We were standing in the line in the hot Georgia sun and saw several parties talking to the reservation guy and then walk in. When we asked, we were told they were going to eat at the bar. We said we would do that too and went right in. The bar had high tables and stools but was fine. We had planned to get dinner reservations and ended up having lunch but for us it was better than waiting in that line. When we left, we saw the same people in the line waiting to make their dinner reservations. We had the buffet by the way, it was good. We could walk off the butter and calories the rest of the day around Savannah. Paula's mac and cheese was pretty good!!

As you know, you can't call in and make reservations, you have to go there where a little table is set up outside and make reservations. We arrived in the afternoon around 4:00pm and was told dinner hour started at 5pm and they were full except for the bar area. So, we took the bar area. Still could not get in until 5pm but spent the time having cocktails up the street. At 5pm they had us all line up across the street where they proceeded to ring a dinner bell and started calling us out. Different....

Skip Lady and Sons and go to Mrs. Wilkes' Boarding House for lunch. Several people who had been to both commented how much better Mrs. Wilkes' is. Food at Mrs. Wilkes' was great.

I'm surprised that Paula Dean isn't gracious enough to make it possible for you to make a reservation on Open Table. I wonder why she wants you to suffer in order to pay her to eat a meal in her restaurant. Whatever happened to Southern hospitality?

HTTY

We were in Savannah a month ago. We really don't eat lunch and we had little interest in having dinner there.

We were very pleased with our choices of The Olde Pink House and 45 Bistro.

Open Table is convenient for you but very expensive for the restaurant. I find it annoying in Boston because all you can get are really early times, and you walk in and the place is deserted. The owners are just saving the good places and times for the regulars.

This is not to suggest that her policy is not weird. It is. She does take reservations, by the way, but unless you live in Savannah, you wouldn't know how to get one. Neither do I, but my friend who took me there did.

Back in the day, Antoine's in New Orleans did not take reservations, but the waiters did. If you "had a waiter" or your aunt did, you called up, and he told you when to come in, bypassing all the people in line.

Galatoire's still doesn't take reservations, to my knowledge.

i just dont understand folks waiting in line for this place--there are so many other much better places in Savannah, like Wilkes, or on the high end, Pink Hoise ,Noble Fare, Vics for lunch

According to Paula: "Because y'all have made us so popular and to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to eat with us, we cannot accept reservations for parties smaller than ten persons most days of the year."

I don't get it. I make reservations all the time and in doing so I don't deprive anybody else of an equal opportunity to make a reservation.

She does take reservations, by the way, but unless you live in Savannah, you wouldn't know how to get one. Neither do I, but my friend who took me there did.--Ackislander

The "equal opportunity" ploy is very disingenuous. Paula's "priority seating" scheme seems to be nothing more than a way to manage the seats she sets aside for walk-ins. Why not eat someplace where you will be treated like a valued guest?

HTTY

I just don't understand the snarkiness. Really, I don't.

Don't wait in line if you don't want to. But the snarky comments really get old.

VERY old.

snarky |ˈsnärkē| sharply critical; cutting; cranky; irritable, as is "I just don't understand the snarkiness. Really, I don't."

HTTY