Bus Drivers and Food! Top 4 bus friendly places to eat... Kinda...
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- Опубліковано 11 лип 2024
- When it comes to a good meal, Motor Coach operators are at the mercy of their groups usually. But when their passengers are off doing their thing... A coach driver is free to explore the food scene of their temporary home away from home.
But with only a 45 foot motor coach to get around... Finding parking at your favorite restaurant may be a challenge.
Today I am going to go over 4 of my favorite places to eat that I found while driving motor coach trips. I will rate them from 1 to 10 on 4 categories.
Bus friendly parking
Group friendly seating
Food quality
and Bang for the buck.
For all of you who are drivers of coach buses or RV's. These suggestions may come in handy someday when you guys are in the area.
Enjoy!
54 passengers and a driver on a 8 hour trip after eating red beans and rice. Living the life, man.
LOL That might be a hazard!
So glad comments dont have smellivision, or maybe an updated version for the 21st centruy, iSmell LOL
Lamberts Cafe in Sikeston, MO. It's just west of the interstate about 2 miles from the Illinois-Missouri border near I 57. Buffet style restaurant. The driver eats free when bringing a large motorcoach group. Lamberts is known as "The home of the throwred rolls. " You sit at your table and wave your hands to request the freshly made dinner rolls. They are thrown across the dining room to you and you have to catch them, thus the slogan. I also was able to snag a free container of molasses as well. I had to drive my group back to Chicago on a very full stomach. I would recommend this place to any coach driver. The groups will live the food and the driver gets to enjoy a great FREE MEAL.
Oh man. That was actually in my list of restaurants to mention... But it was getting too long and I had to cut it out... I'll add that one on the next food video I do.
@@MotorcoachWorld love Lambert's been to this one a couple of times so much so I had to take my wife there as a stopover for lunch on a recent road trip her and I took to New Orleans, she was amazed at all that was going on there besides the thrown rolls. they come around with other sides you can try like fried potatoes, fried okra, stewed tomatoes and more. It is not a buffet but there servings are big you get a huge drink plus all the extra sides they come around with you definitely don't go away hungry and the prices are within reason. The only drawback is if there are other buses ahead of you you might end up sitting on your bus for awhile before they call you to come in. Great place!!!
Don't forget your goodie bag for driver's and escorts.
@@ewelmo3921 definitely! I got some molasses from them!
@@MotorcoachWorld Always remember your free meal means anything on the menu, yes including the 23 oz ribeye steak ( my favorite)!
As a former school bus driver, I can vouch for Jim's Original. Tasty food in a hurry.
I'm a truck driver from Rochester NY. I don't know if you come to this area very often but if you ever do there are 2 restaurants you have to try. Nick Tahou's which makes this thing called a Garbage plate, it's 2 hot dogs, hamburgers or cheeseburgers (or a combination thereof) served on a bed of home fries and Mac salad. Covered with meat hot sauce, diced onions, mustard and Ketchup. The second place is Dinosaur BBQ, they serve mostly ribs and other bbq fare. Have an awesome day and safe travels!
Impressed with your other talents like playing the Harmonica! 😂
Right? Thats actually not bad!
Hey thanks.
James.. are you grateful that you gained your bus/coach driving experience in America! What a buzz!
Something I discovered as an electric car owner that could be useful for motorcoach drivers, if you want to get around, 5-10 mile range from your vehicle, consider getting a relatively affordable and decent electric scooter and stowing it in your vehicle.
Also, if you're ever in Texas, AL, GA, FL, please try and visit a Buc-ee's. They are the best place to park a 45 foot land cruise ship, truckers love them. 100 gas pumps.
In house made fudge, jerky, bakery, bbq, hot food deli section, tons of snacks (my fave are the fresh made candied pecans). They also boast the cleanest restrooms along the interstate.
They have future plans to expand to CO, KY, MS, MO, TN, and SC.
My favorite place to eat while out with a group was Catfish Country on US-45 in Booneville, MS. Ample parking for a coach, buffet for quick service & plentiful options, and a great atmosphere.
My god I love the bus UA-camrs I'm finding, you and bus driver life and the school bus guy need to do an insane collab one day
I spent 6 months in my youth as a cook in one of those corporate seafood restaurants. Everything came frozen and in plastic pouches...
We were more like reheating engineers than cooks 😀
I used to work at Qdoba in a town that hosted lots of soccer and tennis tournaments, nothing ruined the night like a motorcoach turning up late on a slow night (when you kept a low stock of food ready so it was fresh), unannounced. And they almost always were unannounced. Sometimes to our great relief it was just the driver getting out for food instead of a whole college sports team
I love ourTemsa bus. Don’t get to drive it much but when I do ❤.
Told you, if you have a charter or way up around here, we can hit up all the hidden food gems around NY. No, not silly Rays Pizzeria, but I mean the REALLY good ones, like River Rd Pizza, or the turkish restaurant Toros, or the best steakhouse, Steve's. None of them are great for buses, but park in my driveway LOL. I already have one bus, whats another, then we take the car over. That would be a hell of a cross over episode. Doing the foodie stuff for you, and me crawling under a new MCI just to get dirty! At the very least seeing buses from a world apart side by side (at least until Olivia can get to Urbana on her own).
Loved this epside! And the memes...Data with the green drink LOL, one of the first long time Star Trek memes.
I’ve been to 3 of those restaurants, not the first one but looks well worth a try out. Yoder’s was definitely my favourite - would go back there again any time.
Motorcoach tech and driver from CT. Big fan, binge watched all your videos
My friend, I have nobody else to thank but you for introducing me to Jim's Original. I was delighted to be able to eat there and took pity on those poor vegetarians. who are missing out😀
Also, excellent point about how group friendly a place is...an angle I had never considered.
Lol 😂 my thoughts exactly as for vegetarians
I agree with you on sugars is a great place to stop for lunch putting a 45 footer in there is a nightmare. Also you forgot to tell me don't go through the tunnel.
I worked for Greyhound Canada for 20 years, you bring 50 people to any restaurant, drivers meal free
Same thing in New York, but only for some places, not any fast food joint.
Hello and Thanks for your videos. I have been behind the wheel of a semi truck for the last 21 years and can so relate to a lot of your Content. Not to mention like crazy folks my wife and I have a motorhome so when I’m not driving the big truck I’m driving the motorhome LOL. I have always admire you coach drivers and responsibilities you have for taking care of your passengers.
Again thanks for the videos keep them up, I look forward to watching.
Thank you Brian! Much Appreciated. Be safe out there! Maybe we will run into each other some day1
Wow! I was "idling" watching the show start and suddenly THERE I AM! Thank you for the visual shout out! Love both of your channels! When I drove a field trip, I must admit, the last thing I wanted to do was eat with them all ... unless they were buying and I was getting paid by the hour :-)
Super cool great video ....love it
James, You really know how to eat!😀
I love your channel and I’ve never driven a motor coach. Good work!
I drive trucks, equipment, as well as coach. From Canada. Love the job! I suggest Landry’s throwed rolls, when I’m the south. They have a few locations I think
I was transporting a bus from Rhode Island to Florida. Got a cheap motel just south of downtown Richmond Virginia, and the only thing open was a Wendy's. I parked in the lot across the street, walked over. Dining room closed. Drive thru only and they wouldn't serve me on foot at the window. That 40 foot Grech got through there. Still had to get out to get my food, though; so why not just let me walk up to the window.
Wow that's strange. They just don't get it sometimes
Cracker Barrel. Good coach parking and good food.
James!!! What a great review and variety of types of restaurants. Thank you💪
Thanks Cindy!! You had a cameo I'm this one lol. Thanks for letting me use some if your footage.
love the videos! I don't drive a bus but I travel with my wife and kids in our Class A rv and parking is an issue sometimes Cracker barrels are an easy stop for us.
I used to do day trips here in England going to Blackpool the driver gets free breakfast at services. Free dinner at Pleasure Beach coach park going home at services again I have one piece of chicken and a lettuce leaf.
after all those considerations you mentioned, and being on time, I sometimes would stop my Calgary Transit bus to run into a Circle K for a coffee & a sandwich. I felt so guilty when returning back to the bus with the passengers giving me dirty looks. Nobody ever said anything to me, but you could tell they were not happy even though I was on time & arrived at my next time point on time. Good fun ! Thanks for posting another great video !
I can see one reason why u love traveling. It's because of food and get to see places as well while traveling. 🤗🤗 Also u look nice.
LOL yes! You are absolutely right! Food is my main reason to travel... Also appreciate the compliment!
@@MotorcoachWorld I can tell 😂😂😂
James,
If you find yourself in Bakersfield, California I recommend you stop Hodel's Country Dining,
Just off Hwy 99 at Knudsen Road.
I can tell you the most bus-unfriendly place that I know of. Starbucks. I’ve taken bus loads of school kids and each kid would spend at least $5 each there. All I would ever ask for a a simple small hot cup of coffee and the answer has always been no. If I can avoid them I do.
Yeah I am not much of a Starbucks fan either. Overprice bad coffee.
You have good content the food places are good. As trucker I am tired chain food
Saw two Peoria Charter buses while in Davenport, Iowa today
Looks like I'm going to have to head back downtown real soon and give Jim's a shot! I've seen you vlog and eat there too many times and I still have yet to give it a try
Just found your channel. Not a bus nut, but enjoy all things automotive, cars, trucks, buses so your videos are definitely interesting. If you want a laugh next time your waiting for your passengers, I highly recommend checking out the 1976 film Big Bus. Its like Airplane, but instead of an Airplane, its about…. a bus, an 8 axle nuclear powered double decker bus. Lots of trucker and plane movies out there, but I don’t know any other bus movie. Maybe you could even do a movie review or reaction video. Keep on bussin!
Thank you! Appreciate the comment and your kind words.
Excellent picks -- love the name of the Sweet and Goopy sauce at Sugar's! Maybe this be a regular thing when you start traveling more often, Motor Coach Food Reviews by James!
Haha sounds like a good Idea! Thanks duckbow!
One of my favorite lunch stops was the Chick-fil-a in Schaumburg, near Woodfield Mall, but I specifically remember when a young man on staff freaked out a female co-worker by telling her that a full bus had pulled in and to be ready for 50 or so people! I played along with the prank for him, but finally confessed that the crowd just included me. ("Martin, party of one! Party of one!") Great people worked there, and the food and cookies were awesome!
I benefited a few times from your visits to this Chick-fil-A lol 🤣
I swear the algorithm knows everything I do. Literally sitting across the street from my softball charter and ordered thru doordash. Luckily I got a nice driver who had no problem delivering to the bus in this random parking lot next door.
All is well, James is back.
Love the content. Either I can’t pick up on sarcasm, or the Amish really travel with actual horses
Legends
Hey Jake!! It's good to see you on here. They actually do travel with horses.
I'm still trying to figure out if your channels are motorcoats channels disguised as food channels, or food channels disguised as motor coach channels. I enjoyed both your channels
LOL Shhhhh! dont tell anyone!
I was a trucker for 23 years. I feel your pain James
Hi. This sent me straight to the kitchen... In Norway, there are usually free meals of choice for the bus driver, since he/she brings in som many paying customers! ( That is if you just have a stop, meant to eat and stretch your legs) But, you usually still get the extra money from your company that is meant for your meals...(just in case) If it hadn't been for Covid, I, my wife and daughter would travel back to the USA (Spokane Wa.) and our family there this summer. There are so many good places to eat in Spokane. Don't know if it's true, but I have heard that Spokane has more places to eat than any other city, compare to have many that live there! Can't wait to get back. You make me miss it more than ever with all this food...
I really enjoyed reading your comment. Love meeting people from other parts of the world.
Thanks for writing.
One of the best rest stops I've been is in Te Anau, New Zealand. We were on the way from Queenstown to Milford Sound for a tour there in 2017. The rest stop in Te Anau had some really good food with a lot of variety, and I remember that I accidentally sat on a table reserved for coach bus drivers, and so we had a good chat with the other drivers on different trips and it was just really cool getting to know the local culture and history there, as well as recommendations nearby that would be helpful if I made a road trip for myself in the future.
I really really want to visit Australia!
I’m amazed with the yt algorythm, it knows me too well. You gained a subscriber and a liker. Keep up the narrative! Greetings from Lithuania.
Always a pleasure to meet someone from a different part of the world. Thanks for the sub! Appreciate it!
I’d recommend The Varsity in Atlanta, GA
Bus parking 10/10
Group friendly 10/10
Food 9/10 (dogs&burgers)love their onion rings
Bang for the buck 8/10
Thanks! I will definitely add that to my list of places to eat
1:41 -- I've done that before However it was with semi trucks, both at Jimmy John's and 3rd party apps (like Doortrash, Uber Cheats, etc)
I was in 5 45ft convoy we pulled in to Lubys in Houston with 240 band members and parents and the drivers got free meals.
Now that I started watching your vlog channel (seriously, you guys HAVE to check it out!), Im amazed you havent done this episode so far. I can go from starving to eww too much, to starving again in one 10 minute video. I used to be able to eat that way lol.
You are one heck of a gourmand. Aaaand now Im hungry again thinking of the Lamb on that Teff flour bed thing...But, I do have my lamb chilli woohoo! Fresh, and done reducing! Maybe once I grow a bit more, Ill do a cooking video (I have one in the works, thats very...VERY bus related and funny)
In Fredicksburg Tx there are 3 restaurants that Drivers eat free even if your tour does not eat at the.
Jim's Original is amazing!!
Al's beef , Chicago. Sucked to park near the one downtown near rainforest cafe, but worth it!
I've heard a lot of good things about that place!!
My favorite in Chicago is Goose Island Shrimp 1011 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60642. I have never had a problem with finding parking but you may have to walk a little. It is not for a group as it is take out only but don't let that fool you. The food is fantastic at a decent price. It is a really tiny place with people from all walks of life ordering and I have never been in there when it doesn't have at lease 3 o4 for people ordering or picking up food. Everything is cooked fresh to order so it comes out hot and tasty.
Ooooo Im going to have to try this place out!
I'm bummed out because I've been to Chicago twenty times and no one told me about this place! Next time.
I
You could do a video on the busses from the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour, or the Italian job
Hey James. I come back almost a week later with this proposal...
Class B CDL. Means you can drive any vehicle 26001# or more GVWR BUT... Towing limit is less than or equal to 10000# GVWR yes? What if... You put a tow hitch on the back of the motorcoach, put say, a flatbed trailer on the back and you can haul your personal vehicle this way you can drive it to the local Walmart or Mickey D's or whatever whilst the coach sits at the hotel or other major stop? Eh? 😏
Glad you didn't mention the Smokehouse on top of Mounteagle it burnt down last week.
That explains the smoke I saw going through there last Wednesday
Oh wow! I'm sorry to hear that!
I have to say Cracker Barrel with the number one Because they usually have bus parking And I've never had a bad me on their!! I would say that I will get a 10 out of 10 in all categories
Just remember James a tilt wheel can only move so far you don't want to be an over weight motor coach operator hehe and I an in Texas and now want to go to Chicago for a Hot Dog
LOL Good advice!
I have ate the dog place in Chicago and yoders in Chicago i could drop my trailer at the yard other wise parking required was 75 foot for tractor trailer
In the U.K. my guess is that the coach drivers spend a lot of time eating at motorway service stations. I’m not sure but because we don’t have much space in our towns and cities it’s probably not worth the hassle to drive into an urban area.
We need more park and ride places and then you could take an e-scooter or something a mile or so to eat. I know for example at my last job coaches would park on this road outside the industrial estate because it was the only place that had room anywhere.
my non biased rating of this video is 11 out of 10
Thank you very much 😊
Great video, but there should have been a warning at the beginning not to watch it on an empty stomach. 😉😁
Coach-friendly food and parking ... a toll turnpike service area
Sadly many of the small restaurants we used to visit have closed in the last year. If in Kansas go to the town of Yoder and visit Carriage Crossing Restaurant. If you go to the Strataca Salt mine for a tour it is a few miles straight south on South Yoder Rd to get to great food, worth the little drive. A few years ago we found an awesome restaurant with live music in Wyoming that I would have loved to stay at if we had time and if the teenage boys working there did not stare at my 12 and 13 year old girls, even the manager stared, it took my son to walk up and tell him to take a picture it would last longer for him to behave right. I am kind of an ugly dude but I admit the young ladies are pretty, but still manners boys do not stare.
i want to be a bus driver in the US too.
I so want to try that jims original you can walk over from canal street parking as well
Highly recommend. You can but it's a bit of a hike and crossing some busy roads
Enjoyed the video, just not a foodie. I rarely eat anything not prepared by my wife!
Being from Chi Town Jim's Pork Chop sandwich 👍
LOL Agreed!
Already saw someone else commented before I got to it cracker barrel. All four years in high school, 4 buses worth of people which came to the entire marching band of my high school.
Love cracker barrel
Entertaining, but not what I was expecting. I was hoping it was going to be tips for average travelers on the best common eateries you've come across taking bus loads of passengers to, like Bob Evans or places like that.
Possibly Moonshine Sandwiches in Moonshine, IL
I've been there! Near Danville right? Love their burgers
@@MotorcoachWorld oh in the middle of nowhere the retirement Community I live in goes there every year well maybe again sometime when covid-19 goes away it's all right to get a bus but you can get lost in a hurry
Worked in tourism business so I presume drivers meal is always free, maybe a bit of commission as well
Not always.
Any chance of doing a video based on potential natural progress for a Driver -Supervisor- Mgt.-Owner for a bus/motorcoach operator and what might be needed or required. Thanks from across the pond
🇮🇪🍀Republic Ireland🍀🇮🇪
Hey Brian. Thanks for commenting! That's a great topic idea. I will definitely add that to the list.
Dude, we're the same person. I'll find parking anywhere I think has good food. Park a coach better than my Chevy when I'm hangry in Boston or New York.
I know right? I would parallel park the bus so fast in Port Authority, even though I only had a 10 minute break, I still had time to park, get out, get my pizza, then back to the bus, and eat while passengers boarded.
@@RipRoaringGarage Boston isn't so bad either. There's plenty of parking on D Street over by the seaport. City's small enough that you can hop the subway or Uber it anywhere if you're sure your passengers are going to be a while.
Lol exactly!
I know this may not apply to you as you operate out of Illinois. How about a similar list for New England (ME, NH, MA)?
Have you been to the Redlands Kitchen in Hurricane Mills Tennessee
I’m actually thinking about becoming a coach driver when I get older do you have any pointers for me when I get to that point because I really love those 45ft coach’s.
Follow your dreams man. Dont chase after money. Chase after passion, And make money off of that. You will be much happier.
Now a days always call ahead. If you have a cell phone, should be no reason not to call a place before showing up with One coach, let alone 3 or 4 of them. And let them know your coming.
That being said.....Showing up at McDonald's with 6 coaches (empty) will send any McDonald's Manager head spinning, when only 6 drivers walk in. LOL That was before cell phones were common. He was mad.
LOL that happens even with one coach LOL! I can't count the times Ive walked into a McDonalds with a Empty coach and can hear the shift manager in the back calling employees if they can come in on their days off. LOL
@@MotorcoachWorld I know right !! LOL..
Please Please please share all of the good restaurants you've eaten at!
Haha I will. No worries ☺️
Can you make a video on good places to eat where you can bring a tractor trailer?
hmmm. Ill think about it. This channel is focused on Motor Coaches... but I will consider it. Thanks for the comment.
Hey James, I wanna make a recommendation for bandana's BBQ in St Joseph MO..
Sounds awesome I will add that to my bucket list thank you
@@MotorcoachWorld you're welcome.. but then again you already know ;)
@@MotorcoachWorld ALSO: I wanna come back and say the idea of having a car trailer for your personal car to take with you on the bus is an idea that aged like milk and would've been bad in practice.. bad enough you'd have three pivot points but then you have 45' between the back two and it's already hard enough as/is to manuever something that long in a parking lot... Oh well, good idea while it lasted :(
PS: I'm also sure the bossman wouldn't like the idea of putting trailer hitches on the buses anyway ;)
Hey… this bus looks familiar 1:37
Shealys Bbq in Batesville Leesburg SC bus parking buffet homemade food decent price
Thanks Mark! I'll have to check this place out!
☑️🇺🇸
If I was a bus driver I’d go to McDonald’s here in Ontario Canada 🇨🇦
Do you know anywhere to store coaches in Chicago? 3 Prevosts needing annual long-term storage.
Hey John. Im sorry I do not... If you go a bit further south, I think you will have more luck. I know land is at a premium in the city.
Jim i like you to tell me
What is the quality of the TEMSA buses
I heard that who anyone who brought them has problems with electronics and quality of maintenance
Also i heard that they have a class action against them
Hey John. Our technicians don't like them. I personally enjoy the way they look but that's about it.
*lamberts
I was a Rookie Driver At Greyhound back 1987 - I didn't know when they send me to Richmond VA Greyhound terminal - I was surprise the girl at Burger king said the meal was free to bus driver before I ordered / didn't take advantage of it , just Whopper / soda . do you know if that still exist for Private Coach Drivers / greyhound if they bring passengers ? just curious .
Thanks & AAA+++ Video's
Hey Mason. Loved reading your story. Yes. There are still many restaurants that honor the driver with a free meal. I know cracker barrel and Culver's still do that from first hand experience..
Is the crawfish boiled
I'm hungry...
Lol.
Holy look at the prices at Yoders! Was that menu from 1995?? Anything in Toronto would be TRIPLE that today.
Hi James I’m currently 17 and want to drive a motorcoach for a living. Could you maybe make a video explaining the requirements to become a motor coach operator?
Hi Landon. Thanks for your comment. Yes I have the topic on my list of items to do. Thanks for the suggestion! ☺️
@@MotorcoachWorld Thanks has Peoria sold any coaches recently Bc I saw a bus on consignment that looked like a peroria paint scheme
Is there a link to the vlog channel?
ua-cam.com/users/jwangvlogs
bring a bike! then you're not stuck driving a bus.
An excellent suggestion.