Chow Time: Southern Kitchen Restaurant

Southern Kitchen Restaurant in New Market, VA is a veritable time capsule.  If one was so inclined, one could quickly dispose of the few and easily-removed modern adornments, making patrons feel like they have been transported to 1958, the year that Southern Kitchen first opened its doors.

We were led to Southern Kitchen by our good pal, Mod Betty at Retro Roadmap.  It was her review, and Southern Kitchen's location (directly en route to Washington, D.C.), that made it a must-see destination on our adventure.  From the stacked-stone exterior with its angled picture windows and gloriously-aged neon signage to the hearty portions and exceptional service, Southern Kitchen definitely gets the wacky tacky seal of approval!

I don't know what "ABC-ON-OFF" means, but there was plenty of on site parking.

I think if I had to choose a fraternal order to join,
it would definitely be the Knights of Pythias.
It's a funny name...and who doesn't want to be knight?!

Lately, I've had to reexamine what wacky tacky actually means.  Is it enough that a place is just "old?"  Is it enough just to have a cool, neon sign?  Is it enough to just have an unusual menu item?  Walking into Southern Kitchen I wasn't sure if one of these things was enough to qualify for wacky tacky status...but three out of three ain't bad!  More than just the age, the sign, and the menu, it is the spirit with which Southern Kitchen maintains its spotless dining rooms and serves its soulful menu that makes it a mandatory stop on the wacky tacky highway.

The formica front counter
Don't you love the display case of candies and the plant nook?

The beautiful, counter seating was a very tempting option
 especially with the two-tone, banded formica!

Y'all can keep your chrome dinette sets!  I would be more than happy to
take off with these bent wood, upholstered chairs with nailhead trim!

YES!

A trio of materials to love

Neatly tucked into our turquoise booth, I was taken with how pristine the entire restaurant looked.  The chrome was shiny, the furniture polished, and the formica was spic-and-span.  Even the faux foliage (faux-liage?) in the planters was dusted and well-chosen.  It is obvious that the folks in charge put a lot of love into their restaurant.  I could wax poetic over the well-waxed linoleum for days but we were there with a real purpose - to EAT!

It was high time to explore the menu.
My sister likes to maintain a certain level of ordering privacy.

Don't look at me like that!
Venison is NOT on the menu!!!
Taxidermy always seals the deal for Mr. Tiny.

One of Southern Kitchen's signature dishes is their "Peanut Soup," of which
our server was kind enough to bring us some samples.  More than the
soup, I wanted those dishes!

The soup, a Thai-like combination of peanut butter,
onions, and milk, was tasty but the sample was plenty.

Based on our charming server's recommendations, we made our selections and waited.  I used the opportunity to take some pictures.  Springing up from the table every few moments when I noticed something else that was in need of photo documentation, I got the feeling that the staff probably thought I was insane.  They were far too polite, however, to make comment.

The Fried Chicken Sandwich with Potato Wedges
I wanted to keep the plastic sword that speared pickles to bun!

The Open-Faced Pot Roast Sandwich

Southern Kitchen's famous Fried Chicken
I was assured that the taste was far superior to the presentation!!!

For all of its 55 years of service, Southern Kitchen seems to have aged not a single day.  In Southern California it is a regular sight to see a 55-year-old fighting to combat age by any means and at any cost.  With Southern Kitchen, its youthfulness is refreshingly effortless.  I'm thinking that the fountain of youth just might be fried chicken!!!

Thanks Mod Betty for sending us in the right direction!  If ever I am in the area again, I will absolutely make my way back to Southern Kitchen.

Southern Kitchen Restaurant
9576 S Congress St
New Market, VA
(540)740-3514


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

"The Lord is Good to Me": BIG American Folk Legends

Johnny Appleseed, twelve feet of folk-hero fiberglass

My sister and brother-in-law are far more indulgent than my parents.  If, when getting onto the highway in the backseat of our jam-packed, road-tripping mini van, I had shouted, "Wait!  Wait!  Johnny Appleseed!  We have to stop," one or both of my folks would have blindly wielded a flailing hand in my direction and told me to keep quiet; we had places to go.  Lucky for me, my sister was willing to drive nearly 15 miles to the next exit and backtrack so I could visit the 12-foot, fiberglass, effigy of one American history's most legendary characters, John "Johnny Appleseed" Chapman.

One of this kid's favorite pastimes is pushing buttons

(literally and figuratively), so we let him do the honors

of activating "Johnny Appleseed."

Is the pronunciation "rest-runt" a regional thing?

History + apple dumplings = Mmmmmmmmm!!!

Mr. Tiny really is tiny compared to Johnny!

I am the first to admit that most of my knowledge of history, music, math, and the fine arts comes from a childhood largely spent planted directly in front of a television that played old Disney movies and cartoons almost exclusively.  I won't use this opportunity to get on my "Thanks goodness old cartoons are so funny and informative because there is no way I could have relied solely on a public school education to get me through" soapbox; all I'm asking is how could anyone expect me to whistle "The Anvil Chorus," "The 1812 Overture,""Sabre Dance," and Chopin's "Funeral March" on demand without the help of classic animation?  How would I possibly have any grasp of basic mathematics unless Donald Duck took me to "Mathmagic Land?"  How could I conceivably get through the "Double Jeopardy!" round without the fundamentals of American history as presented in cartoon format?  Once again, old Uncle Walt came to the rescue by teaching me a little about my country's colorful history (with the voice talents of Dennis Day) in the cartoon classic, "Johnny Appleseed."

"Johnny Appleseed" from Walt Disney's Melody Time

I had a feeling that Johnny Appleseed wasn't the only American folk hero I was going to meet on my travels.  West Virginia, an ideal breeding ground for vivid imaginations and even more vivid characters, just has a way of promising adventure around every corner.

Imagine my excitement as I pulled off the road in Nitro, WV and found two of the BIGGEST characters in American mythology - Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.  Approaching the fiberglass figures of Paul Bunyan and Babe, it appeared as if they were running away from the noise of the highway traffic and the oddly-close nuclear reactor chimneys (maybe that accounts for the gigantism).

Speaking of power, doesn't Paul Bunyan's beanie look a little bit like Devo's Energy Domes?

They were running; what else could I do but join in the freeze-framed chase?

Paul and Babe stand outside a rural/farming supply store with little to no explanation as to their history or purpose.  It's a good thing that wacky tacky isn't in the business of demanding explanations beyond "This is awesome!!!"  We'll take crazy, roadside statuary for any reason!

Aside from the excitement of actually stumbling upon Paul and Babe, the encounter was mildly disappointing.
Paul Bunyan was supposed to be a GIANT and this figure was awkwardly close to human size.  Needless to say
it wasn't very flattering to stand next to a giant and find that we could have shared clothes...

Would you believe that Walt Disney also had a cartoon version of the legend of Paul Bunyan?  Well, get used tot he idea, it's a good one!

Walt Disney's Paul Bunyan (part one) 

Walt Disney's Paul Bunyan (part two) 

Are there any giant, roadside figures that you pass by on a regular basis?  What's the best one you've ever seen on any of your travels?  Please let us know because we're always anxious to add them to our "list"  and take the road we haven't traveled!  Thanks!

Johnny Appleseed's Restaurant (located at the Quality Inn)

162 West Old Cross Rd

New Market, VA

(540)740-3141

Paul Bunyan & Babe (located)

4400 N 1st St

Nitro, WV

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny