Sometimes the best places are those off the beaten path, little hole in the wall restaurants that you just happen to stumble upon. Sweet T Southern Kitchen is a small neighborhood restaurant that you both want to tell everyone about and keep a secret. Upon entering the restaurant, you are warmly greeted by the staff. There are a number of tables and a buffet full of tempting sides. We sat down and opened our beer and wine (BYOB) while Tony and Michaun stopped over and explained their ever-changing menu, philosophy, and how they started the restaurant. It was nice to see the passion and dedication they had for Sweet T’s. Michaun’s personality steals the show as she is full of life, energy, and stories. Yet Tony’s dedication to his cooking shines through as well.
I was tempted by so many items that making a decision was difficult. In the end, I ordered pulled pork, fried okra, collard greens, and corn bread… then, for good measure, I threw in a side of chicken gumbo. I typically do not like okra, so the first order of business was to try their version. Perfectly fried small pieces of okra had me rethinking my dislike of this savory side. The batter fried crisp morsels were just what was needed to change my thoughts on okra. Next stop was to the collard greens—they were just the right consistency and served with lots of small pieces of bacon. The pulled pork was lean, perfectly cooked, and moist. The variety of sauces to choose from on the counter accompanied the pulled pork perfectly; my only suggestion would be to have better labels on the condiments. As I was starting to get full, I realized that I still had the other side that I ordered. The chicken gumbo was worth making room for. Large pieces of chicken, okra, and tomatoes all melted in your mouth with the delicious spices and rice, a dish that could have been a meal by itself. The last item on the plate was the cornbread. The cornbread was somewhat of a letdown after such a great meal. The cornbread was a little dry and could have used something to kick it up a little bit.
Overall, it was a great local find. There is something to be said for small restaurants that try to use local fresh ingredients and stay true to their roots. The food was fresh, the employees were friendly, and the prices are a bargain. As a side note, I chose to bring my coworkers the next day- so the secret is out and the chicken fried chicken was delicious. -DO
