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M<br />
any would argue that the Oil Lamp Restaurant is<br />
a Perry staple for home-cooked food.<br />
Restaurant owner Judy Wenger had previous<br />
restaurant experience before opening the Oil Lamp<br />
and its Peach <strong>County</strong> predecessor, so she said<br />
she took a chance on herself.<br />
“I had worked for restaurants before, and I just thought, ‘If I’m<br />
going to do this the rest of my life, I might as well do it on my<br />
own,’” Wenger said.<br />
Moving from a seven-table restaurant not associated with The Oil<br />
Lamp to her current establishment that seats 110, Wenger said the<br />
journey has been an adventure.<br />
Wenger said she was thinking of the future when deciding to<br />
make the move to <strong>Houston</strong> <strong>County</strong>.<br />
“To me, it looked like more potential for growth than what I had<br />
in Fort Valley,” Wenger said.<br />
The first location for the Oil Lamp was also located on General<br />
Courtney Hodges Boulevard, but in a different location for 14 years.<br />
The current location was a building that came up in foreclosure,<br />
and Wenger jumped on the opportunity around 2009.<br />
When asked what sets her restaurant apart from other offerings<br />
in Perry, she wanted to vouch for other well-run businesses in the<br />
area that also provide great meals. She emphasized that the quality<br />
of service is crucial to the Oil Lamp’s identity.<br />
She said the menu has remained mostly consistent, but she likes<br />
to add something special on occasion.<br />
“Recently, I brought back the grilled red trout and the 12 oz.<br />
ribeye steak,” Wenger said. “I haven’t had those since COVID, but<br />
“<br />
If you love home<br />
cooking, this is<br />
the spot for you.<br />
recently I brought them back, and I think people appreciate that.”<br />
She said some of her personal favorites include the roast beef<br />
and gravy, which is sold every day. One of her favorite Thursday<br />
offerings is turkey and gravy. Her favorite weekly addition is<br />
cornbread dressing and cranberry sauce.<br />
She said some of her favorite memories over the years have<br />
involved getting to know the regular customers and visitors alike.<br />
“I’m very humbled by it, and I’m glad that they appreciate the<br />
food that I do cook and that they keep coming back,” Wenger<br />
added. “I’m very grateful.”<br />
The Oil Lamp is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday<br />
from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Wednesday hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.<br />
The restaurant is located at 401 General Courtney Hodges Blvd<br />
in Perry.<br />
AT HOME IN HOUSTON COUNTY 35<br />
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