Huntsville AL Archives - There Goes Connie

Grumpy’s, Sun Cafe and Bentley’s at the Outhouse

10/07/2019 By: CCPearson2 Comments

In the span of just a couple of days, I tried three new eateries in Cullman, Huntsville and Hartselle that I’d never sampled before, all with positive results. In case you haven’t found these yet, I thought you might want to see some photos and read my thoughts.

Grumpy’s Italian Grill — 402 5th Street SW, Cullman, AL 35055

Grumpy’s Italian Grill is less than two blocks off of what I would call “the main drag” through downtown Cullman. As you’re traveling down Highway 31 from Hartselle, you’ll come to First Baptist Church on one side and the Cullman County Courthouse on the other. Turn beside the church and drive down the hill about a block and a half.

Grumpy’s is open every day except Sunday for lunch and dinner. I guess they would be overrun with church folks if they decided to open on Sunday. Or, perhaps they want to go to church themselves — which would be even better. The original owner was a granddaddy whose grands called him “Grumpy.” He sold the business to a young couple not long ago, but they decided to keep the catchy name.

Salads, pastas and pizzas are all very good if the aromas in Grumpy’s are accurate. Steve tried the spaghetti lunch special which comes with a salad. I tried the spaghetti bake, and it was delicious. I brought my leftovers home and enjoyed them again the next day. Homemade desserts are on tempting display, in case you have a sweet craving.

Apparently, Grumpy’s does a booming call-in and pick-up window business, so keep that in mind.

Sun Cafe — 930 Old Monrovia Road NW #3, Huntsville, AL 35806

In case that address doesn’t sound familiar, let me just say that it’s about two blocks from Highway 72 on the other side of the road from Best Buy, and you can see the fences of Top Golf from the front door.

Sun Cafe no doubt considers itself mostly “a sushi place,” and sushi is what my friends and I were looking for when we decided to have lunch together recently. I tasted eel sushi for the very first time and found it to be surprisingly good. REALLY.

Since I’m a big-time scallops lover, I chose the teriyaki scallops lunch for my meal, and it came with a choice of soup or salad and a side of rice. Very tasty.

Sun Cafe is clean and attractive. The service is attentive, and the prices are reasonable. Check it out when you’re craving Asian cuisine.

Bentley’s at the Outhouse – 200 Main Street W, Hartselle, AL 35640

Bentley’s at the Outhouse is on a busy corner in the center of town in Hartselle. The building is a large former furniture store where I had the privilege of buying furniture through the years and knowing the original owners, Sam and Lurline Minor. Great folks. It seems very fitting to have the vintage “Minor Furniture” sign as part of the wall decor, but I’m pretty sure Mrs. Lurline would not have liked the very prominent bar at the back of the main dining room. She was a gracious lady, a long-time member and organist at First Baptist Hartselle, and I enjoyed playing piano/organ duets with her for a number of years.

But, back to Bentley’s. I’m not exactly sure why they added “at the Outhouse” to the name, so I need to talk to the owner to find out. This is primarily a sports bar type of place with 15 large, flatscreen TVs located within easy viewing of every table and seating for up to 240 people. One corner is set up to host live musicians who are scheduled regularly — especially on weekends.

Basic burger and onion rings at Bentley’s.

The main thing you need to know about Bentley’s is that they serve amazing hamburgers. The basic burger is great, but they have elevated the choices to the next level. Consider a bacon/mac and cheese burger, a peanut butter burger with a side of jelly or a pizza burger, to name a few. Other sandwiches are offered, along with three different salads and a kids menu. THEN, there’s the matter of dessert. Oh my. How about banana pudding, a 7-layer cheesecake or a chocolate peanut butter cake? So far, I’ve resisted, but there WILL come a time or an occasion when I’ll have to sample one or more of these. The price of a burger may be double that of a Big Mac, but believe me, the taste and quality are at least three times better.

Bentley’s is closed on Sundays and Mondays but is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday.

Royal Rose Diner in Huntsville AL: Celebrating 2 Successful Years in Business

04/02/2018 By: CCPearson2 Comments

Congratulations to George and Tatiana Kontoulakos, owners of Royal Rose Diner at 1009 Memorial Parkway N.W. in Huntsville AL, for 2 highly successful years in business. Their menu is one of the most extensive I’ve ever seen, and their hard work and commitment to their customers and employees are exemplary. Imagine running a business that is open from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. SEVEN DAYS A WEEK!!

Royal Rose Diner is located on the corner of University Drive and the Parkway in the same parking lot as Books-a-Million and very near Costco. I first learned about Royal Rose when I was writing an article for Edible Lower Alabama about breakfast/brunch places in Huntsville. I learned that you can order breakfast any time of the day, yet there’s so much more. Lunch runs the gamut between salads, burgers, paninis, wraps and sandwiches, while dinner options include Greek, Italian, Mexican, seafood and comfort foods. Now, I ask you — when have you ever seen a menu offering pastichio, moussaka and kabobs on one page, nachos and fajitas on another page and chicken pot pie and liver and onions on yet another? And those are just teasers for the 300+ items listed in all.

Steve and I were there for lunch recently. He had salmon patties with potatoes, and I had eggplant parmesan. We both shared a couple of desserts that George had prepared the very same morning. We liked them because they were light and not too sweet. Plus, they were pretty to look at. A display case near the front door has plenty of choices you can enjoy by the slice or purchase a whole cake/pie/pastry to take home.

George oversees the ambitious kitchen, while Tatiana “does everything else” — at least according to the jovial server who answered my many questions. George’s passion is New York style diner cuisine, but he has cooked all over the world and has 50+ years of experience.

As a celebration of their two years in business, George and Tatiana invited some friends in for a tasting of some of their most popular dishes. I was delighted to be in the group. We sampled George’s homemade pita wedges, a cheese/olive dip, meatballs, chicken skewers, fish skewers, veggie lasagna rolls, crab cakes wrapped around a plump scallop, and, of course, some of George’s wonderful and beautiful desserts.

In addition to the great food, I met some wonderful people who are friends and supporters of George and Tatiana’s. Don Howard‘s artwork is on display on all the walls of Royal Rose. He and his wife Dorothy are a delightful couple with heartwarming personalities. Don became a cartoonist for Disney right after college and spent most of his career there. Now, he draws and paints fantastic caricatures of famous musicians, comedians, sports stars, people in history and current heroes and will also take orders for custom works. Naturally, his posters of Alabama and Auburn championships are extremely popular.

I am now the proud owner of this poster commemorating Auburn’s 2010 National Championship. Thank you, Don and Dorothy!!

I also met a very attractive couple who manage a Facebook page called “Rocket City Eats.” They make photos of all kinds of food to keep the rest of us salivating and ready to visit the various eateries.

Another guest was Stephanie Weaver who has a website called www.artfurpaws.com. She paints beautiful oil portraits of pets, in addition to landscapes, still life, and children’s portraits. Check out her website. You can learn about her husband, children and the causes she supports.

At the end of our fun afternoon of great food and conversation, George and Tatiana announced that they will soon be opening another restaurant on the square in downtown Huntsville. They are taking over the location which formerly housed Papou’s Greek Cuisine. The owner recently died, so they have bought that business and are busily revamping the menu. It will be named after their son, Alexander. Be watching for its opening within the next few weeks. With their strong work ethic and ability with food and with people, I predict another successful venture for this lovely couple.

The Culinary Trifecta of Chef James Boyce in Huntsville, AL

08/21/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

I love it when I get to experience the efforts of someone who has years of training in a skill and runs a business with excellence. Chef James Boyce is doing just that with three diverse, but equally exceptional, restaurants in the Rocket City.

My husband and I have dined at Cotton Row Restaurant twice now and loved it both times. Its location at 100 South Side Square in downtown Huntsville is perfect for folks who work in the area. But with a parking garage a block away and a fair amount of street parking, it is accessible for diners coming from all directions. As a matter of fact, it is well worth the effort to make your way there for any kind of special occasion or upscale event.

Cotton Row at 100 South Side Square.

We purposefully made our reservations for lunch on Friday, August 18, because it was the last weekday of Huntsville’s Restaurant Week. All three of Chef Boyce’s restaurants were participating, but we especially liked the sound (and the price) of the special three-course lunch being served for this promotional event.

The meal started with Southern Seafood Chowder, which was thick, rich and loaded with flavor. The ingredients included clams, snapper, shrimp, bacon and smoked tomatoes. I believe the smoked tomatoes put it over the top. So good.

Southern Seafood Chowder.

The entree was Grilled Chicken and Potato Paillard (“paillard” is basically a preparation method that involves pounding thin and then cooking on a grill). The chicken and potatoes were surrounded with blistered cherry tomatoes, chargrilled red onions and topped with a perfectly poached egg. The combination was delicious, and the portion size was just right.

Chicken and Potatoes Paillard topped with a perfectly poached egg.

The meal was topped off with a small Tahitian Vanilla Creme Brulee, garnished with fresh strawberries and a small cookie. All of the items on the Restaurant Week special lunch appear on the regular menu, as well — likely in large portions.

Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee

Cotton Row is small, so reservations are recommended. When the weather permits, there is a nice outdoor seating area.

Outdoor dining area of Cotton Row.

The website lists 11 farms which provide the restaurant with fresh quality produce. All are very near the Huntsville area.

Cotton Row serves brunch on Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., lunch Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and dinner Monday through Saturday from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Chef Boyce’s second downtown restaurant is on the opposite end of the same block at 300 Franklin Street. Commerce Kitchen is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., on Saturday from 4:00-10:00 p.m. and is closed on Sundays. The menu is slightly more casual, and the prices are a little more moderate than at Cotton Row. I have not had a chance to try it out yet, but knowing the quality of Chef Boyce’s other restaurants, it is on my Restaurant Bucket List to sample in the near future. If you’ve been, I’d love to read your thoughts and hear your recommendations from the menu.

Commerce Kitchen at 300 Franklin St. S.E.

Pane e Vino has yet another distinct location and identity. This Italian-themed restaurant is on the ground floor of the Huntsville Museum of Art and overlooks Big Spring Park. It is open everyday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and is wonderful for a pre-event meal with its proximity to the Von Braun Center. Salads, paninis, pizzas, pastas and calzones dominate the menu, and the prices are very reasonable.

Fresh salads at Pane e Vino.

Panini at Pane e Vino.

Outdoor dining at Pane e Vino overlooking Big Spring Park.

There is a small dining area inside with the advantage of smelling all of the tantalizing aromas, but if the weather is nice, I highly recommend the outdoor patio. In addition to people-watching, wildlife and nature are on constant display.

Chef Boyce offers cooking classes throughout the year. A current series is entitled “Eat Simply. Eat Smart. Eat Well.” Details are on the website. Who wants to go with me?

Congratulations, Chef Boyce, on your success in Huntsville. All of us who dine in your restaurants enjoy the tremendous benefits of your hard work.

Move Over, Cracker Barrel — Blue Plate Cafe is Doing It Bigger and Better!

07/25/2016 By: CCPearson4 Comments

Hungry? Headed to or from Parkway Place Mall, Huntsville Hospital, Von Braun Center or Clearview Cancer Institute? Then, boy, do I have a recommendation for you!

My Silver Fox and I recently discovered Blue Plate Cafe, and it was almost like closing our eyes and imagining we were eating our grandmothers’ cooking. With two locations in Huntsville, one on Governor’s Drive and the other on South Parkway, you should be able to find one easily.

Diner atmosphere and decor.

It’s a busy, noisy place with great food, courteous servers, fast service and large portions served in a 1950’s diner atmosphere. The Governor’s Drive location has been blowin’ and goin’ for 12 years, and the South Parkway version was added a little over a year ago. Carry-outs are popular, and the South Parkway location offers a banquet room.

Reasonable prices.

Breakfast is served from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Then the lunch and dinner menu begins at 11:00 a.m. and goes to 8:00 p.m. everyday except Sunday.

At least 5 meat choices and 10 vegetables are offered each day, varying depending on the day of the week.

Chicken and dressing, turnip greens, mashed potatoes, fried okra, cornbread and good sweet tea!

Chicken and dressing, black-eyed peas, Great Northern beans, tomato/cucumber salad, cornbread.

Breakfast offerings range from traditional eggs and bacon to omelettes, pancakes, waffles, fruit, pastries and everything in between.

3-egg omelette topped with pepper jack cheese, biscuit and grits.

Scrambled eggs, bacon, fluffy biscuit, hashbrowns and cheese grits.

Portions are larger and tastier than Cracker Barrel’s, and you don’t have to wade through all of the other merchandise temptations to get to your table. We liked it, and I think you will, too. Not gourmet. Just yummy comfort food.

Hang Out with Creative People at Huntsville’s Lowe Mill

07/18/2016 By: CCPearson1 Comment

Do you enjoy watching artists and artisans creating, painting, sewing and crafting? Do you like a wide variety of artistic styles? Do you enjoy seeing both whimsical AND serious works of art? Do you ever wish you could meet the artists and have conversations with them? Do you sometimes want to do those things at times other than at spring, fall and Christmas craft shows? Well then, I have just the place for you!

Located in a gigantic (think 171,000 square feet) former cotton mill at 2211 Seminole Drive in Huntsville, you can find floors and scores of art studios, and in many of them, the actual artists will be working as you stroll past. Photography, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, painting, stained glass, printmaking, woodworking — you name it, and I bet you’ll find it at Lowe Mill. Musicians even get in on the action with indoor and outdoor concerts from time to time. Just check the calendar on the website to find out what is happening on the days you plan to visit. Lessons and classes are provided for those who want to learn the creative processes for themselves.

I first heard about Lowe Mill when I admired the stained glass work of Julie Gill at an Art on the Square event in my hometown of Athens, AL. I ended up commissioning Julie to create pieces for some very high windows in our family room. She and her husband came out with their equipment and an EXTREMELY tall ladder to install them when they were completed. We were amazed at her talent and very pleased with the results.

A few weeks ago, Steve and I decided to explore Lowe Mill to see what else might be interesting. I particularly enjoyed meeting Denise Onwere and admiring her paintings that are focused on encouraging and empowering women. Here are some photos from that trip.

Denise Onwere

Be sure to take note of the hours when Lowe Mill is open to the public. Wednesday and Thursday from noon until 6:00 p.m., Friday from noon until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It was fairly quiet on Wednesday when we visited, but I bet it’s hoppin’ on Fridays and Saturdays. I guarantee you will see something you’ve never seen before. Admission is free. And, by the way, there is a small snack bar called “Happy Tummy” in case you want to grab a bite while you’ll browsing.

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