My husband and I have come many times over the past 12 years together. The last time we came was in 2019 and we made a trip to go yesterday. The food was not as we remembered. He had fried shrimp and I had parm crusted "grouper." Neither had seasoning...not even salt. Mine tasted like plain baked swai or tilapia...it wasn't grouper. The twice baked potato was cold after waiting on our food for forever and it tasted and felt like it had been sitting up under a heating lamp for a WHILE. It was like leather. Our service was great and the atmosphere was as we remembered. But unfortunately, the food was lacking. We drove an hour and a half to get here and I doubt we'll be back. read more

Quiet, peaseful, excellent food and terrific service. We were staying at Georga Veteras State Park for a day-long ride on S*A*M Short line. Nice day and ready for a quiet dinner. Perfect, the place is lovely, the table cloths are a nice touch, and the Shrimp and Scallops were perfectly done, generous, and nicely flavored. The Baked Grouper was nicely flavored and perfectly done. Thje service was attentive without being intrusive. read more

Very nice restaurant. Food was good. Crab cakes were tasty; steak could've used a char. Twice baked potatoes are a must! Our server, Noah, was outstanding. He had a ready smile, professional and a real asset to the restaurant. This is at least our fourth time driving down from Atlanta for dinner. Thank you for an enjoyable evening. read more

Do not order the grouper!!! Very cozy nice restaurant. Limited menu offerings. Waitress was on point and very nice. I ordered the Parmesan crusted grouper for $28 . (NOT GROUPER!!) I was a charter fishing captain for many years and caught plenty of groupers.. And what they apparently give you is basa farm raised fish. The fillet didn't even look like grouper. Regular fish fillet maybe half inch thick. Grouper is much please thicker and much flakier. should be illegal for restaurants to do this!! read more

One of my favorites. Consistently great food. Awesome service. Perfect environment. Everything that I've tried here is great. New ownership is maintaining the name well. read more

It was so a delicious dinner in a very nice setting. We met some Vernice people and enjoyed our meal.

I have had nearly every item on the menu. Simply PHENOMENAL! The service is absolutely incredible. My server, Halle, went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of. 5 stars all the way around! It is my favorite restaurant in South GA!! read more

Lovely little restaurant ample with charm and great service and food. Call ahead for the wheelchair accessible ramp to be placed for side door entry. Menu includes great apps and seafood and meats and good beer & wine selection. We tried three apps - the onion rings were crispy and hot, the blue cheese chips were a surprising (must try) delicious bite, and the mushrooms (good but not fantastic). Meals included the shrimp and grits (yum! creamy creamy grits!), the shrimp and scallops (blackened and sweet and delicious), and crispy fried fish and twice baked potatoes (another yum). The salad was fresh with a variety of veggies and dressing options (served family style). The hush puppies were crispy and good but a little dense. The service was friendly and prompt and accurate - even with our large group about 25 folks. All in all, a beautiful and welcoming space for a meal with family or friends (we were there for the annual Americus Rotary Club holiday dinner). Highly recommend. read more

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Definitely out of the way, but worth the trip. I did enjoy some great service and wonderful food. Please take some time and enjoy this spot. read more

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I have eaten here for most of my life and have enjoyed it. I have been living away for years. I recently went there with my family and I was glad to see that the restaurant looked the same and had the same ambiance of southern elegance. There were 4 of us eating and I noticed the prices have increased, but they have at other restaurants as well. The service was great. What I was disappointed on was the temperature of the food. My fish and fries were cold, not cool, not sort of warm, but cold. I asked my family and they all confirmed their food (steaks) were cold. That is not acceptable when your bill is $50, but all the more unacceptable when your check is $200! I hope they get this fixed as I will not be back until then. read more

This restaurant was truly a gem in our drive from Kentucky to Florida! My mother and father in law had been here a few years back and wanted to bring us. First and foremost, as we had been driving in the car all day, we all felt extremely underdressed. It was a very nice place, not quite for casual dress. Our waitress was very kind but had a large party next to us and had no inkling of how to manage two parties at the same time. We were constantly waiting for refills and for our food--we were there for about 2 1/2 hours total, so if you're in any type of hurry, I highly suggest coming back another day when you have the time to sit down & enjoy. We all avoided the grouper, as we had seen multiple reviews saying that it was actually tilapia being served. The baked blue cheese chips were an AMAZING starter, and my in laws were happy with the fried cauliflower and mushrooms. I got the broiled sea scallops and shrimp, which were just okay to me. They were completely drenched in the lemon herb butter that they're served in, which is a little much on top of the sea food. My hubby and FIL were slightly unimpressed with the quail, as it was extremely hard to eat and didn't really feel like it was as filling as they had hoped. My MIL and niece were very happy with the filet mignons, which they stated were cooked to perfection for them. Overall, the meal was tasty, but the slow service really put a damper on our evening. read more

I had the Parmesan Grouper, my wife had the Grilled Grouper. First, that is NOT grouper. Having caught, cleaned, and cooked many a grouper I can attest to what a large, thick, meaty, grouper filet looks and taste like. These are likely tilapia filets. I am giving two stars because the tilapia was tasty, the ambiance was cozy and the staff friendly. read more

The Daphne Lodge was amazing! I'm a huge fan. I went with a group of girlfriends for a bachelorette weekend. We were able to make reservations in advance and every part of the experience was GREAT! Food (5/5): I ordered the shrimp and grits and replaced my coleslaw with a side salad. The side salad came out with 4 dressing options that they put on the table. The shrimp was SO good. Cooked to perfection and full of flavor. I loved the tomatoes that were on the dish. It was a great combination. Drinks: The restaurant serves a selection of beer and wine. There are many options for an $8 glass. I ordered the cabernet and really enjoyed it. They give you a nice big pour! Service (5/5): A lovely man greeted us and showed us to our table. He was friendly, welcomed us, and gave us our menus. Our server was a sweet lady, very friendly and quick to get us anything we needed. I would 10/10 recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area! Such a lovely local spot. read more

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I liked this Restaurant for years but recently it has changed a lot . Someone said they have new ownership, maybe that's why the changes . Last time I was there was about March of 2022 . There were three of us . The wait time was too long and when did finally get our meal it was mostly cold . I ordered Grouper Filet and paid for Grouper : what I got was lukewarm Tilapia , which isn't even on the menu , believe me I know the Difference and texture of both . That did it for me . My wife and son's food was mostly cold also . The food was bland and unappealing. Our bill was over $70 if I remember right . We decided that would be the last time going there . There's other places who will appreciate our business . read more

Went on Saturday pm with a large group of. Service great. Environment friendly and clean and quaint decor. Food was awesome. It was a bit pricey but the quality of food exceeded our expectations. Definitely recommend going and eating there. Nothing tasted bad and plenty of options. As I had the fried shrimp and I could not believe how big those shrimp were. I don't know what they put in their cheese grits, but it had a unique and awesome flavor. read more

I have enjoyed this restaurant for many years. However, last night was different. The food was good, but the kitchen was very, very slow. The new glasses are pretty , but they don't hold much, and our glasses went empty a few times. It seems they have added some tables, because we were crammed in very close to the next table. The ambiance was different without Sonny, there, but I am glad he is enjoying retirement. Hopefully, the new owners will make some corrections. read more

If you are willing to sit, relax and be patient while your food is cooked... then this is the place for you. This will be one of our regular stops when we camp at Veterans State Park. We had the onion rings for appetizer and asked for a side of ranch to dip them in. OMG they were so good. My hubby had the catfish I had the parm crusted grouper and my son had the chicken finger plate. Our meals included salads which came with 4 different homemade dressings (vinaigrette, thousand island, blue cheese and ranch). We were really pleased with the quality of the food and the service was great. BTW the hush puppies and cheese grits were awesome. TIP: call ahead and make reservations. That may be the only way you get in they are only open a few days of the week for a few hours each day. read more

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It is a beautiful place for celebrations and yet very intimate for date night my husband and I like to go during the week...not crowded (that is the intimate part), and it is very crowded on Friday and Saturday nights. The food is excellent! I always get the same thing... Parmesan crusted grouper, and my husband always gets the fried shrimp...the steaks aren't bad either! I highly recommend! read more

Nice cozy atmosphere with fireplace blazing. We all had fish from regular menu. Was good but I am used to south Florida fresh so was little disappointing. Frozen desserts from vender nothing homemade Waitress was accommodating and pleasant. read more

This place is an A+ Great food, great service, great atmosphere The owner even stopped in to make sure everything was great and to say hello We tried a little bit of everything and it was all delicious Steak was cooked perfectly read more

It was okay.. The place fancy, so come dressed properly. We had the onion rings and fried dill pickles. The pickles were amazing!! I got the chopped steak, with a twice baked potato. I was thinking I was going to get some chopped up steak pieces, but instead it was.. well... a log of hamburger meat. I ordered it medium well. It came out raw in the middle and burnt on the outside. They did fix it, just cooked it longer, and gave me a new baked potato, which was nice. Other than that, it was decent. Great service and great atmosphere. If I come next time, I'll have to try something different. read more

This place has been here forever. Susu and Sonny Burt have been serving high quality casual Southern quisine since 1952... 64 years in the same place. People for 40 miles in any direction know about and/or have eaten at Daphne Lodge. Tonight my dad and I stopped in for dinner after a long day of fishing. We ordered fried crab fingers for our appetizer; they pretty much melt in your mouth. And the salad - who raves about salad??? - is a simple green salad with HOMEMADE dressings: thousand island, bleu cheese, ranch & vinegrette. Delightful! For my main course I had fried shrimp & scallops with slaw, hush puppies and homemade tartar & cocktail sauce. Sumptuous! Practically disolved in my mouth. My dad had parmasean crusted grouper. That too was wonderful. If you are near Cordele or Americus or Albany and you just arrived on the planet, treat yourself. If you've his been going to Daphne's for years, go back. This place will NOT disappoint. read more

Daphne Lodge Restaurant - This place us a South Georgia institution. Opened as a restaurant in 1952, it has been a go-to place for casual dining for 64 years. - New American Near Me - Cordele, Georgia

We ordered grilled grouper. It definitely was not grouper! Very thin fish that looked and tasted like tilapia. They covered it with cherry tomato halves but we weren't fooled. I didn't mention it to the server because I didn't want to have an unpleasant scene. Shame on me! read more

Had the opportunity to visit this Resturant while vacationing at near by Lake Blackshear . There are not a lot of local restaurants and even fewer non chain so we were happy when Yelp pointed us in the right direction. The atmosphere and food were exceptional and a surprise for what we excepted to find in the area. Service was outstanding as well and very accommodating for some of the picky eaters at our table. I would highly recommend the New York strip and Broiled Shrimp and Scallops entrees. The steak was very tender, full of flavor and cooked to perfection. Two members of our party ordered the shrimp and scallops and both polished the plates clean. The only item that was just ok was the mushroom appetizer , it wasn't unpleasant but nothing special. If we are ever back in the area we will be back again. read more

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Daphne Lodge is more than a place to eat it is filled with endless memories and friends from our hometown. The food is legend because they have kept their steak and seafood menu. The chip appetizer is a rare treat. Love this family and food. read more

I ordered the New York Strip with salad and twice baked potato. The steak was cooked perfect. The best steak I have had in Georgia. The salad and potato was great. The service is also great. I highly recommend this resturant. read more

We loved this place. It's so cozy and warm. We loved our host. He loves Roy Rogers. I know we are probably one of the few who grew up on Roy Rogers. The food was fabulous. My husband loved his Devil Crab dish and I had the local catfish which was delicious. Our friends couldn't stop raving about their dinners. I just love that Georgian accent our waitress had. So cute. read more

Dinner here last night, a group of 7. First, the quaint restaurant was PACKED on a Tuesday night, but the owners went out of their way to accommodate our reservation request. Food was excellent. We had everything: catfish, scallops, shrimp, flounder, grouper. I guess nobody had red meat, but seafood was well prepared and delivered promptly. Our waitress was excellent. Orders taken quickly, served promptly, water glasses full, etc. And to top it off, prices were reasonable. We come to Cordele a couple of times a year, but this was our first visit here. It won't be our last !!! read more

Well ! Read many reviews all were great. All gave 5 stars. Ordered an appetizer of crab legs. They were good. 1/2 way through appetizer my salad came. So started eating fast. Not relaxing !!! Then they brought my dinner. Still not finished with appetizer. When they brought my dinner they took away salad dressing. I said "Hey, leave the salad dressing ". Menu said SHRIMP WITH CHEESE GRITS. My favorite!!! Shrimp were tender, only 6 and very small. Cheese grits. Oops, Where's the cheese. There was none. The sauce said southern gravy. It was very bitter tomato sauce. Had to scrape it off. It was awful. Husband had fried oysters. He said it was all breading with no taste of oyster at all. He said absolutely the worst oysters he has ever had. We complained to waitress, no one else in Resturant. Owner had left. They did nothing. Nothing. Bill was $90 + tip. Do NOT recommend. Can not believe all the good reviews. Those people have no clue what good food is. No clue !!! If I could give it 0 stars I would. Don't waste your $$$$$. read more

So glad I found you all. What a fantastic time and good. The atmosphere was just so genuine. Found a couple of new friends and a place that will be in my heart forever. read more

Great food and atmosphere! We reserved a private room for a surprise party and the owners were so easy to work with and really did a lot to make us feel welcome. The blue cheese chips are insane! Great beer and wine selection. Can't wait to go back again. read more

Daphne Lodge Restaurant - Shrimp 'n grits - New American Near Me - Cordele, Georgia

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Best catfish in America. Shrimp, grits, fried crab claws, deviled crab, smothered quail... EASILY worth the detour from I45 though check the hours to make sure they ae open. This is a South Georgia institution continuously family owned for over 50 years. read more

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I travel to the Cordele area twice a year for work and always make it a point to eat at Daphne's Lodge. Have never been disappointed. Everything from the appetizers to the seafood to the steaks to the dessert is delicious. Absolutely the best. read more

6-stars, if I could. Possible one of the best restaurants in Georgia. Everything is good. Start the meal with crispy fried onion rings. They are THE BEST. And order with your favorite wine or beer. The basket of onion rings is huge and can feed 4. The catfish dinner is exceptional and award winning from Southern Living Magazine. The shrimp are exceptional as well. The hush puppies are some of the best with no mixed in items such as onions or bell peppers. The cole slaw is the best. The cheese grits make an excellent side as well. The old wood tables with candle light and table cloths are scattered throughout the Lodge for small or large groups. There is a small quiet bar to enjoy. The atmosphere is certainly quiet and romantic. It's no wonder people drive from far away to eat here. It is less than 1/10 mile west of the main entrance to Veterans Georgia State Park at Lake Blackshear or about 9 miles from I-75. A lot of seniors and good respectable people eat here. The owners are First Class. Absolutely well worth the trip. Ignore anyone who rates this less than a 5 without a Very Justifiable Reason. read more

It was our 9 year wedding anniversary and we had one of the most AWESOME fine dining experiences of our lives together here! People were waiting outside to get into the place even before it opens at 5:30pm for dinner, on a Saturday, when we arrived we sat on the porch swing and enjoyed the cool shade, we were a few minutes early, as we had made a reservation, we were seated quickly. This is the most "at home" feeling atmosphere I've ever felt somewhere away from home! Our host Sonny was a sweet heart, he sat with us a few minutes and talked welcomed, was very charming, and cared that we were enjoying our time there in Cordele. Our server Deena was so nice and attentive took good care of us with such a sweet smile, the food was excellent, more than worth the value I do not think you could go wrong with any choice off the menu! I wanted to slather that garlic butter on everything it was so good! I loved the house salad with all their dressings and because they make it themselves you have to try some of each, more than worth it! They have crab claws, (menu calls them crab fingers) They were best ever, mine and hubby's favorite all time food we eat a lot in season, the batter was so light, and claws meaty, I recommend if your a crab claw eater don't pass on them. Husband got new york strip and I had the grilled fish, dishes were hot, taste was really good, great portion sizes, everything just like we liked it and omg that twice baked potato, side, were ones just like my great grandma use to make, I picked it up and ate the whole thing it was that good! I also want to give a big thank you to the person who takes the time to cut into halves those grape tomatoes, I really understand how valuable that is and I felt really blessed that someone took the time to do that! They brought us a desert that we ate like apple pie a 'la mode, that was perfect! Ate way to much but had an activity filled day, so happy I had an appetite, All our plates went back to the kitchen clean, there is no greater compliment ;) We will be back, and yes with reservations! read more

Great food. It was a very unique atmosphere, very homey. Seems like a place the locals go to. I ordered the Parmesan crusted fish, twice baked potato, and cheese grits. I cannot remember the last time I had food that tasted so good! Would definitely recommend to others and go the next time I visit Cordele. read more

Warm, inviting, charming, and great service...but best of all FANTASTIC food. My great aunt and her husband used to stop by Daphne's when they drove through Georgia, and recommended we stop on or drive from Indiana to Florida. It's a little off the beaten path, but definitely worth the drive. Our waitress was so sweet and very attentive. The table next to us was celebrating a birthday and the owner brought an entire cake with candles on it. You can tell this is a very hometown restaurant. Now to talk about the food...our table ordered the onion rings for an appetizer and they were spectacular Vidalia onions! Delicious. I ordered the broiled scallops and shrimp with steamed broccoli and salad. The salad dressing was different and very good. The steamed broccoli made me wanting more...and of course the shrimps and scallops were broiled to perfection! I recommend this to anyone who enjoys finding great food off the beaten path! read more

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Great southern food. Might want to get reservations. We have been here 4-5 times and can never seem to get reservations during normal hours. They might save most areas for walk ins or locals. Anyways, the food is excellent and service is too. Worth the drive. read more

Great food! Great service! Friendly atmosphere. The blue cheese potato chips a must. The owners make you feel welcome. We go here every time we are driving through from Orlando to Atlanta. Love this place! read more

Excellent gem of a place with great atmosphere. The food was excellent. Especially the grouper and the she crab soup.