Working Lunch: Southern food served without frills

Lucille's a great meet and eat spot When parking at a restaurant is scarce at lunchtime, that's a good sign.

I snagged the last spot outside Lucille's Southern Fusion Cuisine, located at Creighton Road and Laburnum Avenue.

My dining companion and I were quickly escorted to a table by one of several gracious hostesses, who promptly took orders despite a nearly full house.

A glance around explained the crowd. Meal portions were ample, and folks departing appeared satisfied.

A look at the lunch menu showed decent prices.

A house salad of romaine lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes was $3.95; a chef salad was $7.50.

Appetizers include "loaded french fries" covered with melted cheese and chili and topped with sour cream for $6.50.

Sides were $2.50 a la carte or any three for $6.50 and included yams, collard greens, potato salad and macaroni and cheese.

Drinks were $1.75 and included free refills.

Despite the noon hour, I ordered the shrimp dinner with yams and steamed broccoli for $8.95. The fried shrimp were tasty and plentiful -- I had nearly two dozen. My broccoli was firm and delicious.

My friend's pulled-pork sandwich with fries ($7.95) had tasty "mounds of meat" in the sandwich, and the fries had the right amount of salt.

The cornbread was moist, appropriately sweet and had good texture.

Other tempting menu items included the chicken-wing basket with fries for $7.95 and the fried-chicken breast on a Kaiser roll with mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato for $7.50.

Dessert choices included rice pudding with raisins or baked banana pudding for $3.50.

The eatery also features live jazz with no cover charge on Friday and Saturday evenings from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Located 15 minutes from downtown, Lucille's is a great spot to meet friends for a hearty lunch.

Just be patient about parking.

Contact Robin Farmer at (804) 649-6312 .

Lucille's Southern