Americans today live in a hectic world, full of more than its fair share of stresses and frustrations, but it’s surprising how many of those can be set right – or at least put in perspective – with sweet tea, grits, cornbread or a big mess of greens.

For a city its size, Huntsville has an impressive array of restaurants offering food from around the world, and it can be easy to overlook its native cuisine. There are places in this country where good old southern cooking is practically a foreign food itself, and if you only know down home grub from Cracker Barrel, well, bless your heart, here are just a handful of the local establishments that can educate you on just why we call it “comfort food” down here.

Rolo's Cafe

In business for over 25 years, Rolo’s is a Huntsville institution. Delicious food is accompanied by a great atmosphere that pays tribute to local railroad history. Try the mashed potatoes.

Grandmother's House Restaurant

There’s authentic, and then there’s authentic. Grandmother’s House is one of the area’s best-kept secrets, and it really is a 90-year-old, antiques-filled house out in the country. Hours are limited and it’s a little tougher to find, but it’s well worth the expedition.

Blue Plate Cafe

Now with two locations, Blue Plate Cafe is a throwback to the days when every town had that one place where anyone who was anyone started the day at some point. You can’t go wrong with a meat and three plate.

Edith Ann's Taste of Home Diner

Southern food does a lot of things well, but we take breakfast to a-whole-nother level. There are lots of places in town where you can get a good, old-fashioned Southern breakfast, but some would swear that Edith Ann’s should be first on your list. Get what you want, but if it doesn’t include gravy, you’re doing something wrong.

Walton's Southern Table

For those who’ve never tried it before, Walton’s Southern Table is a good gateway option for the Southern food experience, billing itself as a “contemporary yet relaxed choice” for Southern meals. Try the chicken or catfish – both fried, both tasty.

G's Country Kitchen

There’s Southern food, and then there’s soul food. This is food fixed the way it has been for generations, ‘cause you just don’t mess with perfection. You’ve got options in Huntsville for where to find some true soul food, but if you want to start with G’s Country Kitchen, you won’t regret it.

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David Hitt is a native of Huntsville who enjoys telling the stories of his hometown. He works in strategic communications for NASA’s Space Launch System, the rocket that will send astronauts to Mars and prove once again that nobody builds ‘em like the Rocket City. David tells Huntsville history stories at the Huntsville Ghost Walk, Constitution Village’s downtown trolley tour, and the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll. He’s the author of two books on space history, “Homesteading Space” and “Bold They Rise” and is the director of the Comic Science Improv comedy troupe.