Andy's Restaurant Scorecard: Bailey's Country Vittles, plus scores

Frank J. Yetter, retired Navy Aviation Chief Machinist, served on the USS Bairoko. He fought in the Battle of the Philippines in World War II.

I know his story, backwards and forwards. Half of Bartlett knows his story.

That's because the 91-year-old eats twice a day at Bailey's Country Vittles in the same booth -- under the wall of veterans' portraits that includes both him and his beloved aircraft carrier.

"Good place to meet your friends and a lot of old veterans," Yetter smiled.

E9 Command Chief Master Sgt. Ric Bailey, U.S. Air Force retired, opened the restaurant this past summer with veterans in mind -- and on his wall.

"All our veterans that eat here, they bring us in a picture of themselves in uniform," said Bailey, whose own Air Force portrait adorns the shrine. "All the veterans -- men, women, and as far as the police department, fire department -- they all get our discounts here."

All of the proceeds of Bailey's restaurant T-shirt sales go to the Wounded Warrior Project to assist veterans and the families of veterans wounded in combat.

Bailey's is about service. Military service -- and customer service.

"Always get great service," said Bartlett customer Brenda Ingram. "They give you free hush-puppies!"

Those hush-puppies go well with the home-style smothered steak, country-fried chicken, sweet cream corn and the crowd favorite: Bailey's fried green tomatoes.

"Fried green tomatoes with the best batter you've ever put in your mouth," said Cordova customer Charlie Fineberg. "If this was any better, I couldn't stand it!"

SCORES OF THE WEEK:

Qahwa Coffee Bar, 109 N. Main St., Downtown Memphis, 99 on Sept. 25

Subway, 85 N. Main St., Downtown Memphis, 99 on Sept. 25

Havana's Pilon Authentic Cuban Cuisine, 143 Madison Ave., Downtown Memphis, 99 on Sept. 26

La Perla Tapatia, 2050 W. Poplar Ave., Collierville, TN, 98 on Sept. 22

Jr. Fish & Chicken, 3992 Park Ave., U of M Park Ave. Campus Area, 98 on Sept. 26

BeRatus Restaurant & Grill, 1482 E. Shelby Dr., Whitehaven, 98 on Sept. 26

Tops Bar-B-Q, 2748 Lamar Ave., Bethel Grove/South Memphis, 97 on Sept. 26

The HoneyBaked Ham Co., 6010 Stage Rd., Bartlett, TN, 97 on Sept. 19

Subway, 6744 Winchester Rd., Hickory Hill/SE Memphis, 97 on Sept. 25

Wrapzody Gourmet Wrapz, 99 N. Main St., Downtown Memphis, 97 on Sept. 23

Uncle Moe's Pizza & Deli, 4510 Millbranch Rd., Whitehaven, 97 on Sept. 24

On The Border, 4552 Poplar Ave., East Memphis, 97 on Sept. 24

Lucchesi's Ravioli & Pasta Co., 540 S. Mendenhall Rd., Mendenhall Commons/East Memphis, 97 on Sept. 24

Subway, 199 S. Highland St., Near the U of M Area, 97 on Sept. 26

Baskin Robbins, 8057 Highway 64, Wolfchase Area, 97 on Sept. 26

Krystal, 4431 Summer Ave., Berclair/East Memphis, 96 on Sept. 25

The Half Shell, 688 S. Mendenhall Rd., East Memphis, 96 on Sept. 25

Boneheads, 555 Perkins Extd., White Station Area/East Memphis, 96 on Sept. 24

Panera Bread, 4530 Poplar Ave., Laurelwood Shopping Center/East Memphis, 96 on Sept. 25

Sam's Hamburgers & More, 94 N. Main St., Downtown Memphis, 96 on Sept. 25

Gelato Café, 5985 Stage Rd., border of East Memphis & Bartlett, 96 on Sept. 19

Arnold's BBQ, 6721 E. Shelby Dr., Southeast Memphis, 96 on Sept. 23

Ubee's Restaurant & Bar, 521 S. Highland St., U of M Area, 95 on Sept. 26

Burger King, 4810 Poplar Ave., Colonial Acres/East Memphis, 95 on Sept. 23

The Brass Door, 152 Madison Ave., Downtown Memphis, 95 on Sept. 26

Bluff City Coffee, 505 S. Main St., Downtown Memphis, 95 on Sept. 27

Schweinehaus, 2110 Madison Ave., Overton Square/Midtown Memphis, 95 on Sept. 4

Joann's Family Affair Soul Food, 2550 N. Watkins St., Frayser, 95 on Sept. 24

Szechuan Hot Wok, 2578 Frayser Blvd., Frayser, 95 on Sept. 26

Outback Steakhouse, 2255 Union Ave., Midtown Memphis, 94 on Sept. 24

Ishee's Broadway Pizza, 2581 Broad Ave., Binghamton/E. Memphis, 94 on Sept. 23

Pop's Deli, 6755 E. Shelby Dr., Southeast Memphis, 94 on Sept. 23

Swanky's Taco Shop, 4770 Poplar Ave., Colonial Acres/East Memphis, 94 on Sept. 23

SOB (South of Beale), 361 S. Main St., South Main Historic District/Downtown Memphis, 94 on Sept. 27

Mortimer's Restaurant, 590 N. Perkins Rd., Berclair/East Memphis, 93 on Sept. 25

Mr. Rusty's Taste of Chicago, 1859 Winchester Rd., Airport Area, 92 on Sept. 24

Best Wings of Memphis, 2390 Summer Ave., East Memphis, 91 on Sept. 24

On The Border, 8101 Giacosa Pl., Wolfchase Area, 91 on Sept. 26

Filiberto's Mexican Food, 2881 Covington Pike, Raleigh, 91 on Sept. 25

La Ceiba, 1184 Covington Pike, Berclair/East Memphis, 91 on Sept. 25

Wings, Fish & Soul, 4591 Millbranch Rd., Whitehaven, 91 on Sept. 26

Side Street Grill, 35 S. Florence St., near Overton Square/Midtown Memphis, 90 on Sept. 25

Pro Wings, Inc., 2661 N. Hollywood St., North Memphis, 90 on Sept. 26

Green Beetle, 325 S. Main St., South Main Historic District/Downtown Memphis, 87 on Sept. 27

Arcoiris De Sabor Y Comida, 6665 Winchester Rd., Hickory Hill/SE Memphis, 85 on Sept. 25

Lynchburg Legends Bar & Grill, 5069 Sanderlin Ave., Sanderlin Centre/East Memphis, 85 on Sept. 24

Copyright 2014 WMC Action News 5. All rights reserved.