« Obit for "The world's greatest man" (And, no, it's not who you think) | Main | “I can remember when Americans weren’t afraid of everything.” »
December 6, 2013
Mrs Wilkes's Dining Room
Our destination: Savannah, and more specifically Mrs Wilkes's Dining Room. The restaurant is strictly first-come, first-served, and so, even at 10am, we hastily parked the car and raced through the town's impossibly pretty streets, mottled sunlight illuminating their 19th-century mansions. A huge queue of mostly blue-rinsed women lined the front of Mrs Wilkes's and wound past a line of antique shops around the corner. Two hours later we were put on a table of ten with those closest to us in the queue, most of whom seemed to be called Betty. We were presented with what could be the best home cooking I'll ever have. This is Soul Food: fried chicken, meat stew, barbecued brisket, collard greens, mash, mac and cheese, rutabaga, pickled beets, butterbeans, red rice and candied yams. And those are just the things I can remember. The vegetables were outstanding, and the brisket deep and treacly, its layers of fat bursting with flavour. It was all washed down with sweet tea and finished with banana puddin -- no "g" -- and blackberry cobbler. Stupefied, we thought it best to take a stroll before getting back in the car. True Grits | Standpoint
Posted by gerardvanderleun at December 6, 2013 10:58 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
If you find yourself anywhere near Savannah, GA, you simply must go to The Wilkes House.
I travel for a living (airline pilot), and I've been three times while on a trip, and a fourth when my wife and I visited Savannah and Charleston.
The food is down-home Southern "Soul" food. They will tell you that there is no need to pray before you eat (which some folks find awkward when eating with people you have just met), because they have prayed over the food as it was being prepared. Just like at home, there is no menu....you eat what they put in front of you (you won't have any trouble--it is all wonderful). And just as it is at home, when you are done with your meal, nobody "busses" your table: You stand up and take your own plates to the kitchen.
Posted by: azlibertarian at December 6, 2013 11:46 AM
Sounds scrumptious. At my age, I'm not able to eat like that anymore. Too bad for the good restaurants, they won't get a dime of my money no matter how tasty the food.
Posted by: Jimmy J. at December 6, 2013 1:59 PM
Savannah is eccentrically neat (Kim may beg to differ and I've never lived there). Gateway to the awesome redneck beach of Tybee Island which is my people.
and I mean redneck in the most affectionate way......
Posted by: Cletus Socrates at December 6, 2013 2:28 PM
Et there offin, as they say. And take home her cookbook. Don't forget the Buccaneer Club, a little ways south of there. Best fried shrimp anywhere.
Posted by: wcrisler at December 6, 2013 7:53 PM
Et there offin, as they say. And take home her cookbook. Don't forget the Buccaneer Club, a little ways south of there. Best fried shrimp anywhere.
Posted by: wcrisler at December 6, 2013 7:56 PM
Et there offin, as they say. And take home her cookbook. Don't forget the Buccaneer Club, a little ways south of there. Best fried shrimp anywhere.
Posted by: wcrisler at December 6, 2013 7:57 PM
In high school in the early 70's we would go to Mrs. Wilkes' between two-a-day football practices and gorge on fried chicken. Still my favorite Savannah restaurant. The tourists can have Paula Deen's.
Posted by: Velociman at December 6, 2013 7:58 PM
Crab Shack - Tybee Island - low country boil. Yum. Don't feed the cats.
Posted by: twolaneflash at December 6, 2013 9:09 PM
That looks like some seriously good eats. I guess I've missed a lot by not traveling, even just in the Continental 48.
Posted by: Mumblix Grumph at December 7, 2013 1:47 AM