Yes, Paula Deen moved. It's now 4 floors and full of fans. If you don't want to wait, don't go there.

If you get to Mrs. Wilkes early, before opening, you shouldn't have to wait that long. Remember to take cash.

We went to Mrs. Wilkes last May to kill some time before going to the airport. Loved it! The vegetable dishes were wonderful. We went late and waited about half an hour. Even my husband who hates to wait and repeatedly wanted to leave still talks about those veggies. Some other places we ate at:
http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/twenty-five-years-in-savannah.cfm

For Mrs. Wilkes, keep a couple things in mind:

--they're only open for lunch M-F from 11 am to 2 pm.

--it's a very good idea to get there ca. 20 minutes to half an hour ahead of opening time to stand in line. That's from all reports when the line usually begins to form there.

If you get there later than opening time, you may indeed see hour long waits.

The wait is for people getting there early and waiting in line for it to open. If you come later during lunch I don't think you'll have much of a wait. Remember to bring cash. Yes, Lady and Sons moved from its original location (talk about long waits at THAT location) and has a much bigger space a block away. No one knew who Paula Deen was when she started at the original place and there's a wait at the new place too. There has been a LOT of negative feedback on THIS board about the food on the buffet at Lady and Sons. I usually order from the menu but everyone I know personally who has eaten at the buffet really enjoyed their food. Sometimes I wonder if it's because of the Southern dishes or the anti-Paula Deen sentiment. I had zipper peas and corn pudding at the Whistle Stop cafe yesterday in Juliette GA (where they filmed Fried Green Tomatoes) and was thinking about the same dishes sitting on a buffet at PDs. I can see folks complaining about #1 all the starchy dishes and #2 how they look on a buffet. Sorry. I'm rambling. One good thing about Mrs. Wilkes is that food is served hot to the table. Just like they did during the boarding house days. Another option if you are driving through is stopping at the Dillard House in north Georgia. HIGHLY recommend that place - food served to your private (non-communal table) - or even the Blue Willow in Social Circle (buffet) if you are driving.

starrs, like you, I don't get the extreme negativity about Deen's eatery either. I don't think their food is as good as at Mrs. Wilkes, but that doesn't mean it stinks, either -- I ate from the buffet at the former and thought it was very good. The negative difference here for me was that the food at Deen's spot was sometimes a little heavier and few things were maybe a little less flavorful. But the differences were subtle, not heavily pronounced, and I certainly didn't hate it, not by any means.

And yes, you apparently can get long waits at Deen's place. What I found annoying was that even when the place wasn't at all full (I got there not long after opening when I went), I had to go outside and jump through hoops to get put on a list, then head back in the place before getting seated. I can see that if they're full, but when you're not, it comes across as silly and a little self-important.

Oh, Starrs, I've been to the Dillard house -- but way off our route driving from Naples to Savannah to Charleston and then Richmond on our way to Lambertville, NJ. Road trip in Lee's 2001 BMW Z-3 convertible. Bringing it up north for the summer.

Thanks for the Wilkes Comments, everyone, as well as reminding me I don't want to go to Lady and Sons. I almost expected a lot of slams about how awful Wilkes is (there used to be a lot of those comments here), but I've always loved the food and it's just such a fun thing to do. Maybe we'll have a very light breakfast and do an 11:00 lunch. But some of those comments on TA about the wait include saying things like "we went at 1" or "we didn't think there'd be much wait later on a weekday", etc., but still all seem to have waited over an hour. I'm guessing if we get there at noon, it will be at least an hour.

Wow, that sounds like fun! I love a good convertible road trip.

On your way from Savannah to Charleston, stop by the Old Sheldon Church ruins. Soon after you get off 95 onto 17, if you look for the signage, you can see where you'll make a left to get to it. The light is beautiful there any time of day. It's only 2 miles off 17.

Hopefully, the lilypads in the swamp will still be in bloom. Have a great trip and let me know if you need restaurant recs for Charleston.

suewoo, with only one lunch and one dinner in Charleston (we're staying at the Mills House) I could use some help -- or at least some decision-making for me.
I'm thinking FIG or maybe Peninsula Grill for dinner. 82 Queen or Magnolia's for lunch.
Quiet atmosphere would be good, and not outrageously expensive. Prefer more "local" or "low country" food or influence than merely contemporary or classic that we could get elsewhere.

For that matter, I'm still undecided on either dinner in Savannah too.

Neo, if you are in Savannah for a casual lunch check out - http://papillote-savannah.com/ cmcfong told us about it and it's a new favorite of mine. Absolutely love it.

OK, looks nice, but very French -- we can do that many places. I'm still thinking Mrs. Wilkes for our only lunch there -- something unique.

Yes, if you only have one lunch Mrs. Wilkes is a great choice. If you wait in the line and get tired of it, you could grab a Conquistador at Zunzi's and take it to the park next door. SoHo Cafe is a sit-down alternative if the line is too long.

NeoPatrick, my favorite Charleston dinner spot was SNOB. Didn't try Fig or Peninsula Grill.

I also tried 82 Queen. Liked the she-crab soup (they supposedly do this as well as anyone here) but was not as impressed with whatever other dish I got. Didn't get a chance to try Magnolia's.

I also prefer SNOB to FIG and Peninsula Grill (though all are fine restaurants). I also always enjoy a courtyard lunch at 82 Queen. Very charming.

NeoPatrick,

I love love FIG. It gets crowded, so if you can't get in, go over to Anson. It's on, ah, Anson Street All local, lowcountry stuff. The shrimp and grits at Anson is delicious.

82 Queen is a quintessential Charleston restaurant in a old house right across from Mills house. The patio is a lovely lunch spot. If you get a Bloody Mary, you'll get a pickled okra in it. Try it! It's not foodie forward at all, but it's very pleasant. I took it upon myself to try She Crab all over town (I know, I really took one for the team) and it really is best at 82 Queen. SNOB has great lunch specials, so check the menu when you get here.

I haven't been to Peninsula Grill since the chef changed-no reason, just too many choices!

Have a great time.

OK, now I'm thinking SNOB for lunch, and 82 Queen for dinner. I kind of think the atmosphere might be more relaxed and quiet -- should I say romantic?-- there at night. I have been there and ate outside and know I loved it, but my memory is rather dim.

We're really NOT looking for bustling, noisy, and trendy for dinner! Many of the other places kind of seem like that might describe them.

We walked right into Paula Deen's for lunch in November. Went up to the "reservation" booth and were taken right in. We also ate at Mrs. Wilkes and we much prefered that to Paula Deen's.

NeoPatrick,

SNOB will be bustling at lunch. But do be aware, bustling Charleston-style is not like it is in other places.

82 Queen will be romantic at supper time. The patio has little lights. SO sweet. But last time I was there they said you can't reserve for the patio, so keep that in mind.

OK, made a reservation -- already limited times -- for the evening at 82 Queen.

Now, about Savannah. I guess I really should take him to Pink House (and a drink in that neat bar downstairs first). For the other dinner, I'm thinking Vic's on the River. Have had really nice meals there and there is usually jazz piano. Unless someone else has a really "must do" suggestion.

I may be too late but I really like Magnolia's in Charleston. And it Savannah you might want to considet Garibaldis.

cmfong,

Miss Queenie says woof.

oh yay....woof back at ya, Miss Queenie!

cmcfong, funny you mention that. I couldn't do a reservation for lunch at SNOB, but saw Magnolia's on Open Table so booked our lunch there, thinking I might cancel it if we could get into SNOB or somewhere else. But after looking at the menu, I'm thinking we just might keep it.

I know people rave about Garibaldi's but other than the crispy flounder, I don't see anything on their menu that makes me think of Savannah rather than any good Italian/seafood restaurant here in New Jersey or Florida for that matter.

Yes...do go to the Pink House.
We also love Vic's. Ask for a table by the window so you can look out at the river.

I don't think you will regret the decision to book Magnolia's. I have never been a big fan of SNOB because the noise is so overpowering.
I had a wild Georgia shrimp at Garibaldi's in October which was exceptional. It may have been a special that day. I was impressed with the professionalism of the staff and the quality of food. No view to speak of, though.
Have fun. It is a great city.

I agree with cmfong. Magnolia's is a Charleston staple.

OK, now another question. Is 82 Queen for lunch and Magnolia's for dinner a better option instead of the other way around? Which has the best atmosphere at night?

The weather looks like it's going to hold, so do 82 Queen at night. All those little twinkly lights on the patio might be just what you want!

It may be too late, but we were there April 30. We got there at 10:30 and there was already a line. We finally were seated around noon. The food was very good, so you have to decide it you want to wait.

We also ate at 82 Queen (flew in and out of Charleston). It was very good and a neat place.

You are in for a treat at Magnolia's. We were there a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it the most of all our SC meals. If you like scallops, you will love their appetizer. Here is the menu description:

PAN SEARED SEA SCALLOPS
on sweet corn hoe cakes with a caramelized
apple and smoked bacon cream sauce, sautéed
spinach, and balsamic syrup

We were sopping up every last drop of the sauce with the also good bread on the table.

We waited in line about 50 minutes at Mrs. Wilkes, guess we got there about 12:15 or so. Very enjoyable, especially if you get dining companions who are presonable. The veggies are wonderful.

Enjoy!

If you walk up to the outside booth around feeding time and ask for bar seating you can walk right up. Bar seating doesn't necessarily mean at the bar, either. With two people they will probably put you in a booth or at a table on the top floor where the bar is.