Perhaps one of the best-kept culinary secrets in downtown Quincy is Odells – a made-from-scratch, home-cooked, Southern-style-cuisine restaurant at 144 S. Adams St.
Odells owner Derrick Lane says he enjoys being “a little exclusive,” noting he has never formally advertised the restaurant.
Odells doesn’t even have a sign out front.
“The way we’ve gone about establishing our business has been primarily through word-of-mouth,” Lane said. “If someone shows up at our door, it usually means someone who has already eaten here and enjoyed it has recommended us.”
Despite Odells’ relative obscurity, business is good. The eatery celebrated three years in business in May. Lane, who is from Quincy, was living and working in Destin when he moved back to this area with his wife, Phyllis, about eight years ago to take care of his ailing father-in-law.
Lane worked for some time as a chef in Tallahassee, but in 2015 the opportunity to open Odells came along and Lane jumped at it.
“I wanted to be able to provide the people of Quincy with great food at a reasonable price in a casual environment,” Lane said. “At Odells, people can just come and be themselves and it is a restaurant where we want everyone to feel welcome.”
The environment the Lanes have created at Odells is one of the things regulars like Terry Thomas of Quincy enjoy most about the restaurant.
“Odells has great food, of course, but you come in here and get great service and get treated like you are part of the family,” Thomas said. “I have recommended Odells to many people, and most of them have come back to also become regulars.”
But Odells may not be such a secret for much longer. Lane said the city of Quincy is about to approve a facade grant to help him revitalize the exterior of his building.
The renovations even include a brand new sign.
“It usually takes a few years for a restaurant to establish itself,” Lane said. “This grant from the city, though, should really help us grow.”
Lane also hopes to grow Odells’ reputation as a place for celebration – big celebrations.
Odells has a fenced-in area outside the restaurant for outdoor parties, as well as a large banquet room in another building for parties up to 200 people.
“Quincy doesn’t have too many places like mine, where people can throw the fun parties they want to have,” Lane said. “We’d like to help people throw these kind of events where they can celebrate with their friends and families.”
For more information, visit www.odellsdowntown.com or call (850) 662-4223.
By Randall Lieberman
randall@prioritynews.net