PUBLISHER’S NOTE

It’s not often that an order at Waffle House makes national headlines. But, a few weeks ago, a trip to the lowbrow national diner brand was a bonafide news event, with outlets ranging from ESPN to Newsweek sharing the story of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence dining at a Jax Waffle House. The meal followed the team’s amazing comeback victory over the Los Angeles Chargers earlier that night. Apparently, digging out of a 27 to 0 deficit makes one hungry.

His order? “That night, I got the Texas bacon cheesesteak with hash browns with cheese and a pecan waffle,” Lawrence said in a question-and-answer session with reporters at TIAA Bank Field the day after his meal. He added, “Sometimes I get the All-Star [a Waffle House 1,050-calorie classic of two scrambled eggs with toast, waffle, and choices of grits, hashbrowns, bacon, sausage or ham].”

The lanky 23-year-old quarterback was joined at the Jacksonville Beach establishment by more than a dozen friends including some fellow Jaguars players. Fans cheered as he entered the restaurant and he was gracious enough to pose for photos with Waffle House staff. Videos of the impromptu dinner party went viral and it wasn’t long before comments were coming in from far and wide. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the opponent who would defeat Lawrence and the Jags in their very next game, knocking them out of the NFL playoffs for the year, appreciated his choice of celebratory locations, calling it a “baller move.”

“A week or two ago, I was saying we’ve got to go to one after the game,” Lawrence said about his choice. ”Last week I told them, ‘once we win on Sunday [against the Chargers] we’re going to Waffle House.’” Reportedly, his wife Marissa called the Waffle House in question, asking if it was possible to reserve some space for their party. “They were like, well, if you give us a heads-up, we can clear people out of one area. We’ve got a spot saved.” And saved it was.

Calling ahead to make a reservation for 20 at Waffle House. Does it get any more Duuuval than that? Nope, it certainly does not. Pass the syrup, please. u

Publisher / Editor-in-Chief