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Mrs. Wilkes

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Old 08-18-2025, 04:34 PM
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Default Mrs. Wilkes

We are in Savannah, GA today and we stopped for lunch at this place. And it was wonderful! They have something different every day, and it’s served in bowls that they put out on the table and everybody goes at it. They have eight seats at every table but if you get at 1:00, like we did, they’ll seat you by yourself. I’m going to list what was in the bowls at the table:

Fried chicken, lima beans, rice, corn, green beans, squash, gravy, mashed potatoes, okra and tomatoes, beef stew, cabbage, black eyed peas, pickled cucumbers, pulled pork, jambalaya, cole slaw, yams with raisins, cornbread, fried okra, mac and cheese, collards, was all at our table plus desserts and anything I forgot.

The cost is a flat $35 a person and for my money, everything tasted fresh and homemade, something you forget about in conventional restaurants. They’re open from 11 to 2 and I urge you to go. They’ve been open since 1943 and written up in magazines and newspapers, and I can see why!
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Old 08-18-2025, 04:54 PM
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I lived in Savannah between 1980 and 1995. I visited Mrs. Wilkes several times, but never paid anywhere near $35. It was originally an actual boarding house, but I don't know if it still is one. Another favorite restaurant was Carey Hilliards, but the owners died in a plane crash and their children took over. I don't know if their restaurants are still open.
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Old 08-18-2025, 04:59 PM
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Mrs Wilkes was great the last time we were there, nice to hear it still is.

If you're around for breakfast you might take a look at Little Duck Diner.
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Old 08-18-2025, 05:55 PM
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My great aunt knew Mrs Wilkes, and frequently visited her. I inherited her signed cookbook from my aunt. Apparently I met her as a young child but have no memory of the event
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Old 08-18-2025, 06:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill14564 View Post
Mrs Wilkes was great the last time we were there, nice to hear it still is.

If you're around for breakfast you might take a look at Little Duck Diner.
Thanks, I will!
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Old 08-19-2025, 04:35 AM
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My first visit was in 1970.
Last visit a few weeks ago.
At least 70 visits in between.
The menu is basically the same daily with a few meat changes.
Cash only. Tip when paying as exiting, not at the table.
The foods not nearly as good now, some of it just OK. Worth a visit.
Go about an hour before closing for shorter line, which starts at 10:30. I’d never wait more than a few minutes.
If you’re a single don’t wait in line, go to the door and let host know, they’ll seat you on window bench inside and fill you in a table.
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Old Yesterday, 06:34 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123 View Post
I lived in Savannah between 1980 and 1995. I visited Mrs. Wilkes several times, but never paid anywhere near $35. It was originally an actual boarding house, but I don't know if it still is one. Another favorite restaurant was Carey Hilliards, but the owners died in a plane crash and their children took over. I don't know if their restaurants are still open.
Lots of inflation in 45 years. Nixon severed the dollar's link to gold about 1973.
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Old Yesterday, 06:45 AM
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family style seating. Pennsylvania has those types of restaurants also.
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Old Yesterday, 07:47 AM
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Paula Dean’s place is another option too.
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Old Yesterday, 08:23 AM
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Paula Dean’s place is another option too.
Paula Dean’s restaurant is closed. Closed on August 1.
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Old Yesterday, 02:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shaw8700@outlook.com View Post
We are in Savannah, GA today and we stopped for lunch at this place. And it was wonderful! They have something different every day, and it’s served in bowls that they put out on the table and everybody goes at it. They have eight seats at every table but if you get at 1:00, like we did, they’ll seat you by yourself. I’m going to list what was in the bowls at the table:

Fried chicken, lima beans, rice, corn, green beans, squash, gravy, mashed potatoes, okra and tomatoes, beef stew, cabbage, black eyed peas, pickled cucumbers, pulled pork, jambalaya, cole slaw, yams with raisins, cornbread, fried okra, mac and cheese, collards, was all at our table plus desserts and anything I forgot.

The cost is a flat $35 a person and for my money, everything tasted fresh and homemade, something you forget about in conventional restaurants. They’re open from 11 to 2 and I urge you to go. They’ve been open since 1943 and written up in magazines and newspapers, and I can see why!
We loved going there when we lived in HILTON HEAD many years ago, Mrs Wilkes was the cashier then.
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Old Today, 10:29 AM
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Basque restaurants out West often serve food that way . Lots of Basques in Nevada.

Louis Basque Corner | Home of the World Famous Picon Punch


Recall I lived in a dorm with two ladies from Spain who were teaching undergrads at the U of Minnesota Spanish and I tried to talk to them about the Basques and all they cared about were the terrorists acts by Basque separatists in the Bilbao area. They were both from Bilbao.


They just did not get that the Basque ranchers in Nevada were nothing like the Basque terrorists in Northern Spain.


I had many meals with these two ladies and some other international students.

Last edited by Taltarzac725; Today at 10:43 AM.
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