“Hooray!” Retro Roadhusband says, “More Food!” as we made an easy exit off of 81 into New Market VA to go to the Southern Kitchen Restaurant. I said hooray for both the food and the great vintage signage, cantilevered glass windows and warm sunlight that bathed the place as the sun quickly set on a fun day in Virginia.
Built in 1955, the Southern Kitchen is owned by the Newland family and known for it’s country cooking. You’ll figure that out as soon as you enter the restaurant, and instead of coats hanging on the hooks, you see country hams-!
We only had a moment to take in the vintage decor of the main room, with wood paneling, Formica topped tables and counter service, before we were whisked off to our own table.
Our table had the classic boomerang Formica pattern, but this table we passed had a more triangular style. Does anyone know what this pattern is called?
We weren’t the only hungry road trippers (I almost typed toad-rippers!)
I opeted for their famous fried chicken but my photo came out lousy. Retro Roadhusband was more than happy to dig into his steak dinner. And we both shared a slice of chocolate cream pie. Nom!
And as a bonus, the restaurant looked even more fetching when we left to hop back on the interstate.
You can see more photos of the Southern Kitchen and their tasty foods here at the Southern Kitchen Roadfood page.
Southern Kitchen Restaurant
9576 South Congress Street
New Market, VA 22844
(540) 740-3514
View VA – Virginia Retro RoadMAP in a larger map
Trip Advisor page for Southern Kitchen New Market VA
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I really liked this place! My wife and I visited in July ’09 on our honeymoon road trip after reading it recommended by John T. Edge. Their peanut soup is terrific.
Grant- how lovely to associate this place with your honeymoon! I read your writeup and have to thank you for expanding my culinary horizons to include John T. Edge, as I had not heard of him before. AND I can’t believe we didn’t think to try – or even notice on the menu- the peanut soup! Luckily, as we both know, this place is an easy off / easy on for the interstate, so there’s always a next time. Thanks for stopping by Retro Roadmap!
Interstate???? I LOVE Route 11 along this stretch!!!! Finally got to eat there last summer. Nice place. Nice to sit at the counter too.
I’d love to just take a whole day with all the neat places in the northern half of Virginia along 11. Truly an iconic road!!!
Mike- Interstate only because we had secondary roaded ourselves into sheer darkness and had to get back to our hotel – that’s the bummer about traveling post-summer solstice! Come May/June we’re on the back roads ’til 9 or so. Even then if there are some interesting signs we’ll stay that way. And I concur, a dream of mine is to have all the time in the world to take 11 and other roads like it, without a destination. Tried to do that on my first road trip to from Mass to Florida, and realized at the pace I was going I’d never get out of Connecticut
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