By Rachel Birdsell
TFW Contributing Writer
Restaurant: Momma Dean’s Soul Food Kitchen
Party of: Two
Time: 1 p.m.
Preamble Ramble
If you’re the type of person who wants the decor of the restaurant you’re eating at to match and wants to drink out of stemmed glasses rather than Mason jars, then you should probably steer clear of Momma Dean’s. True foodies know that some of the best dining experiences happen in dives and that you have to give up things such as a pristine environment once in a while to get a great meal.
Food for Thought
I had the chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, purple hull peas and banana pudding. I had the chicken fried steak in the past, and I’m not sure what happened in between then and now, but the chicken fried steak was nothing like it used to be. I was served a breaded, processed slab of sponge. I’m sure the package they pulled it out of had the phrase “beef product” on it somewhere.
The mashed potatoes were chunky, which is always a good indication they’re made from real potatoes. The purple hull peas were divine. Seriously. I’m not sure what they did to them, but I think it involved sprinkling them with magic dust and then having an angel breathe on them.
My partner in dine ordered the pork chops, macaroni and cheese, fried okra and peach cobbler. While the fried okra was out of a package, it was still pretty good. The macaroni and cheese is also good, but it’s not creamy mac and cheese. It’s thicker and a little sticky.
The pork chops. OH MY GOD! They were perfect. I’ve never tasted pork chops this good. (Sorry, Mom.) Jesus himself would slap his mother right in the mouth if he ever ate these pork chops. They were perfectly seasoned and were tender enough to cut with a fork.
Due to the massive amount of food received, both desserts had to be taken home.
Wait a Minute
The wait staff is very relaxed and down to earth. That doesn’t stop them from being there when you need them, though.
The Sporkcast
(1-5 sporks)
Atmosphere: 3.8 mismatched sporks with circa 1983 wallpaper border wrapped around the handles. The decor may be lacking, but I think it only adds to the experience. The general atmosphere is like eating at home, as long as your home is loud and maybe even a little boisterous. For those of you looking for a quiet dinner, this isn’t the place for you. Of course, you’re probably the same people who think that drinking out of a jar is uncouth.
Food: 3.9 sporks dipped in bacon grease. The pork chops and purple hull peas more than made up for the disappointment of the chicken fried steak. If I wasn’t such a nice person, I would have tackled my dining partner to the ground and taken his pork chops from him. The portions here are huge, and I’ve never been able to leave without needing a take-home box.
Staff: 5 really laid back sporks. They are all exactly what wait staff should be, eager without making you feel like they’re trying desperately to be your best friend.
Dollars Spent: 25 bucks for two meals and two drinks. You have your choice of meat, two sides, bread and a dessert for $9.99. There is also a kid’s menu for the 12 and younger crowd and costs $5.99 for the same choices as the regular menu.
Chance of Returning: There’s no doubt I’ll be back to Momma Dean’s in the future many, many times. I’ll blame them having to switch to the cheaper chicken fried steak on the poor economy. In turn, I can blame the poor economy on George W. Bush, and anytime I can blame something on him, I feel much, much better. Momma Dean’s is still some of the best home cooking you can get without actually being home.
