Good Eats

Bill Kirby's recent columns on local eateries got me thinking about all the places we used to eat as a family when I was younger. We didn't go out to eat too often, but the memories I do have are good ones.

One of our favorite Sunday spots was the Good Food Diner on Deans Bridge Road. What stands out in my mind about the diner, apart from it being across the street from the now-defunct Cardinal Inn, was that it had a really cool sign. Although I remember loving their grits, I don't remember if the restaurant's menu stacked up to its name. But I loved going there and sitting at the counter. And also, the waitress who always served us had smokey-stained fingernails.

Our family also enjoyed dining right around the corner at Sambo's now and then. Again, I don't remember the food at all. But one of our great family-legend stories centers around Sambo's.

We were there as a family one Sunday. During our meal, my mom noticed that a group of women sitting across the dining room kept looking in our direction and giggling. She couldn't figure out what was going on until she realized that everytime she turned around,  my younger brother, two at the time, was winking at the ladies. His newfound talent was really paying off.