Corner Post restaurant review
A taste of the South at LaShae's

by Nicholas Jain, posted May 3, 2010

On the patio of Mojo’s in Columbia, rich smells of barbecue waft from the smokers of LaShae's Southern Kitchen. LaShae’s is a perfect complement to the intimate concerts held in the venue, as it’s impossible to not become friendly with the personable staff. The restaurant serves up southern soul food that, for the most part, is deep-fried or basted with barbecue sauce. This is not a place for the diet-obsessed calorie counters but is a place for people who want food that reaches their soul and makes them happy.

LaShae’s serves tender barbecue pork ribs that are rich, smoky, and smothered in barbecue sauce. They cover their fried chicken with a thick, crunchy albeit greasy batter that surrounds moist chicken. The chopped pork sandwich features tender barbecue coated with sauce.

The side dishes are what really stand out. Their house-baked beans, which include green pepper, onion, and pieces of barbecue pork steak, are sweet and savory and an absolute must try. Ordering the regular baked beans would be a mistake. Their mixed greens are excellent as well. The mashed potatoes are home-style with large chunks but covered with savory gravy that makes overlooking the texture easy.

Along with the main dishes and sides, the service is spotless. Diners are treated well by everyone working there and it’s obvious that they truly care and want people to enjoy their food and experience.

Mojo’s is a cool and laid-back environment with signs advertising various libations and neon-colored flyers promoting upcoming shows. Diners can eat outside on the patio and inside as well.

Marcus Brown and his wife LaShae opened LaShae’s Southern Kitchen in February inside Mojo’s where the Jamaican Jerk Hut used to be. They opened the business because they wanted to show off their food talents, and they succeeded. LaShae’s father Jimmy Coleman cooks, and many of the recipes are of meals he used to cook at home. Marcus says that the family used to joke when eating at home that certain things would be on the menu if they ever opened a restaurant. That restaurant became a reality when the space opened up inside Mojo’s. When out of town, Marcus says, they realized that they would always eat at places that were southern-style. They realized that, before their restaurant opened, Columbia was missing a southern-style food joint.

LaShae’s Southern Kitchen is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until midnight, although they stop serving the daily specials before midnight. The daily specials, which include BBQ ribs, BBQ chicken, liver and onions, fried chicken, fried catfish and smothered pork chops range from $4.99 to $6.99 and include two sides. Sandwiches, including one side, cost between $3.50 and $6.00. It’s a great place to stop by and get your soul food fix for lunch or dinner. If you’re going to a show at Mojo’s at 1013 Park Avenue, north of downtown Columbia, arrive early and hungry.

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