Sweet T Southern Kitchen was my choice for our monthly Foodie’s outing and I was a bit nervous as it was quite different than the places we had visited previously. Would people like the casual, relaxed environment and the cafeteria style setup? I chose this restaurant because it is a hidden gem. It’s not in an obvious area of the city and it’s not easy to stumble upon. I wanted to support this small business with owners who are passionate about their art of providing delicious southern food to those of us above the Mason-Dixon.
When I walked in, I saw most of the group already hanging out enjoying the beverages that they brought, ranging from wine to good old Knob Creek. I settled in just as owners Michaun and Tony started to explain their concept, the origins of the restaurant, and their theories on the food they cook. They talked to us as if we were old friends, and this set the tone for the rest of the meal. They walked us through the night’s options and I knew I was going to have a hard time choosing my meal. Having been to Sweet T previously, I knew the Fried Chicken was absolutely amazing…did I want to stick with a reliable favorite or go with something new? I decided to go with the Fried Chicken as an entree with sides of mac and cheese and black eyed peas. I also added a side of fried okra as I had never tried it and wanted to branch out at least a little bit. As the dishes started arriving at the table, I knew I made good choices. The fried chicken (with white gravy on the side) was hot and perfectly fried – crispy on the outside, moist and tender on the inside. The chicken is amazingly flavorful on its own but yet it lends itself well to dips into the white gravy or the barbeque sauce that was available on the counter. The mac and cheese is wonderfully cheesy with a layer of crispier cheese on the top. I find that it benefits from a couple splashes of hot sauce but I like that it’s nice and simple comfort food. The black eyed peas were new to me on my first visit to Sweet T. I didn’t know what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised. The beans are almost creamy and they are flavored nicely by the chunks of pork that are plentiful in the dish. My last side was a generous bowl of fried okra. Small chunks of the green vegetable were lightly battered and fried to a crisp. These were simply too easy to pop into my mouth, one after another until the bowl was empty. Even my proclaimed okra hating dining companion snagged a few bites and enjoyed them.
Walking into Sweet T Southern Kitchen, I knew all bets were off in terms of health and calorie counts. Prepared for that, I enjoyed every bite of my meal. It was rich, comforting and FILLING! I felt like i wouldn’t eat for a week – and yet, the next day I found myself thinking of that perfectly fried chicken. I highly recommend Sweet T to anyone looking for a casual, delicious meal. Their Sunday brunch (offered a couple of times per month) is a great way to check out new things and enjoy your old favorites. No matter when you go, two things can be guaranteed – you will be greeted with genuine kindness and enthusiasm by the owners and you will enjoy some of the best comfort food I have ever tasted! -JM