Matthews Cafeteria which opened in 1955, is a Main Street Tucker landmark that serves southern style meat’n three fare and has developed a strong local following. Matthews Cafeteria is open Monday through Friday only and features a rotating menu. If you like Chicken Livers, go on Monday. In order to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day each week, it’s a Tuesday visit for a generous serving of Corned Beef. The best Chicken Pot Pie to be found for miles is served on Wednesday, Thursday is popular for the Thanksgiving style Turkey & Dressing and Friday is a good day to try Matthew’s Meatloaf.

Vegetables each day include rice, mashed potatoes, green beans and fresh turnip greens. Other vegetable choices rotate on a daily basis with offerings to compliment the rotating entree choices. Years ago the staff consisted mainly of grandmotherly types and the friendly manager Barbara. Barbara, who is greatly missed on a personal level has since retired and the staff has changed but the food remains consistent and the prices are quite reasonable.

The interior could certainly use a coat of paint and a few other upgrades but don’t let that deter you. Matthews is seriously a good southern old fashioned small town cafeteria. It is rare that a visit to Matthews does not include the sighting of at least a couple local politicians running for office and some of Dekalb’s finest policemen. The clientèle varies from many single diners to young couples and families with children enjoying dinner with their parents or grandparents.

Matthews Cafeteria opens at 5:00am for breakfast, lunch is served from 10:30am until 3:00pm and the dinner service is from 4:30pm until 8:00pm. For more information and the complete menu, please visit Matthews Cafeteria.

Matthews Cafeteria will be featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives episode “Where the Locals go”. It is currently scheduled to air on the following dates: Jun 23, 2008 10:00 PM ET/PT, Jun 23, 2008 1:00 AM ET/PT, Jun 29, 2008 4:00 PM ET/PT, Jul 04, 2008 9:00 PM ET/PT, Jul 04, 2008 12:00 AM ET/PT, Jul 28, 2008 10:30 PM ET/PT, Jul 28, 2008 1:30 AM ET/PT, Aug 03, 2008 3:30 PM ET/PT, Aug 08, 2008 9:30 PM ET/PT, Aug 08, 2008 12:30 AM ET/PT

Originally published 5-6-2008 ; Updated 6-22-2008

Popularity: 88% [?]

Update – December 1, 2008 – Rita’s has yet to open. I’m sure now that the weather is in the balmy 30s & 40s there is no rush until sometime early next year. Poo.

Oh happy happy day, Rita’s Water Ice is coming to Tucker in the Burns Corners shopping center. If you’ve never had it, Rita’s Water Ice is simply the most refreshing treat you could ever imagine on a hot summer day. Think refreshing, crisp fruit flavors. Think of a icy cool frozen treat made with ice and real fruit. Rita’s Water Ice is much smoother than a snow cone or shaved ice and is made fresh daily. In terms of consistency, Rita’s Water Ice is somewhat of a cross between a slushy and a sorbet.

The logo suggests the name is “Rita’s Ice Custard Happiness” but it is actually “Rita’s Water Ice”. The name is Rita’s and they sell ice and custard and that equals happiness. I was introduced to Rita’s many years ago in Philadelphia where the company originated. My family visited my sister while she was working in Philadelphia and she took us out for the obligatory cheese steaks and then to Rita’s. For the next six months, each week when she flew home to Atlanta, she was accompanied by a Styrofoam cooler packed with Rita’s Watermelon ice and Rita’s lemon ice. Philadelphia is famous for their cheese steaks, pretzels and water ice and has a number of water ice vendors. I did not try any other water ice vendors so … for all I know there may be better but for me, Rita’s Water Ice is a really welcome addition to the neighborhood and I wish them much success.

Rita’s locations have a tradition of giving away free product on Opening day and also on the first day of spring. I hope they have not changed the recipe and I will be there at the new Rita’s in Tucker on opening day consuming watermelon ice, you can bet money on it. I could care less that it is free on opening day because I would gladly pay twice the regular asking price just to experience the flavor of Rita’s again. More than likely I’ll be the one dancing for joy with a really big grin on my face. I only wish my mother was still with us to see it as she loved Rita’s more than me and that is saying a lot.

Popularity: 59% [?]


Grecian Gyro recently opened a new location in Tucker. They’re in the old KFC building, at the corner of Lawrenceville Hwy. and Fellowship Rd. The proprietors painted the building a beautiful shade of bright blue & spruced up the inside just a bit and are still offering drive thru service. While the ambiance may be a bit lacking, what sparkles here is their wonderful savory food.

Most menu items are at prices comparable to a fast food chain but the food is definitely a cut above. Warm and fluffy Pita wraps that feature gyro meat, souuvlaki (pork), chicken or loukaniko (Greek sausage) dressed with thin sliced onions, tomatoes and Nick’s special sauce go for $3.99. Combination plates with any of the previously mentioned meats are available that offer side dishes of Grecian herbed potatoes and a small greek salad for $7.99. Order a side of Nick’s sauce to pour and the potatoes and you are in business. The dinner salad with meat which also cost $7.99 is enough for two meals for many people.

Grecian Gyro also offers only one dessert , the obligatory baklava featuring phyllo, nuts and honey that is really quite good even if you can only eat half. A recent addition to the menu is their ridiculously addictive Spanakopita, rich spinach pie flavored with onions, cheeses and herbs that are all enfolded by crispy, flaky phyllo dough. Drive thru Spanakopita in Tucker ? Oh yeah ! When you have a craving , Grecian Gyro of Tucker is much more convenient that waiting for the Greek festival each fall.

Popularity: 59% [?]

A new addition to the Northlake area is Kasey’s Home Cooking Buffet located at the corner of Lavista and Montreal Road. Let me begin by stating that I am not a huge fan of buffets, especially home style because the majority offer quantity over quality. I can eat bad, over processed food at home if I want to open a few cans.

Kasey’s food however is far from what I expected. The sign out front advertises “Best Fried Chicken in Town” and that, as we all know, is a pretty bold statement for this part of the country. Truthfully though, they got it right – their fried chicken is amazing. It is crispy and crunchy on the outside and very tender & moist on the inside. If the chicken looks like it has been out for a while nibble on something else and wait until they bring out a fresh batch – it will take your breath away. My only complaint about the chicken is they cut the breasts in half before cooking which sometimes makes it difficult to tell the white meat from the dark. Kasey’s also features other entree items such as Meatloaf, Salmon Croquettes and Salisbury steak that rotate on a daily basis.

The vegetables at Kasey’s taste fresh and are seasoned in a way that conjures memories of a Southern Grandmother and they feature fried green tomatoes on Sunday. The butter beans, green beans, greens and sweet potatoes are standouts but the macaroni and cheese is a major disappointment. It is bland and tastes like it is straight out of an industrial sized box. Kasey’s recently changed their bread recipe and the new yeast rolls are absolutely divine. They are very light and fluffy and melt when you put them in your mouth.

Kasey’s dinner rolls are also a treat not to be missed if your are not watching your waistline but the absolute best thing about Kasey’s is the price. $7.00 includes all the mouth-watering chicken, vegetables and dessert you can eat in addition to your drink (sweet tea). Tax is included in the price so a family of four can walk out for $28.00 plus tip. The crowd is slightly older and you can expect a short wait at peak lunch and dinner times but I have never had to wait more than five minutes for a table.

Overall, Kasey’s Home Cooking is a welcome addition to the neighborhood and is worth the trip if you like southern style food, don’t let the “buffet” tag scare you off.

EDITED: 6-3-2008 to reflect price change.

Popularity: 100% [?]

In 1953, Bill Black and his son, Jack, opened the first Old Hickory House Restaurant on Northside Drive in Atlanta. They had no idea what they were starting! Unfortunately there are only two locations left in Atlanta but we are indeed lucky to have one in the Northlake area.

As a native Atlantan born and raised for the early part of my life in Decatur, Old Hickory House Brunswick Stew is the way Brunswick Stew is supposed to taste. It is rich and meaty and has just the right blend of tomatoes and corn. I always try Brunswick Stew in barbecue joints and in my opinion they just pale in comparison.

Their chopped pork is tender and flavorful, the sliced “outside cut” is full of smoky goodness and the ribs literally fall off the bone. The sauce served with the meat is warmed and full of little tasty specs of meat and onions.

Old Hickory House offers a full compliment of fresh vegetables that change daily based upon availability. They also offer a wonderful breakfast menu featuring country ham, sausage, country fried steak and the must try BBQ omelette.

To view the full menu & hours of operation, please visit Old Hickory House. If you have never eaten at Old Hickory House, you really owe it to yourself to try their food at least once.

Popularity: 47% [?]