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Back to main page. |
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Mary Helen's: |
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The Place To Go For a Good Home-Cooked Meal |
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(essay one) |
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����������� When craving a taste for soul and Creole food, or maybe just a good home-cooked meal, Mary Helens Southern and Creole Cuisine will be just the fix you are looking for. It is located in the downtown section of Hampton at 87 Lincoln Street. |
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The restaurant is owned and operated by Mary Helen. She is a native of Newport News and attended Hampton Institute (now known as Hampton University). She received her degree in Social Work from Atlanta University. Upon returning to Hampton to assist her mother in the family real estate business, Mary Helen realized her dream and decided to open Mary Helen?s Southern and Creole Cuisine. The restaurant opened in 2003.����� |
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Your first step into this restaurant takes you to a place you would not have pictured from the outside; it is kind of placed in a romantic warm setting. There are white table cloths on all the tables, the lights are dimmed, and at the front desk, a smiling face is waiting to greet you. You immediately feel welcomed. It is a cozy restaurant; only sitting about 75 people. The area consists of two-person booths, 4-person booths, and a few tables and chairs. It is the overall mood of the place that will give you that initial sense of interest in the restaurant. My first thought on entering the restaurant was, 'This is a date place.' That's the kind of intimate setting Mary Helen?s delivers. |
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Mary Helen's is a place where everyone knows your name. By saying that, I mean that they make an effort to get to know all their patrons who stop by. They have a few regulars who come in often. I had the chance to speak with a couple who were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. They are frequent visitors at the restaurant. The staff knows the couple by name. While they were walking out the door, the hostess said, 'See you next week.' That let me know that the couple was more than just a customer. |
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The menu at the restaurant provides patrons with a host of delicious home-style foods. They range from seafood gumbos to meatloaf to burgers and plenty of other soul and Creole dishes in between. There is certainly something to satisfy every taste bud.� |
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The service was great. We were seated as soon as we walked in and were immediately served our drinks. The waitress was very friendly and conversational. She asked us what school did we attended, and how we liked it. She made sure to check on us to see if we needed anything. She seemed to enjoy her job. |
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My parties' meal consisted of the buffet, which runs daily from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It included macaroni, string beans, rice, mashed potatoes, potato salad, fried chicken, baked chicken and made-to-order fried fish. It also had desserts. I believe the fried fish was the best part of the buffet because it came to our table hot from the kitchen. The seasoning on it was perfection. One bite did not do justice. Everyone at my table agreed that it was the best that they had ever tasted. Each entr�e comes with cornbread that is served before the meals. Therefore, what you get is an excellent meal with affordable prices. Everything is priced reasonably. Most appetizers averaged $6.95, while most dinner entr�es average $10.95. The entire encounter seemed to remind me of my grandmother's cooking back when I was a child. I believe that everyone can, in some way, share that feeling. |
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An experience with Mary Helen's does not end with good food and great service. There is also entertainment. Every Thursday night from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m., they have an open mic night called "The Blue." There is a live jazz band set up and people from around the area gather to share their talents through song, and poetry. Having attended "The Blue" before, I know first hand how entertaining it can be. Although I have never gotten up to the mic (yet), it is just as much fun listening to the poets and singers. There is also live entertainment on Friday nights from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Both of these entertainment nights have a $7.00 cover charge. |
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Overall, Mary Helens delivers something for everyone to enjoy young and old. It is truly a hidden treasure in our community. I believe that it is safe to say that one visit is not enough. |
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