By Jeanni Ritchie
I used to roll my eyes at the ladies who lunched. Then I became one.
It’s now one of my favorite things to do each month, those scheduled AND impromptu lunches that are full of fun and fellowship. The food nurtures your body; the friendship nurtures your soul.
Ayn calls us the “lunch ladies!”
We met at The Main Dish, a longtime favorite in Cenla. Once the hotspot for prepared dishes to store in your freezer or bring to a party, they expanded to a full-service restaurant years ago. Frozen dishes are still available for purchase. We currently have a stack of Main Dishes casseroles in the deep freezer!
I was excited when I realized it was Thursday, the popular Crawfish and Corn Bisque the soup of the day. I ordered the soup and sandwich, opting for the turkey and cheese on a croissant. The soup was superb and worth a Thursday trek all on its own! I loved the turkey croissant as well. Also at our table was a chicken salad sandwich, lasagna, chef salad, and pasta salad. Everyone gave their meal two thumbs up!
Other menu items include salads like Spicy Shrimp and Avocado and The Fiesta, wraps served with garden salad or chips, sandwiches like The French Dip, burgers, and entrees including salmon, chicken, and the aforementioned lasagna.
Kids menu items include grilled cheese and PB&J with chips. They have Coke products. (Readers of this column know how important this is to me!) The Main Dish has recently added cheesecake, carrot cake, and apple cobbler to their dessert menu, adding to the popular cookies and brownies.
While we didn’t mind our raucous laughter floating through the main dining room, there is a private space for groups in the back. Seating a minimum of 5 up to 20 people, the room is available by reservation only. There is no cost for using the space, but all guests must order a meal.
The Main Dish is open Monday-Friday from 10 AM- 5:30 PM with lunch being served from 11 AM- 2 PM. Frozen meals are available for purchase on Saturdays from 10 AM- 2:30 PM.
The Main Dish is located at 5821 Provine Place, Alexandria.
