Eat Athens: Have breakfast at this Nicholson home that was converted into a restaurant
Though terms like "homestyle" and "Southern cooking" were likely invented by advertising or marketing executives, most restaurants that offer such cuisine didn't originate as homes where those recipes originated. For those looking to enjoy an authentic taste of home-cooked heaven, what better place to find it than in an off-the-path eatery that was once home to the owners' extended family?
Located less than 20 miles north of Athens at 5165 US Hwy. 441 in Nicholson, Carole's Country Cupboard offers breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. On Saturdays, Carole's is open from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., but co-owner Ashley Cook advised the Banner-Herald to get there early before the from-scratch biscuits run out.
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The building that houses Carole's restaurant and country store was once the home of Cook's grandparents, who operated Nicholson Grocery across the highway for years until the US-441 widening project forced the store under a bridge, and eventually out of business, in the early 2000s. Cook's mother, Carole Cagle, originally opened the restaurant as 2 Cuzins Café in 2013 before renaming the establishment and taking on Cook as a business partner.
At roughly half the size of the average gas station convenience store, Carole's is a single-room dining area and retail space that shares half of the former home with kitchen and storage. Most customers that came into the restaurant during the Banner-Herald's visit seemed to be regulars who ordered their meals via phone ahead of time, and Cook engaged each in friendly conversation while packing up the food to go.
We decided to dine in and check out the shop's selection of locally-made jams, jellies and honey while we waited. Seating at Carole's is very limited, with only two tables set up against the back wall that accommodate three to four guests each. The view from inside looks out at the always-bustling highway and gravel parking lot, and patrons can eavesdrop on the chatter between Cagle, Cook and their Nicholson neighbors.
Breakfast plates at Carole's start at $7.29 for two eggs, one meat, sawmill gravy and a biscuit, with a selection of meat that includes sausage, steak, country ham and pork tenderloin. Biscuits are offered in seven combinations from butter and jelly to gravy and chicken, with muffins and cinnamon rolls available along with coffee and a selection of pre-packaged juices and sodas from coolers near the front counter.
Though the Banner-Herald arrived at lunch time, there were a few biscuits left over from breakfast as well as some generously-sized cinnamon rolls in a domed glass cake plate. We opted for the day's special, a chicken tenders and gravy plate with sides of mashed potatoes and "fiesta corn," a Southwestern-style blend of kernels, green and red bell peppers and light taco seasoning. The tenders were big, lean and juicy, and the sawmill gravy contained more flavor than the entire menu at Cracker Barrel.
Carole's is likely a well-known spot in the Nicholson area, but for Athens folks who just want some fast and authentic-tasting Southern food to go or are on their way to shop the outlet malls in Commerce, the prices and food quality are unbeatable. The restaurant's Facebook page says that they also offer fresh-baked pastries and cakes. To place an order, call (706) 617-8795.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Eat Athens: This Nicholson restaurant was once a family home
