Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room

"This is a legendary place when coming to Savannah. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see a ridiculous long line for lunch. I recommend coming early before they open which is 11 am. It’s normal to stand in line for over an hour or more. It depends on when you got there. It’s $30 with tax included for all you can eat southern food. Cash or check only. Once it’s your turn, you and your group sit at a table and share with another group of strangers. If you’re a social person then you’ll have no problem starting up a conversation. Food portions are generous since you’re sharing and passing it around. Just to clarify, they do not rush you. You simply just eat until you’re full then they bring you dessert at the end. I loved the tea, it was not too sugary. I would say they had the best fried chicken I’ve ever tasted. Very succulent and moist inside. Skin is full of flavor from the seasonings. I loved the food overall and wished I could come here often."

"YOU SHOULD EXPERIENCE THIS KIND OF LUNCH. It was awesome! You go there, you wait till 6-8 people came together in the waiting area. Then they prep a table with 20-30 different dishes and then you gonna sit and eat with a couple of strangers. But not for long because you talk and eat together like a Lunch Family. The fried chicken is outstanding."

"Amazing, homey southern experience with great food. The fried chicken was amazing. And just so many delicious sides! Come hungry because there is sooo much food and not enough stomach space for everything! And to top it off, you get delicious dessert and sweet tea to wash it all down with! Eating family style at a large oak table is definitely a fun experience. I can see why this is a local must-visit."

"The two hour wait is part of the overall experience. If you aren't okay with that, you should skip it. The couple in front of us in line were from the state where we live, and my husband was able to quickly connect with the husband on their shared love of scooters and cars. They even knew some of the same people. The friendly local in front of the couple filled us all in on how things would work once we were inside the building and assured us the food was worth the wait. When you are seated, the food is already on the table and you dive right in after some quick introductions with your dining party. There were probably 20 different dishes on the table. The fried chicken was delicious. It seemed like everything was the best I had ever tasted. The other standouts for me were the fried okra, cabbage, green beans, au gratin potatoes, beef stew, creamed corn, mac and cheese and collard greens."

"We went on a Tuesday morning and started our wait at about 10:15am. The four of us had about 14 people ahead of us. This did ensure us the first sitting when they opened at 11, so that was nice. The staff was warm and inviting, they come outside to explain "the way of things" and will let you sneak inside to use the restroom if necessary. You all sit family style together, so we had four other people at the table that we didn't know. The food is out and ready as soon as you sit, so you can dig right in. The food was pretty delicious all around. I tried to take a little bit of everything to try. I know they do a lot of different foods to try to please all diets and pallets, but it seems a bit wasteful in the end. Many of the bowls on our table were barely touched. I hate to think that after we leave and they reset for another sitting, all of it gets thrown away. At $30 per person, it's a great deal if you're a big eater. Be prepared as well because they are still cash only."