While hanging out for the weekend in metro Montgomery, one of the places I had planned to go to was Martin’s Restaurant.  We had missed the chance when we were here last fall, and I intended not to do so again.  They hit the radar originally with a list of 100 things to eat in the South before you die from 2013, for their corn muffins.  And then popped up again on the Garden ‘n Gun Fried Chicken Bucket List last year.  How could we not go? 

A Montgomery mainstay since the early 1930s, it moved from the Martin family to the Smith family in 1939 – and remains there today.  The corn muffins?

A crisp, buttery exterior, with a billowly cake-like inside, that was oozing with more buttery goodness.  I don’t like corn bread, but these corn muffins were excellent. 

Knowing that they were known for their fried chicken, I went outside-the-box and chose country fried steak, creamed corn and mashed potatoes and gravy.

And some black eyed peas.  And, since I’m not a complete idiot (keep your comments to yourself!) a pulley bone.

I’ll say that I was disappointed that there was brown gravy on the CFS and the potatoes – as opposed to the white gravy that I prefer, but it had a good taste.  The brown gravy always makes me think of salisbury steak, which seems to have a different taste and texture than country fried steak.   The steak that was country fried was unique – it was not cubed steak, but a thin cut sirloin.  I don’t know that I’ve ever had that cut fried. 

The creamed corn was more whole-kernel corn in a cream sauce, but it was good.  And the black eyed peas were spot on. 

The chicken?  It was nearly other-worldly.  I don’t think I’ve had a pulley bone (you may call it a wishbone) since I was a kid and this one was very meaty.   My beloved had the chicken as well (a breast and pulley bone) and thought it to be as good as I did.  The chicken was fried perfectly and there was not a drop of grease on it.  Absolutely amazing. 

As full as we were, we intended to pass on dessert, until we saw a slice of lemon meringue go to the table next to us.

Decision made.  The meringue, no lie, was at least three inches tall and the lemon pie was tart and sweet.  The perfect end to a perfect meat-and-three meal.