The second time, my husband and I were able to join him for lunch, but Mike wasn't feeling well and the restaurant left a lot to be desired, so I considered that time didn't count. However, I guess three times is a charm, because my third chance to eat with Mike turned out to be a unique and pleasant experience--we went to a great place and had a wonderful time.
I have jokingly said that my goal in life is to eat at every restaurant in town. It turns out that Mike Kaylor may have done just that over the last 18 years. And to think, he gets paid to do it! How does one find a job like that? I wanted to know and thought you might, too.
Mike grew up in Hickory, North Carolina next to a furniture store that his father owned and operated. All his life he thought he'd go into the family business. However, in junior high school one of his teachers convinced him that he could write and got him involved in the school newspaper. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Mike went to college at the University of North Carolina and majored in journalism. After graduation he went to work in Anniston, AL. He returned to his hometown and worked at the paper there until going back to school for his Masters in Journalism at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. In 1977, Mike started at the Huntsville Times as Assistant City Editor and in 1982 was made the Entertainment Editor, which included the Show Times section of the paper.
Kaylor added the restaurant reviews to the leisure section. In the beginning, he did all the reviews himself. As his responsibilities at the Times increased, he assigned some of the other staff people to cover restaurants for him. He said that worked well for the "good" restaurants, but he couldn't get anyone who was willing to cover the "bad" or lesser known restaurants. So 1997, the publisher suggested that he take local people with him as he dined "around the city." Mike calculates that he's taken about one thousand people out to eat since then.
Even though it's fun to meet people, it's more work for Mike. In the old days, he could spot a restaurant and just drop in on his own schedule. Now he has to maintain a list of people who are willing to go critique restaurants, set up a schedule with them, and then meet them at the restaurant. Once the lunch is over, he has to read and evaluate the critiques and write his column. It makes more work for him but, I for one, love the current system!
How does it work for all the hungry and eager amateur reviewers? Watch the Huntsville Times for a note asking for volunteers. Then wait for Mike to call you--always on a Monday for the following day's lunch or dinner meal. Then you'll meet at the restaurant, go in as a group, and "pretend" to be regular diners. Mike doesn't alert the owners or management that he's coming. He tries not to attract attention so that the group doesn't receive "unusual" or "special" treatment. However, the two times I've been with him, the employees usually are quick to figure it out or the owner walks by and says "Hi, Mike." Almost all the restaurant owners know him!
You are allowed to order anything off the menu. It works better if people try different menu items, but Mike doesn't insist upon it. We left the goat, gumbo, or unusual items for him to try. And he always picks up the check. It's a really great setup! Then watch for the restaurant review, with your picture, in the Thursday edition of the Huntsville Times.
Childhood Memories of Mike Kaylor
Submit a Restaurant Review
More Restaurant Reviews
Health Dept. Ratings
More Huntsville Articles
Free Huntsville Newsletter
Huntsville Events Calendar
