As a girl from the South, real country cooking is very important to me. Even though I may have moved to New York for school, I didn’t lose my eye for good food. Having a line of women in my family who know how to cook was never something I took for granted.
When one of my grandmothers passed away from cancer this past October, it was such a hard thing to process. She lived in Hillsville, Virginia, where my family and I would visit her every so often, and she would always whip up something wonderful.
Many memories are filled with mornings I would wake up to a full breakfast with biscuits and gravy. Other times, it would be a dinner of chicken and dumplings, which eventually became a Thanksgiving tradition we all would wait for on the edge of our seats.
As I have lived in Greensboro my whole life, it came to my attention over time that finding local Southern restaurants is a luxury. While many of the chains, like Cracker Barrel and Biscuitville, are a treat, it’s always a tad more comforting when you find a local business to enjoy in the company of Greensboro natives.
Country Kitchen in Greensboro met my expectations of that. The menu is filled with all the country classics that regulars come and enjoy every week. They are a simple, hidden treasure with their country curtains and unique coffee mugs.
Every day they have a special ranging from breakfast foods to fried dinners. On Thursdays specifically, they have chicken and dumplings.
The restaurant holds all of its Southern charm through the food but also conversations with customers. Many people come through the front door and walk over to the counter just to chat with their favorite servers.
Both breakfast meals and dinners have their own Southern twist. The grits are buttered up just the way God intended, with airy biscuits to add a jelly of your choice. Sweet tea, of course, is an important factor in a country restaurant, and it has the perfect amount of sweetness with the smallest hint of lemon.
The dumplings, which came steamingly fresh, reminded me so much of all the home-cooked meals I had from my grandmother when I was a kid. While no one could top hers, this one is definitely up there.
A nice surprise on the menu was fried bologna. My dad and grandfather have always had an obsession with bologna, as do I. But my mom was never a fan. It pairs perfectly with their egg plate with a side of grits.
While it was around breakfast time, there was no time for dessert. But they have the classic banana pudding, which is always the essential summertime treat.
Bringing more local Southern cuisine to the Greensboro area is so important. With Country Kitchen’s speed and low prices, it’s hard to pass up.
