Since 1975, Sue ’N Carol’s Restaurant has been a Texarkana staple for homemade offerings that define comfort food
The visionary for the restaurant was Carol Rodenroth’s late mother, Sue Sanders Hall. She wanted the restaurant to offer excellent Southern cuisine in a family-like environment. As the years have progressed, the vision continues with Carol now operating the restaurant with her daughters, Sabrina Henderson and Tonya Richardson.
Carol’s sister-in-law, Lisa Sanders, has been waitressing there for more than 20 years, making it truly a family-affair business. Sabrina and Tonya were practically raised there. One of the regular customers even bought a baby crib for Tonya to sleep in at the restaurant after she was born. During my visit, two of Tonya’s grandchildren were visiting the establishment, so the tradition continues.
Sabrina complimented the team at Sue ’N Carol’s and mentioned the outstanding breakfast options that I needed to sample. And, after talking to me for a moment longer, she jumped back to the busy kitchen, where the team cheerfully prepared for the first stage of the restaurant’s daily lunch crowd.
The customers — businesspeople, firefighters, retirees and couples — were as diverse as the menu
offerings.
All appeared to be loving their experiences at Sue ’N Carol’s, where the thoughtful wait staff visited each table, chatting with customers and ensuring that they had everything they needed.
The décor at Sue ’N Carol’s includes adorable red upholstered chairs that complement the classic Coca-Cola collectibles adoring the walls of the warm, welcoming space. As I soaked in the inviting atmosphere, I began to smell the wonderful food cooking in the kitchen.
The daily special this afternoon was Beef Tips and Rice, featuring slow-cooked Angus beef tips that were large and fork-tender. The flavor was outstanding, with the perfectly cooked beef nestled on a nice serving of white rice and topped with delicious brown gravy. I enjoyed fried okra and a serving of northern beans. The beans were well-seasoned and satisfying. Other daily specials include: Pork Loin, Chicken Spaghetti, Chicken and Dressing and Momma’s Meatloaf. Each special comes with two sides and a roll or cornbread.
Regulars told me that the hamburgers were the best in town. “I don’t know what they do or how they do it, but my stomach craves the burgers from Sue ’N Carol’s at least once a week,” one man said.
Sabrina shared that their hamburgers are “smooshed” with a spatula on a griddle. My griddled burger of fresh Angus had that nice crust that let me know the chef was a professional. The patty was topped with a slice of melted American cheese and served open-faced with mustard, lettuce, tomato, pickles and onion for customization. Once I assembled the burger, I took my first bite, looked at the customer who recommended it and nodded my head, agreeing with his assessment. The crinkle-cut fries were a great complement to the cheeseburger.
Sue ’N Carol’s offers legendary homemade pies. I was able to try two of the restaurant’s seasonal peach and strawberry pies; both boasted a bounty of fresh fruit and whipped cream in a cream-cheese-and-sugar crust. Don’t fret if you missed the seasonal pies, as they will return. As a service to our readers, I also sampled the year-round chocolate and coconut cream pies. Both featured a meringue that was high, light and fluffy, along with a tummy-pleasing filling, lovingly prepared in a homemade pie crust.
