Bar-B-Q is king in Ownesboro, but what do you do if you are in the mood for something other than Bar-B-Q and you want to avoid the chain restaurants?

Pangea Cafe
1320 Carter Rd
Owensboro, KY 42301-2648
(270) 689-9824

On my first visit to Owensboro, this restaurant was recommended to me as the BEST restaurant in Owensboro.  But the reality is that it doesn’t live up to the hype!    Having visited this restaurant more times than I probably should have, I have found their dishes to be inconsistent.   Some of  items are excellent, while other dishes are either very small portions or not as fresh as you can find elsewhere.     As an example, their butternut squash soup at the “Taste of Owensboro” was the best of the show — but it’s no longer on the menu.   However, we’ve found their steaks (Ribeye) to not be the freshest cuts.

Service?  Yes, you’ll get great service at the Pangea Cafe and you will find some great items on the menu, but you’ll have to experiment and try a lot of different items and most likely you will be disappointed by quite a few before you find those dishes that might, just might keep you coming back.

Roger’s Tip:  At the Pangea, ask for the chef’s recommendation for your entree making sure that you specify that you want the freshest tenderest items on their menu.

If you miss the food, diners and music of the 1950′s you can go Back to the Future in Owensboro, Kentucky by visiting:

Bee Bops Diner
122 W 2nd St, # A,
Owensboro, KY 42303
(270) 663-0623

Bee Bops is a retro ’50s diner complete with a soda fountain counter with bar stools.  

Sitting at the counter, it’s not hard to imagine Marty McFly (a.k.a Micheal J. Fox) sitting next to you as you look at the 50′s advertisements and other memorabilia including James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley decorating the walls while listening to the 50′s music including “MR. SANDMAN” and “EARTH ANGEL (WILL YOU BE MINE)”.

The food is typical diner fare which includes fresh made to order hamburgers, fries (or onion rings) and shakes.   We had a cheeseburger and found it to be served piping hot with just the right amount of cheese oozing out between the all beef patties.    At Bee Bops, you can load up your burger with as many toppings as you like including bacon and grilled onions.  But, Bee Bops menu is not limited to burger fare — you can also get salads, hot dogs, chicken and several deserts.

So, next time you are in Owensboro, be sure to step back in time by visiting Bee Bops — you won’t need a time machine to get there or back to the 21 century!

Roger’s Tip:  Stop by for breakfast as Bee Bops serves has a great breakfast menu that is made to order.