A few months ago, Mike and I left our church, Central Baptist of Opelika, and drove to one of my go-to restaurants for Sunday dinner… Veggies To Go on Glenn Avenue in Auburn. However, my heart sank at the note taped to the door of the restaurant: “Closed due to staffing shortage.” A sad sign of our times.
I was most unhappy to see yet another restaurant I really enjoyed closed because of a lack of workers. That’s why Mike and I are ALWAYS kind to the service staff at restaurants. At least they are willing to work, which is rare these days. Also, we believe in tipping generously for good service because waiters and waitresses have hard jobs that usually pay well under minimum wage. And hungry people can be really mean, so be kind to the people who cook and/or serve your food. But I digress.
On Feb. 9, something wonderful happened in the former Veggies To Go building at 815A Glenn Ave. in Auburn: Southern & Savory Café opened and made this “Pooh-sized” girl a happy camper.
Recently, I met my dear friend Lynda Underwood for lunch at Southern & Savory Café. Lynda, you may remember, is our church’s very talented pianist. Also, I’m sure she’s earning more jewels in her crown in heaven for teaching me to play the piano. Just as doctors make the worst patients, teachers make the worst students.
When we entered the restaurant, I enjoyed reading the scriptures on the wall and the humorous signs, two of which said: “Get your fat pants ready,” and “If we’re not meant to have midnight snacks, why is there a light in the fridge?” Makes sense to me.
Lynda ordered the hamburger steak, mashed potatoes with gravy and black-eyed peas. I chose on-the-bone fried chicken (the way God intended for it to be eaten), mashed potatoes with gravy and boiled okra; again, my Grandma Patton called it, “okrey.”
Everything was slap-your-Grandma-twice good. I can’t wait to come back after church for Soul Food Sunday.
Besides terrific food, Southern & Savory Café has a delightful, local owner, Kasha Moore.
Kasha’s mama taught her how to cook by age 9.
“Mama is a great cook, and she is my inspiration for cooking,” Kasha said.
She said her inspiration for owning a restaurant came from watching shows such as “Little House on the Prairie,” which portrayed a big family eating together and talking at the table. Kasha said she wanted that for herself.
“Now I have a big, old family every day here,” she said. “I want my restaurant to be a place where people can relax, eat and be inspired by scriptures on the wall. I want an atmosphere to bring families back.”
You go, Kasha. I will DEFINITELY be back, the Good Lord willing.
Besides our delectable dishes, Southern & Savory Café serves up meatloaf, fried pork chops, baked chicken, BBQ chicken, country fried steak, catfish, cabbage with Conecuh sausage, mac ‘n’ cheese, rice & gravy, green bean casserole, lima beans, fried okra, potato salad, green beans, field peas, corn on the cob, honey butter cornbread and assorted cakes. Just go on Facebook to see the day’s menu. Believe me, run and do not walk to this restaurant. Lynda, this column was for you. Thanks for being an A+ teacher; love you bunches!
Southern & Savory Café is open Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Saturday.
Southern & Savory Café makes the grade with an A+ from this retired English teacher. Remember, “Pooh-sized” people NEVER lie about food. Enjoy!
Stacey Patton Wallace, who retired from teaching language arts for 30 years, is a professional diner. Her column, “Making the Grade,” will appear every other week in The Observer. Wallace may be reached at retiredlangartsteacher2020@gmail.com.
