MR. WONDERFULS CHICKEN AND WAFFLES - RALEIGH, NC

We were out and about, finishing a day of shopping, when the hunger pangs set in! A Google search led us to Mr. Wonderfuls Chicken and Waffles. They had a GREAT website and the menu looked interesting so we thought we'd give them a try. They claimed to offer down-home Southern food in a casual, family-friendly environment which was right up our alley.

Our first impression was exceptionally positive. The space was clean and the simple decor was impressive. The walls are covered in some impressive local artwork. I was disappointed when the waitress knew nothing about the artists! We arrived about seven o'clock on a Saturday evening and the place was empty. We had our pick of tables!

The waitress was extremely friendly. And attentive, but when you only have one table to cover that's probably not hard to do!

They were doing a brisk take-out business as we sat studying the menu and we took that as a positive sign. I ordered the Fried Chicken and Waffles. It seemed like a no-brainer considering the name of the restaurant. Big Daddy ordered the Fried Catfish. Once again Big Daddy got the better meal. 

The waffle was good. Light, fluffy, with a nice hint of vanilla flavoring. What it lacked was warm syrup but they don't do that there. The chicken was HORRIBLE! It was cold on the inside and tasted as if it had been refried more than once, maybe even two or three times before it had been served. I also ordered the collards which were not good either. They were bland, tasting like they'd been heated up right out of a can. Big Daddy's fried fish was very good and well, the fries were fries.

Now, in their defense, they are not unwilling to make good on a meal you are not pleased with. A couple who came in after us sent back their spare ribs. The wife ordered the fried chicken wings her husband had ordered. Apparently chicken wings are fried to order. Both said they enjoyed their meals after the ribs were taken away. 

I didn't bother to send my chicken back to the kitchen and our waitress seemed a little distressed that I didn't. But when tasting a new restaurant for the first time we review on first impressions and first tastes. This first taste just didn't cut it. 

We aren't sure we'll try them again. Maybe if we're on that side of town and hunger gets the best of us, we take a chance but we don't anticipate going out of our way to eat there.

LARRY'S SOUTHERN KITCHEN - GARNER, NC

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

We're so excited to welcome in another year of good eats and food finds. 2015 gave us new favorite places and a host of delicious foods to enjoy. Despite our best efforts though we are still searching for that elusive best friend chicken joint!

We kicked off the new year paying a visit to an old favorite that had closed its doors permanently. Imagine our surprise when Larry's Southern Kitchen announced their reopening in a new location. Taking over the old Mayflower Restaurant, they are now located at 4205 Fayetteville Road in Garner, NC.

Larry's Southern Kitchen was a Raleigh staple, renowned for their down home cooking. It was one of only a few places where you could get pig's feet and chitterlings on the buffet. And they had good, not great, but good fried chicken! Family owned and operated they welcomed diners from all walks of life and the line to get in the old building was usually lengthy.

The new building is bigger. It's a definite upgrade to the old establishment. Unfortunately the food hasn't caught up yet. We went at lunch time. There were only a handful of people inside, their regular clientele not finding them yet. It took a minute for the waitress to bring us our beverages. Their good sweet tea was only okay, not quite sweet enough for my liking but Big Daddy said he was okay with it.

There were some really good things on the buffet and some things that were sub par. I enjoyed the pig's feet and ordered a bowl of chitlin's. The chitlin's never came out, something amiss in the kitchen that never got resolved by the time we were ready to leave. The fried chicken tasted old to me, the crisp on the skin slightly soggy. It was edible but it wasn't their best. 

I have high hopes for Larry's. I know it's going to take some time for them to get their rhythm back. I'll try them again. I'm not yet willing to give up on one of my favorite places. It's a New Year and I see some good things coming us all.