Soul food$$$historic-districtMon-Sun 17:00-22:30
Classic Southern on Reynolds Square in the 1771 Habersham mansion. Candle-lit upstairs since the Balish 1992 restoration; Planters Tavern walk-up basement.
Signature: Crispy scored flounder, She-crab soup
Order: Crispy scored flounder with apricot shallot; she-crab soup as starter.
Tip: Book OpenTable a week ahead for upstairs; tavern downstairs is first-come.
Soul food$$historic-districtMon-Fri 11:00-14:00; closed Sat-Sun
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.
Soul food$$historic-districtMon-Fri 11:00-01:00; Sat-Sun 10:00-01:00
Treylor Park on East Bay runs playful Southern bar food in a brick courtyard. PB&J wings, chicken-and-pancake tacos, a long bourbon list, sister rooms nearby.
Signature: Chicken and pancake tacos, PB&J wings
Order: The chicken and pancake tacos with hot honey, and the PB&J wings.
Tip: Walk-in only; expect a wait after 19:30 on weekends. Patio fills first.
American, Southern Bistro$$$historic-districtMon-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-22:30; Sun 11:00-22:00
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.
Soul food$$$historic-districtMon-Tue 08:00-15:00; Wed 08:00-15:00, 16:00-21:00; Thu-Sat 08:00-15:00, 16:00-22:00; Sun 08:00-15:00, 16:00-21:00
The Collins Quarter on Bull at Oglethorpe Square runs Australian-inspired brunch, lunch and dinner. Avocado smash, ceviche, lavender mocha, specialty coffee.
Signature: Avocado smash, Lavender mocha
Order: Avo smash on sourdough with poached eggs; lavender mocha to drink.
Tip: Brunch is first-come; arrive by 09:30 on weekends. Dinner takes OpenTable.
French bistro$$historic-districtMon-Sun 08:00-15:00; Tue-Thu 17:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-22:00
B. Matthew's runs from an 1850s building on East Bay with brick walls and wooden beams under a daily-changing brunch board. A Lowcountry mainstay since 2008.
Signature: Fried green tomato and crab cake benny, Shrimp and grits
Order: Fried green tomato and crab cake benny at brunch; the bourbon bacon burger at dinner.
Tip: Book OpenTable for brunch on weekends or expect a 30 minute wait.