Nancy and I found ourselves on Rt. 29 S below Chatham around dinner time and we were hungry. I had seen the Golden Skillet Restaurant there many times as we passed through TightSqueeze (a town, really). I remembered eating at a Golden Skillet years ago and it was good then. It still is. Really good.
We went inside to eat, and each ordered a small Fried Chicken Platter. Before I could return from the bathroom after washing my hands, food was on our table – great for travelers without a lot of time. The chicken was out of sight. Hot, crispy, juicy, and not overcooked. The sides – cole slaw and potato salad were also very good, not just an afterthought. And they always serve their chicken with a roll in genuine southern tradition.
Golden Skillet originated in Richmond. Clifton Guthrie came up with the special recipe and when one of the VPs at Thalhimer’s tasted his chicken at a company banquet, they began serving it in their restaurant in the downtown store. It was a huge hit. The first free-standing store opened in 1968 and Golden Skillet grew to 180 franchises by 1981. Unfortunately, the chain is now in decline and losing locations. But the Golden Skillet below Chatham was hopping. People were coming and going, filling the inside tables, and picking up take-out orders. The staff was efficient getting people in and out quickly and their Fried Chicken easily rivals KFC.
I asked one of the ladies how they cooked their chicken. “Southern style,” she said.
They have a huge skillet in the kitchen, and they deep fry their birds. The breading is excellent, and the chicken is perfect.
TightSqueeze is about 10 miles below Chatham, about halfway between Charlottesville and Greensboro, so if you are headed that way and you’re hungry, it’s well worth a stop.