Mossy Grove restaurant is hidden behind a grove of trees covered in Spanish moss on Highway 231, and is a community gem that Trojans should make more of an effort to support.
Upon arrival, I couldn’t help but to be awed by the old-time southern setting that owner Katie Romero has established in the renovated schoolhouse. Hanging on the walls are an assortment of antiques from decades past that gives Mossy Grove a pleasantly quaint feel.
Once seated my dining compatriot and I were met with great service, which continued throughout the evening.
As a man accustomed to southern living, sweet tea is my drink of choice. Far too often a meal is ruined with weak tea, but I can safely say that Mossy Grove has found the perfect balance in the amount of sugar without it being too sweet or bitter.
Food is ultimately the lead factor in a quality dining experience, and Mossy Grove excels.
First while waiting to order we were given homemade Great Northern Beans and hush puppies, and while the beans were good, the hush puppies were amazing. Coupled with the pepper relish made available, those little cornbread balls packed enough flavor alone to give me a satisfactory experience.
The beans and hush puppies are a staple of Mossy Grove, and are even featured in the yearofalabamafood.com 100 dishes to eat in Alabama before you die pamphlet. These appetizers were provided as a pre-meal palate wetter before diving into the main entrées.
The main menu, which contains an assortment of different foods, has something to offer everyone ranging and chicken to seafood. There are also appetizers, deserts, and a drink menu – for those that are of age – and everything was reasonably priced for a college student’s budget.
Chicken is often the norm for my dinner, but I went against the grain and ordered the stuffed crab with a baked potato.
The baked potato was rather standard in terms of preparation, but very enjoyable nonetheless. It was the stuffed crab, however, that made this the best dinner I’ve had in recent memory.
The golden brown crust outside was mildly crunchy, which served as a perfect contradiction to the fluffy and crisp interior.
I was also pleasantly surprised to find that I was able to actually taste the crab in the stuffing without it being ruined with an excess of seasoning.
Obviously, a meal this enjoyable isn’t complete without a dessert. I went with a slice of strawberry cheesecake, a personal favorite. Although I was pretty full at this point, that didn’t prevent me from clearing my plate with relative ease.
As a self-sufficient college student, I believe I speak for many when I say that a good home cooked meal is hard to come by. For those looking for a great meal with a side of southern hospitality, look no further than Mossy Grove.
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