Homestyle staples and unique dishes on the menu in Cameron
by Sara Schafer | sschafer@ruralmissouri.coop
Step inside Robyn’s and you’ll find more than a menu full of mouthwatering dishes — you’ll find a place where neighbors chat, travelers feel at home and the owner stops by your table for a laugh or a quick story. Homey charm and hearty comfort food have made Robyn’s in Cameron a beloved local spot
“We have fun, and I make sure everybody is welcome,” says Robyn Choate, owner of Robyn’s. “As the owner, you might see me in the kitchen or waiting tables, but mostly I’m out front messing with my customers, getting to know them and having a good time. That’s what makes us special.”
At 16, Robyn started her food service career as a waitress at Country Kitchen in Chillicothe. When she moved to Columbia for college, she worked at that Country Kitchen. While she’s held various jobs over the years, her goal was always to own her own restaurant.
“I raised my two girls on my own after my husband committed suicide,” she says. “I knew I had to prove to them you can do anything if you set your mind to it. At 45 years old, this restaurant sort of fell in my lap. I had worked here when it was owned by someone else. When he wanted to sell the restaurant, he called me. The bank took a chance on me and loaned me the money. That was 10 years ago.”
The welcoming atmosphere Robyn has built gets people in the door — and the food keeps them coming back. Every day features a home-cooked special alongside house favorites.
On Mondays, diners can enjoy tenderloin sandwiches or taco salad. Tuesdays are a wild card: spaghetti and meatballs, meatloaf or chicken and noodles might appear. Wednesdays are all about fried chicken and Thursdays feature smoked pork chops and burnt ends. Fridays serve up a fish dish and a special such as Philly cheesesteak or pulled pork. A hand-drawn menu with the daily specials is posted each day on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
Guests can end their week on a culinary high note by digging into a tender steak. On Friday nights, Robyn’s offers a 12-ounce rib-eye or 12-ounce Kansas City strip. “About every three months I’ll also throw in crab legs as a Friday night special,” Robyn says. “You don’t have to drive to the city; you can come here and sit down with a big old serving of crab legs.”
One of the most unique and talked-about dishes is the Morgan’s Salted Caramel Burger. Created by Robyn’s youngest daughter, Morgan, it features a beef patty seasoned with sea salt, drizzled with caramel, topped with bacon and finished with a dollop of peanut butter. “I told her it sounded disgusting,” Robyn says. “But it is delicious, and it’s one of my top-selling burgers.”
The Robyn’s team has welcomed thousands of return customers, out-of-state visitors making the trek to nearby Hamilton to visit Missouri Star Quilting Company and even surprise celebrity guests including Duane Lee Chapman, better known as Dog the Bounty Hunter.
Robyn also welcomes a special group called The Overcomers, made up of cancer fighters and survivors. “They come in once a month,” Robyn says. “In October, I host them for a Halloween meal. I make them pick a utensil out of a jug, and that’s what they get to eat with for the night. It might be an ice cream scoop or a little lobster fork. Then I make them something crazy that makes it hard for them to eat with that utensil. We just have so much fun.”
While running a small-town restaurant brings plenty of joy, it also comes with its share of stress. Through it all, Robyn has had the steady support of her partner, Mark Piland. “He’s been my biggest cheerleader and pushed me out the door when times get tough,” she says.
With food that tastes like home and an owner who treats every guest like family, Robyn’s is a small-town gem you’ll want to visit again and again.
