Allman Brothers' Favorite Macon Restaurant

Soul Food Restaurant Helped Launch Allman Brothers Band

Apr 1, 2009 Diana Lambdin Meyer

Mama Louise Hudson fed the Allman Brothers when they didn't have a penny to call their own and eventually toured with Greg and Duane Allman.

The hole in the wall restaurant at 807 Forsyth Street in Macon Georgia is about three blocks from the former Capricorn Records Recording Studio. In the late 1960s, the hey day of the Macon Music Revolution, this part of town might have been called "seedy" or "questionable" by some residents of Bibb County.

So when five white boys came in asking for two blue plate specials to share amongst themselves, and then asked for credit, they got a fair bit of attention from restaurant owner Louise Hudson.

"Well, I was raised that if you could help somebody you should," says Hudson. "And those skinny white boys looked liked they needed something good to eat."

The "skinny white boys" included Gregg and Duane Allman, Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley and Butch Trucks. They were joined by Jaimoe, an African American drummer. These were the original members of the Allman Brothers Band and they lived a few blocks away in The Big House.

The Allman Brothers Band played its first concert in Jacksonville Beach Florida on March 26, 1969. At that point, they were earning about $300 a week. Rent on the infamous Big House was $225 a month. After paying for gas for the old Winnebago that carried the band up and down the east coast, new guitar strings, drum sticks and other essentials, not a lot was left over for food.

"They always came in and paid me right after they came back from a tour," says Hudson, whom the boys quickly adopted as Mama Louise. "And they would come here to eat the last thing before they left on tour. I sent them out on the road with a full tummy."

On Tour with the Allman Brothers Band

The relationship between Mama and the Allman Brothers Band became so close that in 1972 they took her on tour with them to California. At first, she was invited to come cook for them and then they just enjoyed her company and didn't want her to work so hard. One of their many awards for the album Filmore East, considered by many as the best live rock and roll recording of all time, hangs on the wall of her restaurant along with a number of one-of-a-kind pictures of the band. All are covered with a gentle coat of grease from the open kitchen in the back.

A jukebox carries all of the Allman Brothers recordings, as well as other southern artists, but Disc 92, track 02 and 03, Ramblin' Man and Midnight Rider, are so worn that only occasionally does the machine successfully kick in after the quarter is deposited and numbers are pressed. Midnight Rider, BTW, is Mama's favorite Allman Brothers song.

What Is Soul Food

Louise Hudson and her godmother Inez Hill opened their restaurant together in 1965, serving what is called in the South as a "meat & three." For $8.45, diners get a choice of one meat and three vegetables. The offerings vary a bit each day, but smothered fried chicken, pork chops, fried catfish and beef stew are common occurrences. Vegetables include fried and boiled okra, black eyed peas, collard greens, creamed-style corn and the like.

Dessert, either a peach or apple cobbler, sweet potato pie or bread pudding, is an additional $1. Sweet tea is the drink of choice for most diners at H&H.

Over the years, Mama Louise has added a few more vegetables to the menu since folks want to eat healthier. But when asked if she still uses lard for her baking and frying, she answers "Why yes dahlin', what else would I use?"

Today, the clientele at H&H comes in part for the Allman Brothers legacy, but in equally large part for the good food. They are of all races and from countries around the world. The Allman Brothers, many local Maconites believe, have helped break down the racial barriers of this neighborhood and throughout Macon.

Despite her moving a little slowly some days now that she has reached 84, Mama Louise continues to oversee the day-to-day operations of H&H. Her son Tony and nephew, Jerry, are carrying on the tradition.

H&H Restaurant doesn't have a website, but is open every day except Sunday from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Now and then you'll see find other famous and aspiring musicians eating with Mama. Chuck Leavell now with The Rolling Stones, lives nearby and still enjoys Mama's company and cooking.

Visitors to Macon Georgia in March may wonder why Mama Louise and everyone else in town is wearing pink.

The copyright of the article Allman Brothers' Favorite Macon Restaurant in SE U.S. Travel is owned by Diana Lambdin Meyer. Permission to republish Allman Brothers' Favorite Macon Restaurant in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Mama Louise Hudson toured with the Allman Brothers	H&H Restaurant is near The Big House.	Mama's son Tony helps out in the kitchen.
The jukebox is loaded with Allman Brothers hits.	The walls at H&H are filled with ABB images.