Francis Rose prepares some fried dough balls Friday at her new restaurant Country Kooking Dine and Drive at 3769 E 5th St. in Lumberton.
David Kennard | The Robesonian
Francis Rose points out some of her favorite menu items available at her new restaurant, Country Kooking Dine and Drive at 3769 E 5th St. in Lumberton.
David Kennard | The Robesonian
Francis Rose works on some of her marketing material at her new restaurant, Country Kooking Dine and Drive at 3769 E 5th St. in Lumberton.
David Kennard | The Robesonian
LUMBERTON — Francis Rose has been professionally cooking for more than 25 years and she’s brought her favorites — and there’re a lot of them — to her new restaurant in southeast Lumberton.
Country Kooking Dine and Drive at 2535 E 5th St. in Lumberton, opened in late October with nearly 100 menu items, all created by Rose and her staff of five employees.
Rose, who’s many years of experience began with a high school culinary class and then a college degree in Virginia, said she’s developed a reputation of making everything from scratch in her restaurant kitchen.
What are her favorites?
“Philly steak, the collard wraps, let’s see, the chili cheese fries,” she said. “Oh and teh banana pudding, people really like that.”
Rose said she opened in her new location after closing her Mr. Good Burger restaurant on Highway 74 “because traffic fell off when the new highway went in.”
She described her menu as country food. “We have a lot of county fair food,” she said. “Cotton candy, ice cream, funnel cake balls.”
Beyond the menu items, Rose offers a variety of drinks, including “more than” 85 flavors of tea, homemade lemonade, slushies and soft drinks.
She’s also got a food truck business, a catering service, bounce houses, DJ service and cakes for any occasion.
“I do weddings, and lots of other events,” she said. “People really like my seven-layer cake.”
She said she was drawn to the new location on East 5th Street (Highway 211) because of the dining area. “That’s something my previous restaurant lacked,” she said. “People like a place to sit and eat.”
Her wall of fame that includes photos of some of her customers is a testament to her growing popularity in the area.
“Once I get ‘em here, I’ve got ‘em,” she said.
Country Kooking is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (or later) Monday to Saturday (some Sundays) serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
David Kennard is the executive editor of the Robesonian. Reach him by email at [email protected].
