HAMLET - When Anita Collins was a little girl, she had a calling. It was from her grandmother, Annie Jane Johnson, and it had nothing to do with religion. Annie Jane was determined that her grand-daughter would learn to cook (as well as fish at Hamlet’s City Lake).
So, at the age of 5, little Anita was taught how to make grits. From there, under the tutelage of her grandmother at 310 7th Street, she rapidly advanced to the point where her cooking skills were second only to the other calling that she received – this one was from the Lord.
Anita Collins became a pastor, spreading the word of God. This undertaking led her to Clinton, Maryland, but she was not happy. Undecided as to what to do with her life, Anita did not have to wait long before God spoke to her. In 2001, she was told “If you don’t move now, you will miss your blessing!”
Far from it for a pastor of the church to question the word of God, so … Anita Collins moved back to Hamlet, determined to make a go of her career as a pastor as well as a restaurant entrepreneur.
Whether it was an act of God or not is subject to debate, but yet another person of faith magically appeared to help Anita’s dream succeed. Pastor Ozie Felder just happened to have a small piece of property perfect for Anita’s vision of a small eatery in the Dobbins Heights community.
Opening initially in 2011, the Devine Café operated successfully for five years before Pastor Collins had to close the restaurant for a brief time. But she is back now and, with the continual help, support, and encouragement of Pastor Felder, her friends, and her family, the ultimate dream has now once again manifested itself in reality: the Devine Café is open for business!
After the grand re-opening of Saturday, April 7th, Pastor Collins and her crew (i.e., Betty and Shantell Crudup; Delores Green; James, Lynn, and Sharon Johnson; DeShawn Murphy; Shiele Ortiz; and Elonte Riley) now offer a veritable smorgasbord of culinary delights for even the pickiest of palates!
No less than twelve different types of sandwiches (BLT, steak and cheese, BBQ, PB&J, and grilled cheese), burgers (Sriracha, Carolina, and American), and specialties (croaker, collard greens, pork chop, and Po’ Boy) are listed on the menu, complete with a selection of sides to include baked beans, cole slaw, hush puppies, and French fries.
Specialties include fried okra, chili cheese fries, and, of course, chicken wings (sets of 4, 6, or 10). The Café also offers fish (particularly in conjunction with Friday specials) such as croaker, tilapia, and whiting (either as a sandwich or part of a dinner plate combination).
Kids’ meals are available for the youngsters, as is a great selection of drinks (canned sodas, homemade tea, lemonade, fruit punch, and the “Refreshing Spring” beverage concoction of multiple “secret” ingredients.
Desserts such as banana pudding, cake, bread pudding, and peach cobbler are all homemade, as are most, if indeed not all, of the primary foodstuffs.
Operating hours for the Devine Café are 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and Sundays 12 noon till 5:30 p.m. “Fish Friday” is an excellent day to experience the delicious food and calming ambience of Pastor Anita’s eatery, but dinner specials are offered on Saturday and Sunday as well, with brunch being provided throughout the day on Sunday.
It should be noted that take-out orders are readily available by calling 910-716-2068.
Located at 108 Earle Franklin Drive in Hamlet, the Devine Café can be easily found directly behind the Circle B (at the intersection with 177) and should be your regular stop whenever you are in the Dobbins Heights area.
