We are kind of Out-of-Town'ers. Weekenders that travel 250 miles one way may be a better term . We discovered the Emele area and found out about this hidden gem of a restaurant 4/5 years ago. The food WAS ALWAYS great. The staff, I wanted to take home with me. However, about 3 months ago the kitchen team (of over 20 years) that created southern eatable heaven, just quit. They left. I don't know why and I don't care. After about three visits since their exodus my grub has been awful. I/We mostly eat breakfast at the diner so I can only speak about it in this write up.
1.The eggs (cook to order) were either under or over cooked. Scrambled eggs/fried hard/fried medium, it did not matter.We spit it out. That means we did not swallow it. It was not worthy of the customary nonverbal , "man I tried" swallow/gulp.
2. Grits were just that, gritty. It tasted like unseasoned sand. Some grains of grits were waaay under cooked. Also, I like cheese grits ( it's a southern thing) but I could not taste the cheese. I don't expect pizza levels of cheese but at least let it look cheesy if it taste like sand.
3. The Meat: I know that this has to be cooked as a non-cooked to order menu item because we carnivores love it and it goes fast. But LORDY, can it at least be cooked on the same day? No red meat should be chewy-crunchy should it? And once, well....really on my final try at this place, they ran out of bacon. Come on! It is a farming community and there are wild hogs everywhere! No bacon, really?!
And 4. The only reason for the one star: At least the sugared down sweet tea was not as bad as the rest of the menu. There is nothing like the start of a new cavity!
Note to owners/manager: I want to update this review to something good. Please get the older crew or a better kitchen cook crew. If you want to continue to have diners please ask the long term crew (on bended knees if necessary) to come back as they know the community. I love great food and after a long week of crazy, I need great food. Also note that on one occasion I overheard other diners at nearby tables saying they would not return. That area and the salt-of-the-earth-people (early rising hard working farmers, hard working utility crews, seasonal hunters, and truck driver's) deserve it! read more
