Red Bones Cafe
Looking for another solid meal in the area, we took a page right out of the “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives” playbook. Although we may not necessarily have a Guy Fieri in our group, we surely have good taste, and always pack our appetites. Having lived in Nashville, it also made sense to look for a little southern comfort in the Sioux City region, and Red Bones Cafe was our restaurant of choice.
The exterior may have been a little rough, but it did NO justice for the meal awaiting us inside.
Once we made our way inside, it became clear that outward appearance did absolutely no justice for the experience waiting. The waitresses immediately greeted us, seated us, and took our drink orders. Seeing “Sweet Tea” on a menu other than that of McDonalds brought a grin to a country-boy’s face. I certainly didn’t need any coaxing into ordering the tallest glass they had.
Sweet Tea done the right way. Sugary, refreshing, and absolutely delicious.
The tea came as an absolute shock, and set the tone for was was sure to be a solid dine-in experience. It was clearly southern style, and after asking around a bit, I was informed that it was brewed this morning. Fresh AND refreshing? Yes, please.
Red Bones Cafe menu
There were several options on the menu, but the one that spoke to me most was the “Southern Fried Chicken.” A little taste of home after time spent down south, and possibly one of the best all-around dining decisions I’ve made in the last year were on their way. Southern fried chicken with sides of home style mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. Now that’ a meal.
Southern fried chicken, home style mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, and cornbread
Now for the important part: the meal. While the tea served as a solid appetizer and warm-up for this platter of delicious southern goodness, I couldn’t help but grin when it slid within my grasp. The chicken was superb. The breading was just crisp enough to peal apart from the meat, and flavor was a steady explosion as it hit my tongue. I was incredibly surprised with how tender the meat was, and it was clearly cooked to perfection. The potatoes were definitely homemade, a evidenced by the fact that it literally melted in my mouth. Not necessarily being a major fan of cornbread, I have to admit that even this was the perfect amount of sweet. With all that considered, however, the MVP of this meal came in the form of my second side.
Home-style Mac and Cheese
The mac and cheese stole the show from my perspective. The taste of real cheese cut through the well-cooked noodles and sparked a celebration of flavor with each bite. Kraft just won’t cut it from this point on. Essentially, I had enough meal on my plate that I had to take home a piece of chicken (which lasted about 3 hours in my fridge before losing a battle to a microwave and my bare hands) and didn’t have to break the bank getting it. That alone is enough reason to return for more. Throw in the friendly service, amazing flavor, and the comfort of a home-cooked meal, and you’ve got a recipe for success. This just in: Red Bones Cafe is THE AUTHORITY on Soul Food in Sioux City, Iowa. 