Southern food lovers can rejoice that Mr. and Mrs. G’s continues to turn out some of the best fried chicken in the city. The skin crackles with a simple mixture of salt, pepper, and flour, yet it covers plenty of juicy meat underneath.

Bold flavors surprise you at every turn at this little cafeteria on the east side, where lines trail out the door at lunch. Yes, the building is a cinder block box with a dingy paint job. But who cares when the sweet potatoes are so transcendent, thanks to the addition of a little vanilla? They’re the perfect addition to a plate piled high with smothered steak or ham hocks with greens. “The smothered pork chops could mend a broken heart, the collard greens require no teeth,” claimed one contributor. Black-eyed peas, fried okra, cornbread—they’re all made from scratch and they’re great with a glass of red Kool-Aid.

Desserts are in a class by themselves. The exceptional banana pudding builds on all the right childhood memories, while the buttermilk pie and the berry cobbler are irresistible. The flaky crust and buttery interior of the apple pie are guaranteed to make you sigh with contentment. Sweet potato pie? “Gently addictive.”