Georgia’s Restaurant welcomes its fourth Southern California location, now open at Irvine Spectrum Center. Since debuting its family recipe-driven menu of authentic Southern cuisine exactly 10 years ago, Georgia’s has filled a void in the Orange County market, serving to define local perception of Southern Soul Food.
Contrary to what many may expect, Georgia’s origins do not trace back to the deep south, but instead to a suburb of Philadelphia, where high school sweethearts Gretchen and George Shoemaker decided to leave the Keystone State and head west to Orange County, California. It was in Lake Forest that they raised their three daughters, and also where Gretchen began a successful catering business built on her family recipes. Most mornings, Gretchen would rise early to get started in the kitchen, with George by her side playing sous chef. Oftentimes, Teddy Pendergrass’ voice would waft through the air, harmonizing with the sweet and savory aromatics of Gretchen’s Southern soul cuisine.
In the early 1990s, Gretchen’s catering business came to an abrupt halt after the untimely passing of George Shoemaker. Twenty years later, with all three daughters grown, Gretchen’s middle child, Nika, with her husband Marlon, introduced the idea of creating a restaurant that would be driven by her tried and true recipes, and serve to fulfill her lifelong dream of sharing her food with the world. They dreamed up a Southern restaurant that would celebrate authentic Soul Food, while sharing Gretchen’s story of survival, community and love.
Named in loving memory of patriarch George, with the addition of a single letter from each of his daughters’ names, Georgia’s was born. In 2014, the first Georgia’s Restaurant opened at the Anaheim Packing District, bringing an experience that celebrates Southern comfort food for the soul.
“The opening of Georgia’s was essentially a re-birth for my mother,” says Co-Owner Nika Shoemaker-Machado, who adds that her mother is now best known as “Nana Gretchen” to all she meets in a statement. “Over the last ten years, I’ve developed a new, deeper relationship with my mother, as she has reacquainted herself with her legacy recipes, and redefined her family history.
Georgia’s diverse menu delivers the experience of a home-cooked meal with recipes originating from generations past, adapted and updated for today’s diner. A great place to begin is with Nana Gretchen’s Fried Green Tomatoes, crispy coated fresh green tomatoes with a lemon aioli, and finger-licking Pulled Pork Sliders, slow-roasted pork and house-made BBQ sauce served on a brioche bun. For something a little more substantial, Southern Soul Food lovers must experience Georgia’s signature herb-seasoned, cornmeal-crusted, buttermilk Fried Chicken.
“Featuring only dark meat chicken and a special brine, our Fried Chicken has developed quite a following for being extra crispy, insanely juicy, perfectly golden and utterly addictive,” adds Shoemaker-Machado. “A personal favorite of mine, is our succulent Smothered Pork Chops, which are hand-tossed, pan-fried, and covered in bacon gravy… most people are compelled to lick the plate clean.”
Plates also include Georgia’s half rack of slow-roasted St. Louis BBQ Ribs; grilled-to-order 1855 premium Black Angus Tri-Tip; and farm-raised Fried Catfish, which is noted for its Creole-seasoned cornmeal crust. Each plate offering is accompanied by choice of delectable Soulful Sides featuring Southern favorites, including Red Beans & Rice, Collard Greens, Black-Eyed Peas, Baked Beans, Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Mac & Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, Garlic Rice, Corn on the Cob, French Fries, and Nana Gretchen’s Cornbread, served with house-made honey butter.
Among Georgia’s specialty dishes are Gretchen’s Jambalaya, cooked to order with shrimp, andouille sausage and chicken, and served over pasta or rice; and Louisiana Tilapia & Shrimp, Creole-seasoned and grilled with a tomato Creole sauce, and served over rice. A sweet and savory favorite is Chicken & Waffle, with signature Fried Chicken atop a Belgian Waffle, served with maple syrup and creamy honey butter.
True Southern aficionados can dig right into one of the bowls offered on the menu, such as the Hoppin’ John with slow-simmered black-eyed peas and deboned smoked turkey neck; and the sinfully delectable Chili Mac, with golden creamy mac and cheese served over homemade chili.
For a flavorful lunch or handheld option to take on the go, Georgia’s offers a Spicy Andouille Po’Boy, with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, dill pickles, garlic mayo and dijon mustard on a French roll; Pulled Pork Sandwich, with slow-roasted, gently pulled pork, signature house-made BBQ sauce, and coleslaw on organic brioche; and BBQ Chicken Sandwich on organic brioche with signature house-made BBQ sauce, onion straws, spring mix, and sliced tomatoes.
Desserts cannot be overlooked, with Nana Gretchen’s house-made Peach Cobbler, Sweet Potato Pie, Lemon Cake, Pound Cake, and made-to-order Beignets, served hot and dusted with sweet powdered sugar.
Georgia’s beverage offerings include a selection of soda, iced tea, signature peach and seasonal sangria, red wine andwhite wine by the glass or the bottle, and bottled craft beer.
Nana Gretchen’s food philosophy is as earnest and welcoming as her famous hugs – “so long as there is love put into what you’re cooking, anything can be soul food!”
Georgia’s Restaurant is expected to open at Irvine Spectrum Center in August 2024. The restaurant will be located at 732 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92618 (near Dave & Busters).
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