First Bite: The Chicken Barn Golden Fried
This is the kind of fried chicken restaurant that the late, lamented Colonel and his minions feared as they sipped their bourbon and branch water on the veranda. There are no 11 herbs and spices here, only flour, salt, and pepper, good quality fowl, a nice biscuit, and fine sides. --A Yelp reviewer
A few days ago, I stuck another trepidatious toe in the proverbial gas station-eating water. This popular family fare restaurant is found on downtown Smithfield's Market Street, connected to the new construction Marathon convenience store. Inside is bright, airy and near pristine. I could have perhaps done without the taxidermied chicken tucked into a high corner, which was meant to be a part of a small vignette, but the mural and finishes were impressive. Cashiers are warm, genuine and welcoming.
The restaurant serves both breakfast and dinner. Breakfast consist of the typical selection of biscuits, scrambled egg plates, grits, that sort of thing. Dinner qualifies as anything served after 10:30 a.m. and includes chicken, shrimp, wings, salads, pork chop or chicken sandwiches, livers and gizzards.
Darryl and I had their 2 piece dark basket ($5.99) which includes a price for one side (fries, coleslaw, macaroni salad, mac and cheese, string beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, potato salad) and a drink. For a nominal charge, you can enjoy what I can only guess is billed as a premium side (corn on the cob, okra, etc). We elected to get a second side each. The chicken was moist and flavorful, cloaked in a crisp, double-dredged? batter. The coleslaw and potato salad were both admirable. String beans could've done with more seasoning, and the macaroni and cheese was only passable. Two of the sides were served in tiny cups consisting of only a few bites. For dessert, we tried their only two 'homemade' desserts--a light, but simple cherry torte that had D enamored and a generous square of carrot cake with traditional cream cheese frosting.
Overall? It exceeded my expectations. Perhaps not somewhere I'll return to right away, but in a pinch, it's an affordable homey lunch.
East Main Street (Market), Smithfield
919-934-6866
* First Bite: White Swan BBQ and Fried Chicken
A few days ago, I stuck another trepidatious toe in the proverbial gas station-eating water. This popular family fare restaurant is found on downtown Smithfield's Market Street, connected to the new construction Marathon convenience store. Inside is bright, airy and near pristine. I could have perhaps done without the taxidermied chicken tucked into a high corner, which was meant to be a part of a small vignette, but the mural and finishes were impressive. Cashiers are warm, genuine and welcoming.
The restaurant serves both breakfast and dinner. Breakfast consist of the typical selection of biscuits, scrambled egg plates, grits, that sort of thing. Dinner qualifies as anything served after 10:30 a.m. and includes chicken, shrimp, wings, salads, pork chop or chicken sandwiches, livers and gizzards.
Darryl and I had their 2 piece dark basket ($5.99) which includes a price for one side (fries, coleslaw, macaroni salad, mac and cheese, string beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, potato salad) and a drink. For a nominal charge, you can enjoy what I can only guess is billed as a premium side (corn on the cob, okra, etc). We elected to get a second side each. The chicken was moist and flavorful, cloaked in a crisp, double-dredged? batter. The coleslaw and potato salad were both admirable. String beans could've done with more seasoning, and the macaroni and cheese was only passable. Two of the sides were served in tiny cups consisting of only a few bites. For dessert, we tried their only two 'homemade' desserts--a light, but simple cherry torte that had D enamored and a generous square of carrot cake with traditional cream cheese frosting.
Overall? It exceeded my expectations. Perhaps not somewhere I'll return to right away, but in a pinch, it's an affordable homey lunch.
East Main Street (Market), Smithfield
919-934-6866
* First Bite: White Swan BBQ and Fried Chicken