Dining With Dave

Dining With Dave

A Welcomed Change

By DAVID THEUS

Just the other night, Sheila, Sarah, and I decided at the last moment to try the Smokey Barrel down at 8771 Highway 301 in Maxville, just where SR 228 runs into 301.

First things first, the drive is not that far. Straight down SR 228 for about ten minutes from Macclenny, less than that down 301 from Baldwin and I-10 and you’re there. My one caution is be careful when you do arrive at the intersection getting ready to cross 301 into their little parking lot. At one point we found ourselves heading right into head-on traffic just before safely negotiating the maneuver. Keep in mind, it's not a big place, but there’s ample parking along the south side of the building, some paved some not.

Oddly enough, it's cute. When you arrive at the entrance, there is plenty of cozy outside covered seating. The place is clean, very well appointed inside, nice color scheme and comfortable seating for dining and even a cool little bar area towards the back. Kind of a European décor meets sports bar with a pool table mentality. The floors are all tile, so don't count on it being a quiet romantic evening, but it was nice.

The menu and specials were extensive, I had a chicken breast covered with herbs, bacon, and smothered with cheese served piping hot on one of those skillet plates. I chose to start with a fresh green house salad and what tasted like fresh Blue Cheese dressing. The chicken came with two sides and I ordered the green beans and real homemade macaroni and cheese. The beans were not your usual cooked with a hunk of ham, I believe they had been lightly steamed with seasoning.

Sheila ordered the pork tenderloin prepared very similar to my chicken dish. It was flattened and broiled with a topping of mushrooms, herbs, and smothered with cheese served on that same skillet dish. She chose fresh homemade mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables, the mashed potatoes were really good.

Sarah decided on a cheese pizza prepared on a generous slice of real Italian bread with a tasty sauce and smothered in cheese again. She said it was good too.

We finished the evening with a slice of cheese cake and a slice of their very own specialty desert of the house - it's so special, only the owner who is Lithuanian, knows the recipe. The server called it "Spartak Pie." It's more like a really delicate seven layer cake. I say, give it a try, it was a welcomed change.

I will eat there again, and I give it four forks out of five.

Smokey Barrel
8771 Highway 301
Maxville, FL
904-289-4600