Since we're firm believers in eating before food shopping (and sometimes after) we thought we'd drive around Forsyth and see what was available. By chance, we actually found the downtown and it was exactly what a classic old town should look like. The court house square with the town built around it. Like so many small towns in America, many businesses were boarded up and it looked a little forlorn. The court house in the square was just the opposite. The spectacular centerpiece of the town. Well maintained and in pristine condition it's tall white peak and broad red shoulders said this place is the center of this universe.
Making the turn around the last corner of the square, I could see people seated at tables with white tablecloths behind large windows in a building across the street from the old court house. There was no sign on the building but it definitely looked like a restaurant, so we decided to see if it really was. We parked the car and ventured inside. I found the yet-to-be mounted sign sitting in the front window ... "The Prime Palate" it read.
With high, stamped tin ceilings, large windows, bright white tablecloths, and no , repeat no, wide screen TV's or blaring music, this was my kind of restaurant. The sign said 'seat yourself' so we headed off to the larger of the two dining rooms. Within about 2 seconds our waitress was asking for our drink order followed by an additional waiter and waitress asking the same thing. No doubt this place wants to please its patrons. Looking around at the other patrons I could see they were getting the same treatment. Nice touch I thought.
Now we've crossed the threshold of many eating establishments and the ones that have lots of customers usually have a few things in common. Good food ... good service ... and good prices. Fail any of these and the doors don't stay open long.
Tonight's menu was either the buffet or a choice of steaks. We checked out the buffet table and it was a no-brainer. Homemade fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, hamburger steak, pulled pork, baked chicken, sausage,salads, and vegetables of all types ... and desserts and cobblers. Sign me up ... I wanted the buffet. And what a great choice it was. However, as we were stuffing our little faces, two gentleman next to us, who had ordered steaks were served and I may have been a little hasty in ordering the buffet. The steaks looked fantastic. None-the-less we were more than pleased with our dinner.
Freddy and Angie Butts own 'The Prime Palate' and to my amazement, it has only been open about 3 weeks. Enough time for the word to get out that this is one fine place to eat. Freddie, whose been in the food catering business for over twenty five years, finally decided to open a store-front restaurant and I think he's got a winner. He and wife Angie both stopped at our table for a visit and we greatly enjoyed meeting them and hearing their story. Maybe I'm old fashioned but when the man who cooks your food comes to your table and looks you in the eye and wants to know how everything was ... it tells me this guy wants to make your eating experience as good as he can. You did Freddie.
Before we left, we thanked him for the great dining experience and wished him luck in his new business. In parting he said he was in good shape because 'God takes care of fools, drunks and idiots'. I think he forgot one ...and good cooks.
So if you're ever in the Forsyth area, maybe staying at the local KOA at exits 185 or 186 on northbound I75, head west about a mile to the downtown court house square area on Main street and have some really good cooking at 'The Prime Palate'
Headed north early in the morning and still livin' the dream.
Phil
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