The Front Porch beckons you to sit, dine, relax

By John Marks - Lake Wylie Pilot

RICHBURG -- Stepping up to the blackboard never tasted so good as it does in Richburg. I learned that lesson recently on a trip home from the zoo in Columbia, when a tired but hungry lot of family members dropped in and sat a spell at The Front Porch.

The Front Porch, I learned, is a Chester County staple just off Interstate 77, a little more than 10 miles from the nearest exits for Rock Hill. And no less importantly is one of a surprisingly limited set of choices for sit-down dining along the interstate drive home once you leave Columbia. In fact, without someone on the ride who knows to look for it, you could easily drive straight past the Front Porch exit and miss it altogether. Thankfully, someone in our entourage knew better.

We arrived to find the relatively small, yet easily accessible restaurant hopping on a Saturday night. Yet, we found a table for four adults and two high chairs right away, seated among a hearty mix of who I would guess were locals and loyal customers. The inside of The Front Porch, naturally, looked like a page from some Southern kitchen magazine with blue floral print wallpaper and wooden floors, tables and chairs that felt like something more from an old-fashioned home than a business. On the walls hung portraits of people I guessed the owner probably knew or once listed as tax deductions.

Even the wait staff were inviting, smiling at and talking to our two smallest diners while showing us what I got the feeling everyone else there already knew. No menus at The Front Porch, just a huge schoolhouse-style blackboard and a few smaller whiteboards. On them were one meat and two vegetable options, a chicken salad plate or grilled chicken salad, chicken stir fry and the prime rib sandwich — all for $7.99 each. Other choices were the pork barbecue plate for $9.99, open faced roast beef sandwich for $8.99 and soup and grilled cheese for $6.99. The meat and vegetable options included fried chicken, pork chops, baked chicken, flounder and steak and gravy along with beets, slaw, green beans, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, steamed cabbage, brown rice, fried green tomatoes, fried squash, baked apples and pinto beans.

My dad and I opted for the prime rib sandwich, which came with a potato side. After looking at animals all day, I enjoyed this one the most. The best way I can describe my sandwich is, well just imagine how something would taste if someone you loved made it for you. Extra touches such as the warm toasted bun do it for me. Other options at the table included a tasty baked chicken and a vegetable plate with cabbage, mac and cheese and a serving of beets redder than a chaperoned middle-schooler at his first big dance. Definitely no shortage of options for those who prefer just to look at animals.

Were we still hungry, the boards listed 10 desserts from $1.75 to $2.98, except for the apple cobbler with ice cream at $4.98. We left full and happy for the short ride home, though. I just wish The Front Porch — which does in fact have a front porch for anyone wanting to take a load off — were a little closer to fit into our regular rotation of restaurants. Then again, there's always the zoo. I can already feel myself taking another walk on the wild side.

John Marks, Lake Wylie Pilot