Walnut Hills:
Vicksburg's Traditional Restaurant
Photos and article by Kathleen Walls
|
Walnut Hills |
Every city has its
traditional restaurant, the place locals always bring an
out-of-town guest, the eatery that is totally unique to that city. In
Vicksburg, Mississippi, that place is Walnut Hills.
I've visited Vicksburg twice and each
time I ate at Walnut Hills. First time it was just two of us so we choose
a private table and ordered from the menu. I choose the fried pork chops.
Yeah like I really need fried food to help insure that I can't zip up my
favorite jeans! At least I passed (regretfully) on the batter dipped
French fries and had the equally delicious baked potato. Of course I
heaped it with sour cream.
Well those jeans no longer fit. they
have been retired. (Too many press trips to places with great food)
So next time I went back, I was with a group of fellow travelers�no
not the old-fashioned cold war kind, the "let's eat at the best restaurant
in town" kind of food-wise travel writers who know good food when they see
it.
|
What a heaping table of good food |
We did see a lot of good
food that day. We sat at a round table and stared goggled eyed at the
quantity of food being set before us. To make the "grab it before its gone"
experience more convenient, the large round tables are made with a special
turntable in the center. That way everything is in easy reach and no one had
to stop eating to pass the food.
|
Dessert at Walnut Hills |
Once we dug into the fried chicken,
roasted carrots, mashed potatoes, black eyed peas, cabbage, sausage and a
lot of other things, we appreciated the quality as well. By the time
dessert arrived, we made a supreme effort and tried several delicious
items, banana pudding, caramel cake, pecan pie and coconut cake to mention
a few, we agreed the dessert menu rivaled a free trip to Heaven.
Our smiling waitress kept the turntable filled with goodies. Our glasses,
although not sweet tea, were kept filled. A bit of sweetener remedied that
problem. Owner, Joyce Clingam, has maintained the integrity of the 1880
home, originally built by George Rodgers for his family home, while turning
it into a crowd pleasing dining spot.
|
Owner and waitress share a quiet moment |
Come on Friday or
Saturday night and enjoy live music in the bar. In fact any day or night is
a good time to visit here. Even if you are traveling alone, sit at the round
table and before the meal is over you will have made new friends. It's only
a short hop off the interstate so instead of having chain store food take a
break and enjoy down home southern cooking.
http://www.walnuthillsms.com
|