Family. Faith. Food. These are the words etched in the emblem of Ruthie’s Country Style Cooking Restaurant, located at 42 Windsor Highway (Route 32) in New Windsor, NY, where they are serving up some of the best soul food in the area. These are the same words owner Lila Holley says helped her survive 22 years of active duty service in the United States Army.
Holley returned to the area in December 2011 to help run the family-owned restaurant after retiring from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer Four specializing in the field of Military Intelligence. She came home with her husband Thomas, a Mount Vernon, NY native who himself served 21 years on active duty, and their 8-year-old daughter, Jaida.
Holley credits her family’s support of her career choice for her success in the military. She was especially grateful that her family was able to travel to Fort Knox, KY to attend her retirement ceremony in November, 2011.
“I was fortunate enough to have my family travel with me at various points throughout my military career, so it is very special to me that they’ve traveled to Kentucky for this momentous occasion,” Holley stated during her farewell speech at her retirement ceremony on November 18th. Holley’s mother and her four youngest siblings lived with her while she was stationed in Georgia, Colorado, Kansas and overseas in England. She really wanted to show her family that there is a big world outside of Newburgh, and the military allowed her to do that.
“It has always been a dream of mine to own a restaurant,” says Holley. “When my dad made it a reality, I knew coming home was the only option for me when I retired from the Army.” Holley’s father, Floyd Johnson, is the owner of Ruthie’s. For Holley, operating a restaurant is a big change from what she did in the Army.
Holley admits she’s a hugger and greets regular patrons at the door with a friendly smile and a hug. “I am very grateful to our wonderful customers who continue to spread the word about how great the food tastes,” she says. Many customers would tell you that Holley’s demeanor makes the experience at Ruthie’s that much more enjoyable.
Ruthie’s serves an all-you-can-eat buffet on Fridays from 4-8 p.m., Saturdays from 2-8 p.m. and Sundays from 2-7 p.m. Ruthie’s new hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., and Sunday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., while being closed on Mondays.
Ruthie’s Restaurant recently debuted a revamped menu featuring new items such as Ruthie’s hearty breakfast sandwich, caesar salad with chicken and meatloaf with gravy.
They’ve also added Family Meal Deals that consist of Ruthie’s Smokin’ Spicy BBQ Ribs and Delicious Down-Home Fried Chicken. Ruthie’s Country Style Cooking Restaurant is a great place for families because it is truly a family-owned and operated restaurant.
