Ruby and her daughter Zura

New restaurant now open

By Michael Butler

A new restaurant is open in downtown Tallassee. Rubie’s Heart and Soul is serving breakfast and lunch at 201 South Ann Avenue.

Ruby Connell hails from Jacksonville, Fla. and has lived in the Notasulga area for the past five years.
“I go to church in Tallassee. There are beautiful people here,” she said.

Yes Connell spells her name with a "y" and the business has "ie." It's to avoid confusion with places like Ruby Tuesday.

Connell’s background in the food business is extensive with 31 years of experience.

“I went into culinary school and graduated in the top of my class,” Connell noted. “When I graduated, I started working at Morrison’s. I moved from Atlanta to Florida and started working for a restaurant called Victoria’s Station, an upscale restaurant in Jacksonville.”

She also worked for Marriott hotels and did events at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta.

Healthy eating spurred Connell’s desire to start her own food establishment.

“There’s a new way of cooking,” she noted. “You don’t have to use a lot of grease and a lot of fat. You can cook it and it still tastes good.”

As for a specialty, Connell has been getting lots of compliments on her grilled potatoes. Her creamy grits are also a favorite.

Rubie’s serves breakfast and lunch. They are open from 6 a.m. – 1 p.m., Monday – Saturday and from 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturdays. They plan to add Sunday hours soon.

“We’re pushing to open after church for Sunday dinners with our famous soul food,” Connell added.
Connell told of her philosophy which fits the name of her establishment.

“Rubie’s Heart and Soul is strictly from the heart. And, the soul is calling.”

Send Comments