Historic Louisiana

✧
Above: Variety, value, courteous service, and
home-style cooking have made Piccadilly an
American favorite.
Below: Piccadilly is famous for fresh-baked
pies and cakes.
HISTORIC LOUISIANA
122
Beaumont, Texas. Like the first Piccadilly it was
chosen as a “100 percent location”–defined as a
street with heavy downtown traffic. Other early
expansions were in Memphis, Tennessee and
Waco, Texas.
Described by a colleague as “the Walt
Disney of the food business,” Tandy’s training
and management styles are still incorporated
in Piccadilly operations. He insisted that
Piccadilly could “season and cook our food as
tasty as in any home, and we can serve it, too,
just as fresh and attractive.” He instituted a
custom line check before opening, with the
manager inspecting the appearance and presentation
of each food item, and the appearance
and attitude of the serving staff.
His ability to instruct and motivate was
legendary, whether it was a matter of teaching
the proper mixing of pie dough–so the result
is “tender, but crisp and has a long flake”–or
the mixing of cornbread dressing–“if it didn’t
fluff up while baking, it wasn’t made right.”
When it comes to choosing recipes, flavor
has always been the guide at Piccadilly. If it is
on the food line at Piccadilly, it is going to be
properly prepared. From scrumptious homemade
rolls to tangy three-bean salad, and from
broiled fish that’s done to a turn, to creamy
cheesecake, customers vote Piccadilly’s dishes
the best they’ve ever eaten.
Part of the secret of this accomplishment is
the uncompromising insistence on using only
the very best ingredients and checking constantly
for quality. Customers’ taste buds can
tell that Piccadilly’s chefs prepare tried-andtrue
recipes made with only the highest quality
ingredients. The result is juicy roast beef,
flavorful chicken and dumplings, crunchy
carrot and raisin salad, creamy French-style
squash, and all the other luscious dishes
on the menu.
New items are added to the line constantly,
to suit the changing tastes of Piccadilly’s
guests. These include boneless, skinless
grilled chicken breast and sugar-free pies for
those who want to reduce the fat and sugar in
their diets. And Piccadilly continues to
insist on exceptional variety to ensure that
guests can choose items that suit both
their diets and palates. Tuesday is carving
day at Piccadilly, where whole meat is special
cut by chefs; and Wednesday features
79-cent desserts.
Over the years, families large and small
have gathered together at Piccadilly to share
great times and great food. These have included
a fair share of celebrities. Among them was
the legendary Elvis Presley, who would slip
away from his mansion and the limelight to
enjoy home-style meals at the Piccadilly in
Memphis–once forgetting his wallet and having
to sign a counter check.
The future looks promising for this great
American institution, thanks to modern leaders
who share Tandy’s values and vision of a
great restaurant organization.