Dillard House

The place is beautiful after the renovations, and the staff were friendly, well trained, and gave top-notch service. The food was uneven. The beef stew was excellent, a 10/10, and the cabbage casserole, biscuits, blueberry bread pudding, and apple butter were all great. But the fried chicken had way too much breading, and the meatloaf was too garlicky for what I think most people would prefer. The mashed potatoes tasted just okay and had far too much gravy. If you make some menu and recipe changes, I’d give you another star or two.

The beef stew was incredible, with meat so tender it had fallen off the bone. I had a few bowls and still wanted more. I also liked the apple-cinnamon spread and apple butter, and my friend enjoyed the relish with the rolls. The sweet tea was good, and service was on point, from the servers to the managers and owners, who were around and ready to answer questions. The remodel looks amazing, and every menu item my friend and I tried tasted as good as or better than it used to. I’ve enjoyed coming here for years, and this feels like a real upgrade. The bathrooms are gorgeous, but they only have hand dryers, so opening the door afterward creates a sanitation concern. They should add some hands-free, sanitary way to unlock and open the door from inside. I’d like the ham to have a different flavor. Most tables left it unfinished, and it was over-salted. A honey-baked style might appeal to more people. For pork, I’d personally prefer almost anything else, like pulled pork. The potatoes looked good but had no flavor. Salt, pepper, and butter from the rolls help, but a little seasoning would be nice. I’m being picky because the place is already so close to perfect. The main drawback is the location: there isn’t much to do nearby, and it’s a two-hour drive from Atlanta. It works well for a mountain trip, though, especially if you visit Tallulah falls, just 25 minutes south, on the way up. The renovations shouldn’t be a big problem for a visit, and I’m excited to see the finished lodging and big events. With more fun activities, this place could be huge. Christmas, anyone?

April served us lunch and was incredibly sweet and attentive. You could tell she enjoys her work. We hadn’t been here in years, especially since the remodel, and were very impressed. The restaurant looks updated and clean, almost unrecognizable after the work, and the food was spot on, if anything even better than before. Prices are a little high, but it’s all-you-can-eat, so you get your money’s worth. The bread pudding was wonderful!

They’ve reopened, and I’m happy about it. The building has been revamped and looks beautiful, with excellent service and food. The family-style meal is all you can eat and served nicely. We had chicken, grilled pork, roast with mashed potatoes, collards, cabbage casserole, salad, cole slaw, yeast rolls, and extras like apple butter. Really glad it’s open again, and it’s good!