Best Authentic Southern Food (Atlanta, Savannah: house, live in, restaurants)

[cool_mommy]

Being new to the south we really enjoy trying authentic southern dishes. Can anyone suggest restaurants that serve the real thing? We live in the southern metro area but enjoy day trips. We love to try everything from fine dining, little mom and pop operations to a little genuine hole in the wall, as long as it is authentic. True southern hospitality is the only atmosphere that matters to us.

[LovinDecatur]

The Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle, GA (about 1 hr east of Atlanta off I-20).

Blue Willow Inn - Southern Buffet Restaurant - Social Circle Georgia Louis and Billie Van Dyke

[gt6974a]

Farmers Market restaurant at the Farmers Market south of the Airport.

[atlantagreg30127]

For a day trip, go up to the Smith House in the North Ga. town of Dahlonega. Very popular and busy on weekends especially (as in long waits). You share tables with others and food is passed around. Plus you can spend the rest of the day walking around Dahlonega's town square and visit the galleries and shops.

It's one of those love it or hate it kind of places but it's very popular and most folks I know who have eaten there loved it. It's always been too busy whenever I've done so I've never got in the place.

Link: Smith House in dahlonega GA - Dining in Dahlonega

[jrc3200]

go to aunt B's in athens Ga, WoW it is great souther food! Your most likely to find it east and south of atlanta. There is a place in gainesville that is buffet style but pretty darn good too (longstreet cafe) and there are bunch of good southern food places downtown gainesville which is a pretty neat little city in the downtown part.

[runnergrl]

hmm...There is a place out a bit...I think it is called the dillard house. They have a website. dillardhouse.com It is in NE GA. Very popular local destination.

There is also a white farmhouse restaurant that serves southern style food north of Alpharetta main street area on hwy 9....it would be on the left side headed north and it is right before or in and around the Midway area on Hwy 9....I am thinking before the Midway Methodist church which would be on the right. Now it has been over 5 or so yrs since I lived near that area so I dont know if the restaurant is still open...but would provide a local southern homestyle meals....I just cant remember the name of the place...but I know where it is.

There are lots of little homestyle restaurants in the north GA area...just ask the locals and they'll tell you.

If I were you...I would do a weekend trip to Savannah and go to Paula Deen's restaurant (lady and the sons). Savannah would be kinda hard to do a day trip as I believe it is at least a 5 hour or so drive.

Good for you to get into the Southern lifestyle...I do so miss it...since Ga is home to me. Happy eating!

[cool_mommy]

We are actually heading for Savannah in a couple of days. I'm not so sure if we will try Paula Dean's restaurant as I hear the wait can be very long and I doubt very much my kids will be that patient. All of the suggestions posted so far sound great and I'll be sure to check out the web sites as well.

Thanks!

[DouglasNews07]

Mary Mac's Tea Room in Atlanta is legendary. I myself went for the first time last year--amazing.

As for Savannah, try Love's Seafood. It was where part of Forrest Gump was filmed, but they also have great southern food. SavannahMenu (put dot com after) has the menu for it.

[cool_mommy]

Forrest Gump is my favorite movie. Are there any other places in Savannah where this movie was filmed?

[RainyRainyDay]

I haven't been there personally, but my husband has taken several out-of-town visitors to Doug's in Emerson, with great success. Very authentic small-town traditional cuisine, I'm told. Not upscale like Mary Mac's et al.