It's no secret. I love food. Yes, food is needed to keep you going and keep your metabolism going. But for me, food is also fun. This is also why I gained a TON of weight several years ago. Granted, now I know how to splurge and enjoy something more fun than a salad. It's a happy balance, y'all.
Surprisingly, Monroe doesn't have a whole lot of authentic southern restaurants. There's one BBQ/ Wings place on the edge of town, but I'm 100% honest in saying I'm scared to go in there. That side of town is essentially the other side of the tracks. #IDontWantToBeMugged. True Story. lol. However, if you were to come visit me there are some true "southern" venues we'd have to visit.
|| The Varsity. "What'll ya have? What'll ya have? Have your order in mind and money in hand". This is their classic welcome. I would insist on a good ole fashioned chili dog, onion rings, and their signature Frosted Orange.
|| Blue Willow Inn. Downtown Social Circle, GA. This is like 10-15 minutes from where I live. Imagine tree lined streets, old southern houses, and friendly neighbors. Literally old movies with the pretty antebellum houses is how the street looks where Blue Willow is set.
So not only is the scenery perfect, the food is to die for! We're talking fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, collard greens, black eyed peas, corn on the cobb, and of course sweet tea. For dessert? We cannot forget the peach cobbler.
Have I mentioned how excited I am that I have a peach tree in my backyard? lol!
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| For Sale at the inn or on amazon.com |
|| J. Christopher's. While doing research for this post, I actually discovered there's one of these in Nashville! Good news for my TN friends!
This place is strictly breakfast, lunch, and brunch. So tons of grits, oatmeal, and BLT's! Their motto is "familiar food with flair". Always good and super affordable.
None of these places sponsored me to write this post. These are just three really amazing southern restaurants that we would absolutely visit if you came to see me. Of course, if you wanted to eat in I'd make some fried chicken, greens, mashed potatoes and fresh corn from scratch. Who can turn down a good home-cooked southern meal?
Want more southern? Head over to Lora's page today to check out a southern recipe I'm sharing!
Linking up with Amanda
What are your favorite southern foods? Tell me about the food in your area!!
I want it alllllll! When I finally make it down there I want to eat all the southern food! I love how different things in the south are than the north. I am all about eating on vacay!
ReplyDeleteMy gosh, I absolutely love southern food. I want grits right now. We don't have a ton of good southern places in Austin, but my boyfriend is from Louisiana and knows where to take me and how to cook it.
ReplyDeleteOohhh girl there's Salmon patties, greens, and so much. Lol not sure if meatloaf is southern but I make it a lot! Lol!
ReplyDeleteAt least you have someone to make it for you! My husband is from Jersey and he prefers cream of wheat. Which is basically disgusting. Gotta have grits!!
ReplyDeleteGood lord at those onion rings!!!!!!!! They look so crispy and delicious. One of the reasons I want to visit the south is to try *sweet tea* lol.
ReplyDeleteLol!! They're seriously so good. And this sweet tea will send you into a diabetic coma but it's so worth it! Lol
ReplyDeleteChuck's family is from Monroe, NC and every time we visit I just love hearing everyone talk about "needing their sweet tea" and my little niece eating grits with the HOTTEST hot sauce. I love the South!
ReplyDeleteyour description of the 'blue willow inn' sounds adorable! i am SO hungry now. YUM. eating and exploring is one of my favorite things too!
ReplyDeletethere's actually a LOT of food I forgot to mention on here. I saw several posts mentioning tater tot "casseroles" but they had different names. HERE we have hashbrown casseroles. SO GOOD!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea there was a monroe, NC! I'm Monroe, GA! hahaha too funny!! hot sauce is everything in our house! the hotter, the better! :D the one thing I hate about seeing my in laws in Jersey is they give me a funny look when I mention sweet tea. they don't get it! haha
ReplyDeleteIt was a bad idea to read these posts before lunch... I am starving now! Looks great :)
ReplyDeleteLOL. RIGHT?? I read most of these before my workout... before lunch... such a bad idea. and now that I commented with yours about hashbrown casserole I have to make some soon!
ReplyDeleteYumm!! Now I am hungry!
ReplyDeleteOh how I love southern food! There is nothing like it1 I'm reading this after having had lunch and now I'm hungry.
ReplyDeleteOkay. I'm coming there and you're taking me to these places. Deal?
ReplyDeleteI think I was meant to live in the South. I like the temps hot and the food...everything you described sounds amazing. I've LOVED the few Southern dishes I've had. I think I need more. For sure.
ReplyDeleteSo Southern! Grits, friend chicken, fried green tomatoes.....Wow! And btw, I love food too!
ReplyDeleteI've never been to super-super South, but I am with you on the southern food! <3 It's so delicious (+ the perfect comfort food)!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to try fried green tomatoes & sweet tea!! I've never been to the South besides South Carolina once when I was a kid and the only 'different' food I remember eating was hush puppies?? A cornmeal kind of thing? LOVED them! Ordered them every time we went out to eat that week lol.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite restaurants in town is a southern style comfort food. I found it when I was dating a guy originally from Georgia and keep finding myself going back. I can't wait to get down south and try it all for real. I also NEED to try Waffle House, Chick-Fil-A, and Whattaburger because none of those exist in the north and I hear about them ALL the freaking time.
ReplyDeleteCome visit for real!!! I'm not sure what whataburger is but we have chick fil a, waffle House, huddle house, all those good ones lol.
ReplyDeleteOmg fried green tomatoes are seriously my most favorite thing ever! Josh never had them until he met me. His family is from jersey so they don't cook southern. Now he requests I make it! Lol. And hush puppies are seriously so good! Haha
ReplyDeleteYes!! All the comfort food is amazing!
ReplyDeleteHahaha you can find stuff to make all of that in my house on any given day. Collard greens too! So good!
ReplyDeleteCome visit!! Our humidity is at 80% today lol! Super hot day. And the food is amazing!!
ReplyDeleteCome on over!! We'd love to have you! I'd fatten you up though lol
ReplyDeleteDeal!! We'll go visit stone mountain too. There's so much to do and see and eat here lol
ReplyDeleteHaha I was hungry reading all the others too!
ReplyDeleteLol!! Come visit! I'll take you to get some food
ReplyDeleteWell you just made me hungry!!! I want to try those places. And the blue willow inn sounds right up my alley. I really think I was born in the era! I love the south and would have loved to be in the gone with the wind era! Ha!
ReplyDeleteI remember you saying that before. That's why I love where we live. Those houses can be found all over the place here. I love it! Come visit and I'll take you to all the places lol
ReplyDeleteFood in the south is 100% better! <3 I love little small town cafe/restaurants! They are some of the best places! I have heard good things about Varsity. Never tried it though.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on all these except The Varsity (I always feel sick afterwards), and I'd add The Vortex. *drool*
ReplyDeleteYou know I haven't had varsity in so long I'd probably get sick now. I completely forgot about the vortex
ReplyDeleteHaha I didn't feel bad eating it in high school, but as an adult I cannot handle it. Vortex gives me just as much grease without hurting though!
ReplyDeleteIt's so true!!! I've never been to Varsity but want to!
ReplyDeleteI think something about being 16, made our stomachs like steel. Lol!!
ReplyDeleteI think it needs to be tried at least one in every persons life!
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't eat meat, I DO love sides!! ;) Looks good!!!
ReplyDeleteNow my mouth is watering...thanks lol
ReplyDeleteyou're welcome! at least you have the sloppy joe's!
ReplyDeleteI can fry ALL the sides for you. haha with collard greens and mashed taters. ;)
ReplyDeletehahaha! YES! I'm in!
ReplyDelete