By Staff
STEAK PLACE Don and Jeanne Vares own Zack Garvin's Original Steak House at the intersection of Highway 15 and U.S. 80 in Newton. The restaurant, open 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, specializes in steaks and cheesecakes. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By Penny Randall / staff writer
Jan. 8, 2003
The owners of Zack Garvin's Original Steak House in Newton want people to know they can get a "flame kissed" steak or an appetizing fish or chicken dish all served up with a friendly smile.
Jeanne and Don Vares have owned Zack Garvin's Original Steak House since 1995, when they purchased it from Robert Garvin.
Restaurant business
This is not the first time, the Jeanne and Don have ventured into the food business. They owned the Newton Sonic Drive-in for several years.
The restaurant is open Thursday through Saturday from 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Jeanne and Don both have other full-time jobs.
Jeanne is a retired public school teacher and now teaches with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians as a middle school teacher at Conehatta Middle School. Don works for the Mississippi Housing Authority as a house inspector.
Jeanne said this gives them enough time to focus on the restaurant on the weekends.
At home Jeanne does all the cooking, but at the restaurant her husband is the chef.
The speciality
The restaurant's speciality are the steaks grilled over a flaming gas grill. All entrees are served with Zack's salad, bread and your choice of baked potato, seasoned french fries or a baked sweet potato.
There's a huge selection of meats. Rib eyes come in an 8- to 9-ounce, 11- to 12-ounce and 16-ounce cuts. The filet mignon comes in 6-ounce and 10-ounce cuts And the prime rib is served in a 12- to 14-ounce piece.
If it's a taste of Louisiana you're looking for, then try the Lafayette Rib Eye which is a grilled medium rib eye topped with Zack's Crawfish …touffe.
Don't worry, the menu is filled with other meats including Zack's Sunday Chicken, Spicy Grilled Catfish and Catfish Parmesan.
And don't forget about the tasty appetizers. Jeanne said the No. 1 request is Papaw's Tomato Fritters, thin-sliced, fried green tomatoes covered with Jack and Cheddar cheeses and topped with real bacon bits.
Also on the menu are Zack's Cheese Fries, Fannie's Blooming Onion and Stuffed Scallops on the Half Shell.
And, as it says on the menu, "What's a meal without dessert?" Choose from the homemade cheesecake with strawberry sauce, Double Fudge Candy Bar Cake or a bowl of cold sorbet.