WOOOOOOOO! (Ric Flair Style) it's 2020, and I'm kicking this decade off with a review of a place that's the epitome of a hidden gem called Lacy's Kountry Store in a tiny town called Moniac in Georgia (Roughly 30 minutes from MacClenny, Fl). I'm not sure if Yelp has the address right, so I included a pic of their business card. If any of my adventurous Jacksonville Yeeps out there are up for a restaurant roadtrip, then Lacy's is my first 2020 recommendation. It's literally the only business...not just restaurant, gas, station, or store....the only establishment of any kind for miles and miles and miles. I travel to Georgia to visit family during the holidays, and this last time, I took the back roads to avoid all the traffic. I stumbled upon Lacy's while I was frantically searching for a restroom and a place to stock up on snacks.
The Ins and Outs: The exterior gives the impression of your everyday run of the mill corner store/gas station that's been there for decades. But as I walked in I immediately stopped in my tracks and all my senses went on high alert. Directly in front of me were 2 menu boards, pictures of food offerings, an ice cream counter, and the glorious sounds and smells of eats being freshly prepared in the kitchen. To the right was the convenience store, to the left was the dining room. My jaw dropped because there was NO signage or any indication outside that this was also a restaurant. Immediately I turned my focus back to the menu.
The Noms: There are both breakfast and lunch/dinner offerings, but the kind lady (owner?) informed me that both menus are served from opening to closing (YAY!). While there were many things that looked both tasty and tempting, I decided to start the new year off with a bang and order the Heart Attack Burger, which comes topped with cheddar, swiss, fried egg, bacon, grilled onions, and mushrooms on homemade garlic bread. YUP...this ain't no "New Years Resolution Diet" joint, Yeeps. I opted for no mushrooms, though, since I've never been into those. It's been a long time since I've been this excited about a burger, but let me tell you, this was a BURGER. It was hearty, juicy, meaty, cheesy and kicked up even further by the egg, bacon, and onions. And the garlic bread? Hell YES. Every bite was savored and there's one thing for sure...I am COMING BACK for this burger.
And So: There's also a Barbeque menu only served on Saturdays (see pics), which I'm also excited to try. They're open 7 days a week from 7am to 9pm, but the grill closes at 7pm. There's fountain drinks available, but I opted for a nostalgic bottle of cold Frostie Root Beer that day. The good sized dining room is full of eye-catching nostalgia, such as the vintage soda machines, and historic photos along the wall of Moniac. GO HERE....EAT HERE. Lacy's Kountry Store was an amazing find, and the perfect start to the new year for me!
Till next time, my fellow Yeeps...SUPPORT your local eats and businesses and as always....SYOY! read more