10 Southern Restaurants In Georgia That Deserve A Spot On Your Food Bucket List
In the 1940s, a woman who wanted to open a restaurant often had better luck calling it a tea room. One Atlanta dining room still carries the name today.
I love that such a dainty name helped launch a fried chicken legacy. Sixteen tea rooms once served intown Atlanta.
Only one remains.
Georgia’s food history gets even more interesting from there. A Macon soul food kitchen fed a famous rock band during its struggling early years.
In Savannah, a lunch spot still seats strangers at shared tables, keeping an old boardinghouse tradition alive.
The lineup includes candlelit mansions, cafeteria lines, a former gas station, and a historic inn with a gold mine shaft. Every address has a story, and one of them involves a mine hiding in plain sight.
1. The Olde Pink House
A pink mansion serving fried lobster tails sounds like a dream you’d describe at breakfast. In Savannah, it’s just dinner on Abercorn Street.
The Olde Pink House serves inventive Southern cuisine inside an elegant Colonial mansion. The rooms feel historic and romantic, with a fireplace adding to the old-world mood.
Downstairs, a cellar tavern hosts live music. That gives you a fun choice between a quiet dinner upstairs and a livelier evening below.
Now let’s talk food, because the menu earns its fancy address. Blue crab beignets and crispy fried lobster tails show off the coastal side of Southern cooking.
Country fried chicken keeps things classic. Mac and cheese jalapeno poppers prove someone in the kitchen has a playful streak.
Save room for the praline basket if dessert is your favorite course. Its name alone feels like a little Savannah souvenir.
Planning matters here more than at most spots on this list. Reservations are recommended, and there’s usually a wait even with them.
Lunch runs Tuesday through Saturday, while dinner is served seven nights a week. Parking downtown can be tricky, so give yourself extra time.
Outdoor seating is available when the weather cooperates. Dogs are welcome outside, which feels very Savannah.
Dress up a little and take your time. A meal this pretty deserves a slow pace.
Address: 23 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA 31401
2. Mary Mac’s Tea Room
Calling a restaurant a tea room once helped women open dining businesses. Mary MacKenzie used that clever trick in Atlanta back in 1945.
Today, Mary Mac’s Tea Room is the last of sixteen tea rooms that once operated intown. Its nickname, Atlanta’s Dining Room, fits nicely.
The place has grown from one dining room into six. It now covers about 13,000 square feet, making it one of the city’s largest restaurants.
Photos of celebrities and dignitaries who have eaten here line the walls. You can play spot-the-famous-face while waiting for your plate.
Fried chicken leads the parade, but the sides deserve equal fame. Look for black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread dressing with gravy.
Tomato pie and sweet potato souffle are fun picks if you want something beyond the usual. Chicken and dumplings and shrimp and grits are on the menu too.
Yeast rolls come with meals, which feels like a gift. Finish with Georgia peach cobbler or banana pudding, then pretend you’re too full.
Big news for planners: Mary Mac’s recently started taking reservations for the first time. That’s a welcome change, since there’s usually a wait.
Hours run from 11 AM to 9 PM daily. The kids’ menu makes it an easy family pick.
Address: 224 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
3. H&H Soul Food Restaurant
Rock history and fried chicken share a booth in Macon. Back in the day, the Allman Brothers Band leaned on this kitchen during their lean early years.
H&H opened in 1959, founded by Inez Hill and Louise Hudson. The two women became known as Mama Hill and Mama Louise.
Mama Louise grew so close to the band that she joined their 1972 tour bus. That’s one road trip snack situation nobody can top.
The restaurant also became an important meeting place for civil rights activists. Its walls hold far more than recipes.
Food here leans hearty and proud of it. Fried chicken, collard greens, biscuits, grits, and mac and cheese anchor the menu.
Soul rolls are the fun twist you’ll want to try. Think egg rolls stuffed with fried chicken, collards, and pimento cheese, served with peach chili sauce.
Fried green tomatoes come with garlic spread and comeback sauce. Desserts include banana pudding, peach cobbler, bread pudding, and cakes.
Breakfast fans can grab a country ham plate in the morning. Doors open at 7 AM on weekdays and 8 AM on weekends.
Everything wraps up at 3 PM, so don’t wander in for a late supper. Reservations aren’t accepted, and free parking makes stopping easy.
Address: 807 Forsyth St, Macon, GA 31201
4. Mama’s Boy Restaurant
Chocolate cake for breakfast is an actual menu item here. Somebody in Athens clearly understands how mornings should work.
Mama’s Boy serves Southern breakfast and lunch staples with a modern twist. The space feels relaxed and cheery, a good match for a lazy weekend morning.
College town energy fills the room, with students, families, and visitors all welcome. It’s the kind of place that suits solo diners too.
The menu mixes tradition with surprise. Fried chicken and biscuits sit near peach French toast and salmon cakes eggs Benedict.
Pulled pork shows up in unexpected breakfast spots, which is fun to explore. The Mill Town Breakfast Plate offers a hearty classic start.
Banana bread and cinnamon buns make great add-ons for the table. Strawberry lemonade and iced coffee help you wash it down.
Expect a wait, especially on weekend mornings. Reservations aren’t accepted, so arrive early or try a weekday instead.
Hours run from 7 AM to 2:30 PM daily. Outdoor seating is available, and dogs can join you there.
Address: 197 Oak St, Athens, GA 30601
5. The Smith House Historic Inn and Restaurant
Few lunch spots can brag about a gold mine shaft on the property. In Dahlonega, that’s part of the charm at The Smith House.
This historic inn dates to 1899 and offers refined guest rooms. Downstairs, the real draw for hungry travelers is family-style Southern dining.
Family-style means sharing big dishes around the table. Passing bowls feels friendly, even if you have to guard the last roll.
The gold mine shaft ties into Dahlonega’s famous gold rush past. It gives your meal a fun bit of history you won’t find at a chain.
Dahlonega itself makes a great day trip in north Georgia. The small mountain town is packed with history and easy strolling.
Planning around the hours is important here. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Tuesday through Thursday, it serves from 11 AM to 3 PM. Friday and Saturday hours extend until 7:30 PM, while Sunday service ends at 7 PM.
That schedule makes weekends the easy choice for a dinner visit. Weekday trips work best if you aim for lunch.
If you love the idea of staying overnight, the inn has rooms too. Waking up near breakfast-friendly downtown sounds like a fine plan.
Come ready to share, talk, and pass plates. It’s Southern comfort served the old way.
Address: 84 S Chestatee St, Dahlonega, GA 30533
6. Southern Soul Barbeque
Fill up the tank used to mean gasoline at this corner. Now it means oak-smoked brisket on St. Simons Island.
Southern Soul Barbeque lives in a former gas station. The building’s past gives the place a funky, easygoing personality.
Meats are smoked over oak, and the brisket gets plenty of attention. You can order it on a plate or piled into a sandwich.
The Barbecuban is a fun option for adventurous eaters. Smoked wings and brisket chili round out the meaty choices nicely.
Sides matter here, too. Fried okra, mac and cheese, collard greens, potato salad, soulslaw, and baked beans all appear on the menu.
Banana pudding is the sweet ending. After a smoky lunch, it hits just right.
Ordering happens at the counter, so there’s no table service. That keeps things moving quickly, even when it’s busy.
And busy is common, especially on weekend afternoons. Reservations aren’t accepted, so plan a little patience into your beach day.
Hours run 11 AM to 7 PM Monday through Thursday. Friday through Sunday, you get an extra hour until 8 PM.
Address: 2020 Demere Rd, St Simons Island, GA 31522
7. Minnie’s Uptown Restaurant
Lunch at Minnie’s runs on a tight clock. Show up after 2:30 PM, and you’ll be eating regret instead of fried chicken.
Minnie Hanneman opened this Columbus spot in the mid-1980s. Some folks doubted the location back then, yet it became a city staple.
After her passing in 2023, her granddaughter took over. The family recipes keep rolling out of the kitchen.
Minnie’s works like a classic meat-and-three cafeteria. You walk the line, point at what you want, and find a seat.
Main dishes include fried chicken, baked chicken in gravy, hamburger steak, and fried pork chops. Meatloaf shows up too.
Side choices are where decisions get hard. Black-eyed peas, turnip greens, okra, cornbread dressing, and rice and gravy all compete for space.
Hoe cakes and sweet tea are big parts of the Minnie’s identity. Don’t skip them.
Desserts include red velvet cake, yellow cake with chocolate frosting, and banana pudding. Brownies offer a quick grab if you’re stuffed.
Hours are 11 AM to 2:30 PM, Monday through Friday and Sunday. Saturday is closed, so plan around it.
Parking nearby can be tough, so arrive a bit early. Takeout and delivery help when you can’t sit down.
Address: 104 8th St, Columbus, GA 31901
8. Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room
Sharing a table with strangers sounds awkward until the fried chicken arrives. At Mrs. Wilkes, that tradition dates back to 1943.
Sema Wilkes took over a Savannah boardinghouse that year. The brick building itself dates to 1870.
Guests still sit at big communal tables seating about ten. Platters get passed around, and new friendships form over biscuits.
In 2000, the James Beard Foundation named it one of America’s Classics. That’s a big honor for a lunch-only dining room.
The menu changes daily, so surprises are part of the deal. Fried chicken, meatloaf, collard greens, and candied yams show up often.
Other regulars on the table include sweet potato souffle, black-eyed peas, okra gumbo, and cornbread dressing. Banana pudding is the classic finish.
Here’s the tricky part: it’s open only Monday through Friday. Lunch runs from 11 AM to 2 PM.
Lines form early, and reservations aren’t accepted. Bring patience and maybe a hat for sunny Savannah mornings.
Payment is cash or check only. An ATM is on-site if you forget.
Parking in the historic district can be hard. Walking from your hotel might save time.
Address: 107 W Jones St, Savannah, GA 31401
9. Jonah’s Fish & Grits
Grits get top billing in the name, and they earn it. Thomasville’s Jonah’s Fish & Grits treats them like a main event.
The space is casual and lofty, right in downtown Thomasville. Outdoor seating gives you a spot to enjoy south Georgia weather.
Grouper stars across the menu in several forms. Parmesan crusted grouper, blackened grouper tasso, and grouper chowder all make appearances.
Crab stuffed salmon is another standout option. Shrimp and grits brings the namesake dish into the spotlight.
Start with hush puppies or fried green tomatoes. Both are easy to share, though you may not want to.
Lunch runs 11 AM to 2 PM Monday through Friday. Dinner starts at 5 PM, with Saturday serving straight through until 8:30 PM.
Sundays are closed, so plan your weekend wisely. Expect a wait during busy Saturday hours.
Street parking downtown can fill up. A short walk around Thomasville’s pretty streets is a nice bonus anyway.
Address: 109 E Jackson St, Thomasville, GA 31792
10. The Busy Bee
The Busy Bee has been an Atlanta institution since 1947. Today, its original storefront specializes in takeout soul food.
The Busy Bee sits in a small storefront on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. It has served traditional soul food for more than seven decades.
Fried chicken is the headliner, and it carries the Busy Bee name proudly. Smothered pork chops are another big draw.
Fried whiting gives seafood fans a solid choice. The sides keep the classics coming.
Look for mac and cheese, collard greens, black-eyed peas, and potato salad. Mashed potatoes and cornbread muffins round things out.
Then there’s the lemonade, squeezed by hand daily. An Arnold Palmer is also on the menu for tea lovers.
The restaurant currently operates as takeout-only, with pickup and delivery options available.
Hours run 11 AM to 7 PM every day. Sunday afternoons and Friday evenings tend to be the busiest.
Reservations are accepted, which helps on crowded days. Still, a wait is common, so plan accordingly.
For a taste of Georgia soul food history, this spot belongs near the top. Just be ready to share elbow room.
Address: 810 M.L.K. Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314