If you happen to be one of the chosen few to be living in the Underwood-Petersville area, north of Florence, you are no stranger to Homeside Restaurant. For everyone else that doesn’t reside next to Homeside, you are in for a sweet tea sippin’, country fried steak eatin’ good meal.

Passing by Homeside, the sign replicates a word that some say looks like “Homicide,” but the only thing killed here is a plate of home grown country food.

Homeside offers breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is a local family restaurant located on Cloverdale Road, just past the Shell Station.

I ordered the filet of catfish that came with my choice of three sides and a drink. I chose macaroni and cheese, a side salad and the corn nuggets. They put enough macaroni and cheese on my plate to feed the homeless and I sure as heck wasn’t complaining-that’s just how I like it.

A corn nugget is a ball of sweet corn mixed with batter and fried, an old southern favorite. Call me country, old-fashioned or fat, but I could have eaten a meal of this. But I had to save room for this beautiful crispy filet of catfish lying on my plate.

No catfish is good without tartar sauce, so I joined my catfish with the sauce and said goodbye to Captain D’s for as long as this restaurant is beside my home. Literally, Homeside is right across the street from my new home in Florence-my prayers have been answered.

To my surprise, they take call-in orders, so not only are they home side but also curbside. This is the greatest thing since sliced bread. They also have lunch and nightly specials, and if you can make it there on Fridays, they offer ALL YOU CAN EAT catfish for $8.99 all day after 11 a.m. Also, I need to mention the service here is down home; they know you by name and treat you like family.

Homeside gets five stars from me. I highly recommend this restaurant, but I do wish they were open on Sundays. I’m sure folks of the Underwood-Petersville area are thanking the Lord for this restaurant. When you head that way, tell them you’re new and don’t be surprised if you get some hushpuppies free.