‘Jesus is everywhere’ at this Lake Norman-area restaurant. What I got for $25

Mooresville Family House seems like the type of restaurant you look forward to eating at after a prolonged church service.

Y’all know what I’m talking about.

As a kid, I went to a Presbyterian church in Huntersville, where Communion was observed on the first Sunday of each month. That meant the service was going to last at least a half-hour longer than usual to make room for eating a small wafer and drinking a tiny plastic cup of Welch’s grape juice in remembrance of Jesus.

Communion wasn’t the only reason my butt went numb from sitting on a wooden pew for so long. The Holy Spirit was extremely active in my church, and if someone caught it, we had to pray for them. That was usually followed by the choir’s rendition of “Go Tell It on the Mountain” or “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

But the main culprit of interminable sermons were guest pastors — the kind who felt “compelled by God” to share the word of the Lord, which apparently couldn’t be summarized. I remember asking my mom for a seat cushion two hours into a guest sermon when I was around 10 years old.

Post-church meals made those experiences worth it, and if Mooresville Family House had been around when I was growing up, I probably would’ve been counting down the final amen from the moment I walked through the church doors.

The restaurant has a Southern country kitchen aesthetic, with wooden tables, spindle-back chairs, rustic wood accents and framed artwork adorning the walls, giving it a farmhouse feel.

There are also plenty of reminders of Jesus’ omnipresent presence, including a sign right outside the restrooms that reads: “Wash your hands and say your prayers, because Jesus and germs are everywhere.”

As soon as I sat down, Zac Brown Band’s “Chicken Fried” came over the speakers — a sign that it was time to eat.

Here’s what you need to know about Mooresville Family House

What’s on the menu at Mooresville Family House?

Mooresville Family House has a big, classic Southern diner menu that covers breakfast, lunch and dinner, with plenty of overlap between the three.

Breakfast is a major focus, with traditional eggs-and-meat platters, biscuits and gravy, grits, home fries, hash browns, pancakes, waffles, French toast and a variety of omelets. There are also some distinctly Southern choices, including livermush and pork tenderloin, alongside more familiar bacon, sausage and ham.

For lunch and dinner, the menu shifts toward home-style comfort food: fried chicken, chicken tenders, pot roast, meatloaf, chicken and dumplings, turkey and dressing, pork and beef dishes, seafood such as fried catfish and shrimp, plus burgers, sandwiches and salads. There are also rotating daily specials built around classic country-cooking dishes, along with sides such as mac and cheese and vegetables. Entrees range from about $8 to $20.

Here’s what I got for $25:

• Andreas’ Sampler Platter ($12.99): Two scrambled eggs, with country ham, smoked sausage, fried pork tenderloin, hash browns and wheat toast.
• Short stack pancakes ($8.99): Two pancakes topped with hot blueberries and maple syrup.

Before I started devouring the sampler platter, my server asked if I wanted some Texas Pete hot sauce, and I happily accepted. She brought me a fresh bottle, which I felt a little guilty about later because I ended up using a third of it.

I didn’t even need a knife. My fork sliced right through the tender cut of pork like butter. That, paired with the smoky sausage and flavorful ham, was a carnivore’s paradise.

I’ve heard of some people having an aversion to their food touching on the same plate, but I’m the opposite. My attempts to get each kind of meat, plus the hash browns and eggs, onto my fork weren’t successful, but the meal would have been great even if it was served to me blended up in a brunch smoothie. As my dad would say, “It’s all going to same place.”

The Frisbee-sized pancakes came next. The juice from the plump blueberries had already seeped into the fried batter, creating a bluish hue that was equal parts mesmerizing and appetizing. The syrup came separately, and I didn’t waste any time pouring it on.

Have you ever had food so good that you didn’t want to stop eating it, even after you were full? That’s the situation I found myself in.

I’d had enough to eat before the pancakes made it to the table, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me from enjoying that plate of fluffy carbs.

Each bite was better than the last. I nearly finished them off, but I figured other patrons weren’t interested in seeing what I had for lunch.

I may go back on a random Sunday to confirm my church theory — as long as the booths are still cushioned.

Location: 668 River Hwy, Mooresville, NC 28117

Menu

Cuisine: American

Instagram: @mooresvillefamilyhouse