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.
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.
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.
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Yesterday we started our day with at the famous The Wilkes House . We made sure to get there earlier enough to get in line and make the first cut in . Normally the line is around the building , but the day started out rainy , so the line wasn’t as long when we arrived . While waiting in line we were told the history of the place and once seated inside , Ms. Marcia, her granddaughter came around to make sure we were satisfied with our meal. , Definitely worth the wait !!!! The fried chicken is the BEST we have EVER had .. the fried collard greens were soooooo yummy … & all of the sides were cooked to perfection!! Endless amounts of food delivered to us along with dessert. You can’t go wrong with either of them . Ben had the banana pudding and I had the peach cobbler . Oh soooo good and the true mark of good ole southern cooking ! It is such a neat experience as you do dine at the table with those you waited in line with and everyone passes the food around . Definitely a MUST visit place in Savannah !
This place is really cool! I went as a solo traveler and waited in line with all of the people who sat at my table, so you got to know them before the meal! Definitely plan to arrive early! I got there at 10am and there was already a bit of a line. By 10:30 I could even see the back of the line. The staff is very friendly, and the food was great! I definitely recommend this place to experience southern hospitality in a unique way!
We stood outside waiting for an hour, under the blazing sun in the suffocating heat. The staff handed out water and cornbread and entertained us with games and stories. Once a table opened for our party of 7, we were seated and served immediately, before we even sat down. The food was PHENOMENAL. The service was incredible, they practically waited at your side. They treated you like dear family. There was something like 22 plates of food they served you. Dessert was delicious too, Peach Cobbler and Banana Pudding. The owner regularly came to check on everyone, it was a WONDERFUL experience. WELL WORTH THE WAIT!!!!!
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Wow! This isn't just having a meal. This is an experience. Southern hospitality at its finest. You feel like you've been invited to have a Thanksgiving dinner with new friends. Instead of turkey, it's chicken with 25 amazing side dishes. You'll get to meet family along the way like Ms. Erin, that welcomes you and gives you history on the house, the family, and the neighborhood. We even played trivia for a slice of delicious homemade cornbread. You meet Mr. Ryan, the chef, and you'll have the privilege of tasting his grandmother's recipes and tasting the love that goes into making a meal.
And Ms. Marsha, as she visits every table to make sure you're not wanting for anything and to make sure you're having a great experience. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is forced. It's just as it should be when you go to visit grandma and you're eating a meal made with love and there are conversations and happy noise in the air.
The staff could not have been any more gracious.
It was a lovely experience that I will cherish forever. Thank you!
OMG!!! The food was ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!! Family style dining with upwards of 24 items on the table, all at once!! Arrive hungry because there's a lot of food. All of it, delicious!!!
Must do. Don't let the line outside discourage you, the wait was about 40 minutes. Fabulous food at communal tables. Intimate service. Great history. Very worthwhile, just noting that it is extremely filling. There are probably 15 dishes from which to choose, all included and ready when you sit down. $30 per person (2023). You tip by putting money in the jar by the door when you pay and leave, apparently. Fabulous charming experience.
Got there at 1045. Waited for 30 min on a Wed. Food was delicious, staff was super friendly. Dessert was amazing. When they call you in, the table is waiting for you, decorated with dishes full of your favorite southern treats and sweet tea.
Amazing atmosphere, warm loving environment. The food was absolutely fantastic. The best soul food in town.
Make sure you go hungry because the food keeps coming.
Thank you, Ms. Wilkes, for an awesome dinner.
Food was good and there was plenty. The experience was neat and the service top notch. We did have to wait in a line outside for 2 hours (we got there 45 minutes before they opened) before we got in to eat, and I’m glad I did…however I wouldn’t do it again.
It’s hard to find that true home cooked southern taste in a restaurant and they did that well, but I did expect a little more with that James beard award.
Overall I had a good experience and I would recommend trying it once, but it’s not a place you are likely to go twice with that wait.
Just visited for the first time in years and it was as good as I can remember. Love that the family come down the line, while you're waiting, to talk about the history of Mrs. Wilkes. This place reminds me so much of my southern grandmothers table.
IT WAS AMAZING! EVERYTHING WAS HOT! THE ATMOSPHERE WAS WONDERFUL AS WELL! The Biscuits, BBQ & squash were my favorite! We traveled here from Texas & thoroughly enjoyed EVERY BITE!
I was told this was a must do when in Savannah and be sure to get there early. We got there at 10:30am and the line was already long. At 11am they sat the first 80ish people. One of the relatives of Mrs. Wilkes kept us entertained with the history of the establishment as we all stood in line in the heat. We made it to the second round of serving around 12:15. It was worth wait and the fresh food was waiting for us at the table. It was family style serving with plenty of food and every side dish imaginable. We met some nice people at our table as we were seated with complete strangers. Price was $30 per head with all that you can eat. Purchased their cookbook as well that contained alot of the served items at the table.
This Place has never missed. From being outside waiting in line listening to Ms Erin....which made us even more hungry...I think.lol. The food and the guest we sat with at the table were Great! I was so hunrgy when we sat down...I forgot to take pics of the food...Oh well, you must try it for yourself when you go.
I was there on a business trip so I didn’t have a lot of time to go many places. This place is perfect for trying out many of the local dishes. I was there on a rainy day so the line wasn’t too bad. They seat people 10 at a time because they fill up one table at a time. The atmosphere is very cozy and homey. When you sit down all of the dishes are already on the table so you just dig in and start passing dishes around. Everything I tired (nearly everything) was very good. I really liked the fried chicken; it was very moist, flavorful and crispy. Near the end of our meal Mrs Wilkes granddaughter came around to check on us and sat down for a little chat. She was very sweet and has great stories to share. You really can’t go wrong with this place. Definitely worth a try.
This landmark is a must when visiting Savannah! Be there early and prepare to wait in a shaded line on stunning W Jones St. Make friends with people around you in line because you’ll most likely be seated with them for this traditional family style low-country feast. There are typically three meats, lots of veggies/sides, plenty of sweet tea, biscuits/cornbread, and cobbler/banana pudding for dessert. It is a process that moves quickly once seated, so be prepared to eat and tip the wonderful staff.
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