Hillbilly's offers country cooking

Friday, April 22, 2011

If you like your sweet tea served in a quart canning jar, Hillbilly's restaurant in Hixson is the place for you.

Specializing in home-style cooking, the restaurant offers fresh vegetables and Southern-style meats, including fried chicken, chicken livers, barbecue pork, chicken and dressing.

THE SPACE

The day my friend and I met at Hillbilly's for lunch, the parking lot was full. In fact, parking has become a problem. Managers said they are looking for a bigger place to relocate.

I hope they find one soon. The only table available was very small. The two of us barely had enough room to eat, making it a bit uncomfortable.

THE MENU

IF YOU GOWhere: Hillbilly's, 4047 Hixson Pike.Phone: 877-4457.Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.Price range: $1.99 grilled cheese sandwich; $7.95 chicken and dressing; $9.49 barbecue grilled chicken mushroom melt.Alcohol served: No.

The food was excellent. I ordered chicken strips (one of the daily specials), mashed potatoes and turnip greens. Everything was fresh. I also got a small side salad, which was served with a generous amount of dressing (a plus).

My friend had a burger and fries and said she loved both. The burger was thick, hand-patted and cooked to order, and the fries were crisp-tender - fried to perfection, she said.

The food is reasonably priced. The most expensive dish on the menu, $9.49, is the barbecue grilled chicken mushroom melt, with two sides and choice of bread.

Daily specials are priced at $7.95. Meatloaf is offered every day.

In addition to Southern cooking, the restaurant offers specialty burgers, sandwiches and salads.

The most unusual listing on the menu? Crepes. A flaky pastry shell with a fruit filling is deep-fried and topped with honey glaze.

THE SERVICE

The staff was super friendly and made sure we had what we needed. The food was served about 10 minutes after we ordered. The drinks were brought out right away. The wait staff checked on us about every 15 minutes and made sure our drinks were refreshed throughout the meal.

THE VERDICT

I was surprised to see how many items are on the menu. There's something for everyone.

You don't have to be a fan of Southern cooking to enjoy the food at Hillbilly's because of the numerous offerings. But if you are a fan of Southern cooking, you won't be disappointed.