Let's get down to some REAL eatin' after all that discussion of fancy restaurants where folks actually wash up and smell pretty before sitting down. Falls Lunchroom is not one of those places. THERE, you'll find construction crews, CP&L trucks, road crews, farmers, school teachers, rich folks from neighboring subdivisions, and every other conceivable occupation, trade or profession getting fed. The place is only open for breakfast and lunch, but has some of the best home cooking around. . . and for a very reasonable price. First, let's talk about how to get there. The location is behind the Exxon station at the intersection of Thompson Mill Road and Falls of Neuse. Thompson Mill may be accessed via 98 highway and there is a newly installed traffic light. For those diners coming from the south on Falls of Neuse, keep going on past the dam. When you run out of road and have to turn on Thompson Mill, the Falls Diner is right there by the stopsign. Park on either side of Falls of Neuse in the gravel lot. There are two unmarked entrances. The one with the concrete step takes you to the dining area. The other will admit you only to the kitchen. <grin> The place is an old, old house that is converted into the kitchen/dining room. Actually, there are two dining rooms, corresponding to the old living room and the entry way. Just look for all the trucks and Infinitis. Once you enter, the ordering area is immediately to the left. Meals of two meats and two vegetables (with rolls and tea) are $5. This is $5, and NOT $5 plus 7%.. I like that and it is easier to count your change. Today, the meats consisted of chopped pork BBQ, BBQ'd pork chops, salisbury steak with gravy, fried chicken, BBQ'd chicken and maybe something else. Veggies were (at least) pintos, turnip greens, cabbage, string beans and about 6 others. The meals are served on paper plates and I've NEVER seen a grown man finish off everything on his plate. Ever. Carryout is available for the sick, the lame, the infirm, the fussy and the timid. Bring along a friend to help you carry out all the food, however. Once you've been handed your laden plate, walk over to one of the oilcloth covered tables and take your place beside whoever else might be there at the time. He might be a workman, a lawyer in a $400 suit or a farmer covered with dust. Just say, "Hey" and sit down. Don't forget to stop by the table by the counter and get some plastic utensils, a styrofoam cup of tea and some napkins. For weaker folks, there is also a choice of two meats and one veggie for $4.25, one meat alone for $3 and one meat and one veggie for about $3.75 or so. How's the food, you ask? Well, my friends, let's just say that the place does a brisk business. I'd say that every single item on their menu is available in a slightly improved form from some other place. For instance, the BBQ is probably a tad better over at the Barbecue Lodge on Capital Boulevard. I prefer Hardee's fried chicken a tiny bit more, but not by much. The pork chops are actually pretty darn good. The vegetables "could" possibly use a little tiny bit more flavoring (fatback or bacon) on occasion, and the turnip greens are probably better at the Barbecue Lodge also. However, when you weigh everything in terms of overall quality and quantity, Falls Lunchroom is a really darn good place to grab a hot lunch or carryout to take home and reheat at suppertime. Tom Tom Gauldin Here's to the land of the longleaf pine, Raleigh NC The Summerland,where the sun doth shine. fax 919-676-1404 Where the weak grow strong,and the strong grow great, Here's to Downhome,the Old North State.
Barbecue