What a beautiful day.  The weather lately has led me to explore restaurants with patios.  Moore's Market is perfect for sitting outside.  There is not a lot of traffic to distract you, since it is off Main Street in Cartersville.  I was told to order the onion strings for an appetizer.  They were light and crispy.  We ate the whole basket in about two seconds flat.  Moore's Market has a variety of Southern food with a twist.  I got the country fried steak.  It was the most glorious thing I had ever tasted.  My momma made something very similar while we were growing up, and it was always one of my favorite meals.  I had it with whipped red potatoes and green beans.  I'm a little picky on green beans, so this wasn't exactly my style but they were good.  The potatoes were a great complement to the country fried steak.  One of the best parts of the meal was the sweet potato biscuit.  Nice and savory.  My husband got the ribs.  I did get a taste.  The BBQ sauce is excellent, and the ribs were good.  I would order them.  My husband also got the Mississippi Mud Pie.  I took only one taste.  It was so rich and not quite what I was expecting for a Mississippi Mud Pie.  It was very smooth and creamy and heavenly.  I was also very intrigued by the Mandarin Orange Cake.  A lady next to us ordered it, and it looked fantastic.  After the baby comes, I plan to go and just order all the desserts.  Especially during this nice weather, take some time to go to Moore's Market.  You will not be disappointed in the food.

Henry's Louisiana Grill soothes my craving for crawfish like no other place.  We did not grow up eating crawfish; we caught them in ditches at school in our orangeade cartons.  When you go to Henry's in Acworth, GA, I highly recommend the Hot Chili 'Gator.  It is alligator that has been flash fried then tossed in Chinese hoisin and topped with remoulade.  In or out of New Orleans, it is the best 'gator you will ever have.  The Seafood Fondeaux may be more your speed if you are not into eating reptiles.  You really can't go wrong with cheese, shrimp, crawfish, and french bread.  When you are ready for your entree, I suggest the Louisiana OOH LA LA!  I got it with flash fried crawfish and served over french bread.  Somehow flash fried is better than fried.  I really didn't think you could improve on that.  The Cajun cream sauce in this dish will bring about guilt for eating something so rich and creamy.  I am salivating.  My cat is reading this over my shoulder, and she is salivating as well.  You can get this dish with oysters, shrimp, or chicken and served over pasta as well.  Tasso is a good word is all I'm saying.  My 5 year old nephew decided that our visit was a good time to try fried catfish for the first time.  He really liked it.  It was a large plate, so he did have enough to share with everyone.  That was the best fried catfish I have ever had.  I've eaten a lot of catfish.  At Henry's, you get beads...and music on the right nights.  When you're in the mood for Mardi Gras any time of the year, head to Henry's.  Laissez les bon temps rouler!  Visit their website at www.chefhenrys.com.  For some reason, my photo of the restaurant didn't work with the website.  Just go and see what it looks like for yourself.

Why do I love Tony's Steak Barn?  First of all, it's called Tony's Steak Barn.  That's a great name.  They serve sweet tea in Mason jars and the salad bar is in a bathtub.  How wonderful is that?  The steaks are some of the best that you will find.  I always get the small ribeye marinated, and it is always tender and grilled to perfection.  Tony's is a small place, and it is always packed on Saturdays.  I recommend the sweet potato as well.  My nephew's favorite part of Tony's is going to get crackers out of the treasure chest near the salad bar.  He also enjoys seeing this man who looks like Santa Claus, who seems to eat there whenever we do.  If there is a family event or celebration in Centre, we are most likely found trying to get the big table at 4:30pm.  So stay away at that time if you have a big party, we have already gotten your seat.  I couldn't find a website, but it is easy to find.  Just go to the elementary school.    

For any trip to Savannah, The Lady and Sons definitely must be on your list.  You aren't just going to lunch or dinner, but you are participating in a collective obsession with Paula Deen and anything she touches.  If you decide to go, make sure you read their website for instructions on how to get a seating time.  Don't just walk up and think you'll get into the restaurant at that moment.  Like I said, prepare for the event that is Paula.  My husband and I both got the lunch buffet.  I adore anyone who serves me black-eyed peas and creamed corn.  There truly isn't anything better.  Paula's fried chicken was moist and not as greasy as others I've tried.  The macaroni and cheese had to contain every cheese available at the Piggly Wiggly, and I doubt any butter was left on the shelves.  The sweet tea was the perfect level of sweetness.  For dessert, I had the chocolate gooey butter cake.  I am ruined for desserts as we know them.  Our server Brandon, from Lancaster, PA, had been trained to say "ya'll."  He said it at least five thousand times, but he didn't say it in a way that hurt my ears.  He had been trained well.  He was energetic and excited to be there.  Good job in hiring Brandon!  Overall, I think that the visit to The Lady and Sons was everything I expected.  I want to visit again to try some of the other items on the menu.  Make sure that you visit the website at www.theladyandsons.com.         

How I wish we had known about Goose Feathers Cafe from the beginning of our visit?  I like a free hotel breakfast as much as anyone, but please leave that alone and go to Goose Feathers if you are in town.  The owner, Beth, made our mocha's, and they were chocolaty and wonderful.  I really wanted to get the peanut butter cup mocha, but I will save that for next trip.  We shared a couple of pastries, the pecan sticky bun and the cream cheese croissant.  I would definitely get the cream cheese croissant again and again.  However, there were so many irresistible dishes on the menu that I would have to try several items.  I want to try their lunch on our next visit.  The sandwiches, soups, and salads were interesting takes on classic deli foods.  The restaurant is clean, bright, and cheery.  Not to mention, it was very busy...and for good reason.  Visit their website at www.goosefeatherscafe.com.  

Yes, there is a restaurant in that photo.  I wanted to get the sign, but the restaurant is that building further out in the photo.  Are you ready to get off the beaten path?  Are you ready to eat Southern veggies until you pop?  If you happen to visit Weiss Lake in Centre, AL, see if someone can give you directions to Sageberry.  I seem to be obsessed with their creamed corn.  I don't know why; it's not like I go out of my way for the stuff.  All of their vegetables taste fresh out of the garden.  The eating rules take a little getting used to.  You can get meat, but you can only get one serving.  The roast beef is tender and tasty.  You pay for individual vegetables, but then of the vegetables you get, you can get unlimited refills.  Got it?  The cakes are so pretty, but I have only tried the chocolate.  That is an unwritten rule in eating with me.  If there is an option between anything and something chocolate, I get the chocolate.  I saw banana pudding there the day we visited; I stay away from the bananas as a life choice.  Please don't judge me.  Sageberry's website is coming soon, but the address and phone number are on there now.  It's http://sageberryrestaurant.com/

Hands down one of the best restaurants in Northwest Georgia.  I am not a salad person, but I crave their house salad with cranberries, pecans, and hot honey bacon dressing.  The cornbread is addictive; it is sweet and tastes as though it might have orange marmalade in it.  I'm just guessing, but it is wonderful.  The Appalachian Grill is fine casual dining at its best.  My favorites are the pecan crusted chicken served over mashed sweet potatoes and the ribs.  My husband typically gets the Low Country Boil that has sausage, mussels, shrimp, and scallops.  He also likes the aged steaks and the namesake dish, The Appalachian Grill, with two types of sausage, shrimp, and scallops.  If you like Fried Oreos, and who doesn't, feel free to make yourself sick on them.  Once again we got caught in the rain, so my photo is not the best.  I also did not capture the atmosphere indoors, which is a rustic chic with music that puts you mind of the Appalachian Mountains.  I did not find a website for the restaurant. 

I pestered my husband all week to take me to Gladys Knight and Ron Winans Chicken and Waffles.  Here is a little hint.  Sing "Midnight Train to Georgia" all week long while he's watching his favorite shows, and you get to go to Gladys and Ron's.  I do love Gladys, and I know every word to Midnight Train.  I was always Gladys and my sister was the Pips.  If you decide to go to the restaurant, and you should, prepare for a wait.  We went on Saturday afternoon and waited an hour and a half.  Yes, going when it is 100 degrees is not necessarily a good decision.  Add a surprise thunderstorm and your expectations for the food grow to unreasonable heights.  I did make friends with a nice family who attempted to share our umbrella.  We may be godparents now; deals are made when you have the only umbrella on the street.  As for the food, we both had Uncle Ron's meal.  I took a picture of mine, and it was as good as it looks.  The macaroni and cheese was the best I have ever had.  Granted, I grew up eating mostly Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, but this was great.  The highlight was the sweet potato cheesecake.  I will go again just for that.  It was covered in pecans, caramel and whipped cream.  We were so excited that I didn't even get a picture.  Visit their website at www.gladysandron.net and then go visit in person.  Order dessert first.     

For what Fat Matt's in Atlanta lacks in sophistication, it more than makes up for in taste.  The ribs are worth at least a 2 hour drive.  Please do not ask them what kind of ribs they have.  The answer is ribs, half slab or full slab.  They serve classic macaroni and cheese, if you have room.  Don't get me started on the pecan pie.  Hope that you are there when the music is playing and make sure you grab a bottle of sauce as you leave.  Their website is www.fatmattsribshack.com.

Do not miss Mother's if you happen to be in New Orleans.  Don't look at the menu; just get the Baked Ham biscuit.  You can get a scrambled egg if you wish.  Okay, maybe you could get the Debris Po-Boy or the Fried Chicken at lunch.  Fine, look at the menu.  Just know what you want before you go up to order.  Otherwise, you may feel a bit of pressure to figure it out quickly; there is a line after all.  Save yourself the hassle and take a look at the menu on the website at www.mothersrestaurant.net.