At the northeast corner of Drummond and Belmont streets sits a cream-colored house, its windows neatly trimmed in sky blue, and a hand-painted sign hanging from the roof that reads “Fun Learning Stuff.”

That may be true, but there’s a lot more to learn about inside.

Let’s take a look.

Martin’s at Midtown

On the Cherry Street side of the building is a sign that reads, “Martin’s at Midtown.”

So up a few steps you go, and before you can say, “Mmmm, Mmmm,” you learn quickly you are in a dining area filled with the aroma of something cooking —  something like a pork loin or roast or ham or turkey. And you’re right, because in a small kitchen not too far from the door, some of the very best tasting sandwiches and salads are being readied for diners.

The relatively new restaurant is owned by Lisa Carr Martin and husband, John, longtime Vicksburg residents, who have owned Education Station at the 1101 Belmont Street address since 1998. Almost every education book, toy and game imaginable fill the front rooms of this southern entrance to the building. And they make great gifts for boys and girls from birth to 12 years old.

Maker of sandwiches

The sandwich maker for Martin’s at Midtown is Charles Abbott, who is retired from Grand Gulf and has truly mastered the art of sandwich making. He makes the foccacia bread and the pork loin for the restaurant’s Cuban Sandwich. His wife, Kathy, who has run the Education Station for more than 10 years, also helps in the restaurant.

Abbott’s assistant cook is Darrell Saxton, who knows the trade well. The sandwich and salad meals they turn out are testimony to the raves of customers who return day after day, week after week. It is truly a fun-loving and talented staff.

A family affair

Martin’s at Midtown is somewhat of a family affair. Lisa Martin, who is a CPA, has always loved to cook and attended the Viking School of Cooking in New Orleans. Shelly Carr makes apple cakes, Italian Cream cakes, Turtle Brownies and several differed kinds of cupcakes for the restaurant several times a week.

 Martin’s offers inside table service as well as outside dining under shady trees. And we recommend both. The choice of sandwiches is wide and varied; salads with house-made dressings are tempting; soup of the day and the sandwiches are “eat in” or “take out.” And Shel’s Sweets are hard to resist.

Martin’s is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (and “sometimes 3,” Lisa Martin adds). And by summer the Martins hope to be open evenings.