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We've got Big Ones!

Double entendres aside, this greasy burger tastes like home.

By CatsidhePublished 3 years ago Updated 3 months ago 3 min read
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Credit: http://www.madeinmississippi.us/wards-restaurant/

Although I live in the Midwest now, I was actually born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Hattiesburg is "famous" for two things: having a unique name (there aren't any other cities named "Hattiesburg" in the entire United States) and being the Hub City, so called because you pass through Hattiesburg to get to any number of notable destinations in the Southeastern United States.

However, a lesser known trivia fact is that it is also the birthplace of Ward's, a Mississippi fast food chain. Growing up in Hattiesburg, Ward's became a special part of my life. Not only was it founded in the same place I was born, it was also founded in the year of my birth. Added to that, my father personally knew the Ward brothers, the twin founders whose hard work grew the business from a single location to a chain with locations throughout the state.

To locals, Ward's is known for two things: chili and root beer. They put their chili on any number of items, but the most well-known are the aptly named "Big One" and "Lil' One." The Big One is a quarter pounder with chili, cheese, onions, and a dressing that's a combination of mustard and mayonnaise. The Lil' One is a smaller burger with the same toppings.

The chili is spicy without being overwhelming and a little greasier than it really needs to be, but that's part of the experience. This is a cheat day meal if there ever was one. The experience hits on every note; it's savory, acidic, creamy, and meaty all at once. Although I'm usually a fan of mayonnaise, I like to forego it here to really crank up the acid level. There's something perfectly tangy about the mix of chili and yellow mustard.

Another personal favorite is the chili cheese dog. It comes with chili, cheese, and onions. Once again, I like to add yellow mustard to mine. The hot dog is boiled, the kind of cheap dog that turns hot pink when you boil it. Far from a gourmet dog, but it's the perfect complement to the greasy, spicy chili.

And don't forget the French fries. They're frozen, not homemade, but somehow they're always perfectly fried and fresh. The texture is salty and crisp on the outside and piping hot and soft on the inside. I spent many a drive home as a child holding fries up to the car's air conditioning to cool them down enough for snacking on the way home.

For dessert, there are homemade chocolate chip cookies. They're large, the size of your palm. The edges are crisp, but the inside is chewy. I like to start at the edges and save the tender center for last.

Don't forget to wash the whole meal down with a homemade root beer. Ward's serves its signature beverage in a frosty cold glass mug. It has the typical herbal bite of root beer with just enough of a creamy, vanilla finish to mellow out the experience, and the carbonation is always on point. If you prefer, you can turn the root beer into dessert by ordering a root beer float, a mix of root beer and soft serve vanilla ice cream.

Ward's doesn't just do burgers and dogs, though. They also serve up a mean breakfast. They sell every variant of biscuit you can think of, including two types of sausage (patty or link). Be warned, though, if you order the link sausage, it has a hefty kick to it that would please any spice lover. The biscuit itself is the real attraction, though; it's soft, doughy, and far more buttery than it has any need to be. In other words, it's the perfect biscuit for a truly Southern breakfast sandwich.

Aside from the ever-present chili, root beer, and biscuits, there's another interesting thing about Ward's: no two Ward's have exactly the same menu. While it is a chain, each location seems to have an item that's unique to itself. Some locations may have onion rings, some may have fried shrimp, and some even have catfish. You never know what surprise awaits on the menu when you stop at a new location.

So, if you're traveling through Mississippi at some point, be sure to look for Ward's signature yellow, red, and white sign. It's your chance to taste a true, Mississippi-homegrown institution. And, if your route takes you through Hattiesburg, be sure to check out my favorite location at 6146 US-98. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you'll be glad you stopped.

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About the Creator

Catsidhe

Pronounced Cat-she: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat-s%C3%ACth

A public figure writing privately

Dark poems and fiction my specialty

Come explore the abyss with me

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