Ask The Pack: Keifer's

[vhdawg]

I figure somebody here knows the answer to this. There's the Keifer's by Baptist Hospital and the new one in Madison, but for at least 30 years there's also been another one downtown on Congress Street across from the Governor's Mansion, I'll call this one the good Keifer's.

The good Keifer's has the same menu items as the others, but also has hamburgers and cheeseburgers and normal french fries, which are fantastic. It also has a completely different website than the other two.

Anybody know the backstory of why there's a completely different Keifer's with an adjacent but similar menu, operated completely differently? I assume there was a split at some point and both sides got to keep the name, but I have no idea.

Who knows the answer?

 

[patdog]

Interesting. Never knew they weren't all part of one group. My guess is one family member broke off and opened the one downtown. Similar situation with Basils/Roosters. Different locations can be owned and run by different family members. In the Basils/Roosters case, there's no feud or falling out.

 

[dawgman42]

Dang it, vh, now you made me hungry. I'll put Keifer's gyros and cottage fries up against anyone. Had some great Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food all around the world, but Keifer's still stacks up perfectly fine.

 

[thedoubledeuce]

I've never been to that one but really like the other two. How convenient is parking at that location?

 

[vhdawg]

Dang it, vh, now you made me hungry. I'll put Keifer's gyros and cottage fries up against anyone. Had some great Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food all around the world, but Keifer's still stacks up perfectly fine.

You can have my cottage fries, I hate them. Nothing like chewy half-cooked potato in the middle.

 

[vhdawg]

I've never been to that one but really like the other two. How convenient is parking at that location?

I went two weeks ago and parked in front of the governor's mansion and gifted the city some money for parking.

 

[DoggieDaddy13]

I am pretty sure the one down town has been there for over 40 years. And while I haven't been there is over ten years, it was certainly better from my memory and I like the other two. I figured they were all the same family, at least.

 

[patdog]

You can have my cottage fries, I hate them. Nothing like chewy half-cooked potato in the middle.

Yeah. They're awful. Their curly fries are the real deal though.

 

[615dawg]

The one in Madison has the burgers now but not the curly fries.

 

[John Deaux VII]

I figure somebody here knows the answer to this. There's the Kiefer's by Baptist Hospital and the new one in Madison, but for at least 30 years there's also been another one downtown on Congress Street across from the Governor's Mansion, I'll call this one the good Keifer's.

The good Kiefer's has the same menu items as the others, but also has hamburgers and cheeseburgers and normal french fries, which are fantastic. It also has a completely different website than the other two.

Anybody know the backstory of why there's a completely different Kiefer's with an adjacent but similar menu, operated completely differently? I assume there was a split at some point and both sides got to keep the name, but I have no idea.

Who knows the answer?

I had no clue there was a different one downtown.

 

[dawgman42]

You can have my cottage fries, I hate them.

I'll send you an address.

 

[Drebin]

You can have my cottage fries, I hate them. Nothing like chewy half-cooked potato in the middle.

holy shlt man, thanks for saying this. I thought I was the only one.

 

[Negative Waves]

The curly fries at the downtown location are the best fries I've ever eaten, and the burger is up there as well.

 

[dawgman42]

holy shlt man, thanks for saying this. I thought I was the only one.

 

[skip dog]

I really think they are all owned by the same folks.....the original owners sold long ago to another couple, and Baptist (or the developer they use) built the new restaurant across from the hospital........As far as I have known, the only reason their were different items on the menu across from the gov mansion was that there were some regulars, and their money meant enough to the owners to make it so...........but I can only say that I am about 87% sure of what I just stated

Last time I ate there, top notch burger for sure

 

[Bully'sBelle]

You can have my cottage fries, I hate them. Nothing like chewy half-cooked potato in the middle.

I felt the same way until someone told me to order them extra crispy.

 

[Predestined]

The one downtown is Kiefers. The other two are Keifers. Different words in the orignal Greek. Kiefers meals Sandwiches. Keifers means gyros. Subtle difference, but easily overlooked by the average layman.

 

[Faustdog]

The downtown one is really good. Great staff too. At first I would call ahead, but there is no point. They generally have you in and out in a couple of minutes.

Since the Baptist one moved to the new building, I've gotten the feeling that the workers there would prefer to be less busy. I oblige them and eat at the one downtown.

 

[Drebin]

The one downtown is Kiefers. The other two are Keifers. Different words in the orignal Greek. Kiefers meals Sandwiches. Keifers means gyros.

 

[vhdawg]

The one downtown is Kiefers. The other two are Keifers. Different words in the orignal Greek. Kiefers meals Sandwiches. Keifers means gyros. Subtle difference, but easily overlooked by the average layman.

 

[Msdeltareb]

I figure somebody here knows the answer to this. There's the Keifer's by Baptist Hospital and the new one in Madison, but for at least 30 years there's also been another one downtown on Congress Street across from the Governor's Mansion, I'll call this one the good Keifer's.

The good Keifer's has the same menu items as the others, but also has hamburgers and cheeseburgers and normal french fries, which are fantastic. It also has a completely different website than the other two.

Anybody know the backstory of why there's a completely different Keifer's with an adjacent but similar menu, operated completely differently? I assume there was a split at some point and both sides got to keep the name, but I have no idea.

Who knows the answer?

I don't know the answer but I ate a burger at the downtown Kiefer's yesterday and it was just as good as I remembered it 20 years ago.

 

[msugrad2003]

I figure somebody here knows the answer to this. There's the Keifer's by Baptist Hospital and the new one in Madison, but for at least 30 years there's also been another one downtown on Congress Street across from the Governor's Mansion, I'll call this one the good Keifer's.

The good Keifer's has the same menu items as the others, but also has hamburgers and cheeseburgers and normal french fries, which are fantastic. It also has a completely different website than the other two.

Anybody know the backstory of why there's a completely different Keifer's with an adjacent but similar menu, operated completely differently? I assume there was a split at some point and both sides got to keep the name, but I have no idea.

Who knows the answer?

I thought the one downtown closed. But what do I know.
i can tell you that the Mediterranean smash burger is life changing

 

[Predestined]

I

View attachment 1484904

"I read it on the internet, so it must be true."

 

[thedoubledeuce]

This board is finally maturing. No one has used the letters "qu" in this thread a single time.

 

[LTblows]

I figure somebody here knows the answer to this. There's the Keifer's by Baptist Hospital and the new one in Madison, but for at least 30 years there's also been another one downtown on Congress Street across from the Governor's Mansion, I'll call this one the good Keifer's.

The good Keifer's has the same menu items as the others, but also has hamburgers and cheeseburgers and normal french fries, which are fantastic. It also has a completely different website than the other two.

Anybody know the backstory of why there's a completely different Keifer's with an adjacent but similar menu, operated completely differently? I assume there was a split at some point and both sides got to keep the name, but I have no idea.

Who knows the answer?

This entire thread and not one mention of feta-sauce??? Lived nowhere near driving distance of Keifers in a decade and still crave that sauce. Holla if anyone has the recipe

 

[tc9698]

This entire thread and not one mention of feta-sauce??? Lived nowhere near driving distance of Keifers in a decade and still crave that sauce. Holla if anyone has the recipe

Google copycat keifers feta dressing and you'll get one. Not exactly the same but pretty close

 

[TaleofTwoDogs]

Kiefer's is in Austin, TX. Nice place. No relation to Keifer's. Just being helpful to the SPS crowd. Wiping out ignorance every day is a good thing, hopefully.

 

[InTheIttaBenaHotSun]

Since the Baptist one moved to the new building, I've gotten the feeling that the workers there would prefer to be less busy. I oblige them and eat at the one downtown.

Spot on with this ^. Hadn't eaten here since it was in the original location next to Shucker's. Ate there 6 months ago and was disappointed in service and food. Totally different feel from original local.

 

[FreeDawg]

The Belhaven location is great. Madison they did a 10/10 job on buildout & design but the food always seems better in Belhaven. I think it’s the same folks but don’t quote me on that. Staffing is hard and I’m sure that’s half the battle of the Madison store.

Beef and cheese with well done cottage fries with a side of feta dressing is the goat order.

 

[FreeDawg]

Keifers as a whole is getting hit from the same thing that has hit Krilakis & Kristo’s and that is that Aplos is badass and kicking everyone’s back in, in the Amerigreek space in the metro. Not the same discussion but shoutout Yai Yai’s for authentic Greek. Need to get across the pond.

 

[dawgman42]

Also, while I still love the gyros and cottage fries (my own and possibly Drebin's in the future) every time I get back in town, I will say that their falafel is turrible, probably the absolute worst I've ever had.

 

[soccerdad]

Here is the answer. Lou Ann Woodward and her husband John have the downtown store. She is a MS State graduate and runs Medical Center. John worked at Poplar street store 45 years ago and got them to let him have a store downtown but different web site and slightly different name. Different owners for both. The same owner that owns Poplar owns the Madison store.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

I figure somebody here knows the answer to this. There's the Keifer's by Baptist Hospital and the new one in Madison, but for at least 30 years there's also been another one downtown on Congress Street across from the Governor's Mansion, I'll call this one the good Keifer's.

The good Keifer's has the same menu items as the others, but also has hamburgers and cheeseburgers and normal french fries, which are fantastic. It also has a completely different website than the other two.

Anybody know the backstory of why there's a completely different Keifer's with an adjacent but similar menu, operated completely differently? I assume there was a split at some point and both sides got to keep the name, but I have no idea.

Who knows the answer?

I assumed they were all related. Interesting. I do agree downtown is the best. If I'm north, Krilakis is my favorite.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

I really think they are all owned by the same folks.....the original owners sold long ago to another couple, and Baptist (or the developer they use) built the new restaurant across from the hospital........As far as I have known, the only reason their were different items on the menu across from the gov mansion was that there were some regulars, and their money meant enough to the owners to make it so...........but I can only say that I am about 87% sure of what I just stated

Last time I ate there, top notch burger for sure

two totally different websites. One for downtown and one for the other two.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

The one downtown is Kiefers. The other two are Keifers. Different words in the orignal Greek. Kiefers meals Sandwiches. Keifers means gyros. Subtle difference, but easily overlooked by the average layman.

Nope both spelled the same way. https://keifers.com/ https://www.keifersdowntown.com/

 

[horshack.sixpack]

he forgot the i before e except after K rule, it turns out...

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Keifers as a whole is getting hit from the same thing that has hit Krilakis & Kristo’s and that is that Aplos is badass and kicking everyone’s back in, in the Amerigreek space in the metro. Not the same discussion but shoutout Yai Yai’s for authentic Greek. Need to get across the pond.

Disagree. Aplos has an outdoor space an booze if you want to drink and cut your kids loose. Their food is average at best, like Keifers (except downtown) and in stark contrast to Krilakis which is way better than Aplos minus booze.

 

[thedoubledeuce]

Anyone had the catfish basket at Kristos? Its top shelf.

 

[NTDawg]

Disagree. Aplos has an outdoor space a booze if you want to drink and cut your kids loose. Their food is average at best, like Keifers (except downtown) and in stark contrast to Krilakis which is way better than Aplos minus booze.

Agree Aplos is mid at best. Krilakis is better, fries are tremendous. Burgers are great there and at the Keizer’s downtown.

 

[shep9332]

The Belhaven location is great. Madison they did a 10/10 job on buildout & design but the food always seems better in Belhaven. I think it’s the same folks but don’t quote me on that. Staffing is hard and I’m sure that’s half the battle of the Madison store.

Beef and cheese with well done cottage fries with a side of feta dressing is the goat order.

The Madison location has normal sized parking spaces too. I swear the ones in Belhaven are 7x15.