Belva Cooper and Karriema Watkins put their heart and soul into serving up home-style comfort food at Granny B’s Soul Food restaurant. Since January 2015, the mother-daughter team has been delighting area diners at their eatery at 733 Aurora Ave. in Aurora.
“We make everything here and it’s all made to order,” Watkins said. “It’s home-style cooking that everybody enjoys.”
Watkins said her mom, the namesake for Granny B’s, is originally from Louisiana, and many of the recipes have been influenced by Creole cuisine.
“We have our own recipes and we add a twist to them,” Watkins said.
Cooper and Watkins recently made an appearance on “The Steve Harvey Show,” and they hope to one day host their own mother-daughter cooking show. For now, they’ll continue to delight local diners with their made-from-scratch meals.
We sat down with the Cooper and Watkins to learn more.
What’s on the menu? Home-style cooking that is sure to satisfy is what you will find at Granny B’s. From the smothered pork chops, fried chicken and catfish dinners to sides like macaroni and cheese, fried okra, cabbage and yams, there is something for everyone.
About the owners: Aurora residents Belva Cooper, also known as Granny B, and her daughter Karriema Watkins are the heart and soul behind this eatery. After running a catering business out of their home for about seven years, the duo decided to venture into the restaurant business in 2015.
Mission statement: Watkins said their goal is to provide home-style cooking and comfort food that everyone enjoys and finds satisfying.
Decor: The bright red exterior and tall triangular peaks on the roof makes Granny B’s easy to spot from the street. The interior is simply decorated in neutral tones and has six tables for diners who choose to eat in.
Food specialties: The smothered pork chops are legendary, as are the catfish and the chicken wings. The baked macaroni and cheese is also a must-have, and Watkins said “no order goes without it.” Save room for dessert, whether you choose banana pudding, peach cobbler or the Angelica Cake, which is sold by the slice.
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We’re different because: Watkins said Granny B’s is unique for many reasons, but one big one is that they are the only soul food restaurant in Aurora.
Extras: Catering for parties big or small is available, as well as carry-out and delivery serviced through UberEATS.
Price range: Lunch ranges from $5.99 to $6.99 (and includes fries) and dinners (two meats and two sides) run from $10.99 to $12.99. Desserts are $3.50.
Logistics: Granny B’s is located at 733 Aurora Ave. in Aurora (near the intersection of North Broadway and Aurora Avenue). They are open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. To avoid waiting, they suggest you call ahead at 630-486-3274. For more information, visit www.grannybsoulfood.com.
Jane Donahue is a freelance writer for The Beacon-News.