The Stagecoach Café in Stockton takes its name from the fact that it used to be on the stagecoach line.
People aren’t traveling by stagecoach anymore, but the Stagecoach Café has adapted to change over the years with a focus on good food.
COVID-19 has caused a major readjustment for the Stagecoach Café, which has long prided itself on its large buffet and customers dipping themselves large portions.
“There was a reimagining of our business,” said owner Joyce Overstreet.
Stagecoach Cafe Fried Catfish one of 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
You can still get the same great food at Stagecoach, but now it’s portioned and plated or packaged for each customer. Serve-yourself buffets are not allowed under pandemic health guidelines.
“We’re almost back to normal,” Overstreet said. “People have gotten used to our serving them.”
A favorite at the Stagecoach is the fried catfish, which starts with high-quality fish and is drenched in a mix of White Lily cornmeal, flour and “some other things,” Overstreet said.
It’s good enough to earn a spot on the Alabama Tourism Department’s list of 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama.
Overstreet is not sure there will ever be a return to the old buffet. But just like stagecoaches no longer stop there, as long as the focus is on the food she believes it will be good enough for customers to adjust to any change.
