History of Lambert’s Cafe

The small Missouri restaurant that became a tourist attraction

March 13th, 1942 was the opening day at the “Home of Throwed Rolls.” Lambert’s Cafe opened in Sikeston as a small cafe in southeast Missouri but expanded over the years to be more than just a restaurant. It is now a destination. Earl and Agnes Lambert opened the restaurant in on South Main Street in Sikeston with only 8 tables and 9 stools at the counter and a seating capacity of only 41. It was a popular place to eat, but one particular day in their history changed everything.

The Legend Begins

The “Throwed Rolls” phenomena began in 1976. The owner’s son Norman was handing out rolls, but diners complained that they were not getting the rolls quickly enough. One diner reportedly shouted, “Throw the Damn Thing!” So, Norm Lambert began throwing rolls to serve customers more quickly, and the legend was born.

Lambert’s Stats:

Lamberts now has 3 locations, including Sikeston, Ozark, and Foley, Alabama.

The Sikeston restaurant moved to the new location on April 20th, 1981.

March 1, 1994 is when Lambert’s opened near Branson in Ozark, Missouri.

The Foley, Alabama location opened in 1996.

This was originally published in my book, Missouri 365: This Day in State History