Some stories stay with you long after the conversation ends.

Not because of the food.

But because of the people behind it.

That’s exactly how I felt after sitting down with Sip Widad on Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast.

Because behind the restaurants, the growth, and the success, there’s something even more powerful—a story about family, sacrifice, resilience, and building something meaningful together.

Sip’s story doesn’t start with a restaurant.

It starts with his father.

Coming to the United States in the late 1980s after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, determined to build a better life for his future family.

Long hours.

Hard work.

Train rides.

Little sleep.

Big dreams.

And listening to him share that on Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast, you could feel the weight of it. The respect. The understanding of what it took to get to where they are today.

This isn’t a polished success story.

It’s a real one.

Sip said his dad asked him to help out “just for the summer.”

That was 12 years ago.

I love that.

Because so often, the path we think we’re on shifts in ways we never expect.

And for Sip, that one decision turned into something much bigger.

Not just a job.

But a purpose.

A deeper connection to his family.

And a whole new understanding of everything that had been built before him.

What really stood out to me was the shift in mindset.

For years, the focus was survival.

Keep going.

Keep working.

Keep pushing forward.

But at some point, Sip realized he wanted more for his family.

Not just to survive.

But to build.

To grow.

To create something that honored everything his parents had done, while also moving it forward.

And that’s when things started to expand.

Sip was very clear about one thing.

USA Chicken is the foundation.

It’s where it all started.

It’s where the family built their base.

And while it might look like a simple fried chicken spot from the outside, there is so much more behind it.

The same care.

The same attention.

The same heart.

It all starts there.

From that foundation came growth.

A second USA Chicken location.

The Spot in Manchester.

The Spot in Merrimack.

And now, Roomie.

Each one different.

Each one with its own personality.

But all rooted in the same values.

Family.

Quality.

Consistency.

And on Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast, you could hear how intentional that growth has been.

When Sip described The Spot, it just made sense.

Fast-casual.

But thoughtful.

Rice bowls.

Smash burgers.

Wings.

Sauces that stand out.

And ingredients that are fresh.

Not frozen.

And what I loved most?

The menu wasn’t built in a boardroom.

It was built around a table.

With his brothers.

Tasting.

Testing.

Giving a thumbs up or thumbs down.

That’s how you build something real.

This part of the conversation really stayed with me.

Roomie isn’t just another concept.

It’s his mother’s dream.

For years, she was cooking at home.

Sending food into the restaurant.

Sharing it quietly.

And people noticed.

They remembered.

They kept asking for more.

And now, she has a space of her own.

That means something.

Because so often, the people behind the scenes don’t always get their moment.

Now she does.

We had already been to Roomie, so I could relate to everything Sip was describing.

The dumplings.

The chapli kebab.

The lamb chops.

And the rice.

The rice stood out.

Because it wasn’t an afterthought.

It was intentional.

Carefully made.

Full of flavor.

And that’s what this place feels like.

Nothing rushed.

Everything considered.

Even dessert had a story.

And that’s what I love most about food like this.

It invites you to experience something new.

Toward the end of our conversation, I asked Sip what he wanted people to understand.

And his answer really stayed with me.

There is more to people than what you see on the surface.

More than headlines.

More than assumptions.

More than quick judgments.

People carry stories.

Families carry stories.

And when you take the time to listen, you start to understand.

This episode of Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast meant a lot to me.

Because it wasn’t just about restaurants.

It was about family.

About resilience.

About building something meaningful together.

Sip and his family have done that.

Not perfectly.

Not easily.

But with heart.

And when you walk into any one of their places, you can feel it.

Watch and listen to my full conversation with Sip Widad and hear the story behind a family business built on grit, love, and purpose.

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ABOUT CAROL ERICKSON

Carol Erickson has owned Red Arrow Diner since 1987 -- four locations across New Hampshire, open 24/7. She started Beyond the Plate to tell the real stories behind the people who make New England's food and hospitality scene what it is. Not just what's on the menu. What's behind it.

Red Arrow Diner: redarrowdiner.com  |  @redarrow24diner