This was such a great experience while in Savannah for a weekend. Prepare to stand in line for a time but you will be entertained by the hostess with stories about Mrs. Wilkes. This is a family style where you share a table of 10 with other guests. The tables are set with a variety of dishes, rice, veggies, chicken etc that you pass around. You don't get to order, you will be served the menu of the day. By the end of the meal, you'll have 2 options for dessert. I picked the banana cream pie and loved it.

Amazing experience. Food was the best Southern food I've ever had. The fried chicken was perfection. We were blown away and will be back. The owner Marsha sat with us as well and is such a sweet kind cool lady with really cool stories to share. Her daughter Emily also joined us and was just as kind. This place is so different from any other restaurant. I like that we sat with strangers and broke bread and shared fun stories of where we are from. We can't wait to come back. Sincerely, Your Florida friends.

Okay okay I had no idea Savannah got down like that! Stepped off the plane looking for the BEST peach cobbler and a great meal given the fact it was my first time in Savannah and away from the "city folk" (ATL). I asked around the airport and was given the name of this place along with a few others. I had NO Idea what I was in store for. Set out to this place as it was very far from the airport. After parking and locating the place (which had a line outside) I walked inside to a THROWBACK treat ! Man as I entered it was like I was invited over to someone's home where they had ALREADY set the ENTIRE table for me and a 9 others to include drinks (iced tea), yes I said 9 others making it a table for 10! When I say they had a HOT and READY spread waiting on you when you sit I meant you were about to walk out ready to explode because there was Sooooooo much food at the ready to include two piles of fried chicken!!!!!!! To my surprised I had walked into a soul food restaurant as I hadn't had soul food in decades !! They call it soul food because most of the meals hit your soul in the good and guilty way because you can't eat it often unless you want high cholesterol or diabetes . (You'd had better not be counting calories and have a an extreme cheat day available to indulge!) What was even more outstanding about the food was that it is unlimited including desserts!!! Boxes checked; - Outstanding food and value (the chicken was DAM DAM good / succulent even!!! - Format (dinner with strangers) was a pleasant first and very enjoyable! - Ambiance was amazing as I felt I was invited into someone's home! - The outdoor reception by the family was over the top! My critique would be; - Although great, the chicken was a bit too salty but, I had a "cheat day" to give. (Maybe the cook was pissed off that day...‍) - There's limited / tricky parking. - The peach cobbler needs healing /prayer.‍ - CASH only operation. - The audacity to be open for ONLY 3 hours I think 4 days out of the week.‼ Would I go back? You dam right and feel guilty all over again. Thank you Mrs. Wilkes and family for your blessing!

I finally made it to Mrs. Wilkes'! I'm always a little iffy about eating southern food that isn't my mother's, but I was pleasantly surprised! As a vegetarian, I was impressed by the variety of vegetables around the table. We waited in line about an hour, but it was worth the wait. There were about 12 sides on the table, but my favorites were the biscuits, greens and black eye peas. I love the fact that it feels like you're walking into a friends house for dinner. Tables and chairs that don't really match and photos all over the wall. Definitely feels like a home. I bought a cookbook for a family member and had it signed. I'll definitely bring folks here for a country dining experience.

Worth the hype because it was the best fried chicken I've had in my life. All the sides were delicious and its family style ayce. You get full quickly but it's all about the experience, decor, hospitality and the food! The place was so cute and it was clean. They accommodated our stroller. Remember cash only! They do have an ATM. If you wanna save $2, bring cash. Great service. They did charge my 2 year old son $60! But my husband and I got our meals for free so it worked out. *please re-read joke.

If you leave Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room hungry then you just don't like food or you are a strict vegan. This is Southern cooking and hospitality at its finest. I would suggest you get in that long line early if you don't want to wait for the other guests to sit through their meal. It took about an hour before we were able to get seated, but during the wait, the restaurant provided plenty outdoor seating that was strategically placed to blend in with the old architectural style of the surroundings. Also, they provided a delicious cooler of fresh cold water to drink in the humid Georgia sun. Once inside, you sit at a long dinner sized table. If you are alone or with a few people then you get to sit with strangers at this family style dining which is a perfect way to meet new friends. We had a large party of ten, so we filled in our table very comfortably. Now the parade of food. If I miss something, it's because there were so many different dishes that I literally forgot I either ate or was placed on the table. There were two big trays of fried chicken, bowls of greens, okra and some tomatoes, creamed corn, black eyed peas, cabbage, sweet potato soufflé, corn, pulled pork, stewed beef with carrots and potatoes, dressing, potatoes, macaroni and cheese, pickled cucumbers, plates of biscuits and cornbread, and a few other bowls I just cannot remember. When you finished one bowl as a table, another one was promptly replaced. After the meal, there was either a choice of banana pudding or ice cream or both! Boy oh boy! Mrs. Wilkes has been a long Savannah staple since I was a child. One of the famous traditions held throughout the years is that you are required to bring your plate to the kitchen when you are done eating because there "ain't no maids in here." I'm telling you now, if you're in Savannah either through residency or visiting, please put this on your bingo card! Thanks.

Mrs. Wilkes's Dining Room is a great experience if you're in Savannah. The food is really a great reflection of Southern cooking, and I should know because I was raised on this type of food. The food is served family style, so depending on your party size, you may be sharing your meal with strangers. Honestly, it's actually a fun way to meet new people. Pros: The food was excellent and plenty enough to eat. Cons: The restaurant hours are Monday through Friday from 11am-2pm and there general is a line to wait for eating. Please also note that you have to pay cash, but if you don't have cash, they do have an ATM in the building thank goodness. If you are in Savannah for a trip, I would hands down recommend trying the experience. The food was delicious, and the experience is so unique.

I had a lot of amazing meals and dining experiences in Savannah during my 7-day trip, but this was my favorite! Mrs. Wilkes' is only open Monday through Friday, 11am to 2pm, and they don't take reservations. They are also closed on holidays. I arrived around 1:00 and there were about 10 people in line at this time. I was with a new friend I met on a tour right before this lunch. She wanted to join me. All seating is community style and food is served family style. Format is all-you-can-eat for $30 per person (at this point in time anyway). You pay on your way out, and there is a tip jar at the register for the very hard-working and very efficient staff. They sat us at a table with 4 people, the table was already full of 26 plates and bowls of food (someone at our table counted, and I took her word for it). So we ordered our drinks (water or iced tea), and started filling our plates and passing dishes around the table. The 6 of us became friends because that is what good food does. The table of food included some of the best, if not the best, fried chicken I've ever had! It was dangerously good! BBQ pulled pork and beef pot roast were the other meat dishes served, along with biscuits, cornbread, and 22 side dishes, such as white rice, dirty rice, mac-n-cheese, mashed potatoes, collard greens, sweet potato puree, yams, cole slaw, and many more! I was stuffed, and then they brought dessert, our choice of peach cobbler or banana pudding (with vanilla wafers of course)! I chose the banana pudding, and of course it was amazing! After dinner, the staff asks you to take your plate and cup to the kitchen where the dish washers will take them from you. The staff will clear everything else from the table. This team of workers is efficient. The whole process is a well-oiled machine, designed to get you fed well and on your way to allow others in. We were not rushed, but very little time was idle. Everything is scratch made and incredibly delicious! I even met the granddaughter of the original Mrs. Wilkes, who currently owns the business. Cookbooks were available for sale, and she was willing to sign the book if you wish. Again, I had some great dining experiences in Savannah, but I think this one put the biggest smile on my face and left the most lasting impression. Whatever the wait is in line when you go, it's worth it!