BUCKET LIST UPDATE No. 132: Eat at T.P. Crockmier’s in Mobile

T.P. Crockmier’s Restaurant & Pub in downtown Mobile, Ala. is a restaurant I’ve heard about for years, but had never eaten at until Saturday night. This outstanding restaurant is often mentioned in The Mobile Press-Register, and it comes across as a unique place to enjoy a meal, which is why I added it to my “bucket list” in 2013.

Located at 250 Dauphin St. in Mobile, the restaurant is named after Thaddeus P. Crockmier, who was born in 1847, the son of a plantation owner north of Fredericksburg, Va. He fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War and moved to Atlanta when the war was over. On Oct. 6, 1875, Crockmier, who was also said to have been a successful gambler, opened a restaurant at the corner of Peachtree Street and Walton Street in Atlanta, and his establishment became a “rousing success.” The restaurant in Mobile is dedicated to his memory.

My wife and I arrived at the restaurant Saturday around 7 p.m. and didn’t find it too crowded. The city was celebrated St. Patrick's Day early with a big parade, and we actually expected to have to wait in line outside for a table. Instead, we were seated immediately, which was nice because it was raining outside.

T.P. Crockmier’s is known for its Monte Cristo sandwich, so I ordered one with onion rings, which went nice with two beers and the order of fried pickle spears we had as an appetizer. The Monte Cristo is described as “Texas toast filled with lean ham, turkey and melted Swiss cheese, batter dipped and grilled. Served with our own special honey mustard.” It was awesome.

My wife had the Classic Club on a croissant with potato salad. The Classic Club is “lean sliced ham and turkey piled high and topped with melted cheddar, bacon, lettuce and tomato on a buttery croissant.” For desert, she had cheesecake while I had apple pie topped with ice cream and hot fudge. For more information about the restaurant’s menu, visit its Web site at www.tpcrockmiers.com.

We were also really happy with our waitress, Loree. She was fast, laid back and didn’t come across as fake. My wife and I being new to T.P. Crockmier’s, she took the time to discuss the menu with us and make recommendations. I asked her what dish the restaurant is best known for, and she immediately said the Monte Cristo sandwich. If the rest of the staff at Crockmier's are as good as Loree, it's no wonder that the restaurant is so popular and successful.

Surprisingly, while more than a few Mobile restaurants are listed on the Alabama Tourism Department’s list of “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die,” T.P. Crockmier’s is not, which is a shame. I’ve eaten at many of the restaurants on that “best of” list, and, in my opinion, T.P. Crockmier’s is better than most of them. Hopefully, the next time the state tourism folks get ready to revamp this list, they’ll give T.P. Crockmier’s heavy consideration.

In the end, how many of you have ever eaten at T.P. Crockmier’s in Mobile? What did you think about it? What do you like to order there? What’s your favorite T.P. Crockmier dish? Let us know in the comments section below.