The MidPoint Cafe
"Throw Yourself a Celebration ...
You've arrived at the MidPoint of Route 66!"
There's only one “MidPoint” on Route 66 - Adrian, Texas! Right now you're half-way between Los Angeles and Chicago. And on Route 66 there's only one MidPoint Cafe! Time to take a break from the road and relax. Step back in time to the hey-day of Route 66 at the MidPoint Cafe. Fran H. keeps the traditions of Route 66 alive at her vintage roadside eatery, "The MidPoint Cafe." Fran has returned the MidPoint Cafe to have the same look and feel it had in the ‘50s and ‘60s. For over 60 years the MidPoint Cafe has been serving travelers on Route 66. Cruise on in to the MidPoint Cafe; world famous for its celebrated “Ugly Crust” pies. Have you had yours today?
What's an Ugly Crust Pie?
Fran has always been lucky to have accomplished bakers work at the cafe, turning out pies just like Grandma used to make. Gwen Snyder of Vega, who worked in cafes all along Route 66 from Amarillo, Texas to San Jon, New Mexico, worked in the cafe for years until arthritis took its toll and she could no longer bake.
As a friendly gesture, Joann H. offered to help with baking duties. Joann had always enjoyed baking and the opportunity to do something she loved was an attractive offer. Little did she know that “baking pies” meant making from 10 to 20 pies per day!
Joann had a recipe handed down to her from her Grandmother Glenn for the best pie crust ever; a recipe Grandma called “No-Fail Pie Crust.” The crust recipe did not fail…it was consistently great. The only problem was that Joann could NOT seem to make her crusts as beautifully shaped as she remembered her grandmother doing…they were misshapen, lumpy, and UGLY.
Instead of taking the time to learn the art of pie-crust shaping (after all, we have to turn out a lot of pies!), Joann simply started calling her pies the “Ugly Crusts” and let it go as that…really ugly crusts, but really great tasting pies!
The name has stuck, and after many years of baking pies, the crusts have gotten a little less ugly, but they still are not as pretty as Grandma Glenn’s were!
News & Reviews
Amarillo by Dinner
By June Naylor (Texas Highways August 2008)
"At the suggestion of a pal in Amarillo, I made the 50-mile trek west along Interstate 40 to the town of Adrian. There awaited the MidPoint Café, a throwback roadside joint that sits precisely on the midpoint of Route 66, with a sign indicating that Chicago is 1,139 miles east and Los Angeles is 1,139 miles west. The MidPoint, which has been open for 18 years, is popular for its big breakfasts and old-fashioned, griddle-cooked burgers, but I heartily recommend the BLT (perfectly browned toast, lots of crispy, smoked bacon, and slices of fresh, juicy tomato)..." [Read More: Texas Highways Article]
The MidPoint Cafe has Been Featured in:
- Texas Highways
- Wall Street Journal
- Houston Chronicle
- Texas Monthly
- VFW Magazine
- Westways Magazine
- Amarillo Globe News
- Chicago Tribune
- Knight Rider Productions of Australia; Documentary
- Norwegian Route 66 Association: Documentary
- AAA Map & Guide to Route 66
- KACV, Amarillo PBS: Route 66: A Texas Journey
- Hampton Inn Roadside Attraction
Coming:
- Discovery Channel: Documentary
MidPoint Cafe Merchandise for Sale
- Coffee Cups
- Coffee Mugs
- Caps – denim, black and tan
- Shirts
- White with MidPoint Logo
- Black pocket tee with MidPoint Logo on back
- Ugly Crust Pies tee
- Long-sleeve tees with MidPoint Logo
- Denim Shirts with MidPoint Logo embroidered
- Sweatshirts with MidPoint Logo
- White with MidPoint Logo
- MidPoint Magnet
- MidPoint Travel Bags
- MidPoint Hot Sauce
- MidPoint 66 Street Signs
- Adrian Street Signs
- MidPoint Hat Pins
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