Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room

If you leave hungry, it's your own fault! There's not many places you go these days that are great from start to end. However, this is one of them. If you're not a patient person, waiting in line to get in, may not be for you. However, I promise the food, the service and the atmosphere is worth the wait. The food is aplenty. The variety is amazing. The taste is out of this world and your pants or shorts will hate you. So don't miss this place when you're in Savannah, Remember make friends while you're in line because it's likely some of them will be sitting with you. So you'll all have memories of your new friends and great food

Mrs. Wilkes provided a one of a kind dining experience characterized by mouth watering fried chicken and Savannah’s southern hospitality. To eat here, chances are you will need to wait in line for quite a while, but it is worth it without a doubt for arguably the best fried chicken in the South. Stuff your face with fried okra, mac and cheese, collard greens, biscuits, wash it all down with some iced tea, and then take a walk around Forsyth Park to digest.

The food was amazing! All the vegetable sides were fresh and tasty. The fried chicken was insane. Crispy moist and not oily. The best my wife and I have had. Atmosphere was very family oriented even though you eat with strangers. Everyone was in a good mood and friendly. A must of your visiting Savannah. Just get in line by 10am.

Awesome family several generations family owned restaurant. Southern Family Style restaurant. Food is set with everything you want in a home style Southern meal. They have the best fried chicken! Arrive early and hungry ready for an awesome meal! Cash only...we got there almost 1 hour before opening to get close to the front of the line and made the first seating. Well worth it. Parking around the block on the street, just use the Park Savannah app. We went on a Monday morning.

Where to begin…if this was a normal restaurant with realistic wait times and hot food made to order I’d recommend. But it’s mostly an anxiety inducing tourist trap unfortunately. The wait is insane. And it’s buffet only from 11-2pm and you never know IF or when you’ll get in so many of us skip breakfast & by the time we’re inside 2+hrs later we’re starved. I read up on it we got there at 10:20, doors open at 11. There were already a decent amount of people in front of us and just as many behind us. I would not be surprised if they aren’t regularly turning away the last half of the line. There’s only one small level and it fills quickly. The table eats together so you have to wait until the entire table of 8-10 clears to get in. We didn’t get in until 12 and were out in 40mins. A lot of the food was cold because it’s already on the table when you come in and you have to pass so many dishes around and are trying to see and figure out what’s what by the time you’ve made your plate it’s cold. That was pretty disappointing. There’s also very little service. They set the table & occasionally check to refill things. We had to do inventory of what we needed & stop someone to replace sides. As far as the taste: the cream corn was like crack-very good & the green beans were really good. The chicken was crispy but over salted, the rice and sausage was good as well as the stew. The mashed potatoes and mac & cheese were only okay. I’ve definitely had better. Majority of the other sides were unnecessary. I kept seeing people say it’s worth it but I’d have to disagree. This was the longest I’ve ever waited especially on foot in a line for a meal. There’s other comparable southern options with way less hassle. Just do reservations or upgrade to a larger more accommodating location please.

Fabulous Savannah experience! We’ve been twice and each time had a delicious home-cooked southern meal. We only waited 15 minutes in line the first time and had no wait the second time. The gal who greets everyone in line gives WONDERFUL history of Savannah and great suggestions for things to do. Food is served family style. You don’t order anything. There are 27 dishes on the table. Your only choices are for sweet tea or water and peach cobbler or banana pudding for dessert. It’s cash only and $30pp at the time of this review. TOTALLY WORTH IT! (There’s an ATM in the front if you need cash.) If you only have a few meals in Savannah, make sure this is one of them.

Unlimited food, the best service, and the dining facility was historic. Fascinating!!! I was very impressed with the staff who were so kind and industrious with a smile. Always ready to serve. It was precision service! I am retired miltary (US Navy). Excellent happy staff!! The AC was great, too! I drove from Florida on a day trip and returned to Florida with a smile and wonderful memories.

This is a real Southern-style restaurant. Abundant and delicious food, all served family style. You can eat to your heart's content. The staff is attentive and accommodating. Loved it and bought the cookbook.

If you leave hungry, it's your own fault! There's not many places you go these days that are great from start to end. However, this is one of them. If you're not a patient person, waiting in line to get in, may not be for you. However, I promise the food, the service and the atmosphere is worth the wait. The food is aplenty. The variety is amazing. The taste is out of this world and your pants or shorts will hate you. So don't miss this place when you're in Savannah, Remember make friends while you're in line because it's likely some of them will be sitting with you. So you'll all have memories of your new friends and great food

Mrs. Wilkes provided a one of a kind dining experience characterized by mouth watering fried chicken and Savannah’s southern hospitality. To eat here, chances are you will need to wait in line for quite a while, but it is worth it without a doubt for arguably the best fried chicken in the South. Stuff your face with fried okra, mac and cheese, collard greens, biscuits, wash it all down with some iced tea, and then take a walk around Forsyth Park to digest.

The food was amazing! All the vegetable sides were fresh and tasty. The fried chicken was insane. Crispy moist and not oily. The best my wife and I have had. Atmosphere was very family oriented even though you eat with strangers. Everyone was in a good mood and friendly. A must of your visiting Savannah. Just get in line by 10am.

Awesome family several generations family owned restaurant. Southern Family Style restaurant. Food is set with everything you want in a home style Southern meal. They have the best fried chicken! Arrive early and hungry ready for an awesome meal! Cash only...we got there almost 1 hour before opening to get close to the front of the line and made the first seating. Well worth it. Parking around the block on the street, just use the Park Savannah app. We went on a Monday morning.

Where to begin…if this was a normal restaurant with realistic wait times and hot food made to order I’d recommend. But it’s mostly an anxiety inducing tourist trap unfortunately. The wait is insane. And it’s buffet only from 11-2pm and you never know IF or when you’ll get in so many of us skip breakfast & by the time we’re inside 2+hrs later we’re starved. I read up on it we got there at 10:20, doors open at 11. There were already a decent amount of people in front of us and just as many behind us. I would not be surprised if they aren’t regularly turning away the last half of the line. There’s only one small level and it fills quickly. The table eats together so you have to wait until the entire table of 8-10 clears to get in. We didn’t get in until 12 and were out in 40mins. A lot of the food was cold because it’s already on the table when you come in and you have to pass so many dishes around and are trying to see and figure out what’s what by the time you’ve made your plate it’s cold. That was pretty disappointing. There’s also very little service. They set the table & occasionally check to refill things. We had to do inventory of what we needed & stop someone to replace sides. As far as the taste: the cream corn was like crack-very good & the green beans were really good. The chicken was crispy but over salted, the rice and sausage was good as well as the stew. The mashed potatoes and mac & cheese were only okay. I’ve definitely had better. Majority of the other sides were unnecessary. I kept seeing people say it’s worth it but I’d have to disagree. This was the longest I’ve ever waited especially on foot in a line for a meal. There’s other comparable southern options with way less hassle. Just do reservations or upgrade to a larger more accommodating location please.

Fabulous Savannah experience! We’ve been twice and each time had a delicious home-cooked southern meal. We only waited 15 minutes in line the first time and had no wait the second time. The gal who greets everyone in line gives WONDERFUL history of Savannah and great suggestions for things to do. Food is served family style. You don’t order anything. There are 27 dishes on the table. Your only choices are for sweet tea or water and peach cobbler or banana pudding for dessert. It’s cash only and $30pp at the time of this review. TOTALLY WORTH IT! (There’s an ATM in the front if you need cash.) If you only have a few meals in Savannah, make sure this is one of them.

Unlimited food, the best service, and the dining facility was historic. Fascinating!!! I was very impressed with the staff who were so kind and industrious with a smile. Always ready to serve. It was precision service! I am retired miltary (US Navy). Excellent happy staff!! The AC was great, too! I drove from Florida on a day trip and returned to Florida with a smile and wonderful memories.

This is a real Southern-style restaurant. Abundant and delicious food, all served family style. You can eat to your heart's content. The staff is attentive and accommodating. Loved it and bought the cookbook.

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!

This is a family-style meal and you will be seated at a table with others (I suppose unless you have your own very large group). We had no wait, though I'm lead to believe that this is unusual. The table is set what I would call Thanksgiving-style, and you pass around the table. There are probably over 20 dishes, so start with a spoonful of anything you want to taste and maybe come back for more if there is room in your belly. It's all-you-can-eat, and believe me you will leave in a wheelbarrow. Envisioned as the dining room of a person's home, you will be asked to take your plate to the service area on completion, just like mama would. Very fun. Flat rate $30 meal when we were there, cash (or check!) only, though they do have an ATM. Don't miss it!

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.

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.

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.

Don't get me wrong, in this case the 3 Star rating is based on my extremely high expectations for this place. All I heard from locals and other tourist alike was that "you have to eat at Mrs. Wilkes". So of course we had to give it a try! Got there "early" at about 10:30 on a Monday. We were probably a good 50th in line! We got seated about 11:45. I loved the concept of the restaurant and the staff were really friendly. I sat at the back of an oval table and we were joined with 6 other people that we got to know while we were in line! Most of the food was already on the table, but they did continue to bring more dishes out while we started to eat. (Plus they refilled anything asked for). PLENTY of food for sure! Here is where I was a little let down, being from Wisconsin, this type of meal is served at every wedding or many Supper Clubs throughout the State. (Although there were different foods included in this meal - more Southern staples than we find in Wisconsin! Plus, the seat I sat at became the dumping ground for all the dishes and plates being passed around! Literally pilled around my plate with little room to breathe! I trying to pass some of the stuff to others, which made me the director of the food on my table. It actually took away from my ability to eat my food! I was busy passing everything to others. I was impressed that (who I believe to be)Mrs Wilkes came over to see how we were doing, but being seated where I was, I couldn't hear her. This was fun to do, but I'm not sure it was the a "must do" in Savannah, unless of course you are City Folk and you never get a good home cooked meal. Then, I would imagine, this would be a pretty cool experience!

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!

There are very few places in the world that I could wait in line for 2 hours and say it was worth the wait. Mrs. Wilkes, however, is one of those places. The entire experience was so different and worth while. We got there around 10:30am before it opened and had to wait for 2 hours in the line, but it was so cool because we naturally started talking to the family in front of us and got to know them. Then when we finally sat down at the community table in the dining room with this other family and another stranger, we practically felt like we knew each other by the end of the meal. When you walk in, the food is all laid out with fried chicken and about 20 of the best southern sides you will have. There is no ordering, just sitting down, passing the food around and enjoying. Every single side was delicious, I wish my stomach was bigger. It was some of the best fried chicken I've had. The poured sweet tea was also the perfect sweetness and balance to the meal. And when you don't think you can eat any more they brought banana pudding and peach cobbler. Everything was so delicious. Mrs. Wilkes' granddaughter also stopped by the table to say hi and make sure we didn't anything else. She was so sweet, along with all of the other staff members. It was what true southern hospitality feels like. Coming from someone who does not claim home cooking as my favorite category of feed, I would suggest anyone and everyone to go to Mrs.Wilkes!

100% yes. Do it. Get there early. Wait in line. We decided to get in line around 9:45 am for the 11am opening. We were the 2nd group in line. Very few people showed up between 9:45-10:15. I would still advise getting there earlier rather than later. Everyone on the line was really friendly and chatty- it was the enthusiasm of fellow travelers and foodies who wanted to experience something unique and delicious. Your beverage options are water, sweet tea, or unsweetened ice tea, this will be the easiest choice of the session. The table is set with over a dozen items when you arrive. The family does a little prayer, then it's holiday family style. Take an item, and pass to the left. Don't be slow, keep it moving, or the plates will pile up in your space. Everything is worth trying, and the seasoning is perfect. I didn't need or want any salt/pepper or condiments. Favorites include (but are not limited to): Fried chicken (it's a must), pasta and peas, the cornbread pudding (I forget what it's called, I just know I liked it), beef stew, cole slaw. Also, side note, I don't love pulled pork, but I tried a little bit, and the sauce on that pork was SO good. Make sure to leave room for dessert too! There was banana pudding and peach crumble with ice cream (I had the peach). $30 per person, cash only; ATM available on the premises. Life hack: there is a coffee shop caddy corner to Mrs. Wilkes, get there early, go there first, grab a little beverage, and then proceed to wait in line at Mrs. Wilkes.

It was definitely a unique experience. This dining is shared among strangers in a family style. There were so many side dishes. It is impossible to list all the foods they served there. Their fried chicken is famous. It was very good. I especially liked the beef stew, fried chicken, and collard greens. As you are eating from the many dishes, the wait staff would bring out more dishes. You can also request the dishes you like more. The dessert choices were peach cobbler or banana pudding. The buffet includes sweet tea. I enjoyed this new experience, but I felt rushed.

I can get behind the idea of a communal table with a Southern feast that will put me in a coma for days, but I can't support an hour and a half wait to come to a table of room temperature food. My partner and I lined up at 11am and there was already a long line to the corner of the block. At some point, a lady came out and started preaching about the history of Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, how it started as a boarding house that fed its patrons, you get the idea. While waiting, the lady passed around Mrs. Wilke's recipe books for all the dishes we would be served at the table. Many of the recipes in the book were simple without many ingredients, great for normal people and a bad sign for foodies and chefs. When we got to the table, the table was set but we didn't know we could immediately dig in. By the time we started eating, the food was lukewarm. The only food that was hot was the chicken when they brought out fresh chicken. The sides and chicken were pretty average in taste but there was a large variety of sides including collard greens, mac & cheese, sweet potatoes, etc. The only thing that was served at the right temperature and was pretty good was the sweet tea which was cold and mildly sweet. Your experience is contingent on your table mates. My partner and I were seated with one family, an elderly couple, and two locals. The family didn't care to be bothered, but the elderly couple was happy to chat about Georgia's history. Some tables next to us had diners that were more compatible with one another and those diners stayed longer and ate more. For $30, you need to eat a decent amount and have good table mates to make it worth the money and the wait. If you're looking for mind blowing food, Wilke's is not the place. But if you're betting on a communal experience with strangers and good conversation, wait on line at 10am and get yourself a seat at the table. Personally, I wouldn't suffer through the wait again.

This was our fourth visit. Never disappoints. Love sitting with other people from all over. The variety of side dishes is awesome and delicious!!!

History in Savannah at its finest atmosphere dictates communal dining as boarding houses once did. True southern food. Only thing dislike in clearing my own plates beverages and utensils in keeping with "tradition " for $30 per person not including tip. This needs to change ‍

Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room is all-you-can-eat for $30 per person. So come hungry, because they are not kidding. Your large communal table, which you'll share with others, will groan with many varieties of southern food. Just when you think it cannot hold any more, a couple of extra items will be laid down. Staff will come around to top off beverages, and ask if you want anything replenished. Our table asked for more fried chicken, and a whole platter of piping hot pieces appeared quickly. Dessert will be brought out at the end. My favorites were the fried chicken, cornbread, fried chicken, cole slaw, fried chicken, creamed corn, fried chicken and butter beans. Did I mention fried chicken? My not-so-favourites: uber sweetened tea, kinda tasteless pork with sauce, underwhelming peach cobbler topped with, weirdly, a whipped topping instead of ice-cream. Just be prepared to wait in line!

We started this journey around 9am arrived at 10am to stand on the line for an hour. Once the clock struck 11am the staff hurried people to their tables. The room seemed like you were dining inside someone's warm and inviting home. The tables were filled with lots and lots of delicious smelling southern dishes. I took some pictures but it was after the feast. The friendly and attentive staff went around the room to see if you ate all of one of the dishes and then bring you another. The room was filled family style and you got to make new friends as you chowed down on fried chicken, roast beef and potatoes, cabbage, mashed potatoes, black eyed peas, cucumber salad, okra salad, macaroni salad, Mac and cheese and more!!! I will not eat again for the entire day . So glad we drove 5 hours to take a bite into the a grand meal that could feed a king and his kingdom!!

Great home style cooking. Pay flat fee and enjoy great southern fried chicken with multiple sides. Service was friendly and the ambiance of a family dinner is perfect.

Another visit, another 5-star experience. There were 5 of us this time and we loved all the food, with each of us having different dishes that were our favorites. The stand-outs were the cream corn, cole slaw, fried chicken, sweet potatoes, beef stew, sweet tea, and banana pudding. Staff were attentive and friendly. We'll be back!

So 20 years ago I had the fortune of being a guest at Mrs. Wilkes and today I was able to have my wife experience what all my hype was about. Let's just say outside of a few smiles and moans we didn't speak much during our lunch date. Chicken is amazing although I wasn't too high on the Mac and Cheese although all other side dishes were 10's. Now my wife appreciates all the hype. Great spot!!!

I don't know that I have the words to truly do this place justice. After having missed out on Mrs. Wilkes last time we came to Savannah, this time it was first on our list! This is family style dining and seatings, so you line up out front and wait, then you're ushered in to a dining room with fully laden tables just waiting for you to dig in. We sat down to a meal easily blowing away any Thanksgiving feast you've ever had. Fried chicken, pulled pork, beef stew, sweet creamed corn casserole, mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, gravy, au gratin potatoes, stewed okra and tomatoes, biscuits, yams, collards, cornbread, black eyed peas, butter beans, fried okra, cole slaw, green beans, steamed cabbage, rutabaga, banana pudding, and peach cobbler. All of it delicious, all of it fresh, all you can eat, refilled on request. The meal is $30 per person and they don't take credit cards but they do have an ATM on site. Clean bathrooms, friendly staff, this place was amazing.

Came here based on the recommendations of the locals and passed by it as well while on the same block when I saw a long line. I looked it up and saw all the raving reviews. I had to give it a shot while I was in Savannah. We waited around an hour and thirty minutes to be seated. We were afraid there would be a cutoff while we were waiting, but I'm glad that didn't happen. Since it is family style, just know that you'll be sharing a table and food with strangers. If you want to be seated at a normal time, stand on the line earlier. The meal felt like I was at a Thanksgiving table. All southern food that you think will be served were there like vegetarian, vegan, and meat dishes. It was good and I can see why people like to return. The chicken wasn't dry, which was great. I enjoyed eating all the vegetable dishes too. All in all, if you're in town, be sure to check this place out.

This place is a MUST when you're in Savannah. BUT remember to bring cash or a check. They do NOT take plastic. You will wait to get a table for this place unless you start lining up at 10:30 AM. We got in line around 11:05 (they open at 11) and waited for about 90 minutes (in the heat of mid-June) - but it was so worth the wait! The fried chicken is THE BEST I've ever had. But before you even get to that, you are seated in groups of 8-12 people as it's family style dining. There are 18+ side dishes already sitting on the table when you're seated. Then they bring out your fried chicken and biscuits. After you're stuffed with traditional southern food, then you are given dessert. I cannot say enough good things about Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room! It is a bit more expensive at $30/person, but with all the food you get, you roll out in a food coma for $30.

100% recommend this, especially for out of town visitors! Such a cool experience, certainly the most Southern thing I've done personally.. I am inclined to think that this is better than Paula Deen's or other chain family-style restaurants in the Savannah area because this is local, historic, family-run and it's been there for years. My friend is from Alabama and likes this type of food even more than me and he also thought it was legit. Here's what you need to know: limited hours, limited seating, cash only. We went on a Monday just before Noon in the off-season (mid-October) and we still had to wait an hour and a 1/2. They only have about 75 seats, so I get it. It's all family style and you sit with others at large tables. Even if the line outside doesn't look long, plan accordingly.. they have to basically clear a whole table, reset and then bring in however many people can fit at that table. (Due to the way the food is served they can't seat constantly/just a few people/groups at a time). All the food is already on the table when you get seated, altho they will bring refills of whatever. I guess the exact items do change from day to day, but you will always have a few mains and like 20-24 sides to pass around the table. Highlights for me were the fried chicken, okra with tomatoes, creamed corn and collard greens. I was happy to try a little bit of mostly everything. Some items were Southern staples.. I get why they were included, but they were just okay, more boring and/or not my favorite. But it was all tasty and good quality. Sweet Tea, unsweet or water only. Had banana pudding for dessert which they do bring out in individual portions at the end. I think we were in and out in like 40 minutes.. that's really the only negative. Because you know there's a line you feel pressured to eat super fast. Also simply because everything is put out right away there's no waiting. I wish we did have more time to just enjoy more. I was full but I feel like I didn't eat as much as I would have liked! There's no way to fix that though, just come hungry and enjoy as much as you can. I do appreciate that they know when to "cut the line" and they put out a sign that says when it's full for the day. So yeah, don't expect to show up late and still get seated.

What can I say, it's Mrs. Wilkes. The line was a little long but not Friday "super" long. Get there early to get in sooner rather than later. The food is ALWAYS fantastic and the stand outs that many do not try are the noodles and peas and the warm cabbage that were right up there with the best of the 25 dishes that accompanied the fried chicken. This is always a favorite restaurant to revisit when we have friends visiting and want to check Mrs. Wilkes off their bucket list. Well worth the wait. Thank you Mrs. Wilkes staff for a great Savannah experience.

Pretty good but maybe not quite worth the hype. This lunch/early dinner family-style Southern dining experience is supposedly a "must-do" when visiting Savannah. People line up at 10, an hour ahead of doors opening (11 AM). And cuz there's only about room for 80 to 100 customers, if you're not in the first group, expect to wait an hour to eat. Service is efficient, simply to move diners through. You're eating with strangers, though most folks are nice and the focus is on passing dishes and eating quickly. If you like talking to people, this communal eating is for you. The main meats are fried chicken (moist & crunchy), bbq pork, beef stew. I actually thought the stew was the most flavorful protein, and fork tender too. Along with the meats, cornbread and biscuits are placed on the table. Sweet tea is also provided before you're even seated. The side dishes require their own paragraph! I remember: Cole slaw, black-eye peas, au gratin potatoes, mash potatoes, batter-fried okra, collard greens, green beans, stuffing, stewed tomato & okra, rutabaga, buttered noodles, Spanish rice, and mashed sweet potatoes. The best items were au gratin potatoes, collard greens & fried okra. The other sides were meh. At the end of the meal, they bring out small dishes of peach cobbler & banana pudding. The key thing to remember here is that they will keep bringing out food as long as you want it. But if many of your table mates are finished eating and leaving, it can be awkward to keep eating.....so allot about an hour to chow. Is it worth $30? Probably, but know what to expect and if family-style eating isn't your thing, don't.

Wow! Mrs. Wilkes is not to be missed! This was such an amazing unique experience. The entire meal is family style, just maybe not with your own family but 12 new potential friends. The food is home style and so fresh and delicious. It's true southern home cooking at its finest. You'll be bursting with food trying to sample everything. Focus on a few and make sure you don't miss the fried chicken which was fantastic fresh and still hot and crispy the second time around, 30 minutes later. Service is so attentive and quick! They constantly keep the food rolling and check in on you to make sure you are comfortable. I can't wait to come back! Make sure when you visit you get in early though the lines move quick.

As has been previously stated bring cash and get there early. We got there at 10:20 on a Friday and didn't get seated til 12. Not much to do in line except for people watching. Other than the line to the restaurant was a pretty quiet street. It was encouraging to see that people could barely walk when they left the restaurant. Easy to find, just look for the long line. Served family style with the food already at the table when you are seated. Over 20 side dishes, fried chicken, pulled pork. I was so excited I forgot to take pictures. Best fried chicken I can remember. The sides were okay, perhaps I didn't pay too much attention to the sides after eating so much chicken. Skip the desserts, stick to the chicken. Would get there before 10:20

Had to wait awhile, but was definitely worth it. Classic southern cooking and a must while visiting Savannah.

Came in for lunch and was beyond pleased with the food, the atmosphere and the service. I recommend to arrive before they open because they always have a long line - but I is worth the wait! It is family style service so you share a large table with other guests. They must have placed over 25 different food items for us to share. I tried to take small portions to be able to try everything, but it was impossible. The fried chicken was amazing well actually everything was delicious. Bring cash because they don't accept any other type of currency.

Yes, yes, yes to everything here! It's definitely touristy, but such a fun experience and the food is chefs kiss!!!! We bought the cookbook because I want to make everything again. You get a lot of food and it's all delicious. So much better than the restaurants we went to and spent 3X the amount.

Loved this place. You definitely have to get there early to wait in line! Love the family atmosphere. They make you feel like this is their home and you are just over for supper. The food is all waiting at the table when you sit down. So many sides I couldn't even count. Highlights for me were the creamed corn, fried okra, and okra and tomatoes. Chicken was delicious and they also served a roast and pulled pork. Save room for the little dessert at the end!

The four of us ate here twice over the course of a seven day stay on Hilton Head Island recently. We made the one hour drive from HH to Savannah. We knew to come early to make it into the first seating at 11am. We parked down the block and paid for parking at the machine. $1.00 an hour. As we stood in front of the restaurant on the sidewalk around 10:15 am we chit chatted with the other early diners. That made time fly a little faster. Then as 11am approached the host came out and asked how many in our party. We were instructed to sit at table one. Each communal table holds ten people. There must have been over twenty different sides in small serving bowls. The featured star of the show was the fried chicken. Piled high. The first time we ate there on a Wednesday there were many chicken wings. The second time which was on a Monday there were more drumsticks and thighs. Of course there were a couple of token chicken breasts. We shied away from the breast. Not only too big in size but leaning towards being dry. My two favorite sides: the creamed corn and the sweet mashed potatoes. Too many sides to mention but I can recall mashed potatoes, corn bread, black eye peas, cabbage, fried okra, stewed okra, collard greens....... Two other proteins: meat loaf and a kind of beef stew tomato based. The second time we went there was no meat loaf. Don't be afraid to request more fried chicken or specific pieces on the second or third round. We had to wait but it was fine. Beverage was water and sweetened tea or unsweetened tea. Dessert was choice of banana bread pudding or peach cobbler. Once you're done eating you bus your dirty dinner plate and plastic tumbler to the kitchen. There are two dining rooms. They stagger the people in & out depending on how quickly people are finished eating. Both times we were in and out in under an hour. $30 cash per person. Gratuity not included. There's an ATM inside the restaurant.

Loved our lunch. What a fun experience. I've been to a few family styled restaurants but never with bunch of strangers. We ended up having so much fun!! Food was very much southern comfort food and delicious fried chicken ahhhhh.... We left there so stuffed and happy. Only reason I couldn't give solid 5 was they only take cash. After I had to use a shady ATM machine my bank send me an alert. lol Next time I will take my whole family

Great family owned business. You'll stand in line for a long time to get in, but when you do, you will likely agree that it's well worth the wait. Entertaining, kind and generous staff. Had an issue with our ATM card and one of the family members said @don't worry about it just send us a check". we finally got the debit card issue resolved, and were able to withdraw cash and the gentleman at the front who was also a family member, said "if you're traveling today you're probably going to need this cash for tips, etc. Why don't you just keep it and send me a check when you get home?" How amazing is that?

What an experience! Worth the wait to try this place! All of the food was delicious. Southern soul food.

Excellent. Very nice experience. A little hard to find but worth it . Food was great and service was friendly. Communal dining was interesting but fun

If you visit Savannah Mrs. Wilks is a Must Do! Old southern cooking family style, so much food, so good! I must warn you that this place is not a secret so go about 30-45 minutes before it opens and stand in line. Trust me it's worth the wait.

The line is no joke here, got here on a Monday on 10am, doors open at 11am, and we were sitting at 11:15. We were on our way out at 12. Very interesting experience, all the better if your extroverted. And kind of a nightmare if you're not... You come there and there's food spread on the table all ready for you to eat. What's challenging is getting all the things you want and being able to eat it warm. Overall the items were good and I think you come here for the experience and decent food. Are there items here that I think are amazing and must haves? IDK. but was everything pretty tasty? Yea I'd say it was. The thing that makes it not a must go is the wait...I wouldn't recommend waiting an hour for this place.

Here's the thing is it the best food you have ever had in your life? No, it is good and you get to try a lot of things and mix with strangers yes. The staff was very nice. Got there 10:20 was nervous when we would get seated. Got seated by 11:30 and then finished eating 11:30. It was $60 for the meal for two adults. The chicken, potato salad and cabbage were my favorites. The beef stew was also good. We finished by 11:30. Would I dine here again? Probably not, would I tell people to experience this who haven't been to Savannah absolutely! Gratuity is paid in cash at the door.

If you haven't been to Mrs. Wilkes, you haven't been to Savannah. That's a pretty bold statement, but I suggest it's true. I don't give too many 5 star ratings, but Mrs. Wilkes deserves the honor as a diamond in the crown of this historic, wonderful little city. Lunch is served from 11 to 2-ish, or until the chicken runs out. I miss the old days when breakfast was served, too. I've been visiting Mrs. Wilkes since 1987. The place has never disappointed. Sure, you'll struggle to find a parking spot in the quaint, picture-postcard of a neighborhood. You'll stand outside, waiting to get in (yes, it's even worth it if you have to stand in the rain). Yeah, it's kinda touristy. And you'll be seated family-style with a bunch of strangers whom you've never met and will probably never see again. That's just the good stuff. The great stuff is the food, the southern hospitality and the experience. All worthy of the previously mentioned 5 stars. Many have posted their accolades on Yelp, but I'll simply say that the superstars at Mrs. Wilkes are the fried chicken, the creamed corn, the collards and the cornbread. Slather the latter with honey, and you're welcome. Cash only. There is an ATM inside. Sweet tea optional (unsweet and water also available). Bus your own table. Lament the fact that you can't take all those wonderful leftovers with you, and pay on the way out. Currently $30 pp + tip. Worth every penny for one of the most memorable meals you'll ever have. Enjoy, y'all.

The best fried chicken I've had in quite a while. Family style dining with ALL the best side dishes. Even topped it off with banana pudding, and it was great. Seating is family table style, so there is a bit of a wait and you will likely be seated with other diners, but that simply adds to the charm of a very enjoyable meal. Well done.

What a southern treat! We arrived at 10:45AM on a Friday and were seated at about 12:15PM. I wasn't able to try everything but I really enjoyed the sweet potatoes and coleslaw, which both usually aren't my side of choice! Definitely stop by and bring a mini fan with you to beat the heat while you wait in line. It was nice that they had an igloo cooler with water outside. I happened to have my own cup I was able to refill, but otherwise they have small disposable cones.

Family style restaurant? Check. Go without a whole family and still have it? Check. Mrs Wilkes' is a place I never knew existed, in both physical and conceptual. Family style dining with strangers should really be more of a thing. Food is brought out, no menu except drink options (tea and/or water). Pass the plates to your new found "family" and enjoy! There is a line that forms about 30 minutes prior so come early. Cash only.

What everyone says is true. Long wait. Group tables. Cash only. But TOTALLY worth it! Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room was amazing, I am so glad my friends and I went here on our trip. We got in line around 12:10pm (I know, a bit late), and after about 35 minutes they said that no one after the current person in line could join due to timing. They close at 2pm. While they try not to tell anyone they can't join, there's only so much chicken that gets made every day and so they'll run out by a certain point. They give the last person in line a sign to hold that tells others that they'll have to try again another morning. I agree to try and get there two full hours before you want to eat and don't come after 12pm. Especially as it gets busier for tourists in Savannah you'll want to go early. Maybe bring a small snack. Erin, I believe she's a manager there will come out and talk to the crowd and explain how eating works and gives out biscuits / cornbread in line to people who get trivia right. You make friends in line and then you may end up eating with them as well. The people we met in line have come here 10 times- each time they come back to Savannah. All the food on the table is amazing. There isn't a dish that could be considered bland, bad, or skippable. Try and get a little bit of everything and then eat seconds, they refill your bowls of food when you run out. Best fried chicken I've had in the south so far. They offer you sweet tea as the default beverage, but also have unsweetened tea or water. $30 per person for the food, and also cash for the tip. There's an ATM inside. They are a great team of staff here and Mrs. Wilkes relatives who are there now are doing a wonderful job.

Listen. If you have plans after eating here all you're gonna have time for is a NAP. This place is AMAZING. You will leave here saying it was worth the wait. Wow. Can't say anything negative about the food or people. UNBELIEVABLE

Totally worth the wait. I would recommend getting in line at 10am and plan to eat between 11-11:15 Cash only. Group tables, absolutely plenty of everything and it keeps coming. It wasn't the best version of anything I tried but very very good, and getting to have the whole spread was a treat. Highly recommend, Can't think of anything quite like it :)

This was number on my list when I was visiting the weekend with my friend. Highly recommended by my friend to try this place. She said to try everything and I did mostly. They are only open on weekdays and google said it closes at 2 or 3pm but the lady told us they close whenever they ran out of chicken. We went on a Thursday around 11:30 and there was already a line and the tables were full inside. She said thursdays are not the busiest so I'm glad we came on a Thursday. We didn't wait too long to be seated. The lady asked questions and kept us busy while we were all outside waiting. Super nice. It is like a family style place. It's all you can eat for $30. You get seated at a table with other people and we pass the food around like thanksgiving dinner! There was friend chicken, beef stew, and pulled pork as their main. It comes with a whole table of sides. I didn't even know where to start! It also comes with sweet ice tea but you can switch it out for unsweetened. There was lots and lots of food. My favorite had to be the pulled pork, candied yam, cornbread, and the collard greens. Everything was good but those were my top 4. Oh my god, their cornbread was so good and I'm normally not like a big cornbread person. It was light and warm and melts in your mouth. Sadly I took a pic and posted on IG but didn't save it :( will take my husband back here when I come visit with him! I also brought their cookbook! I know when I'm cooking for thanksgiving this year!

Fun Fun Fun! Good food! Get there no later than 10:15am in line, bring cash and wait to see who you eat with! You will be full the rest of the day.