The Macon Telegraph from Macon, Georgia • E19

19EFriday, February 18, 2011 THE TELEGRAPH macon.com Taste BuzzRestaurant reviewers dine anonymously at Telegraph expense. New restaurants must be open at least two months before a review. Reviews are not related to advertising. REviEw REcAPsSideboard Southern Buffet, 105 Fairview Drive, Perry, (478) 987-004. Three stars.

El Carnaval Restaurant, 4009 Pio Nono (478) 785- 6717. Three stars Vietnamese Cuisine Doner Kebab, 85 Ga. 247, Warner Robins. (478) 293-1260. Two and a half stars Downtown Fish House, 120 W.

Madison, Dublin. (478) 272-3881. Three stars Hello There Cupcake, 4524 Forsyth Road, (478) 405-5599. Three stars Wok II, 4010 Northside Drive, Suite N. (478) 474- 3131.

Three stars Bombay City Indian Restaurant, 3720 Bloomfield Village Drive. (478) 845- 2283. Three stars British Pantry, 100-Y N. Houston Lake Centerville. (478) 953-4009.

Three and a half stars Hacienda Vieja, 4640 Presidential Parkway, Suite J. (478) 471-7775. Three and a half stars Sandwich Shoppe, 1201 Sunset in the Perry Plaza, Perry. (478) 987-2428. Three stars A i By EATON wRiGHT Telegraph correspondent GORDON The Front Porch, a pick-up window joint in Gordon owned by Speaker of the House John brother, is not the type of place you would drive more than 20 miles to visit (though I did to review it).

not the kind of place you would go for a gourmet meal, but if close by, a good place to pick up a quick lunch or dinner. When we first arrived, we ac- cidentally tried to go through the door, until we realized that would get us straight into the kitchen. Oh, so why called the Front Porch because liter- ally a front porch and nothing but. It was freezing outside when we visited, so we took our food home, but I bet a great spot to sit and watch the trains go by on a spring afternoon. If going to be in the Gor- don area, you should try the Porch Burger, a hand-pattied burger that will remind you how much you like to eat grilled meat.

a steal at $3.99. Instead of the ordinary fries with that, try the thin-cut slaw or onion rings instead. We also liked the chicken and dumplings, full of chunky chicken and peppery thick dump- lings. This hit the spot on a cold evening and was great with the buttery cornbread hoe cake that came with it (I could eat a whole plate of those). We also tried the chili, which was a little spicy but just right on a cold night.

It was also a good deal at $2.69 for a small or $3.29 for the large. All the stories on the internet about the Front Porch mention Greg desire to bring Cincinnati-style chili spa- ghetti to the South, but it listed on the menu or specials board. Our least favorite item was the fried shrimp and fries plate. At about $7.50, the plate was over- fried and under-flavored, tasting like it came straight out of a fro- zen box. Other items you might try are the hot dogs with chili, chili and cheese, or chili and slaw; chicken wings; chicken strips and corn dogs.

Healthier choices include a chicken salad cold plate or a salad with grilled chicken. They also have a Club sandwich for $4.99, a Super Club for $6.25, a BLT for $3.49 and a BBQ sandwich for $2.99. So if driving through Wilkinson County and have a for tea so sweet the sug- ar hits your tongue before the tea does, look for the Tread On Me flag hanging on a porch across from the railroad tracks. And if lucky, you might even get to shake the hand of the brother of the third most powerful person in the country. The Front Porch Address: 260 Milledgeville Road, Gordon Phone: (478) 628-3573 Hours: 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Monday-Friday, 10:30 p.m. Saturday Payment: Cash, credit Price range: $1.15 and up Smoking: Yes Alcohol: No Kids Menu: Yes Noise Level: Low Wheelchair accessible: Yes Health Rating: 87 a visit to Front Porch in Gordon JASON TELEGRAPH The rib eye steak sandwich with a baked potato from The Front Porch in Gordon..