Lusco’s Embodies Past Times and the American Dream


Lusco’s Embodies Past Times and the American Dream
August 30, 2021 | DUCK SEASON SOMEWHERE
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Back in his adopted heart-of-the-Mississippi-Delta hometown of Greenwood, Ramsey Russell meets with 4th-generation Lusco’s Restaurant owner Karen Pinkston. A true southern belle, her stories range from hilarious to heart-felt. How and why did the restaurant start? Who were the Banana Men, why are there private dining booths, who are the only people ever allowed in the kitchen, where’d the recipes originate? What are their famous sauces and signature dishes? What might be in the safe and why hasn’t it been opened since forever? What strange phenomena became a local “tradition” and why’d it cease? Why’d most customers have long-standing waitstaff favorites, and what are memorable stories about them?  Why is Lusco’s closing – and why haven’t they yet? For 90 years guests were greeted by smiling wait-staff that quipped, “Onion rings fried golden brown, best in town,” but the history of this iconic, small-town restaurant symbolizes the American Dream and past times in the Mississippi Delta.

*Update – Lusco’s Restaurant will officially close on September 25, 2021. News of its closing has garnered national attention, and long-time patrons (including Ramsey and family) are coming in from all over the US to enjoy custom steaks, spicy shrimp, broiled pompano and other favorites one last time.

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