Another restaurant that is ordering at the counter and waiting for your food to be ready when called. I was meeting my parents to pick up my daughter and Florence was our meeting point. There were a few restaurants on our list to choose from and it had really good ratings and I believe 4.7 stars so we said why not. The inside gave the vibe of old diner so it was cute and nostalgic. I got there late so my mom ordered for me. I got the pot roast with cabbage and green beans. My dad got crab cake sandwich, the kids got tenders, my grandma got chicken and waffles and they put peaches on top and my brother and mom got the shrimp and grits. Now first my food lacked seasoning BAD. there was no salt and if there was it was literally a pinch, no spice, no flavor nothing. The actual texture and cook of the roast was good though. Even the cabbage and green beans were not seasoned and green beans tasted and looked like they came out of a can to be honest. I still ate some once I added salt and pepper so it made it taste a little better. The biscuit I didn't even try because the outside was so hard and stale like. My daughter did not want that Mac and cheese and quite frankly it looks like velveeta which we don't like and it looked like wayy too much. They also gave like Carolina bbq sauce not regular bbq sauce you'd eat with chicken so that was a no as well. Her and my nephew did enjoy the tenders and fries though. They looked well done and crispy. My dad liked his crab cake sandwich but the patty was flat and I'm scared it may have lacked flavor too but I didn't try it so I took his word for it that he enjoyed it. My grandmas chicken and waffles actually looked pretty good but for keto purposes I didn't try it. The tenders looked crispy and the waffle looked fluffy and crispy on the edges. My parents said the peaches were really good. The only thing I tried other than my food was the shrimp and grits and overall it was good, but again, lacked seasoning. It needed a kick and I didn't find it. But the texture of the grits was good with the cheese, shrimp was cooked perfectly and the sausage was well done. I was a bit disappointed in the food but I'm glad my family enjoyed their food. I'd give it about a 6/10 tbh and that's me being nice. The staff was also very nice especially when we asked to sub the Mac and cheese for fries. If they do better with the seasoning all around, I'd give a way higher rating. read more

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After a day on I 95, we were glad to arrive at our overnight stop. We had seen promising information about Julia Belle's online. Upon walking in, we were impressed with the warm but tidy atmosphere. The staff at the counter made ordering easy and provided quick but thoughtful suggestions for things we might want to try Our meals arrived quickly and were well prepared, not tasting as if they had sat in warmers; rather, they were well seasoned, and tasted freshly prepared. We recommend Julia Belle's to anyone in the Florence area as we can easily see it as a homey place for locals and other regulars as well as long distance travelers. read more

This was a great find on our way down to Myrtle Beach. Very casual and clean. Servers were awesome. Classic comfort food with lots of fish options. read more

Glad to find such fresh home-cooking foods on my travels front the coast to Columbia. Always a gamble when stopping at a locally owned restaurant and this one was a jewel: Good fresh slaw and collards, and the catfish bites were crispy and tender. Only complaint is that almost everything had some added sugar (which probably appeals to current tastes), but I hope the cook will begin to adjust recipes to make the veggies & hush puppies more healthy. read more

I have frequented this restaurant at least 4 times and have never been disappointed. I try to get something different each time. This honey pecan chicken sandwich puts all other chain restaurants chicken sandwiches to shame. This sandwich had a large piece of crispy fried chicken...smokey bacon and honey....yummy! read more

Julia Belle's - Honey pecan chicken sandwich - Southern Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

Overall a good experience. was notbtoo busy whennwe were there. Service - you order from the counter, get a number and the food will be delivered to you at the table. Service is quick and they were very good about refilling drinks. Biggest issue is tip fatig. Even though it is counter service the tablet asks for tips starting at 18%. Food- The catfish was very good. not as crispy as many fried catfish but good tasting. The steamed cabbage however was not to my taste. Had to try something new though. Would definitely return. read more

Yes great food, the folks that worked that day they were awesome and fun. Very friendly and helped us Utah people out on what was best to order read more

It was an interesting menu of southern foods with several seafood choices. It seems as though there is a blue plate special that rotates daily. Think of it as a meat and 2 as most dishes are built that way. It's definitely a comfort food type setup. I went with the pot roast, rice and mac and cheese. The pot roast was a little salty for my liking but still a good flavor. The white rice was cooked well so nothing much to speak about there. The max and cheese was a little bland and the biscuit was too hard to bite into. I think their fried dishes are probably more in the wheel house of everyone's liking. The service was great and they seemed to have a loyal following. Everyone was very kind and helpful from the moment I walked in. The location is right off of I95 so I'll probably give it another go next time I drive through. read more

Julia Belle's - Pot roast with rice and mac and cheese. - Southern Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

Soup was like warm, coleslaw bland, mediocre seafood and the re;gious music annoying.

I went yesterday with my sister we ordered take out! She order blacken fish over rice! I ordered the seafood combo! Where do I start, her fish was not blackened. Her hush puppies were fried so hard they broke up between her finger, my seafood combo was awful! The shrimp was not fired, the catfish was fried so hard, the crabcake was not fried, the whole thing was just a mess! The only was good was the cashier! Will not be returning! read more

Great local spot convenient to I95. We loved the atmosphere and the food was delicious. The restaurant was busy for lunch, but we found a table quickly. read more

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Found this looking for a quick place to stop on our way South. Home style cooking with amazing speed and service. Shrimp & Grits were out of this world; super creamy (enough to win over some grits skeptics in our group). Chicken Bacon Honey sandwich and Chicken, Peaches & Waffles were also stars. BBQ Egg Rolls come with a knock-out BBQ sauce for dipping. Florence, SC wasn't on our list of places to visit before, but it sure is now! We will be back. read more

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We had been to the previous location in the red barn. The food was just as good this time but the location was much more convenient when driving through. The employees are super friendly and took good care of us. They had a large menu and plenty of choices for both the adults and picky kids. read more

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Excellent food Great service Excellent ambiance Lovely vibe Especially liked courtenay The tru hotel suggested it Great shrimp and grits Excellent pot roast Yummy dessert read more

we stopped due to ratings and we are glad we did. it doesn't looked like much. it's a simple restaurant, you order at the register, grab a number and they deliver your food. You choose your seat. Everything is simple, casual and easy. if you want homemade southern food th is the place. The food was delicious , hot, juicy and quick. The desserts are just as good. our son is at school and we pass Florence every drop. Julia Belles has been added as a favorite and a pinned stop for our trips. read more

Such friendly service! We are from out of town and they made us feel so welcome. Best cheese grits! Son had chicken and waffles with peach sauce that was so fresh and delicious. Enjoyed everything immensely. Cute atmosphere and so clean. No pictures because we ate everything too quickly:) read more

Everything we got was absolutely made with love , and Ms.Loranda was absolutely so sweet, great service. Highly recommend such a cute country diner read more

The food is good but I could've used more seasoning. The prices aren't bad but a little more food wouldn't hurt. The service was very nice and kind. Didn't feel rushed at all. It gives a retro diner feel to it. I would go back to try a few things. read more

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Great staff. We tried the "chefs special" this evening. Stuffed chicken with cornbread stuffing and gravy with two sides. We picked the spicy collard greens and squash casserole. The chicken was good but a little on the dry side for me. The cornbread was delicious and the gravy made it all come together for a delicious bit. The collard greens were some of the best we have had in a long time. A wee bit on the spicy side just like my husband eats all his food. The squash casserole needed more flavor with fresh herbs for me. But my husband likes it. We would stop by again. read more

Best crab cake, sandwich, and coleslaw. They were very were clean or and the food was ready when I got there. The food was excellent!

Not bad for fast food. The fried catfish was very good. Potatoes were not from scratch, so they were just okay. The rice was not too our liking, didn't eat. The biscuit was an old fashion southern biscuit, thick with flavor! I had the chef salad and it was very fresh. The croutons were really good, very different than what I ever had, a little sweetness, which I love. Service was very attentive. I took a cushion for the seat, I will leave it at that! lol read more

Great little place , nothing fancy. Great food, all freshly made to order. Had seafood combo was fantastic. Soup was 5 star don't think twice its great. read more

This is a PSA to stop what you're doing and head straight to Julia Belle's! On a road trip through the east coast when I find out my bf never had real home style fried chicken. As this was unacceptable I pulled out my phone and found Julia Belle's right off the highway. I'm not sure if it was divine intervention that brought us here but it sure felt like it! We pulled up to the cutest barn style restaurant with picnic tables outside under tents. We placed our order inside and waited in crazy anticipation. Our server, who was super nice, brought out our food in no time. With the sun shining and slight breeze it was the perfect day to sit outside and dig in! We opted for fried chicken (duh!), mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, fried green tomatoes and baked beans. I literally felt the world stop when I took the first bite, the chicken was so juicy inside but also so crispy on the outside. The sides were out of this world. I swear I could eat a whole bowl of those baked beans. We asked for some extra bbq sauce and it was mustard based...that was something we never had. It was so good we took some to go! The owner sat with us and let us know that they are moving to a bigger location soon. It was such a nice touch to get to talk with her and learn more about the restaurant. I hope the absolute best for them in their new location! Can't wait to stop on our way back home. read more

Julia Belle's - Southern Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Owner and employees made us feel like family. Thank you for putting your great-grandmother's squash casserole on the menu. It was, smh delicious! All of our dishes were clearly cooked with love! I'd give a higher rating if I could. When in Florence, look no further than Julia Belle's. read more

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The food here is phenomenal. I just had the fried green tomatoes Benedict and they are great just like the shrimp and grits. Yes you have to wait a little but considering I spent $16.00 for Arby's and it was substandard the other day, for two dollars more I got a cooked meal and not fast food. I'm very happy to promote this place. read more

Stopped here again when driving through on I-95. Convenient location off the highway but they moved since I was last here about 4 years ago. Same delicious food and kind staff. Sad the ambiance is nothing like it used to be since it's now in a strip-mall but I like how they laid out the restaurant to make it nice. I still highly recommend this place and I understand why they had to move. read more

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This place is a great place to come when you're in Darlington. The southern food is delicious and homemade. The owner is very friendly and walked around. She came over to our table and had a lovely chat with us. Definitely recommend you try this place! read more

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Fran is the owner and Julia Belle was her great grandmother. They had a "barn" for years and just opened up here in 2020. Poor things. Luckily they have stayed in business. They have a large selection of comfort foods. Even some upscale comfort foods like fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, and lowcountry boil! This is a must stop. They also have hand Pattied hamburgers. They get as many food items from local sourcing and the farmers' market as possible. It is kept extremely clean. Friendly and attentive staff. It's counter ordering, but they bring it to your table and then walk around and will get you your refills. Sis-in-law had the low country boil. She doesn't like spice, and there was some. 2-3 maybe. So my brother ate it instead. He really enjoyed it. The shrimp and grits were cooked to perfection. Creamy. Lots of flavors and different textures. And you can get a white gravy on it. Son said the hamburger was really good. He had a bbq egg roll that he really enjoyed. And if you check in first on Yelp, you will get a free one, for a limited time. read more

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Great service at the counter. Pulled pork sandwich tasty with coleslaw. Don't miss the collard greens, exceptional. Tough to find tucked in near Starbucks but well worth finding. read more

As someone raised in Alabama and having lived extensively in Arkansas and South Carolina, I have enjoyed authentic Southern cooking virtually all my life. It is rare to find a restaurant that truly captures the heart and soul of this beloved cuisine, but the Julia Belle's Restaurant does so beautifully. The fried pork chops were perfectly seasoned and cooked to tender, juicy perfection; the fresh sliced tomatoes tasted like they were just picked from the garden; and the mashed potatoes with rich, savory gravy were nothing short of outstanding. Every bite evoked cherished memories of meals prepared by my mother, grandmothers, and aunts--some of the finest Southern cooks I've ever known. Though I'm not a cook myself, I know exceptional Southern food when I taste it, and this establishment delivers the real thing. From the warmth of the flavors to the unmistakable home-cooked quality, the Julia Belle's Restaurant serves pure, traditional Southern cuisine at its very best. Highly recommended for anyone seeking an authentic and deeply satisfying taste of the South. read more

Excellent service, food was great I had shrimp & grits, hubby had rosemary pork chops with mashed potatoes & gravy. Home cooking really plenty to eat. But couldn't resist trying dessert- For dessert we had the blueberry lemon cheesecake (shared of course) order at counter. They brought out the food, and checked on us throughout Little place in a strip mall - very welcoming, bright and colorful Hopefully we will get back on our way back home. Right off I95exit164 hwy 52 read more

This place is located at the Florence Farmers Market and certainly exudes it's own Southern charm. You order at the counter where you first enter and I'd be surprised if you aren't treated very kindly by all the staff. They don't have a monstrous menu or anything, but they seem to serve some quality Southern grub..their blue plate specials come with 2 sides and a biscuit, everything homemade. They do all of their own baking on the premises and actually have two small dining rooms open to the public. I had the fried flounder blue plate with cheesy grits, homemade tartar sauce, mac and cheese and the biscuit. The grits were very good, though I thoroughly enjoyed the entire meal. They serve standard Coca Cola products and of course iced tea. They their homemade pecan pie...it's quite good! read more

Julia Belle's - Fried flounder blue plate with cheese grits and mac & cheese. Pretty good! - Southern Near Me - Florence, South Carolina

Sometimes the greatest pleasures are the simplest ones. We skipped across the street from our hotel for a late breakfast here and could not possibly have made a better choice. The menu has changed a scootch since we rolled through, but I can assure you, this is not a kitchen that does anything poorly. My mouth absolutely -waters- at the thought of the chicken and waffles I had, drizzled with a magnificent pecan butter. I'd have eaten three servings if I'd been able to [and we managed to track a jar of the stuff down later on, though I have since inhaled it]. My only real regret is that we live much too far away to just idly stop in for the delectable-sounding fried green tomato BLTs they serve. Julia Belle's is the heart of comfort food, cooked by the sweetest people. read more

Real hidden gem! The fried green tomatoes and crabcakes were superb. And it appeared that the owner/manager was very present and checking on patrons. Very nice to have this nice option while traveling! read more

We stopped here while traveling, based on reviews we'd seen. It didn't disappoint. Great comfort food! Very friendly and helpful staff! Everything very CLEAN!! Reasonable prices! read more

This place is outstanding. The chicken fried chicken was amazing and they had the best restaurant mashed potatoes I've ever had!

Amazing fried chicken and pot roast!!! Service was Great as well. We will be back :-)

Ate there recently while traveling and am wondering about all the 5 star ratings. Our food was average ( we ordered the Grammy's Pot Roast over rice) and we certainly never experienced any of the welcoming southern hospitality from the staff. Guess we just hit it on an off day. . read more

Live in Fl and this was our 2nd time going to this clean, friendly restaurant. My sweetie got cheeseburger which he enjoyed with side of Mac n cheese. I was impressed with the shrimp and grits. A bit too much cheese, would have asked for less. The presentation was right on as the flavor. The woman who took my order was friendly and helpful. She and others walk around making sure the customers don't need anything and how was it , not once but twice, unheard of !! If I lived here I would go one a week to try everything.See you next time ! P.S. read the response from mgmt U can tell they care! read more

Food was amazing! Top 3 collard greens I've ever had. Great portion sizes, especially for the price. Loved hearing some contemporary gospel music playing overhead. The service was probably the best thing though. It was so refreshing seeing young people in there serving with bright and vibrant personalities that were very engaging with customers throughout their dining experience. If I ever come back to the Darlington/Florence area I will most definitely be back here. Hopefully next time I'll leave room for the pie everyone was talking about. read more