Lou's

    Review Highlights - Mama Lou's

    When my parents first moved to Baldwin County in 2001, we regularly visited Mama Lou's.

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    People searched for Southern 375 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

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    Southern Food - Made some Southern Mac n cheese with 3 cheese, Cajun spices and crawfish tails. It is delicious!!!

    Southern Food

    4.7(3 reviews)
    19.6 mi

    Southern food includes Meat-and-Three restaurants, barbeque, fried ANYthing, fresh caught fish, and…read morehunted game. Hominy, hush puppies, cornbread, grits, Alabama white sauce on any meat, especially smoked chicken, are all popular in Alabama. BBQ is practically a religion in the South! As former certified Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) certified judges, my husband and I completed the training and paid the fees to be certified. The "KCBS way" is different from a lot of people's preferences in that, for example, a BBQ rib should actually have some "pull" to it, meaning, when you bite into it, your mouth should leave a mark in the rib. This means "fall off the bones" ribs are not KDBS quality, despite how many love that rib consistency. The KCBS judges slots fill up so quickly and required us to travel at our own cost and we did not judge any KCBS events. Back to Southern food. Deep fried double Oreos are one of the many fried foods here in Huntsville, and Melt restaurant features them on their menu. Meat-and-Three restaurants feature a meat (usually fried pork chop, meatloaf, BBQ, fried catfish, country fried steak/chicken) and three sides (fried okra, creamed corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, baked potato, potato salad, cole slaw, French fries) and bread options such as cornbread, rolls, hush puppies. While Southern Cooking is absolutely delicious, I have to limit it because lets face it, it is high in calories and cholesterol. When I do indulge, it's shrimp and grits, pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, and fried whole okra.

    This is really a Rouses grocery store with an excellent deli area. I like that the meats and…read moreofferings are fresh. I like to get my fruit here because it is often locally sourced and very fresh. The staff is always helpful and cooperative. Sometimes it's pretty busy because of tourists, but everyone is always kind.

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    Southern Food - I cook southern style sometimes, it is one of my comfort food choices.

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    I cook southern style sometimes, it is one of my comfort food choices.

    Saraceno's

    Saraceno's

    4.5(61 reviews)
    10.6 mi
    $$

    Brought my dad here for his first encounter! He loved it! As does anyone else in Baldwin County…read morethat knows about this jewel. The food is down right southern cooking and complete perfection! The atmosphere-laid back, no frills but clean and welcoming. A must for anyone close by!

    Well, this has been a mainstay in the Fairhope area since 2011, and has always been a favorite for…read morea good, filling meal. The amount of food to choose from is vast. Veggies and side Turnip greens Mashed potatoes Mac and cheese Cabbage Corn Rutabaga Pinto beans Green beens Rice Entrees Spaghetti Baked chicken Fried chicken Pulled pork Fried fish Buffalo Bites Chicken and Dumplings Chicken livers Also turnip soup Salad bar Rolls, cornbread and a bunch of desserts. One interesting thing is that while it is all you can eat, they serve it cafeteria style. So you tell them what you want and they put it on the plate. This must have changed since COVID. You used to be able to serve yourself. The food is good, but it taste like someone is cooking scared. Nothing had any seasoning. Nothing popped with flavor. No smoke on the pulled pork (I got outside meat to be able to taste it) Bland spaghetti, bland chicken and dumplings, bland greens, bland, bland, bland - except for the fried chicken and fried fish which were okay, compared to the rest. Service was not overly friendly, or even friendly either. Pretty much here's your seat, here's your drink. I would probably come back one more time. Definitely will not come back if the next time is like this time. 2 1-2 stars is what I would give it. Rounding up to 3 in memory of a place that used to be a lot better.

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    Saraceno's - Vegetables

    Vegetables

    Saraceno's
    Saraceno's

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    Mama Lou's - southern - Updated May 2026

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