My friend Amanda and I had been trying to get together for a walk for months. So, what do you do when it’s way too hot outside and you still want to get together?
For us, apparently, it means digging into some good old-fashioned Southern comfort food.
I’ve been wanting to try the new Wrightsboro Road location for Goolsby’s. So, after a quick shopping trip, we took the short drive to the local Southern buffet restaurant.
Neither of us could remember what the Goolsby’s building used to be. Inside, it’s meticulously clean, decorated with same folk art in its Evans location, but I love its throwback charm, with what looks like the building’s original brown wood paneling and brown tile floors. It’s simple and no frills, but it works. (I will add that on that day, it was a little chilly inside, so you may want to bring a sweater.)
To order, you step up to the counter. A huge metal menu features the buffet selections, but I prefer to look at the array of foods on the warming table. Of course, that makes it harder to choose. I hesitated over the crispy fried chicken, glazed ribs, creamy orange mac and cheese, buttery lima beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, and more.
But in the end, I decided to order what I couldn’t see: the fried shrimp, which are freshly prepared per order, along with a scoop of cold potato salad and collard greens (those were a must — their delicious tangy odor permeated the restaurant that day). Instead of a roll, I also chose the buttery hoecake, which is almost as big as my head!
The servers handed me a tray with my sides and told me the shrimp would be out directly. The sides alone are a meal to themselves (and while it’s not clearly listed on the menu, you can order just sides as your meal). The meaty collards had a little spice, just enough to rasp your throat. Cooked till they were just tender, they didn’t need any more seasoning from the pepper sauce that’s on every table.
The potato salad was fresh and cold, creamy and yellow with mustard. You could see the black pepper in it, which gave it a little heat and made it different from other potato salads.
The hoecake made me laugh a little because it’s so huge. I ate it with two hands like a giant cookie—albeit a cookie soaked in butter. It was incredibly rich and dense and a little salty, and I kept sneaking bites.
When my shrimp arrived, I couldn’t believe I was getting this entire meal for $12.99. The order comes with eight shrimp, but they’re huge. Hot and crisp, with a delicate crust dusted with lemony seafood seasoning, they were terrific, especially when dunked in my favored condiment of cocktail sauce.
My only mistake — not planning to save half to bring home for lunch the next day. Goolsby’s offers a filling, old-fashioned home-cooked meal that’ll make you come running. Just plan to roll yourself out.
Make Your Reservation
Goolsby’s
3122 Wrightsboro Road
Goolsby’s.com
Entrée cost: About $10 to $14
