Editorial
Front Page - Friday, February 19, 2010
Weekly Indulgence
Stephanie Coward
Mt. Vernon Restaurant located at 3535 S. Broad Street offers healthy home-style cooking.
- David Laprad
As I walked into the warmly lit dining room of Mt. Vernon Restaurant earlier, I knew it would be an enjoyable experience. The Southern home-style cuisine restaurant set up against the backdrop of Lookout Mountain was sure to provide a relaxing lunch.
I was immediately greeted by the hostess and shown to a table set up alongside a booth. I wasn’t sitting long before my server, Cathy, popped by to get my drink order. I usually only order water with lemon at lunch, but seeing strawberry lemonade listed on the daily specials menu made my mouth water. The drink didn’t disappoint, as it was the perfect blend of tart lemonade and sweet, fresh strawberries.
The menu is extensive, and every day there is a full page of specials. The specials aren’t just entrees, but include drinks, the vegetable choices and some dessert selections. Suffice to say, it took me a bit of time to narrow down my selection. Southern style fried chicken, salmon or the fried seafood platter? There was no way I was going to order just a sandwich with such a varied menu in front of me. (Though I saw some of the sandwiches delivered to other tables and they looked delicious!)
Eventually, I decided on the salmon, which was accompanied by two vegetables. I chose the cucumber and tomato salad along with broccoli casserole. When taking my order, Cathy offered me rolls and cornbread. I opted for rolls, since I wasn’t raised on cornbread and never developed a taste for it. But I misunderstood, and you actually get one of each.
As I waited – not very long at all – for my food to arrive, I sat and watched people. Well, really I was watching food to see what everyone else ordered, which only made me question my selection. Alas, I was not disappointed. My food arrived in less than 15 minutes – which for home-style cooking is excellent timing in my opinion.
The cucumber and tomato salad included red onion (a favorite) and was drowning in a sweet oil-based dressing. I am not sure what the flavor was but it was tasty and really made the onion pop. I ate some and saved the rest for the end of my meal.
Two of my all time favorite foods are broccoli and cheese. The broccoli casserole combines both of them. I was looking forward to delving into the ample portion provided but first things first; I had a piping hot piece of salmon to devour.
Perhaps I am overly cautious, but working in restaurants for many years taught me to be wary of the items I order. I always base my decisions on the feel and look of the restaurant. Just because a restaurant offers something on its menu does not guarantee that it will be edible. I knew that I would thoroughly enjoy the salmon at Mt. Vernon, and my instinct was correct. It was cooked perfectly; so many restaurants overcook seafood, when really, most of it should be cooked to about a medium temperature. The salmon was moist and required very little chewing. Though it was a little salty, it was still a fine piece of fish, and I left none of it on my plate.
Moving back to the casserole, I was pleasantly surprised that the dish tasted fresh. (You never know if something like a casserole was frozen beforehand.) It was just the right balance of cheese and broccoli; unfortunately, I was full and unable to finish it.
Once my plates were (almost) clean, I took a moment to take in the atmosphere. There are several dining rooms throughout, four from what I could see while sitting. It seemed to be a popular spot for the business community as well as the casual visitor. All the servers were smiling and I never saw a drink drop below the half full mark.
It was so busy during my visit that my usual chat with the owner or manager never happened. I didn’t want to disturb anyone. The servers were hustling as the hostess continuously sat patrons throughout the hour I was there. I did spend some time on the restaurant’s Web site. On the site, you can view the daily specials menu and learn about upcoming special events.
According to the Web site, the granddaughter of the original owner, Gus Tombras, and her husband – Cindy and Jess Messinger – now operate the establishment. It still carries many of the traditional favorites it served when it first opened its doors as well as many new items, which cater to the health conscious. Many dishes are cooked in olive oil and lower in fat, which makes Mt. Vernon a hit. Very few places offer healthy home-style cooking where one can enjoy a delectable lunch and be back to work within the hour.
Mt. Vernon is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and is closed Sundays. Check out the daily specials menu before your visit at www.mymtvernon.com.
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