Restaurant Review Archives - Page 6 of 9

Five Loaves Cafe: Affordable Charleston Area Eatery

05/22/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

Healthy. Fresh. Locally-Sourced. Sustainable. Colorful. Comfort food. Affordable. Those are all words to describe the menu choices at Five Loaves Cafe with three locations in the Charleston area. 1) In Charleston itself at 43 Cannon Street 2) In Mt. Pleasant on Johnnie Dodds Blvd. and 3) In Summerville at 214 N. Cedar St. We had a great lunch at the Summerville location on the way home from a recent trip to Charleston. It was easily found right off I-26.

Five Loaves Cafe exterior, Summerville, SC

Attractive, quirky lights on the front porch in Summerville.

Five Loaves Cafe was founded in 2003 by Chef/Owner Casey Glowacki, who actually stood on the street corner in front of his first Charleston location offering soup samples to people passing by. Those tasters must have liked that soup. By 2004, Glowacki was joined by Partner/Owner Joe Fischbein, and they have become a very successful team with Glowacki working culinary magic and Fischbein overseeing the service and inner workings.

Eating out in the Charleston area is often a big-ticket item in a vacation budget. At Five Loaves Cafe, you can enjoy a nutritious, well-prepared meal at a great price. And there are numerous vegetarian options, if you are so inclined.

A handy-dandy way to list the daily specials — a roll of brown butcher paper.

Five Loaves Cafe was recently named in an article titled “8 Charleston Restaurants Perfect for When You’re Feeling Ill.” That makes logical sense considering the house made soups that are made fresh each day. Just yesterday, the daily soup specials, for example, were: Minestrone; Chicken tortilla; Asparagus, goat cheese and dill; Potato broccoli and cheddar; Mexican chicken chili with avocado and cilantro and Tomato tarragon with crab meat. Surely there was one on the list to suit pretty much ANYBODY.

The All-Natural Chicken Caesar Salad made the list of “27 Things You Need to Eat in Charleston Before You Die,” according to writer Rachel Labarre. Have you SEEN how many restaurants there are in Charleston? Can you imagine how many mouthwatering menu items could be found in that number of restaurants? It’s quite a compliment to be mentioned in such a category.

The lunch menu offers a 1/2 sandwich/soup or 1/2 sandwich/salad combination, and the sandwiches can be made from any of these breads: sourdough, croissant, multi-grain, rye, baguette or a spinach tortilla.

Check out the photos of the lunch choices enjoyed by the people at my table last week.

She crab soup and chicken salad on a bed of greens

Cucumber soup with a tuna sandwich on multi-grain bread

Roast beef on a croissant with a veggie salad featuring pickled carrots

Sandwich on multi-grain bread with a side of fresh fruit.

Maybe another great reason to give Five Loaves Cafe a try is how conducive it is to an enjoyable reunion of old friends.

Jim and Donna Rushen, current residents of Summerville, SC, with my Silver Fox and me.

Must-Eats in Cincinnati

05/01/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

When Steve and I pulled into Cincinnati last week, I had three foods on my list of must-eats considered to be distinctively “Cincinnatian.” They were goetta, Graeter’s ice cream and Cincinnati’s version of chili. We happily found and sampled all of them, plus another as a delicious bonus.

Goetta, and specifically Glier’s Goetta, is pronounced “get-uh” and, according to their website, it “is a German breakfast sausage that blends the textures and flavors of pork, beef, whole grain steel-cut oats, fresh onions, and spices. It is slow-cooked daily and perfectly prepared when browned and served.” Glier’s produces 1,000,000 pounds of goetta each year, and 99% of it is consumed right in Cincinnati. That likely explains why the rest of us have never tried it. It is definitely an acquired taste, but I thought it was pretty good. You don’t expect your sausage to be crispy/crunchy, but goetta is, so be prepared for that. I do recommend that you try it. “When in Rome . . . .,” right?

We had it both mornings we were in the city. First at Hathaway’s Diner on the first floor of Carew Tower, and the next morning at the Symphony Hotel. I didn’t hear of anyone who made their own goetta at home. Glier’s definitely has this product firmly in its grasp.

Glier’s Goetta at Hathaway’s Diner.

2. Graeter’s Ice Cream is distinctive because of the French Pot Process used in making it. Read and see photos of that process here. Categories of flavors are: seasonal, classic, signature chip, low glycemic and sorbet. THE absolute signature flavor is Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip, and I can testify that it is truly wonderful. Steve and I shared a scoop after our dinner at Montgomery Inn Boathouse (a place you will read more about in coming days). We also went into a stand-alone Graeter’s location in Fountain Square — just to browse, of course.

Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream by Graeter’s

3. Cincinnati has a highly unique chili recipe. It is served over a plate of spaghetti pasta and is topped with grated cheddar cheese. In this form, it is referred to as a Three-Way. The chili itself has a cinnamon hint to it, and some speculate that cocoa is also included. If you add a layer of beans OR onions, it becomes a Four-Way, and if you add BOTH beans and onions, it is then a Five-Way. I had been warned that “nobody likes sweet chili,” so we chose the Five-Way. I could still taste the cinnamon, but the beans and onions helped to make it more similar to the chili from my neck of the woods. In this category, as with Glier’s Goetta and Graeter’s Ice Cream, Skyline Chili appears to have a tight grip on the market. There are other places around town serving chili, but Skyline is a local favorite. Camp Washington Chili was also recommended, and we’ll have to try it on a return visit. So much to see and eat. So little time.

Cincinnati-style chili at Skyline Chili

As for the bonus, we had dinner one night at The Eagle on Vine Street, just a couple of blocks from our hotel, and decided to order their spoonbread. Oh my goodness. It is made in an iron skillet like cornbread but is less dense. Then while it’s still hot, it is smeared with a generous serving of maple butter that seeps into the bread and makes it totally worth the calories. While you’re at The Eagle, go ahead and splurge on their fried chicken. EXTRA good.

Spoonbread at The Eagle.

When you go to a new city, I urge you to do your homework and find out what special dishes the locals enjoy and determine the best places for trying those foods. It will enrich your visit tremendously.

Auburn Area Eateries and an Art Museum

04/17/2017 By: CCPearson1 Comment

I’m not quite ready to compare Auburn, AL to Franklin, TN, but in one respect, they are similar. Every time I visit either one, I find new places to eat. Some small. Some large. Some casual. Some gourmet. Some trendy and sleek. Some very plain. On a recent weekend on the Plains, I tried several cafes and restaurants that I had never noticed before.

AMSTERDAM CAFE at 410 S. Gay Street.

When you walk in the door, you will notice a connection between this place — or at least the NAME of this place — and Vincent Van Gogh, a famous painter who lived from 1853 to 1890. He was born in the Netherlands, and in fact, The Van Gogh Museum is in Amsterdam. Several of his self-portraits adorn the walls of the dining room (reproductions, of course. Who in the world could afford an original??). One has been slightly altered to fit into the Auburn football atmosphere.

Van Gogh dressed to play football for Auburn

The place was hoppin’ when we arrived after 8 p.m. on a Thursday night. I can only imagine what it’s like on game weekends, so plan ahead and make reservations.

Turkey wrap with sweet potato chips

Crab cake and avocado croissant.

I had my eye on the Crab Cake and Avocado Sandwich since it had made the list of “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die.” Steve chose the Amsterdam Turkey Wrap, and we both had the housemade sweet potato chips for our sides. The server suggested dipping the chips in honey mustard sauce. Great idea! A delicious combo. Check out the menu on the website. You can spend a little or a lot at Amsterdam Cafe.

BIZILIA’S CAFE at 134 N. College St.

Blueberry muffinini

This place specializes in paninis. I happened by after a morning stroll around the campus and was lured by their muffininis. The man at the order counter mentioned blueberry, chocolate chip or banana nut. I thought the blueberry one sounded good. It was a muffin that had been sliced and griddled with butter and was served nice and warm. If I were a coffee drinker, I believe it would have been great with a cuppa Joe.

WAREHOUSE BISTRO 105 Rocket Ave. in Opelika.

You’ll have to get in the car and drive to this one, and yes, it really IS in a converted warehouse. Plus, there are warehouses forming an industrial park all around it. Warehouse Bistro has been in existence since 1993 and is a great place for casual fine dining — two words that don’t often go together. We were there with a number of Steve’s classmates from veterinary school, so we enjoyed our meal while laughing through endless stories about doctoring animals and sharing tales of practice woes and successes.

Front patio at Warehouse Bistro.

The menu is impressive, and reservations are recommended but not required. It is closed on Sunday and Monday but is open Tuesday-Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 and on Friday and Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Our meal consisted of the Bistro Salad — field greens, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, cucumbers, smoked bacon, red onions and Feta cheese with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

Bistro Salad

Gulf Black Grouper — sauteed and topped with jumbo lump crab meat and Hollandaise sauce.

Black grouper topped with crabmeat

Blueberry Bread Pudding — served warm with Creme Anglaise poured on top.

Blueberry bread pudding

A beautiful facility on the Auburn University campus is the JULE COLLINS SMITH MUSEUM OF FINE ART 901 S. College Street. It is open every day except Monday. While you are strolling through the amazing exhibits, you may wish to have lunch at the Museum Cafe (a limited menu but a tasteful, relaxing atmosphere). It serves salads, paninis or soups, etc. from 11:00-2:00 Tuesdays through Fridays. A Museum Gift Shop is also in the building if you’re looking for extraordinary gifts for friends.

On April 6, 2017, construction began on a performing arts center directly across the street from the museum. When it opens in 2019, it will serve as a wonderful venue for touring Broadway productions, as well as concert space for operas, symphonies, dance, along with student and faculty recitals. This section of South College Street will form a cultural arts district for the university campus. Exciting days ahead for students, alumni and visitors from all over.

Niki’s West in Birmingham: Serving Many People Quickly and Abundantly

04/10/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

Driving I-65 through the Heart of Dixie, you can take Exit 262 B to Finley Avenue and be in the parking lot for Niki’s West in 2 minutes. Steve and I decided to pop in for lunch last week, and we drove into a crowded parking lot at 11:30 a.m. People were getting out of their cars and hurrying in, obviously anticipating a good meal on their lunch hour. Many of the patrons appeared to be coming from work, but there were plenty of others with more time to spare. We observed a group of 12, apparently from the same office, who came in and were seated and served very quickly.

The entrance canopy for Niki’s West on Finley Ave. West.

We were directed to one of three large dining rooms, and the atmosphere was loud and busy. The seating capacity is 425, and I can easily imagine that number turning over at least twice during busy weekdays. It would be beyond crazy on Sundays, but Niki’s wisely closes on that day. Niki’s West is open Monday through Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Three meals a day, six days a week for hundreds of diners. What a commitment!! I will definitely be tempted to return for breakfast in the future.

One of three large dining rooms.

At Niki’s, it’s called a steam table, rather than a buffet. Plates are served. You don’t serve yourself. The most popular is a “meat and 3” option. It is a BIG meal, AND it comes with giant yeast rolls!! The price is $12.77 and that includes the tax but not a beverage. Each day features different meats and vegetables, but always there is a large selection. From all I observed, the steam table is the most popular way to go for lunch.

Lunch patrons move quickly down the steam table.

Efficient servers plating the requests for meat and vegetables.

We chose to order from the menu, because we were particularly interested in seafood. The seafood platter was $27.95, and we ordered it broiled rather than fried or Greek style (which is broiled with olive oil and Greek seasoning). There was a $2.25 charge for sharing a plate. It came with 2 sides, and once again, we decided to go the healthy route and had boiled okra with tomatoes and yellow squash. In my less healthy days, I would definitely have chosen fried okra and squash casserole. Oh well. Greek style chicken and steaks are also on the menu.

Seafood platter — crab claws, oysters, shrimp, stuffed crab, snapper and scallops.

Boiled okra, onions and tomatoes.

Generous portion of boiled squash.

Although ordering from the menu was relatively fast, the ability to serve a LOT of people a LARGE variety of items QUICKLY seems to be the main attraction. The service was attentive, helpful and friendly. The taste wasn’t gourmet by any means, but it was fine. The yeast rolls were outstanding, and according to our server, “the cinnamon rolls come out at 4:00 in the afternoon.” Oh my. I can only imagine the smell and taste of those!!

Giant, fluffy yeast rolls.

Niki’s West has been serving hungry eaters in the Birmingham area since 1957. I predict many more years of popularity and success.

2 Discoveries in Franklin, TN – Sopapilla’s and The Herban Market

04/03/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

Franklin, Tennessee is a town where there are an endless number of places to eat and shop. And, with the projected growth in the area for the next 10 years, that fact is bound to continue and thrive. I want to tell you about 2 of my recent finds — places to which I’d definitely want to return.

Attractive exterior

The first is Sopapilla’s, a wonderful New Mexican restaurant at 1109 Davenport Boulevard. Notice that I DIDN’T say a new Mexican restaurant. I purposely capitalized New because the cuisine is that of the State of New Mexico, rather than typical Mexican. Owner Steve Dale, from both Phoenix and Albuquerque, came to Nashville to pursue a career in music and found much success in that area. What he DIDN’T find was food with the flavors he loved from “back home.” He enjoyed cooking for his friends after concerts and gained quite a reputation there, as well. After awhile, he chose to pursue his passion for great food, and Sopapilla’s was born.

Chips and salsa — fresh, fresh, fresh.

One of the not-so-secret ingredients in the dishes of Sopapilla’s are the chiles shipped from Hatch, New Mexico. The flavor is unique to other chiles, and the town is known far and wide for its peppers. Learn more by checking out this website.

Three of our grandchildren and their parents gave Sopapilla’s a big thumbs up when we celebrated a family birthday there recently. All of the dishes we had were wonderful, but Steve and I especially enjoyed the Guacamole with Grilled Pineapple and Sweet Glazed Shrimp. It was over-the-top good.

Children’s menu

Sopapilla’s is grandkid-approved.

Guacamole with grilled pineapple and shrimp.

And, when our meal ended with the signature sopapillas, we were drooling, oohing and ahh-ing. All of that deliciousness AND honey? Oh my!

Soft, fluffy sopapillas with honey.

Before you leave the area, be sure to walk around to The Herban Market at 3078 Maddux Way, just a few stores down from Sopapilla’s. As the name implies, there are plenty of herbs and spices, but SO much more. You’ll find organic produce, an olive oil and balsamic tasting bar, local meat and dairy products plus fish shipped from Alaska, and even an organic juice bar. The Herban Market also encourages local artists with a wall dedicated to displays of their works. During our visit, good friend Kay Dekalb Smith had several paintings on that wall. I guarantee you’ll be tempted to take some products home and cook up something special.

Wall for local artists near the Juice Bar.

Goats milk soap.

Herbs in bulk.

Terranova’s in Huntsville — Great Food, Fun Celebrations

03/27/2017 By: CCPearson1 Comment

Steve and I love eating at Terranova’s on Paramount Dr, right off of Highway 72, just before you get to the Providence intersection going into Huntsville. The food is as close to what we had during our trip to Italy a few years ago as we’ve found since we got home. The ingredients are fresh. The bread and olive oil/herbs for dipping are to-die-for. And, everywhere you look there’s something interesting to see. We’ve always experienced efficient service, and the prices are very reasonable.

Terranova’s exterior on a bright, sunny day.

We have been “for no reason in particular,” as well as for birthdays and anniversaries. I even treated my daughters and several granddaughters to lunch at Terranova’s several months ago before we headed to the Von Braun Center for a live performance of “Beauty and the Beast.” As you can see, Maggie LOVED her spaghetti. Maybe we will practice her fork-twirling skills in the future, but she certainly found a way to get that great food to her mouth.

Two daughters and 4 (out of 7) granddaughters having a fun lunch.

Maggie enjoying her spaghetti.

Dan Oliver is the proud owner of Terranova’s. It is obvious that he spent plenty of time devising the menu, and he continues to seek out interesting decor items for his diners to enjoy. At first, he bartered with buyers in Italy for key pieces. Now, he scours antique stores looking for just the right touches to complete the atmosphere he wants to achieve. And, he does all of this while making a priority of spending quality time with his wife and children. We think he’s doing a fine job.

One of the main dining rooms.

Interesting display right at the entrance.

This statue stands guard over the dining rooms.

My favorite menu item is eggplant parmesan, but I’ve also tried a summertime version of fried green tomato parmesan that was AMAZING. I’ve recently learned that Oliver’s father grows the eggplants and the tomatoes in his home garden. No wonder they’re so good!!

Eggplant parmesan, a personal fave.

I’ve indulged in dessert only a couple of times. The chocolate cannoli is very Italian, but my favorite has to be Mt. Vesuvius — a chocolate spectacular large enough to be shared with several friends.

Chocolate cannoli

Mt. Vesuvius!!

If you enjoy Italian cuisine, I believe you will really enjoy Terranova’s. For more photos and information, check out this article I wrote for MilesGeek.com.

Lucia’s Cocina Mexicana: On the Square in Athens, AL

03/20/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

There’s a new dining choice on the square in Athens. Lucia’s Cocina Mexicana has a sleek, colorful, tasteful decor both from the inside and the outside. You will immediately notice the pops of red and black scattered throughout the vintage building. The vibe is fresh and friendly, and a recent lunch with friends was fun and delicious.

The building at 208 W. Market Street is between Jefferson and Marion Streets. The owners are members of the Martinez family who already own seven very successful Casa Blanca restaurants scattered around North Alabama. They decided to name this one Lucia’s in honor of their mother, Maria Lucia Aguilar Lopez. She has raised 11 children and is a cancer survivor. A tribute to her was written on the menu by her sons who say “she always taught us to work hard, believe in our dreams and to take care of each other.” Her nurturing ways were obviously heeded, as evidenced by the enterprises of her children. Another Lucia’s is now open on Beltline Road in Decatur.

Check out these entrees served to my friends just a few days ago. I particularly liked how the refried beans were served in a toasted flour tortilla. Nice touch! Here you will see a chimichanga (Monday’s daily special), taco salad, fish tacos, and a chicken soft taco, among other dishes. Naturally, meals begin with crunchy chips and spicy salsa. I haven’t sampled them yet, but I understand the desserts are mouthwatering and big enough to share. Maybe next time.

I predict continued success for this dedicated family.

Breakfast at Mia’s, Lunch at Fulin’s and other places with Children’s Menus

03/13/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

Last week, Steve and I enjoyed the company of three granddaughters for 8 full days. WE LEARNED A LOT!!! On Thursday, Steve was working at a vet clinic all day, so the girls and I had a chance to eat out and shop at a leisurely pace.

We started with breakfast at Mia’s Cafe in Madison. Mia’s is open Monday – Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We arrived about 9:00 a.m., and the dining room still had plenty of diners enjoying breakfast with friends. I was very pleased to see a Kids Menu which included a large pancake and bacon or sausage for only $2.50. The girls were delighted when their meals arrived and the pancakes had Mickey Mouse ears!!! I ordered a couple of a la carte items, and we left spending less than $20.00, including their chocolate milks. Score!!!

Interior of Mia’s.

Mia’s has lunch and dinner specials (a meat, 3 vegetables, cornbread or roll) for $9.99. There are 4 meats to choose from and at least 10 vegetables. The restaurant is clean, and the service is very friendly. I think you’d enjoy giving it a try.

Bethany ate the WHOLE thing!

We had very few items on our must-find list, so we merely strolled the aisles of Toys-R-Us, imagining what they would buy if they had all the money in the world. Bless them. I got some good ideas for future birthdays, and they helped me select several additions for the toy closet in our house to be shared by ALL the grands.

Next, we headed to Barnes and Noble Bookseller at Bridgestreet in Huntsville. I seriously believe they could have stayed for hours. We found our way to the children’s section, they made themselves comfortable on the carpeted floor and started looking and reading. How nice that this area also provides chairs for weary parents and grandparents.

Our next stop was to a large Target store with the specific goal of buying a gift for an upcoming baby shower. Once again, their opinions were invaluable. I was so impressed that the girls weren’t begging and whining the whole time. They truly appeared to enjoy looking at the merchandise on the shelves at an unhurried pace without thinking that everything they saw had to be purchased and taken home RIGHT THEN.

By the time we left Target, we were hungry again, so we made our way to Fulin’s Asian Cuisine in Madison — in the same parking lot as Target. They had their hearts set on fried rice. Once we sat down, though, and looked at the Children’s Menu, they spotted Sweet and Sour Chicken and decided to give that a try. Again, the Children’s Menu was affordable — all items were only $5.00. The 3 girls shared 2 plates of the chicken (which has now become one of their new favorites — could it be that sweet, red sauce?), and we all shared a very generous serving of chicken fried rice. So, once again, we didn’t have to spend an exorbitant amount, and all of us were comfortably full. Thanks, Fulin’s.

From an adult perspective, Fulin’s has an extensive selection of Chinese and Japanese dishes with many varieties of sushi, sashimi, soups and noodles. There is another location of Fulin’s in Decatur at the Target Shopping Center on Point Mallard Parkway.

Hot and Sour Soup at Fulin’s — nice and spicy.

Children’s plates for only $5.00.

Remember that the portion of chicken fried rice is very generous.

2 fortune cookies in one page HAS to be lucky. Right?

2 fortune cookies in one package HAS to be lucky. Right?

Just as another FYI — the next night before we saw “Cinderella” at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, we ate a quick supper at Blue Plate Cafe on Governor’s Drive. They, too, have a Children’s Menu with some great options for under $5.00. As a grandmother of 12-almost-13 grandchildren, I am very grateful to restaurants who offer discounted and smaller meals.

Have you found some good suggestions for restaurants (other than fast food places) where you can feed several children reasonably and happily? I’d love to hear about them. Please share.

Lawrenceburg, Tennessee — Lunch Options

03/06/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

About an hour from Athens is a beautiful area of Middle Tennessee in Lawrence County, with its main town of Lawrenceburg. Most folks associate it with David Crockett State Park and Amish country, but I recently discovered more that I will try to share in coming posts. Just as a teaser, Congress named Lawrenceburg as the Birthplace of Southern Gospel Music because of the contributions of James Vaughan who started the shaped-notes system of music reading. Oh, boy, do I ever have thoughts about THAT!! Ha!

Anyway, we had 3 granddaughters with us last week and decided to go to Lawrence County (TN) to explore for a few hours. Many people go to the state park specifically to have lunch at Crockett’s Mill Restaurant. The view of the lake from inside is beautiful, and I’ve heard that the outside patio attracts lots of butterflies during warm weather. Diners may order from the menu or partake of the buffet. We went in to look around but weren’t quite ready for lunch right then.

Restaurant at David Crockett State Park

One of our target areas to visit was downtown Lawrenceburg. There we found Square Forty — a “meat and three” kind of place owned by a man affectionately-known as “Shine.” He was so friendly and answered our many questions. The girls chose this place for our lunch based on its great smells and homey atmosphere.

Interior of Square Forty

Decor area in Square Forty

Around the corner was a smaller place that we strongly considered, and it’s a cafe I’d love to try on my next visit — Yum on the Run. Its specialties include soups, salads, sandwiches and paninis. In addition, they have daily specials (often a pasta dish), and “yum” refers to homemade desserts. Say no more.

Yum on the Run at 106 Waterloo Street

My article about Lawrenceburg will be in this quarter’s edition of BOOM, a magazine of the Athens News Courier, due out at the end of March. Stay tuned.

New Eatery in Rogersville, AL

02/27/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

My husband and I have lived 15 minutes from Rogersville for 6 1/2 years now. Stanfield’s has a faithful following and is known for steaks, a big salad bar and LARGE slices of homemade cakes. Savannah’s was a great place for lunch right on Main Street, but it closed last year, and we are all still waiting for a new tenant. In the meantime, hungry folks have easily found McDonald’s, Hardee’s, Subway, Pizza Hut, Whitt’s and Fat Cat’s Seafood on the main drag of Highway 72 going through town from Athens to the Shoals.

But, in recent months, two new dining options have opened right next door to each other, beside the Foodland grocery store. The Mexican place — Sofia’s Cantina — is under new management and has pretty much doubled its space since the new owners took over. All of the expected items are on the menu, and the prices are reasonable.

Today, however, Steve and I took 3 granddaughters with us to check out The Back Porch. We expected a menu more in keeping with its down home Southern name, such as a “meat and three” type of place. But, that is not what we found.

Don’t get me wrong. The interior is sleek and attractive. Both the stage area for live musicians and the bar area are made to resemble back porches. But, the menu has a mixture of barbecue, hamburger steak and catfish with sides such as a baked potato, a sweet potato, a stuffed potato, fries, Tater Tots, steamed veggies and onion rings. And, oh yes, pizza is mentioned briefly. The salad bar is small, but there was a good selection of fresh veggies. Bear in mind that our order leaned heavily in favor of Kids’ Plates — grilled cheese, fish fillets, fries, Tater Tots, etc. Steve really liked his grilled catfish, and the girls dove into the fries “with lots of catsup.” But, I think we probably didn’t order the true specialties of The Back Porch. I saw a hamburger go by on a serving tray that looked absolutely amazing. And, I overheard two waitresses reminding each other about the Butterfinger Cake available for dessert. What’s not to love about Butterfinger Cake, I tell you.

Grilled catfish with baked potato and Texas toast.

Lots of fresh veggies from the salad bar.

Yum! Bethany heartily approved of the grilled cheese and fries.

The Back Porch is open Monday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to midnight, and on Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The portable board on display as we entered today mentioned a “Buy one entree, get the 2nd for 25% off” special, and according to their Facebook page, tonight’s entertainment will be provided by Dixie Thunder and should begin at 7:00 p.m. Other groups mentioned who have performed in the past include: Bushwackers, Southern Breeze, Johnny Collier, Trippin Dixie and the Relics. We tried to visit for dinner a few weeks ago, and the parking lot was overflowing. These musicians must have been the reason for the large turnout.

I strongly suspect that we will visit again. Next time I want a hamburger!!!

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