delectable take on fried chicken. Crisp fried chicken pieces— a generous portion— are jazzed up with hot seasonings and sauce. Accompaniments include more southern classics: a fluffy homemade biscuit, a bowl of creamy macaroni and cheese, and collard greens cooked the traditional way in a vinegary broth with bits of pork.
The Wooden Spoon’ s smoker creates some fingerlicking-good classic barbecue. Irecommend the Sampler Platter, with generous portions of three different specialties: tender
AT A GLANCE
• MOST ENTREES UNDER $ 20
• FULLBAR
• CLOSED MONDAYS
• BRUNCH SERVED
• FAMILY FRIENDLY
• ENTERTAINMENT
• HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE
• PRIVATEROOM AVAILABLE
• TAKE OUT
shreds of white oak-smoked pulled pork;“ Texas Nekkid” brisket with a nice tang and good bark; and amazing house-made smoked sausage that had everyone at the table reaching over for more. Another delight for carnivores is Mama Duke’ s Old-Fashioned Meat Loaf, juicy and flavorful, with sides of garlic scented mashed potatoes, and smothered green beans full of bacon and sweet sauce.
Be sure to eat your vegetables here, because even humble farm staples are deliciously transformed. Okra— not common in the northern states— is coated in seasoned cornmeal and fried until golden. In a nod to contemporary tastes, it’ s served with a tangy chipotle dipping sauce.
A good, hearty breakfast is one of the most important meals to emerge from a true Southern kitchen, and The Wooden Spoon lets you experience it by serving“ brunch” all day. Whatever the hour, you can’ t go wrong with rich white sausage gravy poured over a giant split biscuit, topped by a fried egg; the Wooden Spoon kicks it up a notch with a layer of that smoky pulled pork. During Sunday brunch, a large buffet is offered in the secondfloor dining room, with jazz. The Wooden Spoon also offers a bustling bar scene at night, and live entertainment on weekends. ■
FRIED OKRA
MAMA DUKES MEATLOAF
FRIED GREEN TOMATOES
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