Oklahoma's Own: Half A Century Of Home Cookin' In Eufaula

Craig Day, News On 6

EUFAULA, Oklahoma -- With the weather in Oklahoma really hot, lots of folks are headed to Lake Eufaula.  While you're there, make time to stop to eat at a place locals have loved for more than half a century, JM's Restaurant in Eufaula.

You'll find it flame broiled and fried, and finger lickin' good.

"It's just home cooking," said customer Janie Patterson.

Like many in Eufaula, Steve Swadley grew up eating at JM's. He bought the restaurant with his wife Beverly five years ago when JM Bailey retired, keeping the name and the same great food.

"Chopped sirloins," said waitress Jennifer Collins.

"One of the best things we have is omelettes," said Steve Swadley.

"I like the catfish. The catfish is real good," said customer Ronnie Phipps.

If it's down home comfort food, chances are they have it.  While longtime customers say everything is good, the restaurant is really well known for a couple of Oklahoma favorites.

"Chicken fry is what we sell the most of," said Jennifer Collins.

The chicken fried steak, never frozen, always good.

"We have our own way of fixing the batter. And that's kind of the secret to it. You can't give out the secrets," Steve Swadley said.

But the secret is out about JM's hand cut, angus steaks. Seasoned just right and mouth watering good.

"You get more than you can handle. You get more than you can eat," said Jennifer Collins.

There's a lot of mouth watering stuff at JM's, from homemade yeast rolls to bacon cheeseburgers, fried shrimp to mashed potatoes.

"The mashed potatoes are lumpy like Mama used to make. You know they're not instant because they have big chunks of potatoes in them," said Ronnie Phipps, customer.

It's like the food mama used to make, and the food you'd find on the menu when JM's opened in 1955.

"In 50 some years, we haven't changed much at all," said Steve Swadley. "Everything was just working great, so let's just keep it like it was."

Locals love it that way. After all, sometimes change isn't a good thing. And at JM's Restaurant it's the old familiar favorites that keep people coming back.

"Been coming here for 40 years," customer Janie Patterson said.

"It's like a home cooked meal, without you having to cook," said Jennifer Collins.

JM's Restaurant is open seven days a week, 6:30 a.m to 8:30 p.m. at night Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sundays.  It's on state Highway 9, which is Selmon Road when you come into Eufaula.