Lexington restaurant run by seven siblings would make grandmother proud

Lexington is known as a family-friendly town with just about every chain restaurant around. That’s why a true family-owned restaurant – such as Momma Rabbit’s Nibbles & Sips – really stands out.

That and the Reuben.

“We ask a lot of our customers how they heard about us, and a lot of them will say they heard about our Reuben,” said co-owner and manager Will Allen.

Made with house-smoked corned beef and topped with housemade sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing, the Reuben quickly has become one of the most requested items on the menu at Momma Rabbit’s, which opened in January in the Travinia-anchored Sunset Boulevard shopping center across from Target.

The restaurant is owned by the seven Allen siblings – Will, Sarah, Spencer, James, John, George and Richard – all of whom work in the eatery as waiters, cooks and every other role required to run a restaurant that serves lunch, dinner and a weekend brunch.

While the Reuben is a favorite, the made-from-scratch whole-wheat Belgian waffle served at Saturday and Sunday brunches also is highly requested.

“We have our own wheat grinder, and Sarah grinds the wheat fresh to use in the waffles,” said the Allens’ mom, Mandy, who also helps out at the restaurant. “It’s crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and it tastes delicious. Not what people expect in a whole-wheat waffle at all.”

Customers also go for the Adam’s Eve, a thinly sliced prime rib and provolone stacked on a soft yeast bun, drizzled with horseradish crema and served with au jus. They also like the Carolina Club with roasted turkey, baked ham, smoked bacon, provolone, lettuce, tomato, remoulade and a tangy housemade chowchow, stacked high on whole-wheat bread.

How did Momma Rabbit’s get its start?

The eight Allen siblings (brother Webb is deceased) grew up as an agrarian home-schooling family in Irmo who learned how to grow crops organically and raise sheep, goats and free-range chickens.

With their farming knowledge – and two University of South Carolina culinary degrees earned by Will and Sarah – they decided the restaurant business was a good fit. In December 2014, the siblings pooled the inheritance they received when their grandmother Sue Waring Franklin – whom the siblings affectionately called Momma Rabbit – and decided to go into business together by purchasing Everyday Gourmet. In January, the brothers and sisters re-branded the restaurant as Momma Rabbit’s, reinventing it as an everything-made-from-scratch lunch, dinner and brunch spot.

What else?

It’s pretty clear the Allens love what they do and have fun with the entire concept – including naming menu items related to their farm raising or to sayings from Momma Rabbit herself.

For instance the Ida Claire salad – spinach topped with almonds, strawberries and goat cheese – was named after the first goat the siblings had on their farm. The Howareya? sandwich with baked ham, havarti cheese, sweet mustard barbecue sauce, coleslaw and fresh pineapple served on toasted Hawaiian bread is named in honor of Momma Rabbit’s pronunciation of her favorite vacation destination.

Who eats here?

Stop in for lunch and you may ask, “Who doesn’t eat here?” Typically, the lunch line files out the door during the restaurant’s lunch hours. Momma Rabbit’s appeals to families, professionals, couples looking for a quiet date night and just about anyone looking for housemade original food with a healthy twist.

The restaurant’s large selection of to-go dinners appeals to busy parents who can grab a full meal of chicken pot pie or a quart of tomato bisque to heat up at home. Sunday brunch is a big draw for all, too.

What does the place look like?

Momma Rabbit’s decor is unexpected for a restaurant in a small strip mall-type atmosphere.

Lane Joiner of Newberry, a friend of the family, helped the Allens decorate the space and created a warm, welcoming atmosphere with a wide-plank, old barn-wood wall, dark stained concrete floors and comfy chairs and a sofa around a small wood stove.

The walls are full of old movie posters found in Momma Rabbit’s home after her death, as well as a large photo above the wood stove fireplace of a very young Momma Rabbit donning an extra large sun hat.

Lace panels above the windows soften outside light, while a small covered patio decorated with soft-lit Edison string lights create a cozy ambiance outside, as well.

This story was originally published May 4, 2016 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Lexington restaurant run by seven siblings would make grandmother proud."