BRADENTON BEACH, Fla. – When Paris Hoisington and her family found a message in a small bottle on the beach last month, it seemed the story had ended with the bottle’s 4,600-mile, eight-year journey.

In an era where a mediocre sandwich and chips at a trendy café can cost a small fortune, Matthews offers a complete meal of home-cooked goodness at prices that feel like a throwback to simpler times.

When your food arrives, it’s presented without pretense, often on paper plates or wrapped in butcher paper. The focus is squarely on what matters: the flavors that transport you to another place ...