Built in 1928 for a mere $80, the original two-room log cabin structure was home to a filling station/sandwich shop. Through the years, the building has served as a dance hall, community meeting place and a popular spot for locals and travelers between Richmond and Charlottesville. Finally, in the 1980s, it blossomed into the family style restaurant it is today, The Tanglewood Ordinary.

After nine decades, the building (made up of hand stripped logs) has managed to maintain its original country charm persona. It’s one of the few places that carries on the Southern family style dining experience.

Just like Sunday supper at Grandma’s, you’ll get homemade fried chicken, country ham, roast beef, house-smoked BBQ pork, meatloaf, from scratch mashed potatoes, creamed corn, black eyes, cole slaw, seasoned green beans, buttermilk biscuits, cornbread, apple cobbler with ice cream, brownie sundae, buttermilk pecan pie, pitchers of super sweet tea – all of that and much more brought out in big bowls and platters to be passed around the table. Here’s the coolest: you want seconds? No problem!

I also love the pricing structure: Adults (12+) $15, Big Kids (8-11) $9, Kids (4-7) $4. It’s a destination and experience worth the drive. And the food tastes exactly like what you think of when you hear, “like Grandma used to make.”