Slice of Sunday dinner traditions

On the broad front porch of McNeely’s Place a few minutes before opening on a recent Sunday morning, I make the acquaintance of Ray Allen, one of a handful of customers waiting to get in. Allen tells me he comes to eat in the North Augusta dining room every Sunday at 11.

Peering in from the porch, I see one of the staff set a glass of tea on a windowside two-top table. When the front door opens, my new friend walks in and heads straight for that table. It is where he sits every Sunday and drinks sweet tea with his dinner. I ask Allen what he thinks I ought to eat. Without hesitation, he recommends turkey and dressing.