There is major flavor waiting for you this weekend at Lee’s Southern Kitchen! Located at 2985 Villa Rica Highway in Suite A, Dallas, Georgia, this restaurant has all the fixin’s you need to have the food coma of your life. Guests have a variety of mouth-watering entrees from which to choose, from their Fried Rainbow Trout and Shrimp Platter to their signature Pastalaya to their Pan Seared Tilapia.
Owners James and Sharon Lee opened Lee’s Southern Kitchen in its current location in August of 2020; but since 2015 they had operated out of various local gas stations: setting up their equipment under a tent to attract passersby.
“This was probably one of the best decisions for us, as it gave us the opportunity to hear honest feedback and to see the operation in motion,” Sharon shares. “In 2015 we would set up at local gas stations under our tent selling food, and we were able to move inside the gas station and utilize their kitchen.”
Now, armed with a fully-equipped kitchen, the couple have been able to showcase the full extent of their work.
Since he was young, James said he would watch his Grandmother Josephine in the kitchen cooking. He mentions, “She did not use measurements, everything was cooked to taste.” James still uses this same method today. James went on to mention that his mother was a single parent raising four children. He says, “She worked long hours so I spent a lot of time with my grandmother while my mother was working. At the age of 13 I was cooking full meals for my siblings.” He attributes his passion for cooking to his upbringing. James learned delicious recipes and picked up invaluable cooking skills with his grandmother. As time went on, he shot for the stars and decided to open his own restaurant.
Of course, working with family, especially a spouse, comes with its challenges – the greatest of which was finding that work-life balance. However, the Lees have worked out a solution where that balance can exist.
“As a husband and wife team we’re here even on days we’re closed to receive deliveries, clean the kitchen, and get ready for the week,” Sharon divulges. “We have now found that balance by bringing our daughter on to assist us with the day-to-day operations, and also we close for a week each quarter to spend time together.”
Prioritizing those times off rewards them with the energy and inspiration needed to keep the restaurant and relationships alive. The Lees cherish the fact that the customers who visited during the gas station days still visit their brick-and-mortar on a regular basis. That to them is the most rewarding aspect of running their small business.
Sharon adds that hearing about her customers’ life milestones like graduations, marriages, promotions, and college acceptances gives her so much joy and satisfaction.
“It means so much to our family to see one of our dreams come to fruition and to have the support from several communities,” she asserts. “Thank you for the continued support, prayers, and encouraging words.”
You can visit Lee’s Southern Kitchen for a tasty bite to eat Wednesdays from 3:00 P. M. to 7:00 P. M., Thursdays from 12:00 P. M. to 7:00 P. M., Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 P. M. to 7:00 P. M., and Sundays from 11:30 A. M. TO 6:00 P. M. They are closed Mondays and Tuesdays. You can also order to-go on their new ordering platform here. Visit their Facebook for updates and events!
James said he would watch his Grandmother Josephine in the kitchen cooking. She did not use measurements, everything was cooked to taste. He still uses this same method today. His mother was a single parent raising four children, she worked long hours so they spent a lot of time with his grandmother while his mother was working. At the age of 13 he was cooking full meals for his siblings. He attributes his passion for cooking to his upbringing.
