Restaurants – John Robert Conley

Chili’s baby-back ribs: oh, man they’re good…the fried shrimp (what I could find of them is not).

Gwinnett County Fun, Gwinnett County Growth and Development, Recommendations, Restaurants

Half rack of Chili's Ribs — Half rack of Chili’s Ribs

For a restaurant that is not a barbeque specialist, Chili’s has some delicious ribs. I should know since the last three times we’ve gotten take-out, I’ve ordered them.

You can get them on the $20 Dinner for Two Deal. The official name is “Half Rack of Baby Back Ribs w/ Homestyle Fries (Choose New Honey-Chipotle, Original or Memphis Dry Rub).” I got original sauce all three times and these rocked. I added the Mashed Potatoes with Loaded Pepper Gravy (yes, every time) and they were very good too.

The wife got the Bacon Burger and enjoyed it. I took a bite and it was quite tasty. The appetizer we chose was the Tostada Chips & Fire-Grilled Corn Guacamole. It has a little kick and was so good that we ordered it every time too. The only complaint was the chips were too thin to hold up the heavy dip.

Chili's Guacamole Dip — Chili’s Guacamole Dip

The service at the take-out was fine every time…smiles for the most part. They give you a heavy duty paper bag with plenty of napkins and utensils…and the food is packages neatly.

An no, I don’t work there or have any friends that do either. On one of our recent trips to the same location I ordered the fried shrimp. They may have taken it off the menu by now as I don’t see it as an option to order online.

There was no problem with the temperature but the shrimp were puny and were covered with too much batter. I’m guessing that it was about a 3:1 ratio of batter to shrimp in volume. Anyway, it was quite a disappointing meal.
Nothing wrong with the service though. Our waiter and server were both fans of one of my favorite bands, Led Zeppelin, as evidenced by the tattoos that they both wore. In fact, one of the Roycrofters, a local jam band, was our waiter.

If you go and walk around the outdoor mall where our Chili’s is you will probably like it. The name is The Shoppes of Webb Gin. The sidewalks allow plenty of room and it’s always neat and tidy around the parking lot. There’s a nice mix of stores with the Barnes and Noble bookseller being the closest merchant to the Chili’s.

I included a few photos of what The Shoppes look like. If you go, I trust that you’ll have as much fun as I do.

John

The Beaver House in Statesboro…go hungry; you won’t be disappointed.

Recommendations, Restaurants

John Conley, Linda Conley, Mark Conley, and Bob Conley at The Beaver House in Statesboro, Georgia

Man, was I stuffed and my bro even ate more than I did. How many times has that been said at The Beaver House over the years?

Yesterday, I made a quick run down to Statesboro to pick up a brand new order of notebooks from Randy Lewis at Lewis Color. This is embarrassing but I got lost leaving Waynesboro. Instead of taking 25 going south to Millen, I took another turn off the bypass at Waynesboro and after a couple of more turns ended up in Sardis. My, navigation system (aka my wife) was on the phone with me while she checked out Google Maps online back at the ranch. Sardis does have police so don’t think you can bust it through there.

The family finally sat down to lunch (here’s the menu) at The Beaver House by about 1:30 p.m. The crowd had thinned out and we had a friendly college girl wait on us. After getting some sweet tea in a real glass, here comes the homemade biscuits, the mashed potatos (and gravy…chicken or steak…I don’t know), green beans, macaroni and cheese, butter beans, and some country fried steak and fried chicken that will give your Mama’s a run for the money, honey.

Mrs. Sue and Clay are cookin’ up this grub everyday. Make sure you’re hungry.

Follow John Robert Conley on

Loganville Chick-fil-A photos

Recommendations, Restaurants

When I was growing up in Statesboro, Hardee’s was a treat (it’s a law that every small town in South Georgia has to have a Hardee’s – look it up). I can remember the smells of the restaurant, the shakes (always strawberry), and the hamburgers had a certain flavor a little different (maybe the sauce?) from McDonalds, Burger Chef, Burger King, Dairy Queen, and Wendy’s. (That was about it for small-town South Georgia hamburger joints.)

"Home of the Original Chicken Sandwich" on the wall in Loganville, Georgia's Chick-fil-A — You know that you’re home at Chick-fil-A.

I did sample the new Chik-fil-A Spicy Sandwich – it was good and had a little kick to it. I was part of a new promotion but it looked like they weren’t making a big deal of it at the Lawrenceville restaurant.

Read this guy’s review of his Chik-fil-A experience with the new sandwich – excellent and even has pics!

Chick-fil-A always puts fresh flowers on the table

Follow John Robert Conley on

Zaxby’s – let me know if you find a better chicken joint.

Georgia, Recommendations, Restaurants

Every few months, I make the short trek to Thomson, Georgia, from Gwinnett County to meet my folks and leave one of my children for a visit to my childhood home in God’s Country, Bulloch County. We usually meet at the Zaxby’s since everybody likes the food.

When I meet my folks in Thomson, we always share a meal at the Zaxby's right next to I-20. — When I meet my folks in Thomson, we always share a meal at the Zaxby’s right next to I-20.

This past Saturday, the day was beautiful and sunny. I took my daughter to meet Mama and Dad at the appointed Zaxby’s. When we got there at noon, fifteen or twenty people were already in line…none of them were my parents. It hadn’t been that long since I’d seen them and I think I would have recognized them. We waited about three more minutes and they pulled up in the parking lot. By the time that we got in line, only 3 or 4 people were ahead of us. The line was really moving quickly.

Mama and my daughter wanted the House Zalads with fried chicken, Dad got the #1 Chicken Finger Plate, and I got the Grilled Sandwich Sandwich Meal. I always get Sweet Tea and dilute it with some Unsweet just in case somebody dropped the sugar bowl in the tea pitcher (hello, Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s!) Note to self: buy a Zaxby’s Ice Machine…oh man, that ice is perfect!

I can’t remember anything.

Anyway, we got our order from Christian, the friendly blonde behind the counter. Her manager was helping out. She was very nice as well. We didn’t talk to anybody else although I did make four trips back to the counter for the food…then ketchup that I forgot…then a Diet Coke for Dad…then a water bottle that didn’t make it on the tray. I know one brunette that I kept walking by must have thought I was hitting on her…or either she recognized me from the “Don’t Take Checks From This Man” photo on the counter next to the cash register.

Zaxby's Tea and ICE...the ICE from Zaxby's has it's own Facebook Page! — Zaxby’s Tea and ICE…the ICE from Zaxby’s has it’s own Facebook Page!

Everybody gobbled up their food. My sandwich was good with the perfect amount of Zax Sauce on it. The fries were spot on…not too greasy. Dad acted surprised that he ate all five of his chicken fingers but I don’t know who he thought he was fooling. Mama and my lil’ girl must have enjoyed there Zalads since they didn’t leave hardly a crumb.

I checked the Men’s bathroom; it was clean and tidy. The music was pleasant..some eighties hits.

The Final Verdict is In

This Zaxby’s I’ll give a 9.3 on a 10 scale. The only thing that might could be improved was the room temperature. It was too cool for some patrons who had thrown on coats…in August.

Follow John Robert Conley on

What should you eat in Atlanta before it’s too late?

Georgia, Recommendations, Restaurants

The Varisty - Tucker — The Varsity by Afroswede

Meredith Ford Goldman has a quick read called “5 Things to Eat in Atlanta Before It’s Too Late.” The Varsity is on the list. Read it here.

The Varsity Sign — The Varsity's sign in downtown Atlanta by soupstance

Follow John Robert Conley on

Try The Salmon and Fries at McCray’s Tavern in Lawrenceville, GA

Recommendations, Restaurants

4844758074_773c994d3d_oRedu

I ate at McCray’s Taven on the Square in Lawrenceville with my friend, Greg, the other day. He felt sorry for me I guess when he agreed to meet me. But not sorry enough that he picked up the tab. It was raining buckets. So, being smart guys, we ate inside. I had, on the waitress’ recommendation, a smoked salmon taco or something like that. It had a sauce that was scrumptious. The fries were not too greasy but crispy just the way I like them. The waitress was friendly and I would like to go back and try the roof tables when the weather warms up.

Follow John Robert Conley on

Matthews Cafeteria – Good Comfort Food

Recommendations, Restaurants

Today was unusual in that I met my brother-in-law for lunch at Matthews Cafeteria in Tucker, Georgia. We have hardly ever gotten together in 19 years and he said he owed me for lunch although I could not remember the last time I had bought him a meal. Anyway, he was adamant about it so I agreed even though I had asked him to meet.

Matthews was, in the last year, on one of the Food Network shows, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. You can guess which one it qualified under. After getting berated by my brother-in-law for getting a big piece of baked fish instead of country-fried steak, we found a table and caught up with each other’s lives. I had fried okra, greens, scalloped potatoes, and tea. It was all good and the workers were friendly. Here’s an article from the AJC about the show and filming at the landmark restaurant.

Follow John Robert Conley on

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

I can’t remember anything.

The Final Verdict is In

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: