If you’re a fan of Fried Green Tomatoes (the movie!), then you’ve got to plan a trip to Juliette, Georgia, where the movie was filmed. You’ll love eating at The Whistle Stop Cafe and seeing all the landmarks from the movie in this charming little southern town!
I think Fried Green Tomatoes will forever stand the test of time. Both the actual food and the movie. I don’t know that there’s nothing a plate of good fried green tomatoes can’t cure and I would argue that the same could be said of the movie. It’s in that same category with Steel Magnolias – when you see it’s on television, no matter how many times you’ve watched it, you know you’re going to stop and watch it again and you know you’re going to shed a tear or two as well.
A couple of months ago, two friends and I took an overnight trip down to Plains, Georgia to attend former President Jimmy Carter’s Sunday school class. As it turns out, Juliette, Georgia, where Fried Green Tomatoes was filmed, is just a bit off the beaten path on the way down to Plains. And in Juliette, you can even eat at The Whistlestop Cafe. Yes, the real one that Ruth and Idgie ran in the movie.
The Whistle Stop Cafe
Two months later, I’m still giddy over the fact that I really got to go here.
I first fell in love with the movie when I was probably in middle school, so it’s like one of those childhood dreams come true.
We of course ate fried green tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe and they were delicious.
You’d of thought Idgie and Ruth fried them up themselves. In fact, all three of us were very impressed with our meals. Jason put it best – you don’t always expect these kind of places to be really good since a lot of their business is just touristy because people just want to say they went. However, this was not the case at the Whistle Stop – it was all delicious!
Fried Green Tomatoes Movie Landmarks
After lunch, we perused the rest of Juliette, which is just absolutely charming. We started behind the Whistle Stop and kind of worked our way in a circle.
BBQ Pit from Fried Green Tomatoes
Just behind the cafe, you can see the BBQ pit where Frank Bennett became some of the finest BBQ the south has ever seen – secret’s in the sauce, you know.
Smokey Lonesome’s Shack
To the left of the BBQ pit and behind some of the other shops in Juliette, Smokey Lonesome’s shack can still be seen.
From here, we worked our way back up to McCrackin Street, the main street in Juliette.
Buddy’s Arm’s Grave
Buddy’s arm is buried along McCrackin and so we stopped there to pay respects, of course.
Ruth and Idgie’s Place
There are quite a few charming little shops along McCrackin and we of course visited them.
Most all of the shops/buildings along McCrackin were used in the movie, including The Little Red Barn shop that was Ruth’s and Idgie’s place. We also stopped in another shop for some honey from the bee charmer. 😉
There are lots of unique things in all the different shops. Unfortunately, one of the things I fell in love with, this squirrel was not for sale.
It was a rainy December day when we were there, but there were still some beautiful colors all around. I snapped this picture outside the bank building from the movie, which is now a gift shop. The owner of the shop told us that this building had actually just been built solely for the movie and was just a shell. It wasn’t fully enclosed and made useable until it was turned into a gift shop.
Buddy Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison’s Graves
After seeing everything we could in downtown Juliette, we drove just about five minutes up to a nearby church to see the graves of Buddy Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison.
The Bee Charmer had already left some honey. 😉
Jason reached in his pocket and found exactly three pennies and no more, which he deemed was a sign.
I concur. There are some things in life you just can’t argue with. We left the three pennies there on the graves and headed south for the rest of our adventure.
Towanda!
For reference, Juliette is about an hour south of Atlanta. While it was a stop for us on our way on down to Plains, it’s still a great little day trip from the Chattanooga area or of course from Atlanta.
Looking for more adventures in the South?
Things to Do In Nashville – a must-visit city of the south!
The Must Do’s in New Orleans – my personal favorite!
Things to Do in Chattanooga, Tennessee – a great spot for family vacations!
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Kari Wagner Hoban says
This is one of my all-time favorite movies. So jealous in the best possible way.
Jenna says
You’re going to have to plan a trip!
Michele says
What a fun trip! Love Fannie Flagg!
Jenna says
Same here – she’s a great author! And yes – such a fun trip!
Shirley says
Oh how amazing! I love that film so much ( I have two copies of the DVD , book & cookbook) & anything that Fannie Flagg whites.
Fried green tomatoes aren’t something that we eat in the UK but my sister in law makes a great green tomato relish.
Jenna says
Isn’t is such a great one? I love it too. And that relish sounds yummy!!
Dana says
Jenna, you have GOT to go to Irondale, AL where the real Whistlestop Cafe is. Any time I have guests from out of state that’s where they always want to go. The food is awesome. Fannie Flagg was born and raised in Irondale. Coming from Atlanta it’s jussssst before you get to Birmingham. When the Circus one is old enough she needs to read Fannie Flagg’s books. Fannie should be a national treasure; kind of a mini Dolly Parton. Your trip sounds awesome and the next time my best friend visits from Iowa we’ll have to go to Juliette to round out our Fried Green Tomato experience.
Jenna says
Adding it to my list, Dana!!! I knew Irondale was where the book was based off of, but didn’t know the cafe was still there!! YAY!
Susan the Farm Quilter says
Is this the time I hide in the corner after admitting I have never seen the movie “Fried Green Tomatoes”? I did try to make them once, but since they weren’t great, I’ll assume I got the breading and dips all wrong!! If I get to take a trip to see my daughter in Georgia, I’ll definitely make time to go visit The Whistle Stop Cafe and try their fried green tomatoes…they look fabulous!!!
Jenna says
Girl! You have got to get your hands on that movie and watch it!!! You will love it!
JML says
I also tried making fried green tomatoes once with tomatoes from my own garden (from the recipe found in Fannie Flagg’s book which I of course bought right after seeing the movie the 1st time). Could be I also didn’t get my recipe quite right because they turned out very bitter!
Out in Fremont CA WAS a cafe/creamery called Cloverdale Creamery. My Dad introduced me to the 1920ish place around that FGT time period and at the time I let myself imagine that I was in Ruth’s and Idgie’s place. I would just love to see the real Whistlestop Cafe someday and get that ” smell of bacon ftyin’ ” so they can make “me a plate of fried green tomatoes”. Thanks Ruth, Idgie and Ninny for having existed out of the mind of Fannie.
Dewena says
That’s a great little trip! I loved the movie and book. I have never made Fried Green Tomatoes but intend to next summer. I do make an amazing Green Tomato Pie.
Jenna says
It was a fun trip! I’ve never had Green Tomato Pie, but I’m going to have to look into that!
Joy Shanor says
I’ve seen the movie dozens of times! Being born and raised in the South you have to watch it at least once in your lifetime! I’ve never been to Juliette to see the Whistlestop Cafe but my Mom went years ago with my Aunt (her sister-in-law). I was born and raised in Alabama just off I-20 between Atlanta and Birmingham and I’ve been to Irondale a few times but I’m sad to say that I’ve never been to the REAL Whistlestop Cafe…again, my Mom has. I’m seeing a couple of road trips in my future…with my Mom, of course! My Yankee husband wouldn’t appreciate the history.
Jenna says
You’re right Joy – it’s like a rite of passage to watch the movie when you live in the south! You’ve got to go to both cafes!!
Brigitte Baker says
Omgosh, I’m so jealousssss! I LOVE Fried Green Tomatoes (the movie, the food, and the book!) Putting this on my bucket list for sure. How AWESOME you got to stop there, that’s fantastic! 🙂
Jenna says
It was awesome, Brigitte! You have to go – you won’t regret it!
Mother of 3 says
I had no idea the Whistle stop was a real café! I loved that movie… and fried green tomatoes.
Jenna says
It was so neat!
Rhonda Gales says
Your trip sounds awesome. I grow tomatoes during the summer, and I have so many people asking for green tomatoes. My sister lived in Dublin, GA for years. She’s a lover of Fried Green Tomatoes too. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best.
Jenna says
It was a great trip! You can never go wrong with fried green tomatoes!
Chas Greener says
Oh my gosh, I absolutely love that movie and watch it all the time. I had no idea you could eat at the restaurant and see all of those sites. We are big movie buffs in our house and love to see movie destinations when we travel – so I’m definitely adding this one to the list!!! Thanks for sharing.
Jenna says
You won’t regret going, Chas!! It was such a fun experience!
Samantha says
What a great place to visit. I remember going there about 20 years ago when at the time I was living in Australia and we did a roadtrip through the south. Beautiful place and it doesn’t look like it has changed much at all. Thanks for the trip down memory lane 🙂
Jenna says
It really is a great place to visit! So glad you were able to hit it up during your road trip!
Bates says
We’ve been to Juliette 3 times now and have still not been able to find the headstones of Buddy and Ruth! Maybe one day!