Whoa Nellie! (General)

Have you ever stepped back in time and visited a place that reminded you of, “how things used to be?” Nellie’s café in Longwood is that place for me. Joyce was working behind the counter, in front of the oven, over the griddle, and at the register. She was a one-person phenomenon! They have been in business for just one year, but the food was just like “mom” used to make! People casually dropped in and she cheerfully engaged each one, as she took orders, cracked eggs, served up the fare that made every single visitor say…”That is the best I have ever tasted!” I hesitate to write about Joyce and her corner restaurant because I want to get a table next week, however, this is a small business owner who has really got the right recipe! (Get it?) I had tasted her “take home meal” of buffalo chicken lasagna a few weeks before, and have been talking about it ever since. That is what drove me out of bed and into her place on a Saturday morning…and it was worth it! What was striking was that Joyce was running the show all by herself. Everyone who came in acted like they were just coming into the kitchen for breakfast! The couple at the next table wondered if we would be back to meet them there for lunch. There was no complaining, no hassles, and no worries from Joyce. I did get the details on how I could order dinner by noon, and pick it up on the way home, and what the daily specials for lunch were. (They are not open for dinner) Nellie’s Café is a great example of what can be accomplished when you provide a great product at a fair price, and throw in service that rivals visiting family. I am not sure how Joyce does it yet, but I look forward to careful study of her business operations, and the small business practices over there at Nellie’s café. I anticipate it will take many, many visits. This could be a long-term project, and I gotta eat, right?