Saturday night, we took advantage of being on Interstate 77 near Dobson, NC which happens to be the location of The Depot at Cody Creek.
Since we were heading north, we got off at Route 67 exit which when followed east takes you to Boonville. It's about five miles over to Boonville, and then probably eight or nine miles north on Route 601. The entrance to Cody Creek sneaks up on you, but once you cross Route 268 it's only two or three miles on the left, so just watch for it. You get to enter by twisting little single lane road that takes you through a covered bridge to a park like setting complete with Chapel and Country Store.
It actually a little closer drive from the the Interstate if you get off at Zephr Road which is the Dobson exit for Interstate 77. It you follow that to Route 601, the restaurant is just a couple of miles south on Route 601 on the right.
The size and scale of the Depot at Cody Creek is impressive for the area. They even provide tickets for free ice cream at the Country Store if you show up without reservations and have to wait for a table. In fact the Depot only takes reservations for groups that are eight or larger.
Our first experience at the Depot was last December when we went with a large group. There is more information and pictures about that visit at my original "The Depot at Cody Creek" post.
This time since there were only three of us, we got to sit in the other and a smaller end of the restaurant.
First of course you have to stand and be amazed at the stuffed animal display and waterfall in the lobby entrance to the restaurant.
Then you get to walk down a long hall decorated with prints of moonshiners, fast flathead Fords, Junior Johnson, and the most pictures of Indians hunting turkeys that I have ever seen in one spot.
There also is a bar, but I didn't investigate. The last time we're there, our relatives raved about how good the Prime Rib is so both Glenda, my wife, and I decided to try that. Our oldest daughter, Erin, ordered the Popcorn Shrimp. We all got salads.
The salads were delivered quickly. They were fresh, but not fancy, and consisted mostly of Iceberg Lettuce accompanied by the standard "Captain's Wafers." It wasn't long after we finished our salads that our main course showed up. I had ordered a combo of Baby Back Ribs and Prime Rib, fully expecting to get a smaller servings of each. Boy was I surprised. i got a full sized piece of Prime Rib identical to my wife's and a very generous helping of their ribs.
Amongst us we tried the loaded baked potato, the sweet potato, and the macaroni and cheese sides. It seems the sweet potato was the best of the lot though my loaded potato was fine.
Both our Prime Ribs were cooked identically even though my wife ordered hers medium, and I ordered mine medium rare. However, they were still very good. The meat on the ribs was very tender but was the sauce had a little more ketchup in the base than I like. Most likely my biggest problem was there was just too much meat, though I do favor dry rubbed ribs. I hadn't eaten a Prime Rib in two or three years, and it was just a year or so since I had some ribs, so I favored the beef. It was definitely an overdose which I couldn't come close to finishing so it will likely be even longer before I try either one again. I know I won't be doing a combo at Cody Creek again unless I split it with someone.
My daughter said her Popcorn Shrimp were very good so I have to say the meal was a success. Even with a generous tip and my giant meal, the total was only around $20 per person.
If you have a large group, and you want lot of good food served up quickly, I think the Depot at Cody Creek is probably hard to beat. I would guess it is about two hours from Roanoke and a little over an hour from the northern fringes of Charlotte.
The Depot is closed on Mondays and is open Tuesday through Thursday, 5-9 pm, Friday and Saturday, 4-10 pm and Sundays 4-9 pm. The phone number is 336 386-8222. The entrees range in price from $7.95 to $21.95.
It's a nice stopping point if you happen to be traveling between Roanoke and Charlotte.
The Depot at Cody Creek now has its own website. http://www.codycreek.net/
