Picture a long table covered with bowls of fried chicken, collard greens, cabbage casserole, and warm bread, all passed from hand to hand. That is supper at the Dillard House in the mountains of north Georgia.
People have been driving here for decades to eat this way, and the place is now in the middle of a big makeover. I went to see whether the old family-style magic still fills the table.
A Mountain Farm Resort on Franklin Street
Tucked into the far northeast corner of Georgia, the small town of Dillard has one name that most travelers already know. The Dillard House a Mountain Farm Resort sits at 768 Franklin St, and it is part hotel, part restaurant, and part family tradition.
On Google Maps, the property is listed as a hotel with a 4.2-star rating from more than 6,300 reviews. That is a huge number of opinions, and it tells you plenty of people have pulled off the road to stay or eat here.
The official description calls it a quaint, family-style Southern eatery with hefty portions in a historic, charming space with mountain views. That sums up why I came.
I wanted the food first, and the rooms second.
Amenities on the hotel side include free Wi-Fi, free parking, an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a bar, air-conditioning, and an airport shuttle. The property is also accessible and smoke-free, and breakfast is available for a fee.
So you can treat it as a quick meal stop or a full weekend base. Either way, the dining room is the beating heart of the place, and that is where most of this story happens.
Generations of Regulars and a Fresh Chapter
Some diners have been coming since the early 1980s. One longtime regular said the quality had slipped in recent years and the place badly needed a refresh, and that refresh has finally arrived.
The Dillard House is under new ownership now. A visitor mentioned that Legacy, the group that owns Lake Lanier Islands, bought the property, which explains all the work happening on site.
For many families, this is more than a restaurant. One reviewer called it a favorite of their family for generations, and said it keeps everything people know and love while getting a bit more elevated.
Not every old fan is happy, though. A few guests miss the farm feel, saying the horses and carriage rides are gone, and some feel the new direction aims at a pricier crowd.
I found that tension kind of fascinating. You can feel both the history and the change in the same room, like a family home getting new paint while grandma still runs the kitchen.
Bowls Passed Around the Table
Here is the thing that makes this place special. You do not order one plate.
Servers bring bowl after bowl to the table, and everyone shares.
One first-timer described it as buffet style, except the food comes to you. Family style came up more than 160 times in reviews, and all you can eat showed up around 60 times, so it is clearly what people remember.
A regular reported the family-style meal at $30 per person, with more food than you can finish. If you want something smaller, there is also a meat and three option.
The menu rotates, so what lands on your table can change. On one visit, a diner got fried chicken, catfish, country ham, cabbage casserole, au gratin potatoes, green beans, and bread.
That same guest suggested calling ahead if you want to know the dinner lineup.
Fun tip from a reviewer: tell your server where you live, because locals reportedly get a discount. It never hurts to ask.
The Fried Chicken Debate
Fried chicken is the star of the title, so let me be honest about it. Opinions are split, and that makes it more interesting.
One guest who gave four stars said the fried chicken, vegetables, and homemade sides were especially enjoyable. A longtime regular listed it among the delicious dishes on a recent visit.
Others were less thrilled. One diner felt the chicken had way too much breading, and another felt the lunch portions of chicken and ribs were too small, even after asking for more.
So what should you expect? A classic Southern bird, crunchy and hearty, but maybe not the single best piece of your life.
The joy here comes from the whole spread, not one item.
My advice is simple. Grab a piece early, then fill the rest of your plate with sides.
The chicken is part of the chorus, and the vegetables often steal the solo.
Collards, Cabbage Casserole, and Garden Sides
If you grew up eating vegetables cooked low and slow, the sides here may feel like a hug. One dinner guest called them the best collard greens they had ever had.
Cabbage casserole shows up often in reviews. One diner thought it was a great recipe, though they would swap squash in for the cornbread version, which shows how seriously folks take their casseroles.
Green beans, au gratin potatoes, and mashed potatoes round things out. A critic felt the mashed potatoes had too much gravy, so your mileage may vary there.
Southern food came up more than 160 times in reviews, and home cooking showed up too. The vegetables are a big reason why.
Even a visitor who said they usually do not like Southern food walked away a convert. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful to them, which is quite a compliment from a skeptic.
Rolls, Biscuits, and Apple Butter
Bread might be the quiet hero of the whole meal. Again and again, diners rave about it.
One reviewer said the yeast rolls are the best, full stop. Another couple praised the freshly made bread and said they enjoyed everything they tasted, which they called a rare event anywhere.
The apple butter gets love too. A retreat guest called the fresh apple butter on biscuits divine, and another diner singled it out as excellent alongside the cornbread and biscuits.
Not every bite gets a gold star. One breakfast guest felt the biscuits now seemed frozen rather than scratch-made, a change that stung for longtime fans.
Still, the bread and butter clearly win hearts at dinner. Save room, because once that basket lands, it is hard to stop reaching.
Cobbler, Pudding, and a Sweet Finish
Peach cobbler came up 71 times in reviews. That is a dessert with a fan club.
Banana pudding has its own cheering section. One guest called it some of the best they ever had, and a retreat attendee joked that it beat their Nana’s, as long as nobody tells her.
There is also blueberry bread pudding, which one diner listed among the excellent items even in an otherwise mixed review. Another table simply called dessert decadent.
I love that dessert here feels like the big finale at a family reunion. Everyone is full, yet somehow there is always room for one more spoonful.
If you only remember one thing from this section, let it be this: do not skip the sweets.
Breakfast at the Big Table
Morning at the Dillard House means another family-style feast. One guest listed eggs, biscuits and gravy, French toast, grits, bacon, sausage, and fried pork.
Breakfast reviews are the most mixed of all. One visitor on Father’s Day felt the eggs, sausage, and gravy fell flat, though a manager stopped by and comped the meal.
Another group said service was slow and they kept asking for items, but even they admitted the bacon was great. Sugar in the grits shocked one diner, so heads up if you like yours savory.
A separate guest said it took over 20 minutes for food to arrive with only a few tables seated, and some was cold.
My take? Breakfast is worth trying for the experience, but set expectations.
Dinner is where reviewers sound happiest.
Servers Who Make the Meal
Ask diners what they loved, and many name a person, not a dish. Staff shout-outs fill the reviews.
One server was praised as knowledgeable and genuinely happy to be there. A newlywed couple liked their lunch service so much that they planned to drive an hour back from Helen to sit in her section again.
Another server was called attentive and kind, and a bartender earned praise for excellent drinks during an anniversary night. Even critical reviewers often said the staff was friendly and well trained.
That said, a few guests had slower experiences, especially with larger groups, where refills and extra bowls took a while.
Overall, the people here give the place its warmth. Good service turns a big meal into a memory.
Views, Fire Pits, and Mountain Air
Step outside after dinner and the mountains take over. Mountain view was mentioned dozens of times, and guests keep calling the scenery stunning.
One couple loved roasting s’mores around the fire pit areas and called it a relaxing spot. That sounds like the ideal way to walk off a second helping of cobbler.
The renovated dining room also wins compliments. A regular said it feels more upscale now but still has that old comfortable warmth, and another guest described it as casual dining with an upscale atmosphere.
A petting zoo shows up in older review topics too, though one recent guest said the farm animals are gone, so check before promising the kids.
Families, couples, and big groups all seem to fit here. It is a place built for sharing, both food and views.
Rooms and the Renovation Reality
Renovations came up 62 times in reviews, and for good reason. Construction is still underway across the property.
Guests in the remodeled Paddock rooms were happy. One called theirs spacious, clean, and very quiet, and another praised the comfy beds and the best hotel fridge they had ever seen.
Older rooms are another story. Two visitors described dated or unclean rooms, and one had a construction dumpster blocking parking near their door.
Noise is real too. An anniversary couple was woken by construction around 8:30 in the morning, though they had expected it.
A spa and brewery are also under construction, according to a returning guest.
If you book a stay, ask for a renovated room. That one question could shape your whole trip.
Planning a Visit: Prices, Parking, and Timing
A little planning goes a long way here. Wait time came up 74 times in reviews, so expect some lines at busy hours.
Pricing on Google shows rooms around $256. For the restaurant, a regular reported $30 per person for family style, and one lunch party of two paid about $60 before tip.
Parking is free, and the address is 768 Franklin St, Dillard, GA 30537. You can call +1 800-541-0671 or visit dillardhouse.com for current menus and booking.
Since the dinner menu rotates, calling ahead is smart if you have a favorite dish in mind. The pool was open but chilly for one spring visitor, so summer swimmers will have better luck.
Large groups should know the banquet room held about 100 people comfortably for a retreat, with catered meals that guests loved.
My Verdict on a Southern Table in Transition
So, does the Dillard House still keep its tables full? Mostly, yes, especially at dinner.
The fried chicken sparks debate, but the collards, yeast rolls, apple butter, and banana pudding earn steady praise. Add friendly servers and those mountain views, and you get a meal that feels like a holiday gathering.
Breakfast and portion sizes are where some guests feel let down, and the hotel side is still a work in progress. Pick a renovated room and keep expectations relaxed.
I would happily go back for a long, lazy supper, then a fire pit and a sunset. That combination is hard to find anywhere.
If you are passing through north Georgia, pull up a chair. Bring an appetite, and maybe a friend to split the cobbler.
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