Over the last couple of years, I have heard commercials promoting His Place Eatery and spoke with several satisfied people who have dined there many times.
So I asked myself, “What is all the fuss about? Isn’t it just another ‘cookie cutter’ soul food establishment?”
Recently, however, I discovered what hundreds of repeat customers have long known: His Place is the place to be.
Opened in 2009 by James “Mackie” Jones, a professionally trained culinary expert, his wife Shawn Marie Jones and mother Jackie Young, His Place has a nice selection of classic, down-home favorites.
Jones said the restaurant prides itself on “providing the best quality entrees and ministering through food and service.” His Place definitely achieves this goal, leaving you feeling better than you did when you walked in.
The staff is very attentive, friendly and down-to-earth, while still maintaining its professionalism and competence. You are made to feel welcome here, in a way that suggests that your presence as a person, and not just your dollars, is appreciated.
As they circulate around the restaurant, the owners and staff are intent on making sure patrons have everything that is needed to have not just a good meal, but a pleasant experience.
Oh, and the food … man, I’m not sure where to start. First, you have to make the tough decision of deciding what to get. The way His Place describes its items on the menu makes you want to get a sample of everything!
Customers can choose among a range of lunch and dinner items, from hickory smoked rib tips, smothered pork chops and Southern fried chicken, to classic chicken and waffles.
Other noteworthy selections include catfish, perch or tilapia sandwiches and the turkey manhattan, which has slices of smoked turkey on wheat bread under a mound of mashed potatoes and gravy. Also worth checking out is the Experience, a fancy bologna sandwich with sweet barbecue sauce, topped with creamy cole slaw on an onion loaf bun. It’s not the bologna sandwich you grew up on!
The sides are even more amazing, and seemed to be prepared just right, with offerings including three cheese macaroni, collard greens, candied yams, homemade mashed potatoes, dressing, bourbon cream corn, spaghetti and cole slaw.
I ordered the smoked meatloaf, which was very substantial and flavorful, along with mashed potatoes and bourbon cream corn (I’ve never really been into cream corn, but the way His Place describes its version sounded so good I decided to give it a try, and it was every bit as wonderful as promised).
If you have room for dessert, you will be pleased to find options such as banana pudding, sweet potato cheesecake, peach cobbler, cookies and waffle sundaes.
I like to say that cooks should prepare food with the quality and excellence they would want out of the dinners they eat, and this is what His Place does. The restaurant also provides carryout and catering orders. So, when you need a break from cooking at your place, visit His Place.
