Home Cooking Restaurant in Fuquay Varina, NC

With a reputation that precedes her now-famous cooking, Joyce Staton recalls her family and friends' love of her cooking long before she even thought to do it for a living.

"One of my sons was in the military," she says.  "He would say, 'Mama, I've traveled all over the world and I didn't realize what a great cook you are.'  He said he was always chasing that taste.  He would try something and think, 'It don't taste like Mama's.'"

Luckily for Fuquay-Varina residents and the surrounding community, they don't need to chase down any flavors. It's just a quick hop downtown to Joyce and Family Restaurant (or just Joyce's, as the locals call it).

Joyce's simple, made from scratch food has been earning high marks from the community since Staton began a small takeout business on Academy Street in 1997. Urged by friends and patrons to expand to a sit-down restaurant, she moved over to 135 S.  Main St. in November 2004 and just recently moved from 135 S. Main St to 129 S Main St.

We are an all you can eat restaurant!

The whole cast is there, and for only $7.99.  Creamy mashed potatoes, with their homemade debonair, share the stage with their sweet, bright cousins, the yams, and popular friend, baked mac and cheese.  Collards, turnip greens and flavorful cabbage round out the chorus of greens, while pinto beans with a velvety bite and simply seasoned butter beans represent the legumes.  Carnivores are enticed by smothered pork chops, juicy baked chicken, a tender version of chicken pastry (or chicken and dumplings) and an occasional meatloaf.

But the homemade fried chicken definitely steals the show.  Except, as Staton will tell you, the credit really belongs to her husband, Lewis.  She's mum about his secret recipe, but admits that it's probably the most popular item on the line.

"I tried one day to leave it off [the buffet]," says Staton.  "Oh Lord, that was a mistake.  If I didn't have the fried chicken, I'd be in trouble."

You can order sandwiches too, although the menu is hard to locate inside, so it's best to ask at the counter.  Staton lists the pork chop, meatloaf, fried chicken and fish sandwiches as favorites.  They range from $2.50 to $3.

"We do food from scratch, and it's hard.  It's easy to open a can, but you have to peel the potatoes, wash collards, wash turnip greens," Staton says. "But I can't imagine not doing this. I love what I'm doing."

"It's like I'm living in a dream world.  I've met such great people.  It's like I'm having company over for dinner, you know? It's just like family.  And I love it."

But the homemade fried chicken definitely steals the show. Except, as Staton will tell you, the credit really belongs to her husband, Lewis. She's mum about his secret recipe, but admits that it's probably the most popular item on the line.

"I tried one day to leave it off [the buffet]," says Staton.  "Oh Lord, that was a mistake.  If I didn't have the fried chicken, I'd be in trouble."

You can order sandwiches too, Staton lists the pork chop, meatloaf, fried chicken and fish sandwiches as favorites. They range from $2.50 to $3.

"We do food from scratch, and it's hard. It's easy to open a can, but you have to peel the potatoes, wash collards, wash turnip greens," Staton says. "But I can't imagine not doing this. I love what I'm doing."

"It's like I'm living in a dream world. I've met such great people. It's like I'm having company over for dinner, you know? It's just like family. And I love it."

We are known for Good Restaurants, Southern Food, Soul Food, Home Cooking Restaurant, All You Can Eat Restaurant, Country Cooking Restaurant in Fuquay Varina.

 

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