Genius Southern Cooking

Genuis? Nope. Novice.
I love supporting mom and pop establishments. I really do. I was very excited to read in the AJC that a soul food place was opening up in Lawrenceville. It was going to be my go-​to place for those occasions when I wasn’t in the mood to cook myself.
Well, the search will have to continue, because (to partially borrow a phrase from a metro soul food chain) THIS is NOT it!
First of all, I drove to the restaurant three times only to find that the place was in no way open for business. Three times, folks. Mind you, this was all AFTER a glowing article appeared in the AJC with «operating hours» to boot. Even the sign on the door confirmed the hours of business! The place was pitch black each time I went. No cars. Hmmmm. I’m thinking perhaps this is an omen. Well, actually, a TRIPLE omen.
Anyhoo, on my FOURTH visit a month later, I hit pay dirt. The seating area has very nice ambiance– especially given that this is a mom and pop. So, I do give kudos for the décor…
As I stood at the counter, I was struck by the lack of view of the main dishes. Sure, there was a heating counter with wells– much like you’d see at a cafeteria; however, the small counter was off to the side and the wells were covered with foil. So, right off the bat, you can’t let your eyes help you shop. Facing you is a stove and a fryer on the back wall. It’s a weird set up– certainly not worthy of «genius». But I digress…
I was about to place my order when I looked down an saw a small handwritten sign that said «cash only». Arrggggh! The debit/​credit card machine was down. Mercy! It’s like every fiber of my being is BEGGING me not to eat here. I lament to the owner who told me of an ATM down the street. Sigh. Do I tempt fate and come back a FIFTH time to this place?
So… in the short time I had to debate it in the car, I took a quick swerve to the ATM and went back to the diner. Boy, this had BETTER have been worth 5 trips, I said to myself. Vegas odds would say «no», and of course, no one should expect to continue to be able to bet against the house, but again, I digress…
The menu is what you’d typically find– a meat and three type of offering. I got 3 veggies and a corn muffin for $ 6. If you count all of the 5 trips, time and gas spent (not to mention any applicable ATM fees), the meal bordered around $ 18.
I only want to comment on the best and worst of my meal. The best was the little corn muffin. It was very good. The worst was the macaroni and cheese. Now, I have had my share of nasty mac and cheese, and this ranks right up there. It was SO dry that the macaroni noodles actually repelled themselves from ONE ANOTHER. You couldn’t force two noodles together with foreceps. Shivers! If only the owner would have asked me to pick up some MILK on my trip to the ATM at the Family Dollar…
If this is «genius» cooking, I’d hate to imagine this food on a bad day…