Country Kitchen
- Thread starter I305Evan
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Except other menus don't do that, it's inconsistent as hell.
Almost everything on that menu can be purchased at the KFC in Ashland for $5. The KFC meals include the drink and a cookie. KD prices border on gouging. This is why I never eat there.
^^-- by the end of the year that's more that my KD meals cost me. Also going to KFC doesn't work up an appetite. But I do get your point, before meal plan I might have eaten at the park once a year.
I had roast chicken at CK last night, but it's not on that menu! Flavor was good, even though late in the day. They even had cole slaw finally again (generic).
I had roast chicken at CK last night, but it's not on that menu! Flavor was good, even though late in the day. They even had cole slaw finally again (generic).
One of KD's overlooked projects this year is that Country Kitchen's interior was renovated, and it looks really good. They managed to keep the old-fashioned, homestyle feel of the restaurant while making it look less rundown and stuck in the 70s. The bare beige drywall is now covered with white wood panels, and the seafoam, bright red, and beige color scheme is now black, white, and gray with a hint of muted green and red. They've also added a ton of new props, including a new fake fireplace by the entrance, several cupboards full of dinnerware, dishes lining the walls, and new framed posters and pictures.
I always liked Country Kitchen's interior, so I'm really glad they kept its old country charm while making it still feel fresh and cared-for. From what I've heard, this project was led by the same guy who planned all of Winterfest's décor and redid Grizzly Gulch General Store.
I always liked Country Kitchen's interior, so I'm really glad they kept its old country charm while making it still feel fresh and cared-for. From what I've heard, this project was led by the same guy who planned all of Winterfest's décor and redid Grizzly Gulch General Store.
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Hardwood floors would have really sold the look. Shame it's brown tiles from the 90s outdoor section at the GAP.
The park just posted a great, in-depth article about Country Kitchen's renovation. It's interesting to read about how much thought and effort Tony Turner, the park's Creative Service Supervisor who led the project, put into the restaurant, with homages to the restaurant's original incarnation as the White Horse Inn and to Old Virginia's history.
The carved turkey platter I got during Taste of the Season was excellent - far better than the equivalent meal I got at the Festhaus during BGW's Christmas Celebration. Chef Dennis seems to be doing a great job with raising the bar for the park's food quality.
I also will chip in and say I also had the turkey dinner for Taste of the Season. The meat was moist and the slices were close to 1/4 inch thick. I believe KD roasted turkey breasts, not whole turkeys. The meat portion was by weight; I'll guess 8-10 oz.
The green beans seemed to be grilled/pan sauted. They were not mushy and had a nice seasoned flavor (unlike like previous years where they seemed to be dumped right out out of a can and boiled in water with little flavor). The mashed potatoes and gravy were good. The cornbread was moist. Not complaining here.
According to KD's latest food blog, the Country Kitchen menu for 2021 will have 1/2 grilled chicken, pulled pork, beef brisket. Not sure at this point what other main courses will be offered. I assume fried chicken will carry over. No clue as to side dishes.
Course, I wonder if the Wayside Grill will still offer pulled pork and brisket sandwiches or are they getting a menu change?
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In a recent blog post, the park announced a new menu for Country Kitchen:
I've never been a huge fan of their restaurant's regular season menu - where the food was always fairly good, but not as good as some other park locations. WinterFest/Taste of the Season though is a completely different story, as I routinely enjoy the thick/moist turkey and ham platters.
However dining outside by the lake, I've always found Country Kitchen to be one of the most scenic and relaxing locations in the park to eat at. So I'm looking forward to (now having an excuse to pry myself away from those other restaurants 😁 and) try some of these new menu items.
I've never been a huge fan of their restaurant's regular season menu - where the food was always fairly good, but not as good as some other park locations. WinterFest/Taste of the Season though is a completely different story, as I routinely enjoy the thick/moist turkey and ham platters.
However dining outside by the lake, I've always found Country Kitchen to be one of the most scenic and relaxing locations in the park to eat at. So I'm looking forward to (now having an excuse to pry myself away from those other restaurants 😁 and) try some of these new menu items.
^^--, humm, I usually avoid CK at Winterfest and went for the regular BBQ plate at first opportunity this season -- which also turned out to be the last. Not impressed yet at this change, except Brunswick Stew and hushpuppies which would have gone well with the previous menu. If the fried chicken, which was good not great, improves, or the fish is very good (not Hank's!), that could change my mind for sure.
Definitely seems like they're gearing up to make Country Kitchen the park's "southern comfort food" restaurant while shifting all of the carved meats and barbecue to the Chick-Fil-A replacement. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of fried food, so the apparent removal of all of Country Kitchen's non-fried entrees is a little disappointing for me, but the change makes sense.
The repeated references to "grandma" in that blog post also definitely add weight to the rumor that the restaurant will be renamed "Grandma's Kitchen" soon.
The repeated references to "grandma" in that blog post also definitely add weight to the rumor that the restaurant will be renamed "Grandma's Kitchen" soon.
Before 2020. CK had pot roast, you got 2 sides with biscuit. It was one of the better places in the park to eat.
They eliminated the pot roast, one side, the sides became lower quality and they changed the fresh biscuit to a tiny premade muffin.
As much as the overall food in the park has improved since 2020 country kitchen is the one place that has went downhill
They eliminated the pot roast, one side, the sides became lower quality and they changed the fresh biscuit to a tiny premade muffin.
As much as the overall food in the park has improved since 2020 country kitchen is the one place that has went downhill
It looks like KD took the menu back to what was served there when the park first opened in 1975. The entrees were fried chicken and fried fish (catfish originally - though now the fish is probably cod or some other mild white fish). The menu stayed around like this for the first 5-6 years.
Around 1980 or '81, KD dropped the fish and added grilled BBQ 1/2 chicken and BBQ pork ribs (1/4 rack - 3-4 bones) from the park's new massive smoker (now known as "the pit"). Along with the fried chicken, the menu stayed the same through the 1980's and early 1990's.
It was sometime in the early years of Paramount ownership that the pork ribs were dropped and the 1/2 grilled chicken portion as well. I thought the grilled chicken portion was dropped to 1/4 portion.
I don't think the restaurant name is changing. The park's blog stated Country Kitchen as the name when announcing the new menu. Whoever "leaked" Grandma's Kitchen got that info from the menu item names.
A couple things of note:
There is now a way to have fish in the dry side of the park. You don't have to wait for Captain's Catch food truck to be open in the Waterpark.
Will there be BBQ of any type served in the park for 2023? Does the former Chick-fil-a transform to a specialty BBQ joint. Several CF park's now have restaurants that focus on BBQ and smoked entrees.
Around 1980 or '81, KD dropped the fish and added grilled BBQ 1/2 chicken and BBQ pork ribs (1/4 rack - 3-4 bones) from the park's new massive smoker (now known as "the pit"). Along with the fried chicken, the menu stayed the same through the 1980's and early 1990's.
It was sometime in the early years of Paramount ownership that the pork ribs were dropped and the 1/2 grilled chicken portion as well. I thought the grilled chicken portion was dropped to 1/4 portion.
I don't think the restaurant name is changing. The park's blog stated Country Kitchen as the name when announcing the new menu. Whoever "leaked" Grandma's Kitchen got that info from the menu item names.
A couple things of note:
There is now a way to have fish in the dry side of the park. You don't have to wait for Captain's Catch food truck to be open in the Waterpark.
Will there be BBQ of any type served in the park for 2023? Does the former Chick-fil-a transform to a specialty BBQ joint. Several CF park's now have restaurants that focus on BBQ and smoked entrees.
Here is a photo of the new menu - where each platter comes with two hush puppies, one entree, and one side:
I tried the fried fish today. And though I don't know if it was in part because it was fresh from the kitchen - as they had just run out of the fish, as everyone in line is requesting it, and had to make a fresh batch - but it was really good!
I've had the fried fish from The Captain's Catch in the waterpark many times (where it too is freshly made when you order it). Along with the other fried fish varieties in the park throughout the past 10 or so years (like at Outer Hanks and such). But none of those come close to crispiness and flavor, of the two large fillets, I got today.
I ran into Chef Denis at the restaurant. He was saying the inspiration for the menu refresh was from a recent trip he took to Bay Area back in January, and some fish he was eating there. -So if that's all it takes for him to find inspiration in refreshing the KD menu's, let's get this man on more vacations 😉
I tried the new cheesy potatoes as my side, and was also impressed. Chef Denis was saying how 'if a potato ever wanted to be a Mac 'n Cheese, this is as close as it would ever get to it'.
The new apple pie also looks delicious. Chef Denis requested a slice be cut for him when he was in line. He actually made them weigh the slice, and it was over 16 ounces; so a whopping one full pound.
He was also (perhaps half-jokingly) boasting how KD has the best food of any theme park in America. I'm not sure I'd quite agree for those parks legitimately classified as a "theme park". But for "amusement parks", yes, I would absolutely agree with him on this -- where it's still just mind boggling to think how "average" (for an amusement park) the food was at KD just 3 or 4 years ago, and what it has become, and continues to become.
So if you like fried foods, the fish and some of the new sides at Country Kitchen have my recommendation, as something new to try.
I tried the fried fish today. And though I don't know if it was in part because it was fresh from the kitchen - as they had just run out of the fish, as everyone in line is requesting it, and had to make a fresh batch - but it was really good!
I've had the fried fish from The Captain's Catch in the waterpark many times (where it too is freshly made when you order it). Along with the other fried fish varieties in the park throughout the past 10 or so years (like at Outer Hanks and such). But none of those come close to crispiness and flavor, of the two large fillets, I got today.
I ran into Chef Denis at the restaurant. He was saying the inspiration for the menu refresh was from a recent trip he took to Bay Area back in January, and some fish he was eating there. -So if that's all it takes for him to find inspiration in refreshing the KD menu's, let's get this man on more vacations 😉
I tried the new cheesy potatoes as my side, and was also impressed. Chef Denis was saying how 'if a potato ever wanted to be a Mac 'n Cheese, this is as close as it would ever get to it'.
The new apple pie also looks delicious. Chef Denis requested a slice be cut for him when he was in line. He actually made them weigh the slice, and it was over 16 ounces; so a whopping one full pound.
He was also (perhaps half-jokingly) boasting how KD has the best food of any theme park in America. I'm not sure I'd quite agree for those parks legitimately classified as a "theme park". But for "amusement parks", yes, I would absolutely agree with him on this -- where it's still just mind boggling to think how "average" (for an amusement park) the food was at KD just 3 or 4 years ago, and what it has become, and continues to become.
So if you like fried foods, the fish and some of the new sides at Country Kitchen have my recommendation, as something new to try.