Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room Menu: Savannah's Legendary Southern Lunch

Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room charges a fixed per-person price for the family-style communal lunch -- the fee covers all dishes passed at the table. The exact current price is not independently verified on this page; check mrswilkes.com or call the restaurant directly before your visit for up-to-date pricing. Historically the price has been in the $25-$30 per adult range, but this figure may change.

Mrs. Wilkes' is open Monday through Friday for lunch only, typically from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or until the food runs out). The restaurant is closed on weekends and most major holidays. Lines form well before opening -- arriving by 10:30 a.m. is strongly recommended. Confirm current hours on the official website before visiting.

Mrs. Wilkes' uses a communal, family-style seating model. Guests are seated together at large shared tables regardless of party size -- strangers sit together, which is part of the experience. Platters of fried chicken, sides, biscuits and other dishes are placed on the table and passed around. There are no menu choices -- you eat whatever is on the table that day, which rotates. Seating moves quickly: when a table finishes, the next group in line is seated.

Mrs. Wilkes' is a traditional Southern meat-forward restaurant. Many of the vegetables and sides are cooked with smoked pork or other meat products -- collard greens, black-eyed peas, and butter beans are typically prepared this way. The macaroni and cheese, biscuits, cornbread, coleslaw, sweet potato souffle and banana pudding may be vegetarian depending on preparation. Strict vegetarians or vegans should call ahead to confirm what options are available on any given day.

No reservations are taken. Mrs. Wilkes' is walk-in only with a first-come, first-served line. The line often starts forming by 9-10 a.m. for the 11 a.m. opening. Large parties should expect a longer wait. The dining room fills quickly and may stop seating before 2 p.m. if food runs out.

Mrs. Wilkes' is famous primarily for its fried chicken and for preserving the authentic Southern boarding house dining tradition. Sema Wilkes opened the restaurant in 1943 and ran it until her death in 2002; the family has continued the operation ever since. The restaurant has been featured in countless national and international publications and named one of America's essential restaurants. Former President Jimmy Carter, Paula Deen and many other notable figures have dined there. The experience -- the line, the communal table, the overflowing platters -- is as famous as any single dish.

Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room is located at 107 W Jones Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401 -- in Savannah's historic downtown district, a short walk from Forsyth Park and the Savannah riverfront. Street parking is available nearby; Savannah's historic squares are within easy walking distance of the restaurant.

The menu rotates daily but always includes fried chicken as the anchor protein. Additional proteins rotate among baked ham, beef stew, chicken perlo and other Southern classics. Sides -- collard greens, black-eyed peas, sweet potato souffle, mac and cheese, rutabaga, squash casserole, coleslaw, red rice -- vary by day. Biscuits and cornbread are served at every meal. Desserts (banana pudding, peach cobbler) are included. The restaurant does not publish its daily menu in advance.

Historically Mrs. Wilkes' accepted cash only, which was part of its no-frills boarding house character. Payment policy may have changed -- confirm directly with the restaurant before your visit, especially if you plan to pay by card.