A new diner that offers homemade country cooking recently opened on Highway 13 North in Columbia.

The Lunchbox Diner is owned by Connie and Rebecca Dement and Lynette Woodward who all worked together at the Northgate Coffee Shop before opening their own business. “We thought we would try it on our own,” said Connie Dement, who is Rebecca’s mother-in-law.

All three were waitresses at Northgate, Lynette working there for seven years, Rebecca six and Connie three. Lynette was also a cook at Northgate.

They have fun working together. “We can pick at each other,” said Connie.

The women, all Columbia natives, make the customers feel at home. “We like talking to people and making new friends,” said Rebecca.

Patrons feel comfortable in the diner’s homelike setting.

The Lunchbox Diner offers affordable daily lunch specials that cost $6 plus tax. Meals include hamburger steak, fried chicken, pork chops, meatloaf, chicken spaghetti, dumplings, dressing, roast and pepper steak.

On Friday and Saturday there is all-you-can-eat whole fish and the restaurant also has a seafood platter, shrimp and oysters. A ribeye steak is on the menu as well. Desserts include peach cobbler, banana pudding, cream pie and cream cheese pound cake.

The Lunchbox Diner is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 4-9:30 p.m. and can be reached at (601) 444-4779. The address is 1415 Highway 13 North.