A po’ boy is a type of sandwich from Louisiana that consists of French bread with a choice of food between the two halves, such as meat, seafood, vegetables, or combinations of these. According to legend, in a New Orleans streetcar strike in 1929, a restaurant known as Martin Brothers Restaurant began to serve people on strike at no charge. The restaurant invented a sandwich that was quick and easy to make, and began giving them to the “poor boys” of the city, eventually giving the sandwich the “po’ boy” name. Its name differs depending on the region one is in and the type of bread used, for example, in New York it is known as a hero, in Philadelphia it is known as a hoagie, and in Connecticut, a grinder.
Review: Oby’s in Starkville, Mississippi
I recently dined at Oby’s in the town of Starkville in Mississippi, a New Orleans-style restaurant that appeared to be popular among the town’s residents and visitors alike. When some friends of mine mentioned this restaurant’s po’ boys and invited me to eat with them one day, I decided to try it for myself and eat at the original Oby’s restaurant.
The restaurant is fairly difficult to locate from the road, as it is rather tucked away behind some bushes and small trees. The door on the far right is where customers enter the building, while the door at the top of the small ramp on the left serves as the exit.
A large mural of an older Coca-Cola advertisement helps give the restaurant a typical vintage feel to it.
Inside the Restaurant
Once inside, I had to wait in a line for about fifteen minutes, as the restaurant was busy the day I ate there. Normally, I love a good shrimp po’ boy, but when I looked at the menu and saw that they also served alligator po’ boys, I knew I had to try one. I placed my order at this counter, where I then received my drink as well as a sign with a number on it corresponding to my order. One of those signs is in front of the woman in the light green shirt in the photograph above.
I then proceeded to the dining area, which contained a variety of neon lights, old signs and license plates, and other New Orleans-themed items serving as decorations.
The Food
Approximately ten minutes later, half of an alligator po’ boy, a side of garlic bread, and a pickle arrived in front of me. The po’ boy was quite tasty in my opinion, and it did consist of the crisp French bread that I consider necessary for a good po’ boy. The garlic bread was good as well. I did not eat the pickle.
Summary
Including tax, the meal cost me a little over ten dollars, which I did find a little bit expensive for only half of a po’ boy and three small pieces of garlic bread. However, I do recommend eating at Oby’s when in a town where one is located. Currently Oby’s has locations in Starkville and Oxford, and will soon open a third in Tupelo.
Starkville Location
504 Academy Road
Starkville, MS 39759
662-323-0444
Open every day from 10:30 in the morning through 9:00 in the evening
Oxford Location
1931 University Ave.
Oxford, MS 38655
662-234-4530
Open every day from 10:30 in the morning through 10:00 in the evening
www.obys.net
All photographs ©2019 by Matthew Cohen.
