Ted B.
Yelp
Well, perhaps it's not a "fair fight". After all, I have traveled extensively. Particularly through the South. And, I have been to what most would agree is the best Southern dining institution in the world, Arnold's Country Kitchen in Nashville, TN. But, if I'm being honest, Romie's was not that great.
Don't get me wrong. I wanted it to be amazing. I really did. After all, everyone probably enjoys being "in the know" about the "hidden gems" scattered along the highways and byways of America. Hence, YELP. Right? And Romie's looked promising from the road. Great reviews, too. Should have been a winner.
But....it seems to take more than an old fashioned Southern style name and sign to live up to the image Romie's projected outside.
First: The Atmosphere. The name made me think I had found an old country store that had , over the years, started serving Plate Lunches, and had slowly built a reputation with the locals, gradually morphing into a cafe. I've been to a few of these in the South, and I love 'em when they're done right. (For example: Puckett's Grocery in Leiper's Fork, TN and The Old Country Store in Lorman, MS)
BUT Romie's, regardless of whatever history the building may have, feels more like the multi purpose room at an Elks Lodge than a Southern institution. Outdated wood paneling on the walls, dusty plastic flowers on the table, low ceilings all combine to make you feel like you're at a non profit fundraiser, not a charming backroads cafe.
The food was not bad. By that, I mean that it was okay...average. I ordered the Chicken Spaghetti. Well....Mehh.......I guess. Nothing to rave about. Nothing to return for. Certainly not the "specialty" dish that the waitress sold me on. The "iced" fruit tea would have probably been better cold, rather than lukewarm.
I left disappointed, wishing I had just gone to Lost Pizza again. Now THAT'S a great local find !
I do wonder what dinner is like at Romie's . I went for lunch. Maybe a steak at night would leave me with a better impression. But when I saw the prices and thought about how disappointing lunch was, I felt like it wasn't worth the risk.
I'll probably just go to Lost Pizza.