Do you ever need that taste of home? Have you ever been out and found a restaurant that brought back old memories of past meals in a place that no longer exists? Over the last few years since starting to work at Carver High School I have slowly been introduced to the cuisine of "The Heights", Midtown and the Shepherd drive area of old Houston. Filled with gastro pubs, wine bistros, and other culinary delights I have explored many new and different varieties of cuisine.
I have enjoyed Just Mac, Torchy's Tacos, and the Hubcap Grill. I have spent an evening at a hawaiian luau bar and taken my family to the Liberty Kitchen. My friends and I have sampled everything from the Republican and Democrat Taco, Loaded Mac and Cheese, and Shepherd Park's divine cheeseburger with bacon jam. Have you ever had a half pound hamburger with an egg cooked sunny side up on it? The Hubcap grill can make you forget all about the Houston heat when you sink your teeth into one.
Then I visited the Barbecue Inn. Nothing earth shattering here. Just a wholesome family restaurant that has been a mainstay on Crosstimbers for over 40 years. Upon entering I was told to expect a more mature crowd. They have an old time lunch counter on the left low ceilings and subdued lighting. Lots of wood painted dark with brown flooring and traditional table settings. If it wasn't for the fact that they served barbecue and lots of it I would have swore I was walking into any number of Danville area restaurants.
As I enjoyed my chicken fried steak (real steak drippings in the white gravy) and looked at the aged 40+ crowd of which I find myself apart of now. I began to get nostalgic as I often do. This place had all the comforts of home. Pie, pudding and home cooked food on the menu. Middle aged professional waitresses, not young college kids or unemployable hipsters. Ladies who knew how to survive an eight hour shift on their feet without killing themselves. No gum popping Flo's but rather efficient and smiling service providers deserving of 20% or more.
Then I began talking to my friends at the table. I began to speak about home in the 80's. When Grandma and Grandpa Hicks would "Meet the Peverly's up at Danville." As soon as church let out Grandpa would make his exit and pull the Grand Marquis around. Big boat of a car, he would impatiently wait on Grandma. She would be saying good bye, finishing up discussions about the Chicken and Lamb Supper or next UMW meeting. If you were lucky you were going with Grandpa and Grandma. In the backseat all I could think about was the never ending bowl of tapioca pudding at the end of the buffet bar.
I have enjoyed Just Mac, Torchy's Tacos, and the Hubcap Grill. I have spent an evening at a hawaiian luau bar and taken my family to the Liberty Kitchen. My friends and I have sampled everything from the Republican and Democrat Taco, Loaded Mac and Cheese, and Shepherd Park's divine cheeseburger with bacon jam. Have you ever had a half pound hamburger with an egg cooked sunny side up on it? The Hubcap grill can make you forget all about the Houston heat when you sink your teeth into one.
Then I visited the Barbecue Inn. Nothing earth shattering here. Just a wholesome family restaurant that has been a mainstay on Crosstimbers for over 40 years. Upon entering I was told to expect a more mature crowd. They have an old time lunch counter on the left low ceilings and subdued lighting. Lots of wood painted dark with brown flooring and traditional table settings. If it wasn't for the fact that they served barbecue and lots of it I would have swore I was walking into any number of Danville area restaurants.
As I enjoyed my chicken fried steak (real steak drippings in the white gravy) and looked at the aged 40+ crowd of which I find myself apart of now. I began to get nostalgic as I often do. This place had all the comforts of home. Pie, pudding and home cooked food on the menu. Middle aged professional waitresses, not young college kids or unemployable hipsters. Ladies who knew how to survive an eight hour shift on their feet without killing themselves. No gum popping Flo's but rather efficient and smiling service providers deserving of 20% or more.
Then I began talking to my friends at the table. I began to speak about home in the 80's. When Grandma and Grandpa Hicks would "Meet the Peverly's up at Danville." As soon as church let out Grandpa would make his exit and pull the Grand Marquis around. Big boat of a car, he would impatiently wait on Grandma. She would be saying good bye, finishing up discussions about the Chicken and Lamb Supper or next UMW meeting. If you were lucky you were going with Grandpa and Grandma. In the backseat all I could think about was the never ending bowl of tapioca pudding at the end of the buffet bar.
When heading into Danville to meet Grandma and Grandpa's friends the Peverly's for lunch you knew you were going to be eating at George's Buffet. As you can see it isn't very glamorous. Closed for many years now the building is the home of a local union. The sign is still there with its analog clock and the simple, yet small marquis in the top right corner is the same with new inserts. That's it. No embellishments or extras like windows for the patrons to be distracted by the views of the parking lot or warehouses that surround it. Quite honestly if a building was built to defeat the zombie apocalypse this was it.
Yet every Sunday the place was packed with church goers from the community who wanted to partake of the Prime Rib or Fried Chicken. I was very young at the time and I didn't pay attention to the decor. As a fan of puddings, soft serve ice cream and pie I was a little distracted as the adults chatted about crops, the pastors message or who may be sick in the hospital. I remember the whole affair feeling very institutional. Almost as If someone thought it would be a good idea to build a hospital cafeteria without the hospital.
My parents didn't really want to go to George's. My mother has always been concerned with healthy eating. (Another salad, Uhhhhh) Truth was she didn't like that you paid all of that money to eat like a glutton and you didn't have table service. I however remember my eyes adjusting to the dim light. Walking around the drip from the ceiling mounted air conditioner to fetch a plate of fried chicken and mashed taters. The whole time coveting that desert bar.
Grandma would be patient as we assaulted our food, making us mind our table manners. Area farmers would stop in to say hello as they came in with their families. It was the kind of atmosphere and subdued feeling that swept me away at the Barbecue Inn. George's is long gone but the memories remain.
I sure could use some tapioca pudding.
Yet every Sunday the place was packed with church goers from the community who wanted to partake of the Prime Rib or Fried Chicken. I was very young at the time and I didn't pay attention to the decor. As a fan of puddings, soft serve ice cream and pie I was a little distracted as the adults chatted about crops, the pastors message or who may be sick in the hospital. I remember the whole affair feeling very institutional. Almost as If someone thought it would be a good idea to build a hospital cafeteria without the hospital.
My parents didn't really want to go to George's. My mother has always been concerned with healthy eating. (Another salad, Uhhhhh) Truth was she didn't like that you paid all of that money to eat like a glutton and you didn't have table service. I however remember my eyes adjusting to the dim light. Walking around the drip from the ceiling mounted air conditioner to fetch a plate of fried chicken and mashed taters. The whole time coveting that desert bar.
Grandma would be patient as we assaulted our food, making us mind our table manners. Area farmers would stop in to say hello as they came in with their families. It was the kind of atmosphere and subdued feeling that swept me away at the Barbecue Inn. George's is long gone but the memories remain.
I sure could use some tapioca pudding.