OPINION —
As I’ve mentioned before in this column, Mike and I moved to Auburn in November 2015. For the next four years, three months and two weeks (not that I was counting), we got up at 3:42 a.m. to make it to Long Cane Middle School in LaGrange, Georgia, where we taught. Mike had to be on the bus landing at 6:20 a.m. to meet each bus.
It was a painfully early wake-up time. As I told my students, only Dracula and we were up at that hour.
It’s hard to believe Mike and I have begun our seventh year of retirement. Except for the COVID-19 shutdown that hit the whole world, retirement has been outstanding.
Mike and I have made new friends, traveled and been bums on occasion. Pat C., one of our new friends, is an absolute delight. Not long ago, Pat told me about a restaurant less than 3 miles from our home.
Recently, Mike and I dined at Beau + Belle Southern Cuisine, located at 1200 Willow View Drive in Opelika. Beau + Belle is inside The Phoenix Retirement Community, but the restaurant is open to the public. When we arrived, our server, Jen, was welcoming, patient and helpful. She gets an A+ from this retired English teacher.
For starters, Mike and I chose one of our all-time favorites: fried green tomatoes. Like any self-respecting Southern woman, I can’t stand limp, partially coated fried green tomatoes. Well, the chef at Beau + Belle knows what he’s doing. Our fried green tomatoes were delicious, completely coated and crispy.
For supper, Mike chose Jessie’s Girl, a “crispy fried chicken breast topped with pepper jack cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, crispy onions and Sriracha aioli on a toasted bun.” He ordered onion rings as his side. I also chose Jessie’s Girl, but with a grilled chicken breast and a side of french fries.
Everything was great, and the restaurant gets bonus points for serving Heinz ketchup, my favorite. I’m afraid we were bad again. Mike ordered the fried apple pie, a “hand-held pocket of flaky, golden pastry filled with sweet fruit filling and fried to crispy perfection and a dusting of powdered sugar.” I chose the strawberry fried pie. Man, they were tasty. Unfortunately, I can already see Lynn Hudson, my outstanding endocrinologist, shaking her head.
Beau + Belle is definitely a do-over. The restaurant offers weekly specials: Chef’s Choice Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, Country Fried Chicken Wednesdays (served on the bone, as God intended), Back Porch Classics Thursdays and Fish Fry Fridays.
Besides the dishes we enjoyed, Beau + Belle offers salads, soup and other sandwiches, including the Classic Grilled Cheese, Vegetable Medley Panini, Garden Turkey and Spinach, Build Your Own Burger and Classic Club.
Entrees include Salmon Your Way, Fried Catfish Basket, Spring Lemon Chicken, Steakhouse Sirloin, Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta and Honey Butter Glazed Pork Chop.
Beau + Belle also has an impressive breakfast menu, and Mike and I look forward to trying it, too.
Besides serving wonderful food, Beau + Belle keeps its prices low. Our meal cost only $29. When Mike and I eat out for supper, we usually spend $40 to $90. As retired teachers, we love a great bargain.
One benefit of writing and taking pictures for The Observer is that Mike and I meet so many interesting people. We loved talking with a group of ladies dining near us.
Pat C., this review is for you. Thanks for being our sweet friend and for the great restaurant recommendation.
Beau + Belle is open seven days a week. It serves breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m., closes from 10 to 11 a.m., then reopens from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Diners can also order food to go or get delivery through Uber Eats and DoorDash.
Beau + Belle 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 in The Observer every other week. Stacey may be reached at retiredlangartsteacher2020@gmail.com.
