VALDOSTA — Former fans of the Humdingers Restaurant at 4670 Bemiss Road were elated when the once popular eatery re-opened three months ago after closing following a 14-year run from 1981 to 1995.

On-site chef Melissa Green co-owns the restaurant with partners Bobby Green, her husband, and Mack Glamery.

Their motto — Homestyle Cooking at Homestyle Prices — is bringing in the hungry who crave the southern cuisine that they’ve become know for.

Charles Neeley, Melissa Green’s deceased father, started the restaurant with Melissa’s mother Jane Neeley after dad retired from the military at Moody Air Force Base.

The restaurant is located just past Family Dollar on the right heading towards Moody Air Force Base. It is three miles south of Moody.

The Neeleys worked hard to develop special tasting food and recipes that they could become known for to build up a strong customer base. They succeeded, but their customers were saddened when they closed down the restaurant in 1995.

Melissa graduated Valdosta Junior High School and Valdosta High School (Class of 1986), and worked in the restaurant during those years. She married Bobby Green in 1987 who came in as a partner but doesn’t work in the eatery.

“We started out small, with a very small seating area. You had to go to the back porch to find the bathrooms,” Green said. “My grandpa and uncles came down in 1984 and built the current dining room, which seats 20. Once we get connected to Lowndes County sewer, we can expand the seating.”

Green says her parents taught her to cook, plus she gained experience by studying in Valdosta Tech’s culinary program.

“Mom taught me most of what I know. She’s living in Virginia now,” Green said. “Dad developed a great fried chicken recipe and biscuit recipe that we still use. That’s why I work from open until closing, to make sure everything we do retains the original quality and flavors that we became known for with so many people.”

The restaurant was closed for 12 years before re-opening and was a Thai restaurant that didn’t fare well before Green’s partner Mack Glamery called to say the original building was for sale.

“We really believe it was God that enabled us to get back into the original building, serving the original food,” Green said. “It’s so great to see the old customers come in and how they remember their favorites on the menu.”

The restaurant offers drive-through service, take out service, and free delivery service with minimum order of $12 from Blue Pool Drive north to Walker’s Crossing.



Q: What type of breakfast menu do you offer?



There’s eggs, omelets, grits, bacon, sausage, pancakes, French toast, biscuits, biscuits with breakfast meats, sausage and egg sandwich, etc. hash browns, toast, cinnamon raisin biscuits and more.



Q: Is there a lunch buffet?



A: Yes, Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each day there’s fried chicken and one other meat selection such as hamburger steak, chicken and dumplings or roast beef, plus vegetables including green beans, field peas, mashed potatoes, corn, okra, squash and others. Dessert and tea are included for $6.53 plus tax.



Q: Can you order off the menu at lunch?



A: Yes. We offer a full menu of sandwiches, including hamburgers, hot bogs, fish filet, grilled cheese, chicken filet, club and BLT and more. There’s a new country fried steak sandwich, shrimp or catfish nugget basket with hushpuppies, coleslaw and fries, and of course, our popular golden fried chicken dinners with side choices of Cole slaw, potato salad, baked beans, French fries, okra, mashed potatoes and gravy and biscuits. You can order chicken by the piece or chicken wings too. Chicken tenders dinners with sides. And milkshakes!



Q: What is your take out and delivery policy?



A: You can call in your order and come in and pick it up. For delivery, please check with us to make sure we come to your area because it is limited. There’s no charge with minimum orders of $12.



Q: Have you ever thought about tinkering with your dad’s recipe for fried chicken?



A: Are you kidding? He’d roll over in his grave! No way! And besides, why try to fix something that isn’t broken. I work from open to close every day we’re open to make sure things like that don’t happen because our customers love our recipes.



Humdingers

Owners: Melissa and Bobby Green, Mack Glamery

Address: 4670 Bemiss Road

Phone: 229-259-9997

Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed on Sunday.