By Sarrah Peters
News Editor
Gadsden has just gotten a new restaurant! Lola and Runts opened its doors on January 18.
“We started off on the 18th and had a steady trickle,” said Morgan Cameron. “And then it just took off over the weekend.”
Melanie Kilgo from Southside had always dreamed of owning a restaurant where she could serve up her family’s tasty southern cooking. When a space became available, Melanie, also known as Lola, decided to open a restaurant with the help of her daughter, Morgan Cameron. The pair updated the space by repainting and acquiring new equipment.
Lola’s offers country cooking “served with a side of Southern hospitality.”
Lola and Runts serves a daily blue plate special of meat, vegetables and bread from 11 a.m. until the food is gone. Customers can choose between getting the meat with two vegetables, the meat with three vegetables or just the three vegetables. All the specials come with bread.
On Monday, the blue plate special is chicken and dressing with cranberry sauce with a choice of green beans, sweet potatoes and creamed corn for vegetables.
On Tuesday, the special is chicken fried steak with gravy with a choice of mashed potatoes, collard greens and black-eyed peas for vegetables.
On Wednesday, the blue plate special is chicken and dumplings with a choice of english peas, glazed carrots and tomato pie.
On Thursday, the special is taco salad or enchiladas with Mexican rice and refried beans.
On Friday, the blue plate special is stuffed pork chops with a choice of crowder peas, white rice and steamed broccoli.
On Sunday, the special is hamburger steak and an alternating other daily meat with a choice of scalloped potatoes, macaroni and cheese and butter beans.
The restaurant also offers Friday and Saturday night specials that start at 4 p.m. and last until close. Choices include steak, shrimp and market choice fresh fish. Each dinner is served with a side salad, a choice of two nightly vegetables and bread.
In addition to specials, Lola’s and Runts also offers classic diner food, including salads, burgers, chicken tenders and sandwiches, wings and pasta.
Some classics come with original twists, like the Lola Salad which is a bed of leafy greens topped with grilled chicken, strawberries, Mandarin oranges dried cranberries and pecans served with a raspberry vinaigrette dressing. Another classic with a twist is Lola pasta, which is pasta with mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, shrimp, chicken, andouille sausage and a mixture of marinara and Alfredo sauce.
Lola and Runts makes its food as fresh as possible.
“We get shipments every day,” said Cameron.
Lola and Runts is open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sunday.
With its sudden success, the restaurant has gotten calls for catering. As a result, the restaurant is slowly starting to cater.
For more information visit, the restaurant at 1729 Rainbow Drive in Gadsden or call 256-467-4109.