Dari Dip serves a wide variety of traditional Southern favorites, including popular seafood dishes such as fried catfish and hush puppies.
"Our seafood's pretty popular," says Don Benton, who purchased Dari Dip in 2009 with his son, co-owner Donald Benton. "We've got customers that come in just for that. One of my customers said that our seafood is better than Red Lobster and at a fraction of the cost."
Dari Dip serves a seafood platter that includes fried shrimp, clam strips, scallops, crab cakes and a catfish filet. Benton says the shrimp, catfish or scallop platters are also favorites with the restaurant's guests.
The menu also features everything from steak with a baked potato to hamburgers and fries.
In addition to the regular menu, guests can enjoy daily specials. Country-style steak is served on Mondays, chicken salad on Tuesdays, fried ocean fish filets on Wednesdays, chicken and dressing on Thursdays, meatloaf on Fridays and braised beef liver on Saturdays.
Specials available every day include two grilled boneless pork chops and chicken fried chicken, which is prepared with tenderized chicken that is handbreaded and fried to order. After frying, the chicken is smothered with white gravy and served with the guest's choice of two sides.
Benton says favorite sides include squash or broccoli casserole when it is available, macaroni and cheese, creamed potatoes, green beans and pinto beans. Last summer, Dari Dip introduced fried green tomatoes, which became so popular they are now a mainstay.
"We are introducing a new vegetable - deep-fried corn on the cob," Benton says. "I picked it up on TV; it's a tradition out of Texas. I've been working on it and working on it."
Dari Dip prepares a variety of soups every day including cheesy potato, chicken noodle, house-made vegetable beef and housemade chili. Wednesdays are a favorite day for diners because the kitchen prepares chicken and dumplings, Benton says. He adds that Dari Dip's regular customers return not only for their favorite recipes, but also to chat with the restaurant's friendly staff.
"We've got servers that know the customers," Benton says. "They know what they drink and can bring it out without asking. The guests feel like they are at home; like it is somebody who cares. I try to get by the table and speak to them too; find out how they and their family are doing."
Dari Dip became known for its ice cream when it opened in 1853 as a local ice cream shack. Today, the Bentons continue to experiment and add new flavors such as a black walnut ice cream and a s'mores explosion, which is made with s'mores blended with vanilla ice cream. Benton says guests can enjoy different flavors of explosions including Oreo, Snickers, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, M&M and Butterfinger. The candies can be added to either vanilla or chocolate ice cream.
ADDRESS: 302 W. Villanow St. in LaFayette, Ga.
PHONE: 706-638-3274.
HOURS: Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.