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At several times during a recent noontime visit to Q's Restaurant in East Point, the cafeteria line nearly snaked out the front door. But the regulars who were there to get their fill of bargain-priced soul food didn't seem to mind, spending the wait happily chatting and trying to decide what to order from the list of daily specials. One even offered up a bit of friendly advice to a stranger, allowing that she really liked the baked chicken.

CONVIVIAL CROWDS: Situated in a neat storefront, a block off Main Street in a quaint section of East Point, Q's has a convivial small-town feel. Lunch crowds are a mix of airport workers, local business people, and soldiers from nearby Fort McPherson Army Base. After ordering at the steam table, and grabbing self-serve tea and soft drinks, they wind up seated at small tables or booths in the anteroom or at larger tables in the dining room next door. The décor is lunch room basic. But on sunny days, the wrought-iron tables and chairs on the sidewalk out front make a pleasant place to perch.

Sean Drakes/AJC Special (ENLARGE)
Quovadis Hershberger, owner of Q's Restaurant, serves her classic Southern sides with an entree or as a vegetable plate.
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MEAT-AND-TWO MENU: The menu at Q's is built around $5.99 meat-and-two plates, with fried chicken or grilled or fried whiting, catfish or trout as the staples. There are usually at least a half-dozen other offerings every day, plus a variety of vegetables and sides. Last week, that included several Southern-style favorites, from meaty oxtails ($9.99) and rib tips bathed in barbecue sauce ($7.49) to whole Cornish game hens ($7.99). Fried pork chops are lightly battered and moist; baked chicken is juicy and well seasoned. On the side, authentically lumpy mashed potatoes, Velveeta-creamy mac and cheese, fresh yellow squash with onions, soupy black-eyed peas, fried green tomatoes, boiled rutabagas, beans and greens are all perfectly homey. Order three as a vegetable plate for $3.99.

SWEET TREATS: The sweet tea may be enough of a sugar fix. But for dessert, look for syrupy baked fruit cobbler and classic gooey banana pudding. Decadent treats such as thick slices of red velvet and chocolate layer cake are packaged in plastic clamshells to eat-in or takeaway.

Q-UP FOR BREAKFAST: Q's also serves breakfast weekdays from 7 to 11 a.m., and 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays. The basic platter includes eggs, meat and toast. But you can also order an omelet ($3.99) or feast on catfish and grits.

HOURS: 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays; noon-4 p.m. Sundays (breakfast 7-11 a.m. Mondays-Fridays; 7 a.m.-noon Saturdays)

CREDIT CARDS: All major

PRICES: Meat-and-two, $5.99-$9.99; desserts, $1.99-$2.99

RESERVATIONS: No

RECOMMENDED DISHES: Daily meat-and-two specials; vegetable plate; cobbler

PARKING: Lot and street parking

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: Yes

SMOKING POLICY: No smoking

NOISE LEVEL: Moderate

TAKEOUT: Yes

VERDICT: Regulars Q-up for soul food meat-and-two plates at this friendly East Point storefront.