The “Southern Roots” of Jenny Davis and Jeff Riley are showing.

When the couple opened the doors of a family-style restaurant on Highway 231 north in Troy this week, it was the realization of Davis’ dream.

“For 10 years, I have wanted to own a restaurant. ‘Southern Roots’ is really a dream come true,” Davis said, with a smile. “I know the restaurant business is a lot of long hours and hard work but I’m a worker. That doesn’t scare me. It makes me happy. Jeff and I are excited and looking forward to being a part of the Troy business community. “

Davis and Riley agreed that “Southern Roots” is the perfect name for their cafeteria-style restaurant.
“This restaurant is all about roots,” Davis said. “It’s all about family, our family, the families that come here and the extended family that we hope Southern Roots will become.”

In creating a family atmosphere for the restaurant, Davis and Riley purchased pews from an abandoned country church.
“Faith and family. That’s what is most important,” she said, adding that what better place to strengthen those bonds than around a kitchen table laden with food like grandma cooked.

Most of the foods on the daily menu are tried and true family recipes and some recipes are the owners’ favorite recipes.

“Southern Roots” is open for lunch from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday with featured items on the meat-and-two-and-three menus each day including catfish on Friday, barbecue on Saturday and a traditional “Southern Roots” Sunday dinner on Sunday.

“We don’t really have a signature item but our banana pudding and fried chicken just might get to be,” Riley said.

“Southern Roots” is uniquely decorated with bucket lights and artwork on the walls. The restaurant features Goodson’s pecans and pecan butter from Davis’ sister’s Georgia hometown.

“Goodson’s Pecans just won the Taste of Georgia for their honey-cinnamon flavored pecan butter,” Davis said.

“Southern Roots” also has a gift shop that features local crafters and artists. Goat milk soap, birdhouses, ceramic celebrity trays and barnyard art are a few of the offerings in the gift shop area.

“This is new to us and we are excited to be here and to be apart of the business community,” Riley said. “Our restaurant location used to be the Country Kitchen that was owned and operated by the Finlay family. We want to thank Mary Finlay and her son, Tom, for all their support and advice as we ventured into the restaurant business.”

The restaurant is located at 210 U.S Highway 231 N.