Dixie Picnic Serves Up Southern Comfort Foods

What do two Yankees know about a Dixie Picnic? We know we've been missing out on some great food after a stop at the Lincoln Court Shopping Center.

We had checked out the menu online and placed our order to go at the front counter with a friendly young server. He told us that the Baby Back Ribs would take about 15 minutes—it turned out to be closer to ten—and we said it was fine.

We expected a takeout shop with maybe a table or two in a corner. We were pleasantly surprised to find a comfortable, casual space with wicker chairs and loveseats, and some black resin tables and chairs. Walls in yellow and eggshell offset with black-and-white photos and black metal-rimmed mirrors went with the blues music. After admiring the old family photos of "Aunt Tatti" and "Grandma Bette," we began to feel the Southern hospitality.

The shop was a "Best of the Main Line" winner for its "Upcakes"—large, upside-down cupcakes frosted like small cakes and available in 25 flavors. We were considering adding another to the one that came as part of our Box Lunch until we saw a case with other goodies and decided on a Turtle Brownie.

Our order was packaged with plastic utensils and paper napkins. All of the items were labeled for easy identification when we got them home.

The Quesadilla & Guacamole ($6.75) had four triangles of thin, crispy tortillas filled with a blend of cheese. Four plastic containers of sour cream, home made salsa, "avocado mash" and corn relish made great toppings for this vegetarian option.

A Roast Beef & Provolone Bette's Box Lunch ($8.99) was a treat. Inside a white paper box was a sandwich, half of a deviled egg (each carefully wrapped in paper), our choice of potato salad with a sweet pickle slice and an Upcake. A napkin, plastic knife and fork, and salt and pepper packs were tucked into the top. The sandwich of thin, medium rare roast beef, green leaf lettuce, tomato and horseradish mayo on a soft Sally Lunn roll was perfectly executed. The potato salad of small, firm potato cubes and crispy celery in a light mustard mayo took on the flavor of the sweet pickle slice packed inside its container. The chocolate frosted yellow Upcake elicited feelings of nostalgia. Light, moist cake and sweet but not overdone icing were the perfect reminder of our own favorite aunt's homemade treats.

The Applewood Bacon BLT Club ($8.50) from the "Fancy Sandwiches" list was another hit. A single layer of thinly sliced turkey with two layers of bacon, lettuce and tomato gave a better blend of flavors than overstuffed meat versions. The only regret was our choice of multigrain LeBus toasted bread, which added its own flavor. A side of fruit salad made of small balls of melons, grapes and pineapple was refreshing.

Bud's Chili 'n' Cornbread ($6.99) was a large plastic dish of kidney beans, ground beef, and small pieces of tomato and green pepper in a mildly spiced tomato stew with melted cheese. Two pieces of rich, lighly salty-sweet skillet cornbread were still hot in their foil wrapper.

A half rack of Baby Back Ribs ($13.99) were tender and smoky. A dry rub and sweet thickened sauce upped their flavor. A side of cole slaw was crunchy shreds of cabbage and carrot with celery seed in a vinegar mayo.

The Turtle Brownie ($3.25) was a fudgy chocolate square topped with a thin layer of sugary caramel and whole pecans that draped over the sides. The caramel wasn't the usual chewy, sticky version but more like a thick frosting.

For the early riser, breakfast is served from 7 a.m to 10:30 a.m. daily, and until 2 p.m. on weekends. Items like Southern Sticky French Toast ($6.75), My-Oh-My! Omelet ($6.50), and Sausage Gravy Biscuit ($4.99) could make a morning person out of almost anyone.

Dixie Picnic

Lincoln Court Shopping Center, 215 Lancaster Avenue, Malvern

Telephone: 484-320-8024

Website: dixiepicnic.com

Hours: Mon - Wed, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Thurs, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Fri, Sat, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sun., 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Cost: Appetizers, soups, salads, $4 to $7; sandwiches, $4 – 8.50; dinners, $7 – 14

Credit cards: VISA, MasterCard

Alcohol: B.Y.O.

Special Features: Vegetarian Options, Free WiFi for Comcast subscribers