Larkin's is officially open as of last week. My husband and I were lucky enough to beat the crowd and get a table for dinner on Friday night. The decor is cozy and eclectic. Tables are made from doors and covered in glass. Stained glass windows and fresh flowers on each table add color to the small space. The cozy dining room quickly filled up and several diners waited on the porch for their turn, or decided to come back another night. The menu has a southern/soul bent, but the food coming from the kitchen is a far cry from the heavy butter-laden and deep fried items we've come to associate with this regional cuisine. I started the evening with a spicy ginger beer with my glass of water, and my husband indulged in his favorite Mint Julep soda (the same that we buy at another local favorite - Galco's). The fried okra/heirloom tomato salad was a delightful mixture of sweet ripe tomatoes, crunchy bites of cornmeal battered okra, crisp fresh greens with a tangy balsamic vinegar salad dressing. My smothered pork chop was a perfectly-cooked, beautiful center cut chop. The ""smother"" gravy was a nice peppery creamy accent. The red beans & rice were spicy and well-seasoned. The beans weren't mushy (like you often find in southern food restaurants). My husband, although he enjoyed the fried chicken, his heart still belongs to Roscoe's. I think the highlight of the meal for both of us (because he was generous and gave me a taste) was my husband's serving of Three Cheese, Twice Baked Macaroni & Cheese. The mixture of cheeses created a creamy gooey mixture and the macaroni was perfectly cooked. Sometimes you get mac 'n cheese that's mushy because of overcooked pasta or the cheese sauce is gritty because of the flour they use or the sauce breaks and oil floats to the top. This Macaroni & Cheese was not any of those. It was near perfection. Finally, the banana pudding and red velvet shortbread short cake were wonderful to end the evening.
Pros: wonderful food, friendly staff, wonderful food
Cons: parking, parking parking
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