Have jury duty in the big county courthouse in Collin County? Serving time for civic duty has a new dining option for breakfast and lunch in Pappy’s Fine Diner. What’s on the menu at the north McKinney restaurant? Look for breakfast cooked to order and more of a Luby’s-style line for lunch with a variety of food choices. Subs will be available, too. On Monday, we sampled the daily pasta special and came away satisfied. On Tuesday, we came back for the chicken-fried chicken. Both plates were big enough to fill up most jurors and came with side salads. The chicken-fried chicken was on the cafeteria line next to grilled chicken and chicken-fried steak offerings. With mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans, and the bowl of salad, the big piece of chicken-fried chicken compared well with any being served across Texas. On Wednesday, Mexican food will be served, and the menu specials change daily. Two words to describe the food: Southern comfort. Who is Pappy? Veteran restaurant owner Kenneth Hanon. Jobs: 10, including four cooks. Hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with short-order breakfasts and serving lines for lunch. Location: Lower level of the courthouse. Ambience: The restaurant staff handled the lunch crowd well. Booths and tables were cleared quickly. One woman walked in at same time we did. She summed up the look of the place with one word: «Nice.» What you need to know: You have to walk past the salad station and the cashier to the sandwich and burger station for a tray. If you are going for the daily special, look to the next station for the main courses. Don’t forget the side salad to the right. All entering the courthouse are scanned by security at the front door. Capacity: The new restaurant can hold 150 with booths and tables for four. About 400 arrive each week for jury duty, and about 400 will eventually be employed at the courthouse. Restaurant manager: Mark Gumpert. Kitchen manager: Rodney McGrath. Catering: Available. Time to judge Pappy’s for yourself.
