Neighborhood Dishes
Compton's Kitchen 1118 B Avenue, West Columbia + 791-0755
By Natasha Derrick
Natasha@TheColumbiaStar.com

Fast and friendly service draws customers to Compton's Kitchen. Photo by Natasha Derrick

Standing room only is the best way to describe lunchtime at Compton's Kitchen. The line stretches from the front door all the way to the cash register at the back of the restaurant. Waitresses are running around delivering food and taking drink orders with expert flair. The hungry souls in line are surveying the dining room, perhaps wondering where they will find a seat at the already crowded booths and tables.

"You have to get here so early just to get a seat," said Brad Mobley, a long time customer who visits three times a week.

Sometimes, when quarters are close and seating is at a premium, complete strangers will share a table rather than leave to eat somewhere else. This is how Norman and Juanita Robinson of St. Andrews met their friends, Melton and Jerry Martin. Now, the two couples have an unofficial lunch date. "We come here three times a week at 11 am," Norman said. "A lot of times they are here too, so we eat together."

Eighty-six-year-old Mary Rucker eats at Compton's Kitchen several times a week with her great granddaughter, Madison Keaton. Photo by Amanda Taylor

Loyal diners like the Robinsons and Martins show up everyday to get helpings of good old-fashioned Southern cuisine. Fried chicken, rice and gravy, fried okra, and broccoli casserole are just a few of the many items on Compton's lunch menu. Of course a meal here wouldn't be complete without one of their award-winning, made from scratch buttermilk biscuits.

When Perry Compton opened the restaurant in November 1977 his biscuits were the starting point from which the current menu grew.

The restaurant has changed ownership twice over the years, once to Walter Timmens in 1988 and again to the current owner, Martha Cooke, in 2000. Even though he is no longer the owner, Compton can't seem to get away from the business he started nearly 30 years ago. "He has retired a few times," Cooke said. "But it never seems to stick." Most mornings Compton comes in early and spends a few hours preparing his blue ribbon biscuits.

Norman and Juanita Robinson (l) met Melton and Jerry Martin at Compton's Kitchen. Now they try to meet there for weekly lunch dates. Photo by Amanda Taylor

One of the main reasons for Compton's appeal is the unbelievably reasonable price they charge for a generous amount of food. A lunch special, which might consist of chicken and dumplings, two vegetables, bread, and iced tea, is $4.09. A plate with a choice of meat and three vegetables is $4.95.

For many customers, the prices allow them to visit often and bring their whole family. A trip to Compton's becomes a multi-generational tradition. "There are four generations at this table," Susan Keaton explained as she introduced her mother, Fairrie Rayfield; her grandmother, Mary Rucker; and her grand daughter, Madison Keaton. "We come here together three or four times a week."

In addition to the reasonable prices and home cooked food, the friendly staff is the icing on the cake. "The staff gets to know their customers," Cooke said. "They call them by name." At Compton's it is rare when a customer is not greeted with a cheerful 'hello' and sent home without a 'have a good day.'

At lunchtime the line reaches from the front door to the cash register. Photo by Amanda Taylor

Ed and Eugenia Stokes, customers of over seven years, are typical of many Compton's patrons. Ed often brings his children, grand children, and great grandchildren in for lunch and a serving of banana pudding. His reasons for coming to Compton's are simple: "Good food, good prices, good service, and good company."