Right off Interstate 81 in New Market, Va. awaits the Southern Kitchen. Like many of the other buildings in this sleepy old town, the eatery is housed in a plain wooden building. An old red neon sign shouts out the name. Inside, are a couple of rows of booths and a counter with stools. The place could be anywhere in the South even though DC’s only a little more than an hour away. While we were waiting for a table, in walked a middle aged man sporting a cap in the pattern of the Confederate flag. Right behind him were some Civl War reneactors. The Johnny Rebs greatly outnumbered the Yankees.

I don’t care how many fried chicken joints open up in New York, it just doesn’t taste right. Maybe it’s the tall buildings. Or the water. Whatever. I just don’t like fried chicken in New York. I had read middling review of the Southern Kitchen. Yet, this was my only chance for anything approaching true southern fare. So we went ahead and ordered the peanut soup and fried chicken. The soup, thick and peanuty, arrived lukewarm but it had an intense nutty taste. Next came the bird. The crispy coating and juicy meat didn’t disappoint. But the coconut custard pie was the truly outstanding offering. A velvety, pudding-like triangle of custard reclining under a lofty layer of meringue.

Southern Kitchen
9576 S. Congress St.
New Market, VA
540 740 3514

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