Natalie Cox loves to cook. Her passion for food sets the tone for her new venture among the cottage businesses on College Street across from Kroger. Natalie’s is open from 11 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, serving lunch and early dinner.Since opening in June, the restaurant has attracted a devoted following hooked on fresh ingredients, creative recipes, a variety of tasty daily specials, family-friendly prices, and the owner’s commitment to pleasing the palates of her customers.
The restaurant uses every inch available in two adjacent cottages. One houses the kitchen, deli case, and counter for placing orders.It is also home to Tropical Sno, under separate ownership. Shaved ice treats are available in 100 flavors. Tropical Sno includes a full-service coffee bar, College Street Coffee, which offers flawless versions of coffeehouse classics, from lattes to mochas and beyond. The iced Hazelnut Mocha is especially refreshing on a hot day. Also well worth trying are the Marbled Mocha, with chocolate and white chocolate flavors, the Vanilla Chai Soy Latte, and the coffee-based smoothies.
The lunch crowd regulars usually begin to show up at 11 sharp. Orders are taken at the counter and brought to your table.Sandwiches lead the way. Both the Turkey Panini, with pepper jack cheese adding just the right amount of heat, and the hearty Reuben Panini are lunchtime favorites.Sandwiches are served with chips or a choice of salads, including potato, fruit, and tomato/cucumber salads, as well as broccoli slaw. Natalie makes her own chicken, ham, and tuna salads, as well as a memorable pimiento cheese. One or two soups are also available daily.The tomato-basil is tangy and perfectly balanced between tomato and basil flavors. Other soups likely to turn up on the specials board are Chicken Tortilla and Loaded Potato, but be prepared for surprises. Diners who prefer plate lunches can choose meat loaf, pot roast, or one of several Louisiana favorites usually available, including Crawfish or Shrimp Etouffee, Jambalaya, and Gumbo. Natalie’s southern Louisiana roots come through in all three dishes.
The entire lunch menu is available until 6:00 p.m. However, most of the after-work business seems to be people picking up call-in orders or purchasing some of Natalie’s popular take home casseroles. Soups and salads can head home with you by the serving or in larger amounts. Five or six kinds of frozen casseroles are usually available. Choices include Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti, Pasta Milano, Beef Lasagna, Pork Tenderloin, and Beef Enchiladas, Shepherd’s Pie, Eggplant Parmesan, and Shrimp Etouffee. After sampling the take-home shrimp dish I can attest to the fact that freezing does not diminish the dish’s flavor or reduce the heat in any way.Trust me.
Dessert choices vary from day to day. Some of the most popular selections include Brownies, Lemon Bars, Banana Cake, Cupcakes, and Pecan Bars. The Banana Cake is moist, full of rich banana flavor, and travels well–so take some home and be a hero with your family.
The dining room is bright and comfortable.Several Fleurs-de-lis on the walls and a Community Coffee poster bear witness to Natalie’s Louisiana heritage. A small outdoor eating area is also available. It seems inevitable the restaurant will need more dining space as more people discover this culinary gem. Fortunately, an outdoor deck in the rear seems like a viable option.
Most of the lunch specials and take-home items are also available on the enormous catering menu. It includes seventy-six main dishes, forty-three appetizers, and an amazing variety of salads, vegetables, breads, soups, and desserts. Natalie also has a full Breakfast catering menu with everything from a Spinach and Ham Quiche to Roasted Corn Cheese Grits.
Natalie’s neighbors in the cottage complex include Tami’s Hair Cottage, the Weston Music Studio, Ollie’s Gifts, and Mandy’s NewU Weight Loss Center. Restaurant customers seem to be checking out the neighbors, so look for the vacant cottages to be occupied soon and this quirky, colorful assemblage of unique businesses to flourish.
Eating at Natalie’s is fun.The young staff is well-trained, well-informed, cheerful, and attentive. The lunch crowd is a friendly mix including office workers, building contractors, Lyon College teachers and students, and neighborhood residents. Natalie herself is usually on the premises, often visiting with diners or reciting the daily specials. Like most talented cooks, she is eager to discuss the day’s menu or what’s on her mind for tomorrow. And when Natalie bids you farewell with her customary”Come back and eat with me,” she means it. Really.
