Cafe LeMont is located at 801 Dodds Ave. (at the corner of Kirby), across from McCallie School.
photo by Janet Wilson
I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to try this place! I kept hearing about it, but simply never got around to trying out Cafe LeMont located at 801 Dodds Ave. (at the corner of Kirby), across from McCallie School.
A friend and I went there for lunch recently and loved it. The menu changes daily, so you won’t find the same items each day, although they do have barbeque plates ($9.99 pork or beef; $10.99 ribs) with two sides daily, along with sandwiches (fish and BBQ).
One of LeMont’s specialties is Jambalaya – “a two bean and tomato ensemble with chopped sausage, seafood, chicken, pork and beef drenched in our cajun spices. Served with rice and two buttermilk corn bread muffins.” They were serving that on the day of our visit, but with so much to choose from, there simply wasn’t room.
On the day we were there, the menu consisted of smoked chicken, country style steak with gravy, chicken and dressing casserole, smoked pork, and southern fried fish. Featured vegetables were collard greens, turnip greens, green beans, macaroni & cheese, pinto beans, potato salad, cole slaw, broccoli casserole, pickled beets, mashed potatoes, and sweet potato soufflé. The daily specials are $9.99 for one meat, two sides, bread and a drink.
Talk about a difficult decision! Everything sounded so good. I thought about the country style steak, but finally decided on the chicken and dressing casserole, as did my friend, Karen. This is actually just chicken and dressing with the chicken cooked together, topped with gravy. For my two sides I went with the fresh turnip greens and broccoli casserole. Maybe next time I might try the mac & cheese (I haven’t had any really good mac & cheese since Peanut closed Blue Boys Diner!). Karen also ordered the broccoli casserole, along with pickled beets. We chose the cornbread muffins and they weren’t bad, but I might have liked a roll better. The muffins were moist, but it’s just that I am not a fan of sugar in my cornbread.
The dressing was the soft, moist style, not the hard, sliced that some people prepare. It was delicious, as was the broccoli casserole. The greens (both turnip and collards) were fresh, not the canned variety. I asked and was told that everything at Cafe LeMont, except the pickled beets, is made from scratch. I am certain that means there are no instant potatoes at Cafe LeMont!
Cafe LeMont offers several teas in addition to regular iced tea, including raspberry, tutti fruity, and mango. Karen ordered raspberry and I got the tutti-fruity. We both loved the teas! I wouldn’t mind having the recipe for tutti-fruity.
With each new day (or menu), comes new desserts. Our choices were Strawberry Dump Cake and Chocolate Cheesecake, while the Monster Cakes of the Day were Double Chocolate Mousse and Carrot Supreme. I knew I wouldn’t be able to eat it there, but I did want to try one of those monster cakes, so I purchased a half-slice ($4.25). A full slice is $6.99. I took it home and shared it with Wayne that evening and that ¼ slice was as large as a piece from a regular cake.
According to the website sometimes they have corn bread salad and fried green tomatoes. You can also order a monster cake all for your very own. Some of the delectable flavors include Peanut Butter Supreme, Pineapple Creme Supreme, German Chocolate, Red Velvet, and Chocolate Raspberry Nut Truffle. You can also get cupcakes in a variety of flavors including Butter Almond, Lemon Pound, German Chocolate, Coconut, Caramel Pecan, Double Chocolate Mousse, Triple Chocolate Fudge, Italian Creme, Red Velvet and Peanut Butter.
In the evenings, in addition to the regular daily menu, they have a family-style dining experience called Soul-N-A-Bowl if you want to share a big meal with four or more guests. It consists of three entrees, one salad, three veggie sides, bread, tea and dessert for $12.99 per person. I guess it’s similar to Bea’s, only with good food and minus the carousel.
Do yourself a favor and drop in at Cafe LeMont. You will definitely be glad you did.
Cafe LeMont is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. They are closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
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