Echoes of the blues sang out the front door of Hard Knox Cafe as I walked in; the sweet smells of spice and syrup welcomed me into the restaurant’s warm, cozy interior. The place buzzed with light-hearted chatter and laughter — the patrons’ mood seemed to be as hearty as the food.
I ordered an entree of chicken and waffles, served with collard greens and cornbread. All of the food, once served, sized up to be roughly about the size of my head.
Sitting in front of me was: a waffle the size of a dinner plate, a generous portion of golden fried chicken, a tub of collard greens and two cornbread muffins. As soon as I dug in, my soul was thoroughly transformed and I transcended into another world beyond.
Like a golden river of decadence, maple syrup flowed over the valleys of the rich, fluffy waffle, and drizzled over the hills of the fried chicken, cooked and seasoned to perfection. The mild bitterness of the collard greens, combined with the unadulterated sweetness of the cornbread, made for a pair of side dishes that were worthy enough to be ordered solely for themselves.
I combined food after food and found that each and every mix, without fail, ushered in a flood of flavor and satisfaction never felt before. I cannot recommend enough to visit Hard Knox Cafe in the Dogpatch, especially ordering its signature chicken and waffles. I guarantee that you will leave both full in spirit and stomach.
