There’s Southern charm in every bite
Small-town Michigan seems like an unlikely place to feel the warmth of Southern hospitality, or the slow-burn heat of authentic Cajun cooking. But at Viola Café in Three Oaks, they’re serving both for breakfast and lunch, five days a week.
When they met, owners Anthony Bellon and Scott King bonded over their Southern childhoods and family traditions. Anthony was raised in Louisiana. Scott grew up in Alabama. Each came from households where love was shared through stick-to-your-ribs meals, meant to be enjoyed by a crowd.
Now in their sunlit café, Anthony and Scott present a menu of family recipes, all made from scratch. The spicy sausage gravy is Scott’s dad’s specialty. The refreshingly old-fashioned pimento cheese and chicken salad lunch plate, his grandma’s. And that’s not just any crawfish étouffée—it’s built on Anthony’s mother Miss Jennifer’s toasty roux.
Grab a seat at the lunch counter, order a Community coffee (from Baton Rouge), and see portraits of Bellon and King matriarchs smiling down. Their boys are in their element, chatting up regulars. And making guests like yourself feel at home.
Local Tip: Viola teams up with their neighbors down the street at Vickers Theatre for themed dinner-and-a-show events. They’ve paired crawfish boils with Elvis movies, and Mardi Gras spreads with live storytelling. Check their Instagram for what’s coming soon.
words Lena Singer
images Jessica Steele
