Shirley Mae makes each diner feel special as she prepares their order right in front of them. Stepping into Shirley’s Mae’s Café is like stepping back in time… into her cozy lil’ kitchen back in Tennessee. Chicken wings and fish are fried-to-order… and even her ribs are sautéed-to-order… to ensure they’re piping hot for each diner. And when ordering a dinner, rest assured that all side orders are prepared fresh… the old-fashioned way. That’s the Shirley Mae way! But get this! From opening to 3:30 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, Shirley Mae serves these down-home dinners for lunchtime prices! So, why have a sandwich for lunch… when you can have a meal! These prices are effective 12/1/23. (Print Menu)
- Southern Fried Chicken Wings
… Shirley Mae’s Chicken Wings are a house favorite, featuring 3 chicken wings fried-to-order, lightly seasoned and pan-fried to golden perfection … $8 — entrée only served with Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread or $16 – dinner served with 2 side orders & Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread.
- Barbecued Ribs
… Come rain or shine, Shirley Mae fires up her sidewalk grill and slow-cooks her pork spareribs over a lazy hickory-smoked flame and serves them sautéed in barbecue sauce … $9 – entrée only served with Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread or $17- dinner served with 2 side orders & Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread.
- Chitterlings
… Shirley Mae’s tender, white Chitterlings are as “soft as warm butter,” says Courier-Journal food critic Marty Rosen. And they’re served all year-round. But don’t bother calling-in for this special entrée. The high demand for Shirley Mae’s Chitterlings makes them a “first come, first served” menu item. Yes, they’re just that good … $20 – lunch/dinner served with 2 side orders & Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread.
- Ham Hock
… Cooked tender ’til they’re falling off of the bone, Shirley Mae’s Ham Hocks are a special back-home treat for hock-lovers … $7 — entrée only served with Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread or $15 – dinner served with 2 side orders & Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread.
- Pig Foot
… Shirley Mae cooks Pig Feet (fondly called “Trotters”) so tender, it will make you put down your fork to suck each savory morsel off the bones … $7 – entrée only served with Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread or $15 – dinner served with 2 side orders & Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread.
- Meatloaf
… A tasty tomato sauce blankets Shirley Mae’s Meatloaf and tucks it in nicely as yet another menu favorite (especially when it’s paired with freshly-mashed potatoes, cabbage or fresh green beans) … $8 – entrée only served with Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread or $17 – dinner served with 2 side orders & Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread.
- Fried Fish
… The “Catch-of-the-Day” is home-farmed Tilapia — filleted, battered in cornmeal, skillet-fried and served hot out of the skillet with some of Chef Theresa’s homemade tartar sauce … $8 – entrée only served with Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread or $17 – dinner with 2 side orders & Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread.
- Pork Chop
…Try one of Shirley Mae’s Pork Chop entrées fried-to-order or smothered in gravy … $8 – entrée only served with Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread or $17 – dinner served with 2 side orders and Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread.
**Special Sunday Menu Addition
- Baked Chick’n & Country Cornbread Dress’n
… Every Sunday seems like Thanksgiving dinner with Shirley Mae’s Baked Chick’n & Country Cornbread Dress’n … $9 – entrée only served with gravy and Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread or $17 – lunch/dinner with 2 side orders and Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread.
- Baked Chick’n & Country Cornbread Dress’n
Side Orders
“Fresh” and “Real” are two of Shirley Mae’s top priorities when preparing her selection of side orders. At Shirley Mae’s Café, none of our side orders come out of a can or a freezer. All of Shirley Mae’s side orders are FRESH! In fact, if it’s not picked, peeled, snapped, shucked, mashed, grated, soaked or cut… you simply didn’t get it at Shirley Mae’s Café. **Sunday menu item ONLY.
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- Fresh Turnip Greens … $4
- Fresh Green Beans … $4
- Fresh Pinto Beans … $4
- Fresh Fried Corn Off-the-Cob … $4
- Real Country Cornbread Dress’n … $4**
- Real Potato Salad … $4
- Fresh Sweet Potatoes … $4
- Real Macaroni & Cheese … $4
- Fresh Cabbage … $4
- Real Mashed Potatoes … $4
- Real Cole Slaw … $4
- Shirley Mae’s Famous Hot Water Cornbread … $1
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Desserts
All of Shirley Mae’s desserts are made in-house by her daughter Chef Theresa. I guess you can say, “Like mother… like daughter”. Because to ensure the authentic down-home Shirley Mae’s taste, Chef Theresa has crafted her own recipes to everything she makes… in portions you’ll find only at Shirley Mae’s Café. You want a piece of pie? Have two… as every pie and cake comes in double-portion, personal-size pans.
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B’nana Puddin’ … Chef Theresa makes this cool, refreshing treat from scratch … $6
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Peach Cobbler … Consider yourself fortunate to catch one of these cobblers hot out of Chef Theresa’s oven … $7
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Blackberry Cobbler … Consider yourself fortunate to catch one of these cobblers hot out of Chef Theresa’s oven … $7
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Chess Pie … Shirley Mae’s Cafe’s Chess Pie is a truly unique, delicious experience with Chef Theresa’s own special recipe … $7
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Lemon Meringue Pie … Piled high with lightly-browned hand-whipped meringue, Chef Theresa’s Lemon Meringue Pie is simply to-die-for … $8
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Sweet Potato Pie … What’s life and southern cuisine without some good ol’ Sweet Potato Pie … $7
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Pecan Pie … If pecans is what you want, pecans are what you get in Chef Theresa’s personal favorite, Pecan Pie … $8
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Jam Cake … This old-time favorite is made from scratch and is topped with homemade caramel icing … $8 small loaf, $5 slice
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Seasonal Treats … Be sure to ask about Chef Theresa’s seasonal treats like… Derby Pie $8
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