Zax Eat ’N Three is a small Green Lake counter spot bringing Southern influence to Aurora with a simple premise: pick a meat, then three sides. It’s the only place in Seattle we’ve seen Alabama white sauce—a regional pale barbecue that’s tangy, lemony, and thin enough to seep into every bite of the smoked chicken that you should definitely order. Or if you’d rather go handheld, the meatloaf melt on golden Texas toast is another solid option, stacked with sharp cheddar and nostalgia. When it comes to sides, zero in on the cornbread fritters, rosemary white beans, and miso butter green beans (a few of the others could use just a pinch more salt). The restaurant works well for a solo meal, but it’s better with a friend so you can spread out six sides and turn the table into a Thanksgiving sampler. With its teal facade, retro black-and-white tiles, and quirky toad-themed art, Zax already feels like it’s been part of the neighborhood forever. The only real mistake you can make here is leaving without a square of banana pudding icebox cake.