She has boundless energy, hand slicing bright yellow squash, chopping onions, and prepping all of the fresh ingredients for the days offerings. From scratch, she bakes cornbread and all of the desserts of the day, including a signature Tres Leches cake. Her name is Rosa.

At Rosa’s Home Cooking, you’ll find a variety of choices on the cafeteria style, custom-made steam table. Turkey and Dressing, chopped steak, beef stew, and barbecue chicken are just a few of the daily entree selections. Diners pair those with real mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, broccoli casserole, potato salad, black eyed peas, brunswick stew and so many other choices. Finish up with homemade chocolate, carrot, lemon or coconut cake, banana pudding or strawberry shortcake. Periodically, Rosa makes authentic flan, a latin-american custard.

Rosa Montes, a native of Peru, says, “I cook simple food, like you might cook in your home. My ingredients are all fresh, everything. Nothing is processed chemicals. The garlic and onion are fresh. I use fresh cilantro and parsley, and all fresh vegetables.”

Her favorites on the menu are the green beans, also cabbage and corn. “I put everything on my plate,” say Rosa.

For many years, Rosa worked as an obstetrician in Peru. When she moved here, she also worked in obstetrics, mainly with native Spanish speakers. But her true love was always cooking. For fifteen years she owned and ran a Peruvian restaurant in New Jersey. When she sold that and moved here with her nearly grown children and husband of two decades, she wanted a break, but couldn’t stand to be at home all day.
So she got a job cooking in a local restaurant for $8 an hour. Quickly, they promoted her and gave her a raise. Rosa said, “I was working like it’s mine. and My husband said, ‘You are working so hard.’”

After going out with her truck driver husband, Rosa decided that life on the road was not for her. She pointed out to him a location on Jeff Davis, near where 314 and GA 85 meet and said, “I would like to work in there.”

Her husband checked it out and surprised her by buying the business for her birthday. Together, they made tthe necessary renovations and opened up on Apr. 16 of this year.

Today when you walk in, you might be greeted by one of Rosa’s children, Lissy and Luis. As a family, they manage the casual restaurant, offering delicious homemade lunches and dinner at a reasonable price.

Customers agree. “The food is superb--down home cooking. This is my second time this week. We brought friends last weekend,” said Brenda Downs of Ed Downs and Associates Law Office.

One regular even sent a card with a gift certificate included. It read in part, “Thank you for providing such delicious food at a fair price. You’re the best.”
“A lot of people come in every single day. They feel like friends now,” said Rosa.

What do customers eat the most of? According to Rosa, “Some days chicken goes fast. Some days the ribs go. Sometimes I make fifty chopped steaks in one hour and they all go. One older lady was so happy she could eat our ribs because the meat was so tender.”

Rosa is looking forward to decorating the restaurant for Christmas, but before she gets to that, she’ll be busy in the next few weeks making Thanksgiving Dinner to fill all the orders they’ve gotten. Rosa’s is offering an 18 pound turkey, dressing, a choice of any two side dishes, 12 cornbread rolls and a choice of apple or sweet potato pie for $140. There is still time to order, but be sure to call by this Friday, Nov. 21. They will be closed from Nov. 27 through Dec. 4.

Recently, Rosa’s started offering catering. “I have a lot of orders for Christmas already--a lot of churches,” she said.

Rosa’s is sandwiched between GA 85 and Jeff Davis, next to Dominos and Burger King. For their fresh-made food, a veggie plate of 3 choices, with bread and beverage is only $4.99. An entree with two sides, bread and beverage is only $6.99. And that’s good for both lunch and dinner.
To order Thanksgiving dinner, or for specific directions call Rosa’s at 770-731-0007.

Who: Rosa’s Home Cooking
What: Casual, homemade entrees and fresh vegetables
When: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Closed Saturday. Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: 652 N. Jeff Davis Dr. Fayetteville GA 30214
Telephone: 770-731-0007