Story and Photos by Daniel M. Walker, Contributing Writer

The very best southern comfort food � served family style!

Tanglewood Ordinary in Maidens, Virginia, is anything but ordinary.  The Goochland Gazette has described the restaurant as extraordinary, and I would concur that it provides an exceptional dining experience much beyond the norm. 

Of course, the term �ordinary� traditionally described a restaurant or public house. 

Tanglewood Ordinary is a historic log structure nestled in the beautiful natural landscape along historic Route 6 in Goochland County. This is the same trail our forefathers traveled along the James River from Richmond to Scottsville, Afton and Charlottesville in Colonial days. 

While the log structure that houses Tanglewood was not built until 1928 as a country store, auto garage and local watering hole, there was likely, in the area during Colonial times, a local tavern or ordinary to offer weary travelers rest and food. So sitting down to dinner at Tanglewood Ordinary, with its massive hand-stripped native logs and rustic interior, it�s easy to imagine what dining in the area was like in days of yore.

When your server starts to bring tray after tray of fresh vegetables and home-style cornbread and biscuits, you know why locals and travelers enjoy their time at Tanglewood Ordinary, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The concept is simple: family-style, all you can eat, with tons of attentiveness from the waitstaff. The adult portion is $15.99, and there�s special pricing for children. Drinks and desserts are extra. 

Along with the vegetables and side dishes, the table is served a large platter of Tanglewood�s signature fried chicken and one additional meat selection of either meat loaf, barbecue, country ham or roast beef.

On my visit, the vegetables were fresh and cooked the country way � no al dente here. If you grew up in the old days or in the country, you may remember that during the week most meals were all vegetables and fresh bread. Meats such as beef or chicken, as a main course, did not show up until either Sunday or on special occasions, so your mother made sure those vegetables served during the week tasted extra special. Tanglewood�s vegetables have that extra flair. Our table shared generous portions of corn, collards, green beans and mashed potatoes with rich, dark gravy.

Fried chicken is a difficult dish to prepare correctly, at least to my taste. The key to good fried chicken is to have the right balance of moisture in the meat while capturing the right �crunch� and enhancement of spices without being too greasy. This fried chicken was just right to my taste! Our very-attentive server highly recommended the meat loaf, a special creation of Tanglewood�s chef, James Breeden. Since one of our tablemate�s all-time favorites is meat loaf, that was an easy choice. My daughter also made a special request of country ham since she knows that is her dad�s favorite meat � love that girl! There were no disappointments in any of our selections.

At this point, we were stuffed and of good cheer and ready for a beautiful drive back to Richmond; however, our research was not done. Loyal readers know ... we must have dessert! One item that did catch the eye of our younger diner was an ice cream sundae, but the adults went for a dessert called, �Yummy Cousin Tanglewood Sly Fox Pie.� This rich, pecan pie with chocolate chips and a splash of bourbon was a truly sly fox. Now, how Virginian can you get? 

Running a restaurant is hard work with a high risk of failure, especially in the rural countryside. For over 30 years, Anne and Jim Hardwick have maintained a place that people have fallen in love with, one that bears witness to the restaurant�s creed of great service, delicious food and an atmosphere where you feel at home. 

This is a special place, often very busy, so if you are planning a road trip with a group of people, I suggest you call ahead for reservations. 

I plan to do an article about Virginia�s favorite breakfast restaurants.

If you have a favorite place that starts your day off right, let me know at [email protected]. Be of good cheer, and be good to your taste buds!