Salt and sugar are staples of the Southern cook, and that was evident on the lunch buffet one recent Sunday at Andrew's Restaurant in  Doubletree Hotel Augusta.

This is one of the nicest-looking lunch buffets in Augusta, and it's reasonably priced at $10 . It's authentic soul-pleasing fare of greens, Southern meats and starches, but on a recent Sunday it was laden with sugar and salt.

Barbecued, shredded ham was in a red ultra-sweet sauce, creamed corn was sugary and rich and the strawberry cake was so sweet it made your teeth hurt. A lighter touch on the dishes and this would have been comfort food heaven.

You can eat well here, though, by being selective. For instance, Lunch Buddy Donna's fried chicken was a standout: Moist, light and perfect.

The salad bar was also a good choice: The  marinated cucumbers were delectable.

Desserts were pretty, but too sweet, except for the bread pudding, which  was hot and fresh.

Andrew's is a great choice for an after-church dinner. The dining room is comfortable and nicely decorated and servers are friendly.

It was a popular place on our Sunday visit. The dining room was filled with happy diners who were enjoying themselves and the food. Maybe it was an off day, or our taste buds were off. We'll give Andrew's a repeat visit and see.

The Lunch Line
What: Andrew's Restaurant, Doubletree Hotel Augusta
Where: 2651 Perimeter Highway
Hours: Lunch buffet 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday and Sunday; 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
food: 3 out of 5
Service: 3
Value: 3
learn more: (706) 855-8100