Soul food$$eastside
Sisters of the New South on Skidaway runs cafeteria-style soul food with handed-down recipes. Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: oxtails, smothered.
Signature: Oxtails, Fried chicken, Smothered shrimp
Order: Oxtails with the yams and macaroni and cheese; smothered shrimp on Fridays.
Tip: Cafeteria-style line; cash or card accepted. Sides change daily; arrive by 12:30 to beat the Eastside lunch rush.
Classic Southern$$$historic-district
Classic Southern on Reynolds Square in the 1771 Habersham mansion. Candle-lit upstairs since the Balish 1992 restoration; Planters Tavern walk-up basement.
Signature: Crispy scored flounder, She-crab soup
Order: Crispy scored flounder with apricot shallot; she-crab soup as starter.
Tip: Book OpenTable a week ahead for upstairs; tavern downstairs is first-come.
Southern soul food$$historic-district
Mrs. Wilkes has run from a Jones Street basement since 1943, Southern home cooking at ten-person communal tables Mon-Fri. Family-style daily-changing dishes.
Signature: Fried chicken, Cornbread dressing, Sweet potato souffle
Order: Whatever fried chicken comes out hot; the sweet potato souffle and black-eyed peas as sides.
Tip: Cash or check only. Daily $35 per person communal lunch (tax included). Opens 11:00; arrive by 10:30 for a manageable wait.
Southern small plates$$historic-district
Treylor Park on East Bay runs playful Southern bar food in a brick courtyard. PB&J wings, chicken-and-pancake tacos, a long bourbon list, sister rooms nearby.
Signature: Chicken and pancake tacos, PB&J wings
Order: The chicken and pancake tacos with hot honey, and the PB&J wings.
Tip: Walk-in only; expect a wait after 19:30 on weekends. Patio fills first.
American, Southern bistro$$$historic-district
The Public Kitchen sits at Liberty and Bull opposite Madison Square. Midcentury-modern, indoor-outdoor seating, a local-farm bistro menu by Williamson.
Signature: Crab cake sandwich, Coastal Georgia fish
Order: The crab cake sandwich at lunch; the coastal fish plate at dinner.
Tip: Reserve OpenTable for dinner; lunch and brunch usually take walk-ins.
Australian-Southern$$$historic-district
The Collins Quarter on Bull at Oglethorpe Square runs Australian-inspired brunch, lunch and dinner. Avocado smash, ceviche, lavender mocha, specialty coffee.
Signature: Avocado smash, Lavender mocha
Order: Avo smash on sourdough with poached eggs; lavender mocha to drink.
Tip: Brunch is first-come; arrive by 09:30 on weekends. Dinner takes OpenTable.