A Generous Southern Buffet Stop in Petersburg

At Nanny’s in Petersburg, a plate can start with crisp fried chicken and end with peach cobbler, with barbecue, greens, mashed potatoes and hush puppies fitting comfortably in between. The restaurant’s all-you-can-eat buffet is built for the pleasant problem of deciding what deserves a second helping.

This is straightforward Southern comfort food served in a casual, homey setting near I-95, close to the U.S. 301 exit and the Fort Lee/Petersburg area. It makes sense as a road-trip meal, but it also has enough breadth to suit a family table with several different appetites.

Fried chicken is the centerpiece here. The crust has a crisp finish, while the meat stays tender, giving the buffet one of those dependable anchors around which the rest of the plate can be arranged.

Barbecue supplies another major lane. Ribs, brisket and pulled pork have all appeared among the offerings, and the ribs are known for their smoky flavor and tender, nearly falling-from-the-bone texture. A selection of sauces gives diners room to take the brisket or pork in a different direction; table vinegar is one especially good match for brisket.

The buffet format encourages a little sampling rather than a single all-or-nothing choice. A diner can take fried chicken with a spoonful of pulled pork, then add a rib if there is still room on the plate. It is a sensible setup for people who do not want to choose between barbecue and chicken.

The sides run deep enough that a first pass can be mostly vegetables and still look like a proper supper. Collard greens, green beans, yams, cabbage, baked beans, coleslaw and homemade potato salad are among the regular points of interest.

Mashed potatoes belong in the more substantial category, especially alongside gravy-rich items such as Salisbury steak or hamburger steak with brown gravy. Chicken and dumplings, chicken pastry and hush puppies add still more old-school comfort to the mix.

Fried chicken livers are one of the buffet’s more distinctive Southern offerings. They are prepared in Nanny’s own batter, and they give adventurous eaters something beyond the usual chicken breast-and-wing routine.

Not every item is necessarily available at every meal, so the best approach is to see what is on the line that day and build accordingly. The variety is substantial enough to let familiar favorites and less-common regional dishes share the same plate.

Dessert comes with the same home-style spirit as the savory food. Peach cobbler and apple cobbler are familiar reasons to save room, while bread pudding and pineapple cake add a little variety to the sweets table.

A serving of sweet tea is a natural companion to the meal and has become a memorable detail for many diners. After a buffet plate full of barbecue, greens and potatoes, something cold and sweet is not a bad way to reset before dessert.

Nanny’s has the relaxed, friendly character of a casual Southern family restaurant. Booths and counter seating give the room different ways to settle in, and a bar area has also been noted.

Praise-and-worship music playing in the dining room adds a personal local touch rather than a generic chain-restaurant soundtrack. Service is attentive and welcoming, which helps when a table is making its way through a large buffet.

The room can be busy, particularly around Friday lunch. Still, the pace is generally that of a meal where people come to sit down, fill a plate, talk awhile and decide if cobbler is a necessary second course.

Nanny’s works well for a solo traveler or couple looking for a substantial stop between stretches of highway, but its food also scales up for groups. The restaurant offers wedding-catering packages at different price points, putting its fried chicken and barbecue into a larger-event setting.

One catered spread paired fried chicken and beef brisket with macaroni and cheese, green beans, a mashed-potato bar, and a cheese, cracker and fruit spread for cocktail hour. The mashed-potato bar has even been presented in martini cups, a playful touch for food that is otherwise happily down to earth.

That range helps explain the restaurant’s appeal: it can handle a quick buffet lunch without losing its usefulness for a family gathering, celebration or catered reception.

The restaurant is convenient to I-95, with a free parking lot that has been described as ample. Walk-ins are generally welcome, and reservations are not typically necessary.

Meals commonly fall in the roughly $10 to $30 per-person range, though buffet prices can vary by meal period. Current hours, prices and buffet selections are worth checking before making a special trip, particularly because the restaurant keeps a specific schedule rather than all-day, every-day hours.