Fluffy biscuits smothered in chocolate gravy? Yes, please. And add a Western omelet stuffed with sauteed veggies and seasoned meats. I will just be over here waiting with my No. 1 Grandma mug full of coffee.

These are the thoughts I had one recent morning after (finally) visiting Carl's Deli about 20 miles southeast of Decatur on Alabama State Route 67. This roadside diner in Somerville, Alabama, has been on my radar for a while after a few folks recommended it. (While I love discovering good "hole-in-the-wall" highway hidden gems, it's even better to get tips! Please send them my way.)

A longtime friend of mine had heard similar reviews, and she hadn't been, either. It just made sense to check it out for a catch-up over coffee a couple of weeks ago. We happily scrapped our earlier plans to swing by a local chain and made the trek to Carl's instead.

Despite plugging the location into my Google Maps app and knowing it was a straight shot down Highway 67, I still almost missed the unassuming little building. Carl's Deli is located in a former gas station, which even has a large banner along the side. Still, I was expecting something a bit bigger, and it appeared almost too fast for me to slow down. "Hmmm. This is it," I said, my voice tinged with uncertainty.

Look: I know from many experiences that you can find some of the best food you've ever had in little, low buildings like this on rural highways. That is a road-tripping fact that has been in place for generations – long before the Interstate Highway System, chain restaurants at every turn, and, more recently, independent restaurants outdoing one another for the best TikTok and Instagram visuals. I love them all. There's just something extra special to me about these OG places.

After taking in the rustic (and a bit rusty) country-market exterior, the inside is probably what you'd expect. It's small with mismatched, well-worn tables and chairs. And yet a glimpse at all the business cards, notes, and fan art from kids reveals its devoted following.

Here's the understanding at rural roadside gems: If the food prep is tidy, the plates clean, the coffee hot, and the menu enticing – and all served with a smile, no one expects anything the least bit fancy. And the food is probably going to knock your socks off.

Amid the assortment of tables and chairs, of course what stood out was the cutest antique chrome-edged Formica game table. Somehow it was the best-looking little table in there, despite maybe being the oldest. Then, our server brought me a No. 1 Grandma mug for my coffee, and I was sold.

While it would have felt more special if I actually was a grandma, I like that anyone can be one at Carl's. I mean, I did have on a homely gray cardigan with my hair in a claw-clip bun. And some of my friends are grandmas, so ... I am fine with it.

As I happily pondered these thoughts, our plates arrived. A family wrapping up their meal in the booth next to us helped us make our choices. The mom told us her family had been coming to Carl's for years and that you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu, whether it's breakfast or lunch (the only times it's open).

Our newfound friend and Carl's devotee told us she'd just finished a favorite, the porkchop, so my friend went for it, plus an egg and biscuit soaked in sausage gravy. She approved and was thankful for the tip.

I ordered the Western omelet, thinking of a basic version that usually only has bell peppers, onion, ham, and cheese. I asked the server not to include ham. because I don't eat pork or beef often. There, now, I thought to myself. You can find something hearty and sort of vegetarian anywhere you go. Out comes the plate, and I quickly realized they'd followed orders: No ham, but plenty of massive chunks of sausage and big, crispy squares of bacon.So, that day was an exception in that I did eat pork, and it was delicious. A related note: Our fellow diner told us Carl's sources and processes its meats locally, which a lot of people prefer.

I also ordered a gravy biscuit – yet mine was different and one of Carl's Deli specialties: biscuits with chocolate gravy. I didn't know such a thing existed until high school when a friend's mom treated us to them the morning after her slumber party. I hadn't had one since! We were told someone described trying these chocolate gravy biscuits at Carl's Deli for the first time as "a religious experience." I can understand.Then, my friend suggested we add a little sprinkle of cinnamon from the table shaker. We just assumed that is why the cinnamon was even on the table alongside other more common condiments. We were told adding it to the chocolate gravy biscuits is not a thing, but we suggest you help us make it one. It's fetch.

As we visited the register to pay, we took in the notes for the daily lunch specials. People rave about the meat-and-two country cooking plates at Carl's almost as much as the breakfasts. Other favorites people rave about include burgers, cheeseburgers, and home fries.

After such a big, delicious breakfast, there was no room for lunch for us that day. However, I did enjoy watching the ladies prepare a big batch of fried okra (my favorite!) on the grill. I left with that visual, which will remind me to come back soon for a midday meal.

So happy to have found a new favorite in this roadside diner in Somerville, Alabama. Have you taken the opportunity to stop for a meal at Carl's Deli? We'd love to hear about all of it when you go. If you want to stop and walk off a bit of your breakfast, take Highway 67, about 9 miles back toward Decatur to Wheeler Wildlife Refuge. The Flint Creek Trail is an easy, 1.6-mile loop with a pretty boardwalk and views of the water. You can read hiker reviews about the Flint Creek Trail on AllTrails and sign up for an AllTrials Plus membership before you hike to get even more details.