Location Iconic historical restaurant Atmosphere laid back Service By Ethel was fantastic, shes kind, efficient, and very friendly Food: Salad - simple, delicious, refreshing with a simple dressing already tossed everyone raved about this -l probably could've eaten my weight in this salad Onion Rings- mighty fine and tasty (see what I did there G Crab Newberg - meh Steak Fries- good Grouper - Fabulous 2 New York Strip Steaks - Delicious TBone Steak- Delicious Mashed potatoes with gravy- ok Okra - delicious but salty Sherried mushrooms-fabulous Homemade Ranch Sauce-literally one of the top two homemade versions on the island Peach cobbler-fabulous fabulg Key Lime Pie- fabulous read more

I am givng 3 stars because we were seated without a reservation but I have to add that I checked their website to make a reservation and reservations were not mentioned anywhere so I assumed that meant they did not take them. Maybe they only take reservations by phone, even though it is 2026, but it should say something to that effect on their website. It was evident they preferred reservations and said they were packed but there were plenty of tables unseated. The table we were seated at, was very wobbly. Which is an annoying thing that is easily fixed. I will say that the bread and the marinated saladswere both very good and our baked potatoes were perfect but that's where it ends. My son got the filet and my husband got the ribeye. They both ordered medium rare but both were well done and chewy. We did not say anything to our waitress or complain bc we are just not those kind people but it was disappointing to say the least. A steak place that has been in business for as long a they have should have perfected their steaks, I got the grilled chicken and when it came, I thought they had brought me fried chicken by mistake. I was expecting a grilled chicken breast (my mistake for assuming) but it was 4 pieces of what appeared to be smoked chicken on the bone. They were pretty tasty but felt like something I would get at a bbq restaurant, not a steak house. Needless to say, we will not be back. read more

Bennie's Red Barn - Filet that was supposed to be medium rare. This is the center of the steak - Seafood Near Me - St. Simons, Georgia

Don't let this place fool you excellent service excellent food and an unbelievable wine list If you haven't already tried this restaurant you should read more

Cool, rustic, old school Steak Barn. What's not to like? Salad, steak and choice of side. Steaks are char grilled. I don't know what wood or charcoal they use but the wonderful aroma greets you when you arrive and the flavor is just as amazing. I have to mention how great the service was. We were well taken care of and checked on frequently. Prices are definitely reasonable. Highly recommended! read more

Bennie's Red Barn - Mixed veg. - Seafood Near Me - St. Simons, Georgia

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Attended Bennie's Christmas Eve dinner which was complete with Santa in attendance for the kids. What a fantastic time! Gordon who was our server did an excellent job! Just the right amount of attention and making sure our appetizers, meal &, beverages were received in a timely manner and met our expectations. The NY Strip, Filet & Salmon were all excellent! Compliments to the chef's! The Christmas Tree that was inside was decorated nicely and gave the restaurant very nice holiday feel as well as a nice photo op with Santa! Thank you Ali for providing us with a reservation on what turned out to be a nice evening for my wife's mother which brightened her Christmas! Merry Christmas! read more

Bennie's Red Barn - Seafood Near Me - St. Simons, Georgia

Bennie's is a SSI iconic restaurant that has some amazing history. Tonight we spent 2 1/2 hours of fantastic food and laughs. Rib-Eye steaks, excellent sides and a must have after dinner drink "Raccoons". Service, atmosphere.and flavor of food. Excellent! Give it a chance, I don't think y'all would be disappointed. read more

A very historic spot located on St Simons Island. We only went for drinks and music and absolutely enjoyed the outside bar, wood burning fire, and oversized screen to view game. The live oaks that actually grow up through the building add an incredible, cool vibe. The restaurant area appears to be clean and well staffed and maintained. We taste the catfish bite appetizers and they were delicious ( not fishy at all). read more

Me and my family love the food on St Simon's but this was the worst food. My daughter ordered the grouper and it was so old and fishy tasting. Me and my wife ordered a combo seafood platter. The fish was terrible and so grease filled. The salad was premade with no taste and looked so old. We did complain and told the manager. He brought out more grease filled shrimp for our daughter. ( who only eats grilled). Offered us a dessert. Terrible will not go back. read more

Another great meal. This has to be my favorite restaurant on St Simons Island. The ribeye was cooked perfectly and ended up being more than I could eat. The mashed potatoes and brown gravy were delicious. Service is always great too. If you want great food at a good value this is the place! read more

I've eaten here twice with a bunch of friends. It's definitely an experience. The place is literally inside a barn, which means a nice, musty scent, and plenty of stuffed hunting trophies on the walls. The steaks are decent, particularly the strip. Skip the ribeye--although that's typically my favorite cut, it's kinda inconsistent and not worth eating around the fat to gain just a bit more flavor. My ribeye (ordered mid-rare) was served lukewarm, which I could kind of understand given the size of our party and several orders requesting different levels of cooking, but I'd rather the steaks had been served when they were done and still hot rather then letting the rarer steaks like mine sit until everything was ready to be served at the same time. On the topic of flavor, keep in mind these are wood-fired, so they have a very unique taste that may not be to everyone's liking. And it seems they don't really add any seasoning to the meat. While I appreciate the purity of a good piece of meat, even the best cuts benefit from a bit of salt and pepper, and adding it at the table after cooking just isn't the same as seasoning it from the start. That said, the NY strip was a great cut, though $48 seems pretty steep when I could get something comparable for half the price at a chain like Longhorn (and which would actually be seasoned). Yes, you do get a salad and a side included for that price, but it's still a lot of money for something that definitely isn't a premier steakhouse meal. On the topic of salad, be prepared for it to be served absolutely swimming in dressing. There are a few options for dessert; so far I've tried the bread pudding (don't bother with this, it's way better at Crab Daddy's) and the Raccoon (this is realllly good). Oh, and the rolls. My god, the rolls. It's ludicrous to go somewhere just for their dinner rolls, but if I was going to do so, this would be that place. Absolutely delicious, especially when they are piping hot just out of the oven. Overall, Bennie's is an experience worth trying once. read more

Bennie's Red Barn - Bread pudding - Seafood Near Me - St. Simons, Georgia

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I was very disappointed with Bennie's last night, specifically, the owner. There were only approximately 7 tables seated last night and unfortunately, we were seated next to a table with seriously drunk people who yelled and cussed all night - even to go so far as to yell, "Everybody stand up so we can say a F'n prayer so we can F'n eat"! They were obnoxious and there was no way the owner didn't hear what we heard. When confronted, the owner said he didn't hear a thing and did absolutely nothing but make excuses! Bennies will continue to lose decent clientele if they accept this type of behavior. read more

We have driven by this place frequently and had been curious about it so we finally stopped in for dinner. Apparently it is under new management. The interior is very cool/ it literally was a barn so walls and ceiling are all wood. It has some cool looking iron chandeliers too. Service was quick- perhaps a bit too quick but I think it was because the server was new. As soon as we sat down, we were asked what dressing we wanted on our salad. Salads and warm bread were immediately placed in front of us and then our drinks arrived. I had a nice glass of Cabernet and the prices were very fair. After we ate our salad we placed our entree order. All entrees come with the aforementioned salad which is a bit of lettuce and a tomato or two. You also can have either a vegetable medley or a potato (baked, mashed or fries). Additional sides are available for $5. I ordered the southern fried chicken as my neighbor had sung its praises. She was correct! You can specify if you want all white or dark. I chose all white fried chicken and a baked potato with butter and sour cream. First, the chicken was fried perfectly and the breading/skin was delicious. It was a huge serving so I will also be having fried chicken for lunch today lol. My husband had the pork chop and pronounced it good and said he would order it again. To finish up we tried the raccoon drink/ omg- brandy, amaretto I think although my husband says kahlua and ice cream. Whatever was in it - it was delicious and a great end to a good meal. They also have a bar with a tree growing in the middle of it and a fireplace. Can't wait to go some evening to sit outside and hear some music there. read more

Bennie's Red Barn - Inside of Bennie's - Seafood Near Me - St. Simons, Georgia

I spent my second New Year's Eve at Bennies. I might have added a star if they'd changed those red checkered tablecloths to white ones for a fancier night. And unfortunately, they are renovating g the area where a live band played on a previous year. The salads at Bennie's are absolutely delicious, as is the bread. I got a rib eye, which was enormous. The loaded baked potatoes are also enormous. We got oysters as an appetizer, and the presentation was cool. I think it was called an oyster table, or something like that. We got mushrooms and broccoli as well. Zero complaints on the food. And service was good, especially on a holiday evening. We were just too full for any dessert. read more

Bennie's Red Barn - Seafood Near Me - St. Simons, Georgia

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OMG This place was AWESOME! Had the best waitress ( Madison) ,best rib eye steak ( cooked to perfection) ,after dinner drinks (phenomenal) I really can't say enough! Really nice atmosphere just a great place to go if visiting the area or just need a great place to go! What a perfect night! read more

It was our first time at the restaurant and I had the fried chicken and it was amazing. Loved it very much. My wife had the lamb chops and they were just OK but she loved the mushrooms. We sat up at the bar and our service was five stars! read more

Given this place's history dating back to the 1950's, it seems like it was once a landmark establishment for SSI, and I vaguely remember my parents and their friends leaving us with a babysitter to sneak off for dinner there in the 80s. Since then, Bennie's has turned into more of a nostalgia stop for those who live in the past and refuse to acknowledge how dated and behind-the-times it has gotten. The atmosphere could retain its charm with the fireplace and other features, but clearly it needs an upgrade to fit today's standards for fine dining. The checkered tablecloths were ironic-cute in the 80s, but you won't get away with oilcloth and $49 entrees today! Your tablecloths are 40+ years old! That's not cute! Again, I'm sure the food must've been great back when, but we went for drinks and dessert and could tell from everything we ate and saw that it's banquet hall type food, and has no contemporary relevance, especially compared to so many hotspots on SSI. My son's cheesecake was from a food distributor, same as any folding-chair catering facility across the US. Why visit SSI for generic sub-par cheap-wedding food? Husband's dessert was another generic tart style pie with a saccharine aftertaste and Reddi-whip. My Raccoon dessert cocktail was a novel concept, and it's fun to try any house signature, but again, it was made with such processed, mediocre ingredients that it really could've been any old boring Kahlua combo. Nothing memorable or worth going back to reorder. Glad we tried them for drinks and dessert before risking dinner. This can't be what they served decades ago, or how would they still exist? Bennie's is riding the coattails of its former glory rather than reinventing itself to fulfill its legacy. Keeping up the standards of yore means evolving with the times, not making a time capsule of a bygone era. 3 stars for its potential to revive what everyone wishes this place still was, but they need a defibrillator stat! read more

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Massive disappointment. We have been coming to the Red Barn for 25 years when our family visited St. Simon's. This will be our final visit - but in reality I doubt they'll be in business next year. For a Saturday the place was at least 1/2 empty - locals must have realized it went down the tubes. Ribeye and Filets were horrible. Completely Unseasoned with virtually no taste. It literally tasted like they boiled the meat. No sear marks, zero char clearly not wood fire grilled. Just awful and for $45 - you expect something you don't need to drown in A1 to give it any flavor. We tried to salt it at the table, but the Salt shakers were wet any the salt was clumpy and moist dumping it out from the bottom. I asked to speak with the manager but he was too busy to see us. Waitress offered their dessert drink for all of us on the house - but instead of the full drinks - they gave us champagne flutes of the drink (probably 1/4 the size of the menu item. ) Bennie would be spinning in his grave is he saw what happened to his namesake. Save you time and money and go to longhorn or outback - or Burger King for that matter. Any of those options would be far superior to this. read more

I liked it last year but this year the server was not very friendly and $25 for a chicken dinner is a bit high. Dinner salads were forgotten and drinks were allowed to go empty. Sides were not fully explained. However the hostess was very kind and friendly. Overall the place has lost its attraction. read more

We love Bennie's Red Barn!!! The great experience starts with the hostess. She is always smiling and very responsive to return calls when making reservations. Our service is always great and they make you feel like family. Dinner starts with warm rolls and a tasty salad. My husband and I always get the fried shrimp dinner with a loaded baked potato. The huge fried shrimp are at least 2-3 bites each of the best shrimp I've ever had! And the baked potato comes with all the toppings on the side so you can make it just the way you want. Steak bites are also excellent, which is what our son likes to order. This is the restaurant we take friends and family to when they come to visit us on SSI. I highly recommend this restaurant and appreciate the great job that they are doing! read more

We have been going to Bennies since the 60s and love the ambiance! It had gone down a little over the lat year or two, BUT, the daughter has taken over and the food and employees are back to the original consistent experience that we have come to expect! The steaks were a very high quality, cooked perfectly and the spaghetti with meat sauce took me back to mom's cooking! Very pleased all the way around and will not hesitate to recommend! read more

Really nice atmosphere, looks like an old barn. A little dimly lit. The food was great. Was worried that quality had slipped based on some reviews, but everything was good. Best ribeye I ever had. Salmon and scallops very good. The calamari was just okay. Sweet and baked potatoes were very good. And the prices were reasonable for what you get. Our service was first rate. The waitress was very nice. We got the raccoon drink for desert. Very rich, but great. read more

we waited over 15 minutes before anybody came to our table. finally someone came and gave us bread and salad. there was no plate to put it bread roll on. finally the waiter came and brought us drinks but had an attitude. we ordered and they told us people who ordered the fried chicken would need to wait 20 minutes before needless to say, it took more than 20 minutes. he set things down on the opposite side of the table of the person who ordered it and brought the check to the women. I personally find this crazy and unacxeptable for a restaurant read more

We had a party of 10 people and 9 of us ordered steak. One person's steak was literally cold so the server took it back and the kitchen put the steak back on the grill and re-served it so the medium rare steak was no longer medium rare. Only one person at the table ordered the filet and the meat was spoiled. He sent it back and didn't ask for a replacement. The server said she reported it to her manager and the manager said "the wood fire just makes it taste different". So the wood fire makes the meat taste spoiled? Way to go Bennie's, blame your spoiled meat on your customer's taste buds. We were looking forward to sharing an old favorite with friends and were sorely disappointed. read more

Nicely decorated for the holidays but that is where it ended. Service was slow and appetizers come out one at a time, when our meals came out, some steaks were cold, or had a fowl smell. The waitress blamed it on the wood fired grill and placed the blame on the customer. They did remove it off the bill. This was the place to bring my out of town guest for a great dinning experience, but they has changed. Bennie would be disappointed read more

I love to write a positive review and do so often to support a well run business. Let me start with the food was good. Unfortunately nothing else went well. We had a reservation for 9 people at 7:30. We were seated at 7:30 and sat there for 15 minutes before I went to the hostess and asked if we had a server assigned. She apologized and went to correct the situation. Approximately 5 minutes later our waiter Johnny introduced himself. We finally got drinks after we had been there for a half hour. A young man shows up with salads. He hands me the first bowl and asks me to pass the bowl around the table. I don't necessarily like that everyone at the table handled multiple bowls. Food orders were then taken. Our waiter was asked questions and he answered speaking extremely fast and at times we were not able to understand what he was saying. Our meal arrived and no one came back to see if everything was okay or if we needed anything else. We were never served bread and I had to find another server to help us. The atmosphere and food were very good unfortunately our overall experience was not. Since we were a larger party we were atomically charged a standard gratuity that didn't match the service provided. My husband and his team will be here working for the next 6 months. I hope the management of Bennie's reads this review and takes this as an opportunity for improvement. read more

We started with beers and onion rings. We got talked into these over the crab dip but they were average. Makes we wonder what the crab dip would be. We enjoyed the setting of the place. Very cool atmosphere. We both got the Ribeye which was wood fired great. The loaded baked potato was average. I'd get mashed next time I enjoyed my salad as well. Our service was awesome! I've given 5 stars to lesser experiences but this place was just a degree off of what the prices and expectations for what this place could be. Tip: get the raccoon if you want a fun adult milkshake to cap off a delicious meal! We were having a good time!! read more

Bennie's is an institution and we greatly enjoy the service, the food (the steaks and chicken are top notch). The dessert is always special, and you cannot beat the big fireplace in the cooler months. With the lighting perfect for a low key dinner with friends and family, I always make a point of popping in when in SSI! read more

I was visiting the area and was interested in taking in as many local restaurants as possible. Glad I visited the Red Barn (and if Yelp allowed, I'd give a 3.5 star review), but I probably wouldn't go back a second time. I was with two other diners. While we were quickly seated, service was slow to our table (a Tuesday evening, about 3/4 full). While our waitress was nice, she didn't engage with anyone at the table. After a lengthy wait, our drinks arrived from the bar (they were good). After more waiting we received our rolls/buns and salad. The rolls were great. The salad tasted good; however, the lettuce literally was swimming in the salad dressing. A dining partner had an appetizer. He was pleased with it (something fried). After more waiting, our entrees arrived. Two of us had the seafood platter. We both thought it was good; but the food cooled off quickly (the plates needed to be heated before plating). Our third had a steak. It appeared to be cooked properly and he said it was good. On our way out, we saw a group of friends dining off to the side of the room. While they also pronounced the food "good", they had the same complaint on slow, non-engaged service. While the prices were reasonable, the "good" food and slow service would encourage me to seek out a different restaurant on my next visit to the area. read more

Bennie's Red Barn - You're in a barn. The decor is unique. - Seafood Near Me - St. Simons, Georgia

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My husband and I were driving by after a visit to the Fort Frederico National Monument and noticed how many cars were in the parking lot so decided to try for dinner. The restaurant is a big red barn and it is certainly unique and causal. The food and service was excellent. We both had the Southern fried chicken dinners. Delicious! The server was very pleasant and attentive. We shared a peach cobbler. Perfect ending to a fine dinner read more

I called Bennie's Red Barn to make reservations and was pleasantly surprised when I was greeted by the most helpful and friendly young lady...whom I met after I got there. Her name is Suzanne- I know that she is such an asset to the Red Barn. As a business owner I know what an asset she is to the restaurant. She made such a positive impression on me and I know she will on you too! What a blessing to the Red Barn. read more

Feel like taking a step back in time and having a meal in a unique and rustic restaurant? This is your spot. From the staff to the menu and decor, this spot has all the southern living vibes. Tons of seating with a bar and a separate area called the treehouse, it has something for everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed my mahi mahi and my husband said his steam was too 5 he's ever had. The salad starter was delicious and the rolls melt in your mouth. I'd highly recommend trying the onion ring appetizer, it's not too big and so tasty. I wish I'd saved room for dessert, they all sounded delicious including the boozy drink, but it will give me something to look forward to next time. The bonus was that all items on the menu were priced very reasonably. Overall a 10/10 for the unique and delicious dining experience. read more

Bennie's Red Barn - Seafood Near Me - St. Simons, Georgia

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After reading all the "good" reviews, we thought we would give this place a shot! Hate to say it, it was disappointing to say the least! Ambiance... cute concept of the barn, very rustic and cute, love the history behind the reason for the barn. Loved the huge fireplace, but the cuteness stopped there. The inside was very dark, had to place menu in any light we could find to read. Our table, let's just say wibble wobble and might have tumbled over. It was so uneven honestly, didn't want to touch the table so I didn't wear my drink. Let's talk about the large tables, 6 foot folding tables. Honestly thinking since the establishment has been around since 1954 and at one time required coat & tie, I would think they would have better structured table & chairs! I mean, it felt like a BBQ place w/ all the red checkered tablecloths on every table, than a "fine" steakhouse. Also, I feel they are use to big parties than just parties of 2! Honestly, we didn't eat the steaks which they are known for just because we just lost interest in the establishment 10 minutes after sitting down. BUT we did have their dessert....cheesecake and pecan pie! Let's just say, the hubby said the pecan pie was delicious, cheesecake on the other hand, nothing special at all and could tell it was frozen before. My piece still thawing out! Oh I can't forget to mention the "sweet tea"...ummm NO!!! It was either instant sweet tea ( which is insult to Southern Sweet tea,LOL) or it was days old. Just not good at all! Didn't even finish my first glass, just gross! Hopefully someone else can have a better experience, best of luck! read more

Bennie's Red Barn - Cheesecake - Seafood Near Me - St. Simons, Georgia

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All the food was awesome! Susanne was an excellent host. Also very warm and welcoming low light ambiance.

Awesome steaks ! Grilled perfectly as ordered over real oak coals and huge in size and excellent quality and flavor .

Been going there for 50 years but sadly this was our last time. Salad is still great and service was good but place looks worn and not particularly clean. Plus meat quality was quite poor. Great Smokey flavor but tough steaks with lots of gristle. Filet tasted more like a sirloin. Hope they can get back to what they were but in the meanwhile there is so much more good food available in St Simon's. read more

Great steaks they make a house lemon wilted salad you won't need A1 with the wood cooked steaks yummy in the winter they have the giant fireplace roaring and no need for a menu the waiter will tell you the whole thing great date place read more

We went there last night after hearing how it has gotten better. What a disappointment. Usually the waiters/ waitresses have so much personality . Ours did not . Prices have increased which I know goes along with the increase in meat prices . The steak was good but everything else makes us not want to visit again . read more

We have been coming to Bennie's for 20 years. Without a doubt, the best fried chicken you will get anywhere ! The dinner rolls are great and I was pleased to see that the steaks were back to the size and quality Bennie's was famous for, after slipping in the last few years. The new management deserves credit for many positive changes, and while I miss the little oil lamps that once graced every table, and the waiters and waitresses no longer recite the menus from memory, the meals are great, reasonably priced and the staff is top notch. Some renovations have been completed and others are planned, while retaining the charming concept of a barn. I consider Bennie's the best place to dine in the Golden Isles. read more

Great experience at Bennie's Red Barn. The 16oz ribeye was cooked perfectly and excellent flavor. Fried shrimp app was very good also. Will be back. read more

We've been coming here for years. Last year was not good but this year it was back to the great service and food we've had experienced for decades. read more