Such NPWH!
After swiftly getting up to Jasper after a great lunch in Atlanta, on the "mountain part" of our weekend getaway, we checked into the sweet Woodbridge Inn and C took me on a *tour* of Jasper - I phrase it that way because Jasper is tiny. Charming, but tiny like...I am not even sure what because I don't think I've been to a town, mountains or otherwise, that has one Main Street that is actually about half of what I'd consider a full, long street, and with such old school storefronts and signage that I felt like I was in another century! It was a fun change for this city girl!
C still has a house there and is very familiar with the goings-on in Jasper and Pickens County. One of the places he used to eat often when he lived here full time and commuted to Atlanta was 61 Main. After he had me peruse the menu at the Woodbridge Inn Restaurant and 61 Main's, we settled on the latter. Good thing we checked it out beforehand and thought to call about 7 to see how late they were open (somehow it was the city girl who thought to do this...) - they actually close at 8:30pm. On Saturday!! (That's in winter, ok, but in summer - it's 9pm! Sometimes that's when places in Atlanta are just getting going!).
So call we did and they were pleased to assure us a table for 8pm and that we wouldn't be rushed out at "closing."
The decor is interesting; we decided that the place, while all of it is nice, has kind of a split personality - if you pulled a curtain down the center of the restaurant, with your back to the front, your left side looks like a kind of dressed-up diner, with mild teal colored diner-esque booths lining a brick wall with prints of local animals and veggies and farm equipment (yes, one picture was of a hoe!), going along with their farm-to-table focus. On your right, there are black leather booths with super high (and comfy- we sat on this side and I took the booth side as usual) backs and the paintings on that wall are more modern-ish and color schemed to flow with the black and brick...in the middle on both "sides" are wooden table four-tops.
As for the service, Maggie was lovely. One thing about "small towns" is that you pretty much find nice people everywhere!
The food was great. C has always liked this place and I was looking forward to trying it. The mushroom appetizer - sauteed mushrooms with a little spinach, tomato and this yummy little triangled polenta cake- was absolutely wonderful. I stopped myself from eating more so I could have room for the rest! You get a soup, salad or side with your entree and he picked the delicious tomato bisque (I tried a bite and it is definitely one of my faves of that soup!) and I got a simple house salad with (a very good) vinaigrette. He had the pick of the night, the seared grouper, with the lime grits (we were a little skeptical, never having had grits "with lime" before but they are great, not sweet, just a hint of citrus, plus garlic and s&p) and beets. I first went with the panko fried chicken, subbed the grits in, and parsnips; bernaise sauce on the side. It was ok, as far as the chicken - not bad, but not good, and definitely just enough on the dry side that it wasn't a great order; I also thought the sauce wasn't quite a typical bernaise (too sweet). He tried it too and agreed, and despite my protestations about getting something else (I honestly wasn't sure i was hungry enough and this wasn't a bad dish, really) he swiftly and politely talked to the manager and my chicken was gone and a grouper was on the way. I had tried to say I couldn't eat all that but, I almost did...The staff was super sweet about the replacement and all that.
The desserts looked great- I fleetingly considered the chocolate creme brulee - but we had enjoyed plenty, and of course had that long drive down Main St back to the hotel!
If you find yourself in Jasper, check out this good little spot. read more