By F.C. Foodie
Special to The Citizen

For years, Senoia was a nice sleepy, historic town in eastern Coweta County. Visitors would come and admire the historic homes and promptly leave and go have dinner in Peachtree City or Newnan.

But those days have ended, thanks to the revitalization of the downtown led by Paul Lombardi and Scott Tigchelaar of the Historic Senoia project. An empty lot on the city’s Main Street has been transformed into a handsome four-story brick building that blends in with the city’s historic flavors. The building houses two restaurants that draw hundreds of residents from nearby Fayetteville and Peachtree City who are looking for unique dining concepts.

The first floor of the building houses The Redneck Gourmet. Redneck started in Newnan and has brought its unique dining experience to Senoia. My favorite meal at Redneck is breakfast, where you can get the old favorites, including country ham. Redneck offers many familiar staples, and serves some of its delicious hot dogs only on Fridays and Saturdays. You can’t beat the atmosphere, either, as you watch people stroll downtown and into the new shops in downtown, created by another man with a vision, John Barrow.

But just down a narrow set of stairs, or elevator if you prefer, lies Maguire’s Irish Pub. Walking down the stairs, you’re almost transported to a restaurant that could fit into Savannah’s dining scene. Inside, a beautiful copper-stamped ceiling and huge fireplace offer a warm atmosphere to try some pub grub.

But this is no ordinary pub grub. The French onion soup is out of this world, and the meatloaf is wonderful. Maguires also offers an amusing take on Krystal’s burger, but they’re far more flavorful. I’ve also sampled the shepard’s pie and chicken pot pie, which are both excellent.

Since its opening on St. Patrick’s Day, the restaurant has been slammed with business and waits of an hour have been common. If there’s ever an area that’s been starving for good restaurants it’s Senoia. But the cat is out of the bag, and Fayette residents are beginning to experience the charms of this quaint town.

login to post comments