Mrs. Wilkes' Boardinghouse cookbook
 

on Kindle for $1.99.
Looks like fun for a history of Savannah by John T. Edge also.

https://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Wilkes-Bo...der_B007WKEMLE

Wow! Great deal! Thanks!

Thank you! Even beter, my library has it so I just put my name on the list.

We were very disappointed that we did not have time to have lunch there last April, so we are thinking of trying in December on the way to Florida.

Is the food there actually far better than the food one might find at a well-regarded local restaurant featuring a buffet lunch? What I mean is, are there any buffet restaurants worth seeking out in eastern Georgia or the Carolinas within an hour or so in either direction from I-95? (I know Mrs. Wilkes is not a buffet)

I like Lonestar BBQ in Santee, SC. It's just a few miles off 95. Their hours are a little weird so check their Facebook page. Great fried chicken and the buffet is fabulous.

Thank you for the tip, Hobbert. I will investigate!

We have eaten at Mrs. Wilkes and the food is OK. Some things were better than others. The amount of food they serve is overwhelming and most of it was not eaten. I wonder what they do with all the food that is left over.

Thanks. I did peek inside the restaurant and was able to see some of the offerings on the tables. While everything looked tasty, what I noticed mostly were dishes that one might find at buffets and family restaurants in many states.

It's so difficult to narrow down the options on a short trip, and I wondered if Mrs. Wilkes was more about the atmosphere and the fun in dining at communal tables and talking to people from all over, and eating lots and lots of home-style food, than about ascending the culinary heights. That's why I wondered if we (partner was very sad that we could not eat there last time) might find something similar without having to stand on line and give up a meal in Savannah, where there are so many great-sounding spots to try. I doubt if I could handle dinner after having lunch at Mrs. Wilkes and would not have liked to have missed dinner at The Grey.

" I wonder what they do with all the food that is left over."

Hopefully they source it out to a pig farm.

I've eaten there a number of times and it's a fun experience, but to be perfectly honest, there's nothing all that special about their food -- except there is so much of it. Yes, the fried chicken is good.

I've always avoided Paula Deen's place as being "too touristy", but last time in Savannah we did the lunch buffet there when the lines were horrendous at Mrs. Wilkes, and honestly thought the food was a LOT better than Mrs. Wilkes, just not as unique an experience.

As for the cookbook, I can guess their recipe for most vegetables. Put in pan, add water and lots of salt, and cook until very soft.

<I>"I wondered if Mrs. Wilkes was more about the atmosphere and the fun in dining at communal tables and talking to people from all over, and eating lots and lots of home-style food, than about ascending the culinary heights. "</I>

That's exactly what it is.

The food at Mrs. Wilkes now is the food that was served at her boarding house then and was served at boarding houses everywhere - even in Washington, DC.

It's basic southern country cooking, with the emphasis on veggies from the garden.

What is unique is that it still exists. There will never be more places like Mrs. Wilkes because restaurants cannot offer communal dining experiences now. The old places are grandfathered in re health department guidelines.

Re other places still operating - in Georgia -
The Smith house in Dahlonega (mountains)
LaPrades on Lake Burton, until it burned to the ground (mountains)
Similar food but a dozen serving dishes are delivered to each party's table - Dillard House (north GA)
Similar food via buffet - Blue Willow Inn, Social Circle (between Atlanta and Savannah).

There are countless places were you can find similar dishes, but very few that are communal style. If you fly through Atlanta's airport and have a connection, eat a Paschal's. The original restaurant has a notable history re the days of Civil Rights in Atlanta. Great food. I arrive early when I can for lunch or dinner. Their collards are among the best.

<I>ek, I would have made the same decision if The Grey was involved in the decision making. :-)