Burn Ban in Effect. All outdoor burning is prohibited in Franklin County.
It’s not unusual for diner patrons to circle Mount Vernon’s downtown square a few times to find a parking spot on Thursdays or weekends. Local Mount Vernon restaurants offer diners a popular opportunity to experience great food and fellowship with friends and family.
This past Thursday offered a unique experience at the local Loading Dock restaurant, which isn’t typically open for dinnertime hours. The popular roadshow, Chowdown Nation Roadshow from Cincinnati, Ohio, is making its way through independent diners across our region of East Texas. Starting in Ohio, the roadshow spent over a decade promoting independent eateries before expanding nationally. Traveling coast-to-coast, the crew films local independent kitchens, documenting signature dishes and sharing stories of local owners and patrons. Their motto is “Eat Where the Locals Brag.”
During their recent visit to The Loading Dock, host Ashley Dawn and videographer Nick Montag captured fan-favorite local menu items and interviewed owners Chris and Kathy Johnson.
The Loading Dock, located in the historic Glove Factory building just north of the downtown square, featured a delicious Reuben sandwich, along with their usual popular favorites such as Chef Maga’s famous chicken salad and broccoli soup. (I wonder how many gallons of chicken salad and broccoli soup Maga has prepared in her tenure as Cook in multiple Franklin County kitchens? I bet she’s lost count!)
The digital episodes of the Roadshow’s featured stops premiere on platforms like YouTube and Facebook, putting hidden local gems on the national map. On their recent East Texas tour, the crew also stopped in Rockwall, Winnsboro, and Quitman.
Don’t miss the premiere of The Loading Dock visit, which will air in a few weeks on the restaurant’s Facebook page. Follow The Loading Dock’s page to watch when it becomes available.
The Loading Dock, with Drive-thru or Dine-In options, is open early to get your day started with a variety of coffee and tea specialty drinks. Lunch items include a variety of sandwiches, salads (did I mention the chicken salad?), charcuterie lunch boxes, soups, and delicious daily desserts such as lemon tiramisu and banana pudding that tastes just like Grandma’s.
Take-out casseroles like chicken enchiladas are a hometown favorite and make dinner meals at home quick and easy.
The beautiful, inviting ambiance of the restaurant, with a fireplace and sofa lounging area, provides a comfortable space for gathering with friends or family, showers, or group get-togethers.
Check out The Loading Dock. You’ll be glad you did!
Open Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Saturdays 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
