My late friend and boss from Columbia University Libraries, Bruce Langdon, was a fine cook. He once ventured the thought that the great American contribution to international cuisine was fast food. He loved fast food. He would have loved being in Alabama had he survived AIDS.
But I could have introduced him to more than that, much of which he would have enjoyed.
But I could have introduced him to more than that, much of which he would have enjoyed.
In its heyday I would have taken hin to Cypress Inn in Tuscaloosa. Early on its food, especially the seafood offerings, were, if not great, at least better than merely good. But at the time the views from the restaurant overlooking the Black Warrior River were spectacular, and the interior of the restaurant was clean, warm, and inviting. Service was excellent. I understand, unfortunately, that the original owner lost the restaurant to his former wife in a divorce suit. The quality of the food began to decline, and gradually the restaurant began to look not attracvie but worn and seedy. When it finally closed, the only thing I missed was the view. I hear that someone hew has bought the building and the property and intends to open a new restaurant there. Please do!
But that original owner had the last laugh. He opened up another restaurant across the river called simply River. I’ve eaten there twice, lunch only, and judging from those experiences I believe it may be the finest rsestaurant at present in Tuscaloosa. It also has great river views, especialljy if the weather permits you do dine outside. River | River Restaurant - Tuscaloosa Alabama (rivertuscaloosa.com)
At present my go-to restaurants have dwindled down to two: Mr. Chen’s Mr. Chen's | Takeout | Order Online | Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 | Chinese (mrchensalabama.com) and Los Taroscos (Food - Mexican Restaurant - Tuscaloosa, Alabama (los-tarascos.com) Chen’s is generally thought to have the most authentic Chinese food in town, and although I’ve never ordered except from the luinch menu I have never been disappointed. The adjacent Asian grocery is an excellent place to shop for things you might not find elsewhere locally. Los Taroscos on Skyland is the better of the two in town, and for Tex-Mex it is hard to beat. Another Mexican restaurant, Antojitos Izcalli Mexican, was strongly recommended to me by a fomer Fellow at Horseshoe Farm in Greensboro: he thought it was the finest Mexican food he had ever had, ant it was more truly Mexican instead of Tex-Mex. Now that I am ventuing out more I do wish to try it. If so I will no dount report.
In recent years COVID limited my dining out for a while. Lately I am going out more. Much more.
Before COVID my late Greensboro friends Greg Wood and Bill Walthall and I at least once a week would drive to neighboring towns to sample fare. We liked the Faunsdale Café, and I underand that the Faunsdal Bar and Grill was wonderful. It is unclear to me whether they have reopened after the tornadoes of last year that swept throuigh the area. We dined occasionally at Newbern Mercantile, where Bill was particularly fond of the fried catfish on Fridays. And yes, it was a bunch of tables at the rear of an old country store bbt it did have atmosophere of sorts. I understand it is under new management now, but since Bill’s and Greg’s death I haven’t been back to try it. Facebook
In Marion, 20 miles to the east of Greensbor, we were pleased with the lunchtime buffet at Lotus Gardens. Lotus Gardens | Facebook The offerings were not as large as at the big buffets in Tuscaloosa, but the food always seemed to have been just prepared. Again, I have not been back since well before the deaths of my 2 friends. We also liked The Shack for hamburgers and barbecue and Lottie’s for soul food. I hear most positive reports about Chatinos Mexican Grill but somehow we neer tried it. I attempted to go recently, but it was a Saurday and they close on Saturdays.
By the way, if you are in Marion with time to kil someday, you might visit Perry Lakes Park. It’s lovely. Perry Lakes Park – Premier birding and outdoor recreation location in the heart of Perry County, Alabama.
But that original owner had the last laugh. He opened up another restaurant across the river called simply River. I’ve eaten there twice, lunch only, and judging from those experiences I believe it may be the finest rsestaurant at present in Tuscaloosa. It also has great river views, especialljy if the weather permits you do dine outside. River | River Restaurant - Tuscaloosa Alabama (rivertuscaloosa.com)
At present my go-to restaurants have dwindled down to two: Mr. Chen’s Mr. Chen's | Takeout | Order Online | Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 | Chinese (mrchensalabama.com) and Los Taroscos (Food - Mexican Restaurant - Tuscaloosa, Alabama (los-tarascos.com) Chen’s is generally thought to have the most authentic Chinese food in town, and although I’ve never ordered except from the luinch menu I have never been disappointed. The adjacent Asian grocery is an excellent place to shop for things you might not find elsewhere locally. Los Taroscos on Skyland is the better of the two in town, and for Tex-Mex it is hard to beat. Another Mexican restaurant, Antojitos Izcalli Mexican, was strongly recommended to me by a fomer Fellow at Horseshoe Farm in Greensboro: he thought it was the finest Mexican food he had ever had, ant it was more truly Mexican instead of Tex-Mex. Now that I am ventuing out more I do wish to try it. If so I will no dount report.
In recent years COVID limited my dining out for a while. Lately I am going out more. Much more.
Before COVID my late Greensboro friends Greg Wood and Bill Walthall and I at least once a week would drive to neighboring towns to sample fare. We liked the Faunsdale Café, and I underand that the Faunsdal Bar and Grill was wonderful. It is unclear to me whether they have reopened after the tornadoes of last year that swept throuigh the area. We dined occasionally at Newbern Mercantile, where Bill was particularly fond of the fried catfish on Fridays. And yes, it was a bunch of tables at the rear of an old country store bbt it did have atmosophere of sorts. I understand it is under new management now, but since Bill’s and Greg’s death I haven’t been back to try it. Facebook
In Marion, 20 miles to the east of Greensbor, we were pleased with the lunchtime buffet at Lotus Gardens. Lotus Gardens | Facebook The offerings were not as large as at the big buffets in Tuscaloosa, but the food always seemed to have been just prepared. Again, I have not been back since well before the deaths of my 2 friends. We also liked The Shack for hamburgers and barbecue and Lottie’s for soul food. I hear most positive reports about Chatinos Mexican Grill but somehow we neer tried it. I attempted to go recently, but it was a Saurday and they close on Saturdays.
By the way, if you are in Marion with time to kil someday, you might visit Perry Lakes Park. It’s lovely. Perry Lakes Park – Premier birding and outdoor recreation location in the heart of Perry County, Alabama.
 |  |
| We also liked Roebuck’s Landing, on the left on Highway 14 just before you got to the bridge on the Hale County side the Blak Warrior River. I haven’t eaten there since before COVID and I can’gt speak for present quality, but when the world cools down a bit I think I’lll try them again. Limited hours, so check their schedule. Last I heard: Thursday lunch 10-2, Friday & Saturday lunch and dinner 10 to 9. Facebook |  |
Sadly no longer with us is Hunter’s Family Restaurant just of Higwy 60 in Akron, 8 miles to the west of where I live. Mr. Hunter, a graciouis and delightful Black man, closed the restaurant early on durn COVID and I hear he does not plan to reopen. Everything we ever had there was good, but my favorites were the fried chicken livers (best to ask for them crisp) and the chicken and dumplings. Greg painted a new sign for the reataurant as a gift of appreciation, and Mr. Hunter liked it so much he used it for his new menu.
 |  |
But we liked our Greensboro restaurants as well, and increasingly we tended to stick closer to home. The Mexican restaurant, which had several names over the years, was generally better than you might expect for a small town, it was reasnably inexpensive, and it was reliable. We often ate at Nick’s a meat-and-two with special fish and chicken offerings. Nick’s shrimp po-boy was as good as any I have ever eaten, and the staff usually did a great job with friend foods. I certainly hav eaten more than my fried green tomotoes and fdried onion rings there.
 | The Stable is a pleasant place to visit with friends whil dining and their sandwiches and salads and fancy pizzas are all good. They often have special events in the eveningThe Stable - Coffee, Sandwiches (thestablecoffeepub.com) |
| Until it closed a few years back, the Pie Lab, run by Seaborn and Kelley Whatley, was my favorite place to dine. The pies were great, as were the daily offerings, but the most wonderful thing about it was that once a month there would be special dinners in the evening, at least one of which. Christmas in Russia, is among the best meals I have ever had. Several others were close to that in quality. Here'a an earlier post on the Pie Lab: PIE LAB - HOLLOW SQUARE PRESS |  |
 | A couple of years ago the old Pie Lab space got a new tenant: Sakura Hjibachi Sushi. Although I believe the owner is from Bali, the restaurant is more Japanese than not, as you might deduce from its name. I love the weekay special with shrimp, rice, stir-fried vegetalbes, and spring roll. You can get the same with chicken, beef, sallmon, and scallops (my second favorite). The sushi is also good, and one of mjy favorite meals there was a cup of miso soupl and the chicken dumplings. Greg was instrumental in getting the owner to locate (I hope) permanantly in Greensboro. Facebook |
 |  |
And just a few weeks ago Greeensboro got its first Thai restaurant, Ruan Thai. Since my old days at Fuji in New York this has become my favorite restaurant in all the world. Ruan Thai was a well-thought-of restaurant in Tuscaloosa. Van Yeager, a Greensboro man married to the Thai chef Alp, later inerited his family home in Greensboro. They decided to move down and close the Tuscaloosa operation. So why not repen in Greensboro! I had not had Thai food since I left New York in 1989, and I find myself trying to make up for lost time. I want to try everything on the menu, both the hot and the not so hot (season-wise, I mean), but lately every time I go I am attracted by the day’s special entree or special curry. Rigt now they are closed for the month of August. And I can’t wait for their reopeining the first day of September. Facebook
And there is our Egyptian bakery, Abadir’s! Facebook At present most of theie product is sold at special events and at special locations, but I hear rumors that one of these days they may open as a restaurant with regular hours in Greensboro. Everything I have tasted from Abadir’s has been wonderful, and I look forward to it becoming a place I can go to dine. Menu — Abadir's (eatabadirs.com)
Who would have thought that little old Greensboro Alabama would end up a center for inernationl cuisine! I understand tat the owner lo Nick's is from India, and if only he would open a location for Indian food . . .
[Greensboro courthouse, city hall, and library viewed from upstairs at Horseshoe Farm headquarters.]
Who would have thought that little old Greensboro Alabama would end up a center for inernationl cuisine! I understand tat the owner lo Nick's is from India, and if only he would open a location for Indian food . . .
[Greensboro courthouse, city hall, and library viewed from upstairs at Horseshoe Farm headquarters.]
RSS Feed