No matter the weather, anyone can go on a picnic in downtown Kinston.
Our Picnic Basket serves picnic lunches at 214 N. Herritage St. indoors in a comfy garden-like atmosphere.
“We started the name based on childhood memories,” co-owner Ashleigh Shirley said.
Sitting in wicker chairs around glass-topped tables, guests can feel like they’re eating on a farmhouse porch. The walls are painted with gardens, ponds and the family farm at the restaurant owned by Renee Ledford and her two daughters, Dawn Johnson and Shirley.
“We just wanted our customers to feel like they’re dining outside,” Shirley said.
One framed painting looks like a window with a view to the countryside.
Of course, one would expect sandwiches at a picnic.
“We have an immense variety of sandwiches, homemade daily,” Shirley said. Sweet berry turkey with mozzarella cheese is a popular one.
“It’s on the original Greek flatbread,” Shirley said.
The veggie sandwich with homemade spread is also popular.
“We make our own dill cream cheese spread,” she said.
Soups, such as French onion and tomato basil bisque, are popular. There are two choices in fall and winter and one in the warmer months.
The restaurant, which features salads and an 18-item salad bar, may meet the criteria for the Heart Healthy Lenoir project. Shirley said there are six criteria, and the restaurant has met all six.
In addition to soups and salads, sides include fruit, baked french fries and baked rice and adzuki bean chips. The chips are low in sodium and cholesterol and high in fiber, Shirley said.
“You have several options,” she said, “but every option is healthy.”
Each weekday, a casserole and salad are featured for the day. The casserole menu changes each fall and spring.
n Monday: loaded potato casserole, vegetable salad with cucumber wasabi
n Tuesday: spinach casserole, cranberry salad
n Wednesday: squash casserole, taco salad
n Thursday: chicken lasagna, orange salad
n Friday: asparagus casserole, fruit salad
Johnson makes all the desserts.
The restaurant was started in 2007 with 52 seats. It moved to its present location a year later with 72 seats in the main dining area and 30 seats in the private dining room, which is available days and evenings. The staff caters in-house events on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Our Picnic Basket is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, with pickup available until 4 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. For information, call 252-520-9800.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.
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Do you have a new retail business or one that’s undergone significant change? The Free Press would like to hear about it. Contact Margaret Fisher at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com.