Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here--what I want is a small town NC restaurant with a buffet with bbq, fried chicken, fried fish, veggies, slaw and banana pudding. Surely there is something like that in DC!

Golden Corral is the closest thing. Quality isnt great though.

But if I were an exchange student, I would not want to go to your fancy pants Central or place like that. I'd want the authentic down home American experience.

Popeye's over Central.

I LOVE Popeye's friend chicken. Love. Central's is great too, if in a more refined atmosphere.

But . . . are you seriously suggesting that a fast food joint with more than 1800 outposts nationwide represents an "authentic down home American experience?" (No wonder the terrorists hate us.) There are probably a bunch of places in the city that have great fried chicken - The Hitching Post was good, and Horace and Dickie's is too. They're more urban than some NC country restaurant, which likely are in short supply around here.

But please - if you're looking to give her an American "experience," for the love of all that's holy, don't take her to a fast food place. Let's try to improve her view of the US, not reconfirm the worst stereotypes.

I loathe Old Country Buffet, but the one thing they do well is fried chicken. There's one in Fairfax.

I agree that Popeye's is preferable to Central. I checked out all the suggestions and some are really good in terms of having BBQ, fish and fried chicken as well as sides, but none have a buffet, which somehow I thought would be more exchange-student friendly. Golden Corral is buffet and certainly is a big presence in NC small towns, but I agree about the quality. Plus the only one in the DC area is in Largo. Have also thought about Saints Paradise cafeteria in DC, anyone been there?

Anonymous wrote:OP here--what I want is a small town NC restaurant with a buffet with bbq, fried chicken, fried fish, veggies, slaw and banana pudding. Surely there is something like that in DC!

Golden Corral is the closest thing. Quality isnt great though.

But if I were an exchange student, I would not want to go to your fancy pants Central or place like that. I'd want the authentic down home American experience.

Popeye's over Central.

Central's fried chicken is great.

OP here, thanks for all the suggestions! They sound great.

Freddy's Lobster and Clams - go on Thursdays $10 w/ 2 sides
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
Southside 815 (dinner on Mon/Thurs, leftovers for lunch Tue/Fri)

Carolina Kitchen in Hyattsville, MD

Edy's Chicken and Steak just around the corner from Flavors

(cash only)

http://www.yelp.com/biz/edys-chicken-and-steak-restaurant-falls-church

Horace and Dickie's

http://www.horaceanddickies.com/index.html

Flavors Soul Food but it is not in DC but Falls Church:

http://www.flavorssoulfood.com/Full%20Menu.html

OP here--what I want is a small town NC restaurant with a buffet with bbq, fried chicken, fried fish, veggies, slaw and banana pudding. Surely there is something like that in DC!

This is not what you want to hear, although it is an authentically American experience: Popeyes makes wonderful fried chicken.

We have an exchange student coming this week and I am trying to think of where to take her to eat American food (if she turns out to want to eat American food, that is). Where can we get excellent southern fried chicken with a good peppery batter? Bonus if they have Texas Pete hot sauce on the tables. Thanks.