Taste of Barrow: Sara Jo's Kitchen

Taste of Barrow is a weekly profile highlighting what local restaurants have to offer their customers. Read about the latest featured food every Wednesday.

The facts

, located at 138 W. Athens St. in Winder, is owned by city resident Brian Cantrell, who opened the breakfast and lunch eatery in July 2009. The business is named for his mother, who passed away that same year, and occupies a corner space in the Brookwood Place Retail Center. Sara Jo's is open from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. Take out orders can be placed by calling 678-963-7922.

The food

Sara Jo's serves breakfast items all day and the breakfast menu was crafted around three staples: biscuits, eggs and bacon.

"We basically wanted to do a country cooking breakfast," Cantrell said.

The signature buttermilk biscuits are made from scratch every morning and can come slathered with gravy.

"We like to think we have the lightest, fluffiest biscuit in town," Cantrell said.

Popular breakfast items include the breakfast burrito, made with two scrambled eggs, green peppers, onions, potatoes, cheese and a choice of bacon, sausage or ham, and during the summer months, the plate-sized hot cakes made with fresh blueberries.

After breakfast, lunch was sort of an after-though, Cantrell admitted, and originally consisted of burgers, Philly cheese steak and salads before other items were added, including sandwiches, low-carb wraps and heavier fare, such as the fried chicken and pork chops.

"We're still trying to get to where having a more country style lunch," Cantrell said.

The features

Sara Jo's offers booth and table seating in a brightly lit dining area as well as counter seating just outside the restaurant's small kitchen. Black and white prints on canvas line one of the light yellow walls.

The faces

A single server, Brandie, works the front Monday through Friday, while Cantrell's wife, Rachelle, and another server, Tori, take care of customers on the weekends. Cantrell does all the cooking.

"I have the business thinking for it and (Rachelle's) my other half," he said. "She definitely has the personality to make people want to come back and see her and get food."

The claim to fame

Cantrell said it's the half-pound burgers.

"I have people tell me all the time it's definitely the best hamburger in town," he said.

The Sara Joe's burger is the most popular and is topped with bacon, cheddar cheese and a fried egg served alongside house-made fries.

Philosophy on food

"Everything is cooked to order for individual guests," Cantrell said. "Nothing comes up and sit under a heat lamp. Everything basically comes off the grill, onto a plate, onto your table."