MILLEDGEVILLE —
When Amos Harper lost his job at Rheem in 2009, he wasn’t sure what to do next.
But he gathered up his family members and formulated a plan to open his own restaurant, now known as the Real Deal Grill, located at 185 W. Andrews St.
“Rheem went out of business and I went searching for something else to do,” he said. “So I got together with my family to form a business.”
The business, which is located across the street from the old Shaw manufacturing plant and just beside the Family Korner, offers an array of food items including a full line of sandwiches, dinner plates and a hot bar that changes every day.
The restaurant’s prices, ranging from $3 for a sandwich to upward of $7 for a rib plate with two sides, is part of the business’s main draw, said Harper.
“We want to put out an affordable product that’s high quality,” he said. “We want to give people their money’s worth.”
Harper has been running the business with his siblings, and the three family members started out cooking food outside on the grill, despite adverse weather, cold and hot, he said.
Now, the restaurant has moved into its new building, as of July 16, and is happy to be serving up delicious food on the south side of town.
“I thought that the south side of town needed something, and I want everybody to enjoy our hospitality,” he said.
Harper described the eatery’s food as grilled, country cooking and even fast food, as the restaurant prepares to open up a drive-through window later in the month, he said.
The restaurant serves up an array of foods such as a white or dark meat plate for $6.75, a hickory smoked rib plate for $7, a fried catfish plate for $6 and standalone items such as hamburgers, sausage dogs and barbecue sandwiches for just $3.
Sides include potato salad, fries, okra, corn nuggets and baked beans, and the restaurant also serves up homemade cakes and pies for a sweet ending to the meal.
Additionally, the restaurant’s daily hot bar includes items ranging from okra, collard greens, and macaroni and cheese to spaghetti, and cube steak and rice, said Harper, and customers can simply call or come by the restaurant to inquire about the daily specials and hot bar selections.
The restaurant also offers customers a unique and nostalgic way to pass the time while they’re waiting on food, as a ’80s-style game machine invites customers to play Ms. Pacman and Galaga.
Harper said he is glad to have his current job and he finds the business to be rewarding in so many ways.
“I love it. I love doing what I’m doing,” he said. “I like getting responses from customers. We try to treat everybody fair and good, and we get pretty good feedback.”
The Real Deal Grill and More is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Call (478) 804-0144 for the daily hot bar menu or to place an order.
Business
Related Photos
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When Amos Harper lost his job at Rheem last year, he came up with the idea of opening a restaurant. Today he and family members serve up Southern-style cuisine on the south side of town at the Real Deal Grill. Jessica Luton
Discussion
Real Deal offers home-style cooking, affordable prices
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