“Cornbread or Roll?”
If you’ve ever been to Niki’s West, you’ve likely had to make the anxiety-inducing split-decision choice between these two very different meal accompaniments. Almost existential, the question causes us to confront our deepest culinary desires–am I, what one would call,
“cornbread people”? Or am I a roll kinda gal?
Fast-moving and intimidating to the faint of heart, Niki’s West is a bastion of Southern Cuisine off of Finley, and even better so, because they offer ample veggie choices, few of which are cooked with bacon or other meat products. (If ever in doubt, be sure to ask!) Don’t be fooled by the name–Niki’s West Steak & Seafood Restaurant has options for you!
Now this is what I call a veggie plate!
What we ate:
I got the turnip greens, sweet peas, mashed potatoes, and fried green tomatoes, and K got the collard greens, breaded and fried zucchini, and butter beans.
The turnips had the salty, tangy flavor you’d expect from a good turnip green, and the collards were cooked just right.
While I like my mashed potatoes a little chunky, theirs was blender-smooth and creamy, with just enough butter. The creamed sweet peas were creamy without being entirely mushy–as you can see, individual peas remain distinguishable, so the texture was great.
The fried veggies were terrific, and I appreciated that the zucchini still tasted like zucchini and not just like “fried.” My favorite dish wasn’t even on my plate, though–the butter beans were just right!
Butter beans were the star on this plate, hands down!
If you can stand the busy, loud, and fast intro, the meal is surely worth it!
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