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CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN RESTAURANT REVIEWS Eat Cheap! > Westside > New Classic > Carver's Country Kitchen Bill Addison Atlanta Magazine May 2009 Quirky mom-and-pop lunch rooms may seem antiquated, but Atlanta could use more independent-minded operations like this meat-and-three (well, meat-and-two, technically) run by Sharon and Robert Carver. Call to hear a recording of the day's menu (most plates $7.99 to $9.99), but expect the likes of baked ham, fried chicken, fried catfish, and turkey with dressing. All-time favorite side? The sticky-salty hash brown casserole. 1118 West Marietta Street, 404-794-4410 CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN (www.accessatlanta.com) There’s no doubt that the mix of business and trades people who flock to Carvers every weekday for lunch come for the homey food. But the kitschy atmosphere and sassy Southern hospitality are also a big part of the attraction. Inside, the swirl of humanity seated at communal tables and the fragrant aromas wafting from the fryers and steam tables evoke a community picnic or potluck. Amid knick-knacks, posters of Marilyn Monroe, and hokey signs, Sharon Carver keeps the orders rolling from behind the counter, and her husband Robert mans the cash register in front. There are eight or more main offerings every day, plus at least a dozen sides. Deep-fried catfish has a thin, crispy coating, and hot and flakey innards. Ample fried chicken breasts, pot roast with carrots and potatoes, and baked turkey and dressing are among the other favorites. On the side, don’t miss the mashed rutabagas, seasonal beans, and collards. For dessert, look for Southern treats such as the famously moist and sugary chocolate Coca-Cola cake or gooey pineapple casserole. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN (www.accessatlanta.com) Good, plain country cookin’ is what Sharon Carver fixes at this grocery store-cum-meat-and-whatever. Look for her and husband Robert to be sitting behind the cash register when you stop by for lunch, next to the sign that says “All Men are Idiots and I Married Their King.” And expect ample helpings of home-seasoned mashed rutabagas, brown butter beans, green beans and some darned good collards, as well as fried catfish and pot roast. Carver’s signatures are pineapple casserole, a gooey crusty mix of sugar, fruit and cheese, and her moist Coca-Cola cake. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN (www.atlantacitysearch.com) It's a mom and pop meat and three restaurant that grew out of an old convenience store type grocery. They have 8 or 9 amazing comfort food entrees every day that rotate in or out like catfish, bbq, fried chicken, potroast, etc. and mouth watering side dishes like broccoli soufflee, rutabagas, yams, turnip greens, etc. There is a line at the door, but it moves pretty fast. Some things start running out about 1:30
or 2:00, as they try to make things fresh every day. They'll keep your giant lemonade and crushed
ice cup full, and you will likely share a big table and maybe a conversation with other regulars
as the seating is limited but perfect for the atmosphere. I have mixed emotions about reviewing
it here, because I don't want the lines to get longer, but the people who run the restaurant,
Mr. and Mrs. Carver, deserve all the success they can get. This is the best comfort food there
is, and the atmosphere is the opposite of a sterile chain restaurant. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN (www.atlantacitysearch.com) I have lived in the south my entire life and I am thankful for places like Carvers that keep
good recipes alive! The food and atmosphere are great but you will be coming back for the food.
If you go, go early because once something on the menu is gone, it is gone. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN (www.atlantacitysearch.com) Best comfort food - bar none - in Atlanta and a deal to boot! The fried chicken pieces (whether you choose a Dolly Parton breast or drumsticks) are HUGE! Their sliced tomatoes are the best ever though I don't know how you would imagine this tomato is better than that, it is. The hush puppies are very good, not too greasy but huge and crunchy. The mashed potatoes are so-so but the rest of the sides make up for it. Sweet Potato casserole, broccoli and rice souffle (better than the casserole), collard greens. Don't go looking for ambiance, it's not here. But, great food, great service with a smile and
a great value-this is your place. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN (www.atlantacitysearch.com) One of the best kept secrets in Atlanta, in my opinion, arrive early (lunch service starts at 11am) to avoid the crush, and to get fresh food. Once they run out of something, it's gone! My favorites are the meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, chicken potpie, and butter beans. Meals range from $7-$10, but it's well worth the money, I usually bring home leftovers. Chat up the gent at the cash register, he's a real friendly guy! CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN (www.atlantacitysearch.com) I absolutely hate to even write a review and tell you how great this place is but it is OH-MY-GOD
GOOD! Go early because the lines get long around noon. The Mac-n-Cheese is the best I have ever
had. Brocc-n-Rice casserole is to die for. And if and when she makes the Chicken n Gravy over
biscuits it is an absolute must! If you want to take someone somewhere original and a hole-in-the-wall,
this is the only choice other than Ann's Snack Shack. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN (www.zagat.com) I rode by the place thinking it was an old abandoned grocery store and had no idea about what lied inside till some of my classmates started raving about it. After going there (and continuing to go there), I can say it is one of the best deals in Atlanta. It takes alot of food to fill me up, but with Carver's the standard fair is more than enough. They give you liter cups for sweet tea, the hush puppies are huge, and the food is all around excellent. Hopefully not too many more people will find out about it as the lunch lines are already pretty long. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN (www.zagat.com) CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN (www.zagat.com) CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN (www.zagat.com) CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN (www.zagat.com) CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN (www.zagat.com) CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN (www.zagat.com) CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN (www.zagat.com) CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN (www.zagat.com) CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN Just a rough estimate. Okay, or maybe the scale told me. So first things first: wear your stretchy pants because you're going to expand in real-time. Carver's Grocery is a small cafeteria with communal seating serving up comfort food favorites such as chicken pot pie, BBQ pork, catfish, meatloaf, and fried chicken. For about $10, you'll get your choice of entree plus 2 veggies and a drink. Just don't make the mistake of plowing through your entire plate unless your employment contract includes a post-lunch siesta. I loved the fried chicken breast. And the cheese WITH macaroni. And my homemade biscuit. But my dreams are now paved with streets of that sweet potato casserole. Wash it all down with a huge glass of sweet tea with crushed ice and let's call it a day. Cash only of course, like most of the best things in life. Questions? Consult the sign which notes, 'Our credit manager is Hellen Waite. If you want credit, go to hell and wait!". Damn straight. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN Carver's is much loved in Atlanta. I can see why. Mom and pop shop in a borderline sketchy neighborhood. Huge portions and an interior that suggests better days, but in reality, it's probably looked like that all along. Carver's has become so beloved, in fact, that should you be foolish enough to try to eat here at lunch time, either have plenty of time budgeted or be prepared to head elsewhere. I'm embarrassed to say that, up until a few weeks ago, I hadn't eaten here. That's curious since I used to work nearby and with guys who knew their food. They knew every nook and cranny and that included some weird back alley, wormhole route that took us directly to Sensational Subs on Howell Mil which, after multiple meals there, proved to me that the word "sensational" might have some alternate meaning along the lines of "dung-filled." So why did these guys keep Carver's secret and continue to take me to eat horrible sandwiches? I really do think it has to with the lines. When we arrived at Carvers (at exactly 12:02pm), the line already extended out of the door. My friend and I stood, a gaggle of Georgia Power engineers in front of us and another group of embryonic Georgia Tech engineers behind us. My friend, curiously enough, also an engineer. This was like some monkey paw's version of Al Qaeda's promise of 72 virgins and, indeed, a few of the Techies behind us had declared a jihad on hygiene. So why the line? Upon closer inspection, Carver's is tiny. Imagine a set of picnic and card tables arranged to accommodate as many people as possible. Yes, that means you have to share a table with strangers. Most likely, that means they'll be engineers. Don't worry. Just say something insane like, "Wow, this fried chicken releases heat energy like a thermodynamic system at rest releases all its energy," which is OBVIOUSLY crazy since that statement breaks the First Law of Thermodynamics; from then on out, the engineers will avoid you like a liberal arts major. Or a girl. The food is your standard meat and two. I got a corn bread, pot pie, a side of broccoli and cheese casserole and a side of beef potato casserole which all together looked, as one woman put it when I sat down, "really yellow." Hrumph. Indeed it was. It was also pretty good though. It wasn't the best I'd had since, after sitting on the bain for a while, the edges were a bit dried out. But the servings were so large that you can just ignore the edges, eat the middle, and still end up stuffed. Still, my friend and I ate away. It was about $10 for our meals, give or take. A little more than some meat and twos I've been to, a little less than others. Despite sharing tables and being shoehorned in next to our neighbors, we actually didn't feel that crowded in. I'll go ahead and round up my 3.5 stars to 4 to Carver's. The food didn't quite live up to the hype for me, but it wasn't bad at all. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN I had the fried catfish, turnip greens, and mashed potatoes with gravy today. Most of the food comes out of cans, but that's kinda the idea: it's fresh off the shelves of an old corner grocery. You'll need CASH, as the signage will tell ya: "If you want credit, then please go to Helen Waite. She'll explain our credit policy." CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN This place is perfect. Everything that Southern food should be. The only thing you need to remember is to bring cash. Otherwise, go crazy with the menu, because everything is good! I am a veggie plate-a-holic, and there are always 15-20 vegetables to choose from (including cobbler! who knew dessert could be a vegetable?) The service is friendly and your cup never runs empty. I love their crushed ice & sweet tea. And go early, sometimes they run out of food and then close (their sign says they're open til 3). CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN *They have a veggie plate for those in need of some southern veggie luvin! CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN Every bite of food at Carver's is amazing. Classic Southern-style lunch counter. Mrs. Carver serves up your food, the staff keeps your tea or lemonade full and Mr. Carver rings you up and makes sure you loved it. The menu is on whiteboards, and changes a bit from day to day. Huge portions, but they are glad to help you wrap things up to take home. Fried Chicken - perfectly cooked, not too greasy; potato salad is just right and not too heavy; the sweet potato casserole is FANTASTIC, and I don't even like sweet potatoes! Absolutely get some peach cobbler to take home. Excellent place to take visitors from the non-South, kids, friends, hungry frat boys, or your grandmother. Everyone should LOVE this place. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN SWEET-people and tea. Mr. Carver refilled our tea and filled a bag of treats to go for by baby girl. I felt stupid for taking the guy's advice who suggested the green beans-yes, they were good, better with pepper vinegar, but I would get sweet potato or squash casserole next time. The crowder peas were also super yum. Wouldn't advise fried stuff... CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN I have to disagree with the yelping majority because the food was not tasty at all. Maybe I had set my expectations too high due to the 40 reviews raving over how good the food was, but i was HIGHLY dissappointed. I ordered the pulled pork with mashed potatoes and green beans. ugh....lets just put it this way...Chanterelle's and K & k are way better. I won't be going to this establishment again....however they were very friendly the food is just not my cup of tea. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN Carver's is not what I expected from the look and location ~ but its wonderful! A "meal" there could last days for someone with such large, filling portions of every southern dish imaginable. Mrs. Carver and the decor are entertaining enough for sure. I wish this place was open 24/7 - I'm never really in the mood for such heavy food during their hours I guess. It's worth the time and money!! CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN Incredible. Can't say enough about this place. It tastes like I'm at my grandmother's house, but the food is better. The atmosphere reminds me of little, dingy grocery stores that I remember from the 1970s, which I think is the last time they changed anything at Carvers. (Hopefully, they won't ever change anything else, either. They've got something that works here.) I've never finished my plate, either, no matter how hungry I've been. The food's so rich, and the servings are so big, that you'll always have plenty to eat. I've only been after 1 p.m. or so, after the lunch crowd is gone, and it's always been pretty quiet, so you can definitely avoid crowds if you're flexible. This also means that you get lots of attention from the staff. They're all really nice - better service than what you get from most places with actual waiters. If you're not from the South and want to taste real Southern food, or if you've got friends/family visiting who want Southern food, this is the ONLY place to take them. Mary Mac's and The Silver Skillet might have once been good, but they seem to be cruising on reputation inertia. Carver's is the real thing. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN The food is awesome. The price is a little high for lunch, but not for the amount of food you get. My girlfriend and I go and share a plate (and I'm a big guy). I would suggest sharing with someone and then the price is great. Honestly, you can't eat a whole meal by yourself or you have issues. The Carver's are honest, salt of the earth folks, with a great business. Call before you go, especially in summer, because they close if the Carver's go on vacation. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN Do I have anything to add that other Yelpers haven't already said? No. Are the sides (mac & cheese, sweet potatoes, etc) really that great? Yes. Should you eat here more than once a month and still expect to fit in your jeans? No. Will I be back? Oh, yes. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN I think yelpers have done the food justice here, so I'll simply say this: one of my favorites things to do is come to Carver's at around 2pm, just after the lunch rush has ended. The employees come out to the tables to eat their lunch, and Mr. and Mrs. Carver will sit down and talk to them about everything, from marriage advice to why they don't accept credit cards (too much trouble). Carver's is a great slice of Atlanta (and pretty close to work, to boot). People thought this was: CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN All I can say is...WOW!!! Thanks so much to all the yelpers out there that recommended this place! You are right...it's that good! Just walkin into this place reverted me back to the good ole' Southern boy that I am! I use to have a bit of a Southern drawl on a couple of wurds, but David had me work on gettin rid of it because he thought it was weird to see a Filipino with a country accent...although I did get a lot of attention from it! So of course the sir, ma'am, please, thank you, y'all came out so naturally in this place! The menu is very self explanatory and they have a lot of meat options available (Catfish, BBQ Pork, Meatloaf, Fried Chicken, etc.)! Funny since I ended up getting the Vegetable Plate: Mac & Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and Sweet Potato Casserole. Everything was delish especially the Sweet Potato Casserole...it was different, yet the best thing on the plate! Oh...the sweet tea is to die for here! I could already feel my teeth rotting from its sugary goodness! The best thing about this place is the service! Everyone was so super nice and friendly. I could have sat there the entire day and had a conversation with everyone! I truly felt like I was eating at a restaurant outside of Atlanta. It was awesome! I will definitely come back! Remember to bring cash or check since they do not accept credit cards...although they sell gift cards!? It's too bad that they are only open for lunch and during the week. Next time I do, I've got to try out their Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake! Mmm!!! CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN 3 1/2 Stars. Don't get me wrong. The food is great and it reminds me of the big Sunday dinners at church when I was little. It's just a little on the pricey side. $12 for lunch is just a bit more than I like to pay. The portions are pretty hearty though. The sides are well done and the chicken rocks. It is authentic southern food without the nauseating "Suthunuss" of some more well known places. You know, the type that Japanese tourists go to after visiting the Gone with the Wind Museum. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN I left Carter's with the worst case of "Itis"I have ever experienced in my life. For
those of you who don't know what itis is, it is the drowsy sleepy feeling you get after eating
a large meal. Usual meals like big Sunday dinners, Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. Who says you can't have thanksgiving twice a year? CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN Really, I'm not sure what else I can add to convince you that you should pay Carver's a visit--especially if your craving good old fashioned southern food. Being from a more "rural" local than Atlanta, I can say that spots like these are not uncommon. They are a bit more hard-to-come-by in the city, though. Carver's fare is not spectacular in the genre, but it is very good. Standouts for me include: the fried chicken (of course), cheese bread, macaroni and cheese, and sliced tomatoes (ok, they were heavenly, simple but so fresh and worth a mention). And of course, like most people on this page, I loved the ambiance. Definitely a fan of what those Carvers are doing! CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN Thank god for doctor's appointments because it gave me a reason to leave work early so I can finally try this place. And it was sooo good! If it wasn't for everyone else's review on this place, I would never think that it was a food establishment. But as soon as you walk through the door and notice a packed dining room, you know that you're in for some down-home southern cooking. Ever since my Savannah trip, I've been on this fried chicken kick so of course I ordered the drumstick meal with a side of mac n cheese and green beans. Yum, Yum, Yum. The sweet tea was perfect. And just like Joel mentioned, the service was excellent as the staff expressed true southern personality. But because of the M-F lunchtime hours, it's kinda hard for me to be a regular customer. But I would seriously consider playing hooky every now and then for a meal. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN Not much to add here. The best meat and three restaurant in the heart of Atlanta that I can find (there are good ones in other parts of the metro Atlanta area but this place is king here). Lunch today was fantastic. Mac and cheese is very creamy. Sweet potato souffle was great. Banana pudding was very good. Always struggle with the main dish but had country-fried steak this time - very tasty. I always, always get the cheese bread - huge piece. I'm ready for bed... Needless to say, I don't anticipate being very productive at work this afternoon... CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN Carvers Grocery isn't "Southern-inspired". It's not someone's sanitized idea of what the South might be like. Carvers IS the South. It is Southern food, plain and simple. No frills, just a menu of specials written on a board for you to select from as you wait in line to order in this tiny converted grocery store. I could not turn down the opportunity to nosh on the Dolly Parton fried chicken breast, and as the name might suggest this thing was huge! Along with it I sampled the cheesy potato and ham casserole and the broccoli souffle. And I got a slice of red velvet cake for the road! Despite being discovered by numerous food publications and even the Food Network, pop into Carvers on a weekday around lunch and you'll still find the place full of folks who've escaped their places in cubicles to gobble up some of this rib stickin' food. Expect to get cozy with your neighbor at one of the communal tables. Oh, and, make sure to bring cash! CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN The divest of dives, but some of the best southern comfort food in all of the ATL!!! The sides are numerous and just plain good like the mac n' cheese, collards, rolls, muffins, vegs - just too many to name. Be polite, eat and leave! Its the best rule, as the place is always hopping and people who sit and chat just ruin it for others. Remember, no credit cards and the best time to go is often around 1:30-2pm but keep that between you and me. :) CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN Carver's Grocery cant hold a candle to The Beautiful or Big Daddys Cafe. I decided to take the trip down there based on Yelp Recommendations. While its kinda cool because it literally sits in a small grocery store, the food didnt look as "fresh" as Id like it to. I ordered the fried catfish and fried chicken with greens and macaroni cheese. I cant say that any of these three items was outstanding. In fact it was a little Blah. The service was really good. Everybody was extremely patient and helpful, and I actually got to meet "Mr Carver" who is an older white man with a great personality. While he, his staff, and his restaurant have a great personality, I kinda wish they could infuse it into the food.... CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN The rumors are true! It really is that fabulous! The kind of place the corporate schmos at Cracker Barrel studiously investigated while trying to get it right. Take a step back to like . . . 1962 (rough estimate here . . .) and imagine a small town neighborhood grocery, where you ran into your neighbors while popping in for a soda. Now take all the groceries out of it, and in its place cram a bunch of little tables, cooks that call you honey, and some mouth watering recipes for hardcore Southern cuisine. And here we are. Sit elbow to elbow with your fellow lunchtime diners as you scarf down artery clogging, real butter'n'cream, never even heard of an 'egg substitute' kind of meal. Hush puppies the size of a gerbil, macaroni and cheese that must have some kind of patented cheese, and catfish fried to what I would imagine perfection would be. There's a giant vat of tea simply labeled "iced tea." If you know what's good for you, you really don't need to ask if it's sweet or unsweet. My new favorite ah-mazing Suuthern place to take visitors from out of town. It should be yours, too. People thought this was: CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN Sometimes, timing is everything. Last night , my roommate and I, were discussing Lewis Grizzards'
favorite eateries. Both of us being big fans of his writing and his taste in local fair. So LA
says that he, Ron Hudsmith and Grizzard used to frequent Carver's grocery for their authentic and
unpretentious giant portions of comfort food. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to find the down and dirty places to eat. The places that only the locals know about... Carvers falls into one of those "hidden gems". This place, like a good book, can't be judged by its cover. Then again, it shouldn't be judged by the looks of it's interior as well. When it comes down to it, the food and people that frequent the place is what counts. Standing in line, surrounded by other patrons, you see what they have on their plates... huge helpings of comforting Southern food. The place is very "family style", sharing tables with strangers, and seeing the mounds of enjoyment on their faces as they stuff themselves with collards, fried chicken, and other wonderful fixins. A wonderful find for locals who want to feel like they're traveling through some remote location. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN A great place to grab some good home cooked food. This is the best place to grab a home cooked lunch, no exceptions! Don't forget to leave a tip in the tip jar. All of the employees are very nice, hard works... CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN The first time I went here, I had just started working at GT and went with some coworkers. When I saw the place they were raving about my first thought was "WTF?! I can't eat there!". Forget about the exterior (and the interior for that matter) and focus on the food. The fried chicken is AMAZING. The chicken legs are HUGE. It's the closest I can get to my grandma's friend chicken. The side dishes are good too. True southern cooking. Just go early because the line starts getting really heavy about 11:30. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN I was introduced to this heavenly place by the angels at work who invited me along one day. We went early enough that the line wasn't out the door, which was great because it was chilly and rainy that day. The veggie plate is where it's at. Three heaping choices and choice of bread. Selections of the day are posted on a dry erase board and they just mark them off as they run out. I chose collards, rutabagas, and Lima beans with a hush puppy the size of my fist. Now, I've never eaten rutabagas, but after this experience I will not turn them down. Keep in mind that they are cash only, and the place gets REALLY crowded. You'll definitely be bumping elbows with a stranger. It may be small and dingy, but the food is amazing! It'll stick to your ribs for sure. Besides, they had blackberry cobbler as a veggie choice - it just doesn't get any better than that. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN Truly an Atlanta treasure! I've been eating here for years and you always leave feeling not only full, but satisified, too. It's like your Mom just cooked all your favorite things just for you. But get there early, cuz the lunch line gets long! CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN From the outside, Carver's Grocery looks like an old run down bait and tackle shop that I used to see in small towns in SC. It's a real hole in the wall at Howell Station. When you walk in, it's bigger than it seems, but not much bigger. Carver's is only open for lunch really, and it is ALWAYS packed. They keep the line moving at a pretty good clip though, and I guess a lot of people take their food to go, otherwise you share tables with other people. The meals are massive and it's complete comfort food. The price is very affordable and this place and it's owners have been here for ages. An obvious staple of Atlanta cuisine. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN When my wife and I were searching for homes, we happened across the Howell Station neighborhood. We saw a little store called "Carvers Grocery", but it was closed and looked really sketchy, so I never imagined I would want to visit the place. Fast forward a couple months later, we're living intown and I read on yelp that this little hole in the wall isn't a store at all but a restaurant that has amazing down home cooking. So we checked it out for lunch today. Sure enough the line was out the door. Wait time wasn't ridiculous, maybe 10-15 minutes, which we spent chatting with a regular customer. We got up to the front and ordered our food. I got the bbq pork with mac and cheese, dressing and mexican cornbread, my wife got the turkey & dressing with mac n cheese and black eyed peas and cheesy cornbread. WOW so fantastic. We love southern cooking, we even had our wedding reception at Paula Deen's restaurant! This place was excellent. We will definitely be regular customers. Too bad its only open during weekday lunch. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN It's like traveling in a foreign country and stumbling upon a local meal that will change your life forever. Ok, so its not that dramatic, but you do feel like you are in on a secret while you are there. I'm not from the south, but I know good mac n cheese and this stuff is pretty amazing. Parking is a hassle, seating is incredibly limited, and they only serve food for lunch on the weekdays. So deduce from that how good the food must be if people still rave about it. Check it out, you won't regret it. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN AAAAAmazing! One of my friend's used to live down the street from Carver's and when I passed it I'd always ask him what the story was, as it's a little corner store with cigarette signs posted everywhere. He went on to tell me that at lunch it would get packed and that he thought it was a sandwich shop. Boy was he wrong! By the end of that year, my roommate and I frequented Carver's at least once a week. Carver's is a meat and three with a walk up counter. Back in the day, when we first started going, it was just Mrs. Carver at the counter, Mr. Carver at the register, and they had one helper cleaning tables or helping in the kitchen. I went there the other day for the first time in months (my roommate was in town) and they had about 3 helpers. It was odd not ordering from Mrs. Carver, but the food hasn't changed one bit. The mac and cheese (and I am from Georgia) is the best I've ever had. I don't know what they do, but it is completely different in texture and flavor than any other place down here. While the "meats" are awesome, and I usually get the "Dolly Parton Chicken Breast," the sides really shine here and are excellent. Hours are limited here and they do run out of things so get there before noon if you want a full selection. Also, they only take cash and leave a buck or two for the help, as they usually take in people who are less fortunate. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN In a word, yum CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN There isn't much I can add about Carver's that everyone else hasn't already hit on....bottomline- this place is GOOD! The broccoli souffle is the best I've ever had, and the turkey and dressing amazing. Word to the wise, get there before 11:30AM to avoid lines and ensure that everything on the menu is still available...because once its gone, its gone. I wish they would extend their hours, but you can't really complain about anything when the food is this good. On a final note, avoid this place if you have anything productive to do after lunch hours...Carver's tends to induce a pretty serious food coma, and only the toughest of the tough will be able to fight off that afternoon nap. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN day 29 and my head is spinning... where to eat where to eat...so first i drove through the ozarks and the appalachians. here i am now. staying off of, allgood blvd. true story. the street is called allgood. at the birthplace of coke and the gone with the wind museum. one thing i notice man is every city i go to, i swear i meet a twin of someone i met somewhere else. i swear there are doubles of people. i am like, didn't i just meet you in santa barbara or colorado? its freapy. creepy and freaky. so i can eat at the all you can eat kfc, or chick filet, or bojangles. thats right bojangles haha, damn reminds me of sambos (both derogatory for black folks). what next? a white castle???? so i am hungry and super exhausted. man haven't been this exhausted yet. i couldn't wake up. i guess this trip is catching up to me. and my neck is killing me. if there are any yelp chiros or massage therapists or physical therapists reading this hook me up! anyways what does this have to do with carvers? finally you ask. so deanna of atlanta yelp calls me up and of course i sleep through the call. she says lets do lunch! yay!!!!! we go to carvers. man she is the 2nd asian ive met with a southern accent and each state has a lil bit different twang. i think i am accidentally picking up on it. but i am totally charmed by the hospitality here and by deanna's accent! so we go to carvers and its like a market and restaurant. food is super good and heavy, they were so nice and asked me about 20 times if i wanted more sweat tea. damn its like all sugar. its really good though. i had fried okra and ham. damn it killed me in a good way i am so sleepy. [photo] here is me and deanna on our lunchdate. look how she gives the thumbs up! as you can see i gave up on keeping myself well kempt. as long as i got cool shirts its all good. but yeah southern hospitality is for real. deanna and this restaurant proved it. the food was great. dude i should work for yelp. i can be a cm too!!!! what about miami, they don't know about me there! deanna asked why i never applied for yelp. i told her that would mean i would have to work and that goes against my personal philosophy of not working. just pay me in rice. dammit deanna i forgot. lets get some rice and gravy! now i am ko'ed and need a nap. prepare for when i return i will be able to do an imitation of every state's accent. in colorado we would say, wicked! theres 3 levels of working i think. theres a job, a career, and a passion. i dont want a job to turn into a career. this much i know. i need to do something i am passionate about. can i get paid to dilly dally and loiter??? oh yeah i had this weird dream. i was waiting for dinner, they ran out of rice. i got pissed and destroyed the kitchen. what does that mean??? CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN This one is a hard find so you are lucky to have something like Yelp. CARVER'S COUNTRY KITCHEN Hushpuppies are HUGE and delicious. The cornbread is a little dense but still good. I did not enjoy the bbq pork at all. The pot roast was pretty good though. The portions are big so prepare yourself! |
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