I want to start this issue of TasteBudz with a congratulations and a personal thank you to Anne and Jim Hardwick, who for decades have been serving up some of the tastiest comfort food in the region in their popular Tanglewood Ordinary restaurant located at 2210 River Road West in Maidens.
In May, The Hardwicks, staff members, and diners celebrated Tanglewood’s 40th anniversary of serving up “Grandmother’s Sunday Dinner” in this quaint, historic Goochland restaurant.
I include a personal thank you for all the fantastic fried chicken and mashed potatoes that I’ve consumed over the past four decades. Sure, I had to let the waistline on my pants out several times, but it’s all been worth it. I continue to enjoy the Sunday dinner concept, which makes Tanglewood such a fun, family-like gathering place.
For the uninitiated, diners at Tanglewood, which first opened in 1928 as a service station, feast on bowls and platters filled with Southern comfort food such as fried chicken, ham, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, black-eyed peas, and coleslaw, plus biscuits and cornbread and, of course, plenty of iced tea.
Anne Hardwick says that much of the success has to do with the welcoming, family-like atmosphere enjoyed by both the staff and guests. “We are on our fourth generation of guests,” she adds. Come to think of it, everyone in my family from my mother to my wife, daughter, and grandkids have enjoyed dining there. If you haven’t made it a tradition in your family, now might be a good time to start. Don’t wait another 40 years.
While I’m passing out congratulations, let me send some out to Tracy Cifers, who owns and operates The County Seat Restaurant and Gathering Place in the heart of the Village of Powhatan (3883 Old Buckingham Road). Tracy has recently written a beautiful song that pays homage to her family and to the history of this venerable Powhatan dining spot.
The song, entitled “Echoes of The County Seat” is featured on the restaurant’s Facebook page and is accompanied by a slideshow featuring family members and other longtime employees and friends of the place.
Tracy took over ownership of The County Seat following the death of her mother, Janie Dean, in 2022. Mrs. Dean began operating the restaurant more than 30 years ago. Her mother, Mattie Clayton, was famous for baking the delicious cobblers that came out of the kitchen along with all the other delectable desserts in those early days. By the way, The County Seat continues to offer some of the best pies and pastries in the county.
Anyone who knows Tracy knows what an avid supporter she is of live, local musicians. There’s a performance by various local entertainers every weekend. But who knew that Tracy had such talent. I was actually quite impressed.
On one more musical note, Tracy tells me that one of the restaurants dishwashers, Sean Conner, is also a musician and she’s planning on having him provide some entertainment in the near future, perhaps during the midweek. Visit www.countyseat.com for the most up-to-date information on their line-up.
Editorial by Steve Cook; June 2026