The counter-examples of the fried food “myth” are truly the exception that proves the rule. How many restaurants do Natalie Dupree and Alton Brown run? What are the prices there? High and higher, like the handful of “cutting edge restaurants” which are supposed to balance out hundreds (or thousands, if I can similarly draw from four or five states) family places where every appetizer and every entree is deep-fried.
I have lived the majority of my life in the South. I am having a hard time thinking of any restaurants that have all fried appetizers and entrees. Even the meat and 3 restaurants offer grilled and baked items. But maybe all of the places we have lived have cheap mom and pop restaurant exceptions.