The Golden Lady Restaurant is a Texarkana treasure known for made-from-scratch soul food that warms your spirit and fills your tummy.
The establishment was founded by Thomas and Jerlene Bradley about 30 years ago and has grown in popularity ever since. The family patriarch and matriarch have passed, but their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have kept the tradition of providing “food that will make your heart smile, your soul sing and your body dance” at the Golden Lady Restaurant. Shirley Bradley, Monica B. Alexander and Billy Bradley are co-owners of the family business.
Monica began working at the Golden Lady when she was 14. She said other family members followed similar paths.
When I asked Monica about the family recipes, she flashed a big, warm smile and said, “We don’t follow any recipes. Everything is cooked from the heart.”
The meat offerings at the Golden Lady vary and range from ox tails to pig’s feet to chicken and dumplings to fried chicken to Cornish hen to T-bone steaks. The vege-table choices also differ from day-to-day. The restaurant is a cafeteria-style arrangement. You get a meat and two home-cooked vegetables per serving, but you can always add more.
During my visit, a couple of employees from nearby Southwest Arkansas Electric Cooperative accompanied me so we could sample as many combinations as possible.
Enchiladas, macaroni and cheese, pinto beans and a corn muffin.
One person had the enchiladas. They were hand-rolled in soft, flour tortillas loaded with ground beef, cheese and just enough spice. These were homemade good! This plate also included made-from-scratch macaroni and cheese that was creamy, cheesy and delicious. A nice portion of well-seasoned pinto beans rounded out the plate, along with a warm corn muffin.
“10-finger-licking-good” fried chicken.”
Another plate held two pieces of “10-finger-licking-good” fried chicken that was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It was a 10 out of 10! Of course, we had mashed potatoes and gravy with the chicken. The Brussels sprouts were cooked down just right and very tasty. We had a serving of turnip greens that were chock-full of flavor and excellent.
The next plate featured a pork steak that was prepared in a golden creamy gravy and was fork-tender. The corn had a slightly sweet flavor. A cheesy broccoli casserole rounded out this meal.
The chicken and dumplings were comfort on a plate. This is my favorite comfort dish and the Golden Lady knows how to make them right. A great serving of green beans with bacon and potatoes, along with a side of the sweet corn made this plate complete.
We also tried the pork neck, which is simmered with red and green peppers, onions and seasoning, and served in its natural gravy.
A serving of fluffy banana pudding.
The desserts of the day were banana pudding and chocolate chip cake. The banana pudding was light and fluffy with plenty of vanilla wafers to make the homemade dessert fabulous. The chocolate chip cake was prepared Bundt-pan style and was very good. Based on the offerings I sampled, I would try any dessert that the team at the Golden Lady prepares.
Give the Golden Lady Restaurant a try the next time you are in Texarkana. The friendly folks there will greet you with a smile and provide you with a home-cooked meal that will warm your soul and please your palate.