The Greenville News
March 18, 2005
Veggies To Go

By John C. Stevenson

STAFF WRITER

Richard Forrest admits the name of his restaurant -- Veggies To Go -- has caused some confusion.

"We've had people say, 'I thought you were a produce stand,' or 'Is it California organic food,?" Forrest said.

Well, let's put an end to all the confusion: Veggies To Go serves up traditional, Southern-style classics. They just do it quickly.

"We want it to be fast and good," Forrest said.

Diners who are really in a hurry can wheel through the drive-thru and get their veggies without ever getting out of their cars, Forrest said. For folks with a few minutes, the dining room offers limited full service: You order at the counter and your food is brought to your table.

The food is what got Forrest interested in the Veggies To Go concept. He owns franchise rights for South Carolina and Western North Carolina, and plans to open more locations.

Every day the restaurant offers up a tremendous variety of food -- eight meats and 18 vegetables, to be exact. While many of the veggies come from the franchise home in Alabama, Forrest said the glazed carrots, rice and gravy, and green beans are all prepared at the restaurant, from his mother's recipes.

All of the meats except the flounder are shipped in fresh; the breading for fried items such as the fried chicken and fried pork chops are also his mother's recipes, which he found hand-written in an old Betty Crocker cookbook.

Forrest has taken a novel -- and speedy -- approach to pricing, as well. Meal costs include bread, beverage and tax, and range from $5 for a meat and one vegetable to $7 for a meat-and-three plate. Don't want meat? The four-veggie plate, with bread and tax, is $4.50.

Some of the most popular items on the menu thus far are country-style steak, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, and squash casserole.

Veggies To Go is open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sundays. The restaurant seats 72; reservations are not accepted. Alcohol is not served; smoking is not permitted. Located at 1054 E. Butler Road, Mauldin; call 458-8532.

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