Adam & Eats: Goodson’s

Editor’s note: Adam Brandt is a graduate from the Cobra Kai School of Culinary Callousness, where he received their highest award, the Red Apron of Merciless Eating. Aside from eating and talking about eating, he makes pots, paintings, prints, books, photographs, and generally, a big mess. He has been the studio assistant at Mudpuppy Pottery for almost nine years and is attending a local university in a desperate attempt to earn a biology degree.

A week after the Chinese Kitchen experience, my guts are still recovering.

So, this week I decided to go hunting after something a little easier on the stomach and its cohort organs. I had heard of an amazing Caribbean salad over at Goodson’s, so I figured that was just what the doctor ordered. To my surprise, it lived up to the hype.

Located on the corner of Old Greenwood Road and Gary Street is the happening business complex, Cornerstone. In the corner of Cornerstone is Goodson’s.

Now, the Goodson’s restaurants have been slinging southern family fare longer than I can remember. I remember eating at one location or another pretty much my whole life. It may not be the cheapest, fanciest, or most amazing meal of your life, but it is consistently, solidly good comfort food.

And boy, do I need a little comfort these days.

When you walk in the place, you immediately start to feel more comfortable. Relaxed, even. The interior has this log cabin-ish/country lodge feel to it, despite the flat screen televisions. Wood and stone work, added to the slightly subdued lighting, give the place a real warmth. It doesn’t hurt that the waitress is as sweet as Grandma’s sun tea, despite the fact she has to work the whole restaurant solo. Put me in her place, and I’d be hurting for tip money come closing time.

But, I digress.

Now, about that Caribbean salad.

It’s what you’d expect from a salad, a bed of lettuce, with tomatoes, onions, and a protein of some kind. Don’t let this fool you. Hidden within this sly bowl of greens are the refreshing flavors of pineapple and coconut. Add a little spicy kick to that chicken (the aforementioned protein) and top with a tangy yogurt-based dressing and you’ve got yourself a flavor adventure. In addition to tasting good, it soothed my grumbling belly.

So, thanks Goodson’s. If that salad doesn’t sound like your bag, they have plenty of other wonderful things to choose from. The chicken strips are hand breaded and particularly delicious with honey mustard. The homemade fries are also great. The burgers are good, but if you only get a single patty, they tend to be a little bready. The pot roast burger is stellar, though. The super nachos are nothing to right home about, but still not bad.

Now, my favorite part: dessert. The banana pudding is mag-friggin’-nificent. The pecan pie is some of the best that I’ve had in a while. The chocolate/peanut butter pie is particularly nice because the crust is made out of peanut butter cookie. You can take or leave the coconut crème pie, but don’t leave without trying the German chocolate cake (so decadent it hurts).

Overall, I like Goodson’s. If you’ve never eaten there, be sure to give them a try at either of their locations. (The other location is on Towson Avenue near Shenanigan’s.) Until next week, good eating.

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Adam also has this thing called Sandwich Control.