This is a cashier criticism. The cashiers for a few months now have been asking me if I left a tip at the table. I find this highly irritating and I suspect most other customers feel the same. If this is part of the Manager's training for cashiers it should be eliminated promptly. I am generous when service is good, but it's not any business of the cashier about how generous or not generous I am. Adults don't need to be given a "guilt trip" by the cashier about their generosity. Adults know when and how to tip appropriately without a cashier prompting them. Now, the food is almost always good, but I'll make another cashier complaint while I'm at it. Commonly the cashiers will ask if everything was okay and I usually say "yes", but if I ever say "no" which is very rare no cashier has ever offered to resolve the problem. So, why are they asking the question? If it's just meant as a cordial greeting they should find something more useful and appropriate to say such as "Hello Sir/Madam. Will this be cash or credit card?" A follow-up "Thank you." would be perfect after the bill is paid. Now, let's get to ambience. Well, it's not great, but it could be better. It's a wide open room where anyone can see anyone else in the entire building and the noise from all the conversations going on is continual. But, there is also some type of music being played all the time. The music is useless because it just becomes part of the existing noise. The Manager should re-think this and turn the music off. That would be a simple fix to help ambience. And, of course, there are ways to reduce all the people noise, but that involves an investment in seating similar to the old Capri's Italian restaurants or the current Casa Fuentes restaurant where booths have high backs and seating is more plush and sound absorbing. But, that's not likely in the budget. So, simply turning the music off is a no cost way to improve ambience. read more

I'd been feeling for some good southern cookin' like my momma used to make. I passed by here for lunch one day and decided to check it out. First, this is a Friday during lunch and they were pretty busy, always a good sign! There were hardly any booths or tables left and this was towards the beginning of lunch rush! I ordered the country fried steak lunch special with unsweet tea. The food hit the spot! It was so good I requested a box early so I wouldn't keep eating the whole plate! I also ordered an apple turnover to go to surprise my hubby with when he got home from work but.. well, I already ate my half ;) My waitress was so sweet and made sure I had everything I needed! I will definitely be returning when I'm missing my momma and her cooking. Something nostalgic about this place and it was my first time going! read more

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Large selection of comfort foods at a reasonable price. Clean tables and ample room for those needing additional space for mobility or larger groups. Service was quick and courteous once seated. Plenty of parking. There is something on the menu that will please everyone in your party. read more

Best service you can find! Honestly this is one of the prime examples of hospitality being great in the south! Food is great and the tea is one of the best in town! read more

Evidently this is an Anderson institution. It's been around a while and it's a local favorite. It's comfort food at its best at a moderate price with nice portions. The hubby had eaten here years ago and it was my first time. We got there at 10:30. The server asked if we were there for breakfast or lunch. We decided to wait for lunch. Good thing we came early because at 11 the place started getting packed. Every plate price includes homemade biscuits or cornbread and your choice of iced tea, coffee or soft drink. If you don't choose the daily lunch special you can choose MEAT & THREE (Choose one meat and three sides.) or 4 VEGGIE PLATE (Choose four sides.) Servers were awesome. The restaurant had a cafeteria feel. If you have a hankering for some good ole Southern food - this is the place. read more

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Surprisingly, a very good restaurant and a very good staff. Especially impressed by the food selection. I enjoyed what I consider perhaps the best chick grilled chicken salad ever eaten in Anderson and my wife enjoyed very tasty grilled ham that she really enjoyed. Definitely a restaurant to go to and it's among our favorite all-time restaurants so far. Personally feel it's worthy of 6 stars. read more

The people here are all so friendly. The restaurant is full of regulars. The food smelled so good before we ate. My stomach was growling. It's a meat and 3. Mama Penn's has been going strong for over 50 years. I got the chicken and dumplings. Only available on Saturday. We will be heading back here. read more

We are there an hour ago. Small booth diner and country feel. Our waitress was R or C. Brown hair ponytail. She was awesome. I originally ordered a country fried steak but it didn't taste fresh. She replaced it with chicken. The Mac and cheese was out of this world and I loved their banana pudding. She kept busy refilling the Arnold Palmers. read more

I will start by saying this used to be one of my favorite places. This restaurant was once a staple for our town. It was good, dependable, and affordable. In the last several months it has gone downhill. Where once you saw the same people working, now it feels like a whole new staff every time. The food has been so inconsistent. One day seasoned well and fabulous, the next time zero flavor. Unfortunately it has lost its dependability and friendly feel. The last few times I have been the servers were impolite and seemed bothered to be there. I am leaving three stars for the years it was awesome and the occasional hit but I don't know that it will stay there. I know they went through some staffing changes a while back but I'm hoping they get things worked out soon. read more

Per their usual. The food was cold and underwhelming. I keep thinking it will get better but I am losing hope that it ever will. The portions have gotten smaller. Not sure what's happening but they need to get their act together because I am tired of asking to have my food reheated. The biscuits have changed as well and they are terrible. They were a tad bit better tonight but not much. I wish Redwood was open later. They are so much better. We dont have a choice for a meat and 3 after lunch. I cannot in good conscious recommend Mama Penns. read more

Decent home style cooking. Good sized portions. Give it a go! Recommend it for breakfast lunch or dinner. read more

food wasn't hot, the tenders was dry, and the peach cobbler wasn't sweet. i asked for white gravy on my mash potatoes and got brown. the server was nice, but one of the front counter ladies was rude. read more

I just had the most frustrating experience at Mama Penn's Restaurant in Anderson, SC. Today is March 3, 2026 and I wanted to treat myself to breakfast. I arrived at this restaurant around 9:30 A.M. I waited at the front desk to be seated. No one came to service me. It was taking so long, I decided to sit down across from the check in desk. A couple of customers came in (that did not look like me) and immediately the worker at the front came to service them. I spoke up and told her I was there first. I asked her if she saw me come in and she said yes, and asked if I wanted to be seated. I was insulted and told her no. I left and went to Metro Grill and was greeted with prompt service and a smile. Good bye Momma Penn's! It may not matter to you, but I will spend my money elsewhere. ​ read more

Top notch service from these gals! They wait on tables so smoothly. They check the ticket before delivering your food. Food is always very good! We are regulars! read more

The food is really good, but the price of the food to the ratio of the food that you get does not match I always leave their hungry which I've only been there twice once by myself and once with someone else and I ended up eating somewhere else a couple hours later cause I was still hungry read more

Overall the food is good but cashiers need training in customer service when they get the call in to go orders wrong.

I would recommend casual dressing to dine in. The hostess is always nice, friendly and professional. Mama says it all about the food on the menu. Genuinely like you would be served by mama! read more

Mama Penn's has been a beloved eating place in Anderson SC for decades. Bringing friends and families together after church for many years. I can remember hundreds of occasions meeting here for lunch after church when I was little. *However, now closed on Sundays. I wouldn't dream of saying anything too negative about this restaurant even if it were rightly warranted. I haven't eaten here since the late 1980's as a small child. They have moved buildings and expanded many many times over the years due to their increasing popularity within the community for good, wholesome home cooking. My mother was so excited to take me here for lunch today, partly I believe, because it's nostalgic for her and she also still frequents the restaurant often as she still lives in the area. We arrived around 4pm to a quiet, un-crowded atmosphere and was seated right away. I ordered the lean ham with mac and cheese, banana pudding and pinto beans. My mother ordered the fried chicken. A soft drink, tea or coffee is included with your meal as well as a basket of biscuits and/or corn bread. The meal was very very filling. They have homemade banana pudding on the menu. I LOVE homemade banana pudding - I LOVE IT! I used to eat tubs of it when I was young so I was very excited that HOMEMADE banana pudding was on the menu and it's even considered a side dish, so I order two sides of it. It would've probably been very good if it were chilled and thick and plated in a different manor. It was served plopped in a little plastic saucer- not very chilled or creamy- thin in texture and the scant vanilla wafers were hidden under the plopped scoop. The consistency and appearance wasn't very appealing however the great news is it could've been eaten with a straw if that was a requirement for you. All meals are served in drab plastic bowls and sectioned plates; very cafeteria like.... old fashioned cafeteria where everyone eats dinner at 4pm. That isn't necessarily bad, unless that's not your style. I did notice quite an array of diners ranging from young folk to middle aged to civil war veterans. The fresh brewed ice tea was good. They serve pepsi products which are gross- I'm a coke fanatic. The employees and wait staff are right out of a Steel Magnolias spin-off. Very polite and respectful. "Yes Ma'am- " Yes Sir" which I adore and appreciate as manners are a lost art in society today. All in all a good, solid meal served up with kindness and the sincerity of a grandmother's love. A wonderfully wholesome restaurant vibe with a nostalgic, small town ambience and prices to match. Two hearty, home cooked meals complete with drinks and plenty of leftovers was $23...That is unheard of today. read more

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The price is way too much($17.50) for one plate. The appearance was bad to say the least. Also the amount of food...well, you can see for yourself it's not great. I'm still giving it two stars because at least it tasted decent and the server was friendly. read more

Mama Penn's - Rice and mashed potatoes with gravy, ham, and macaroni and cheese. - Southern Near Me - Anderson, South Carolina

I grew up on soul food so I am familiar with Southern meat and three restaurants the food here is about what I would expect. Nothing outstanding however just good southern cooking. read more

Turkey and dressing was great! The place was packed but our server made us feel like we were the only ones there!!

Meat-and-three place with quick service and a friendly smile. They move quickly, and always have a moment to answer questions with respect

Great southern cooking! The food is just like my grandma use to cook. The staff was so friendly! Our waitress was phenomenal!! My family all had the country fried steak and gravy with 3 sides. I literally cannot complain about nothing here at mama penns. If you are in the Anderson south Carolina area stop by for great southern food and hospitality read more

The food was good and well seasoned but my fried livers were undercooked and my niece found a hair in her Mac and cheese. I would give it another chance because my sister found was cooked perfectly. read more

This is not even close to being real southern cooking. At least not what I grew up eating! Everything was bland, very salty but no other seasoning and nothing seemed fresh. Pretty sure the green beans and collards were from a can. The chicken fried chicken was over cooked and dry. Pretty sure it had been frozen and thrown in a fryer and loaded with some bland gravy. The peach cobbler was not fresh, most likely pre packaged as well. Biscuits and cornbread were meh, nothing special, again just bland. The mac and cheese was spot on though! The hashbrown casserole was also really good. I wanted to love it here. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing and had the wrong server? read more

We had dinner to go it was just awful. Everything tasted like it had been sitting around all day under a heat lamp. nothing would get me to try this place again. read more

Wonderful place! Great deals as far as kids meals go! Great family atmosphere. Service was phenomenal!! Drove an hour and a half and now considering if it's worth an hour and a half every so often JUST to EAT HERE!!! Definitely recommend! Best chicken and dumplings I've EVER HAD!! read more

We went for breakfast and we were seated and served quickly. Staff were very friendly. We both enjoyed our food and it was good value. I would go again if I was in the area. It seemed clean and booths were comfortable. read more

Great home cooked food and people are extremely friendly! I would go back there to eat in a heart beat. Great atmosphere as well.

The best country fried steak ever!! Service is all was great and servers are so friendly! Love this Meat and Three... best place I have been to!! read more

I am in Anderson frequently and have planned on eating here for a couple months based on a friend's suggestion. We arrived at 5:30 on a Monday night and it was already 2/3 full which I took as a good sign. We were seated immediately and given ample time to review the menu. Brennan was our waiter and he was excellent, very friendly and efficient. I was craving chicken livers, but unfortunately they were sold out, so I'll try them next time. I ordered chicken tenders, fried okra, creamed corn and green beans. All of the items were freshly prepared and served hot. The okra, biscuit, and tenders were fantastic. The green beans were obviously canned and so-so. I expect a "home cooking" restaurant - especially one that has been in business 50 years - to prepare their veggies from scratch. Nonetheless, the food was very very good and I look forward to eating there again. EVERY worker that we interacted with was so friendly. This included the hostess who greeted and sat us, our waiter Brennan, and the gentlemen that cleaned off our table and rang up our ticket. I was surprised to see the reviews regarding rudeness from the employees. That is not what we experienced at all. I also have seen reviews regarding the prices being high. I eat out frequently and I found their prices in line with what I pay for the amount of food I got and its quality. Seriously, a Whopper, fries and a drink is pushing $10.00. for 13.99 I got a meat and three sides, a biscuit and tea. How is that expensive? I enjoyed my meal, left full, and will definitely be returning to try them again. read more

Food is always spot on. It's the busiest place in town and the staff is amazing. It's laid back even when it's busy, very comfortable.

Excellent in every way. Food Service. Anderson is very lucky to have this establishment read more

Great home cooked meals and superior service. Clean and neat. Fast seating. Worth your wait if need to wait.

the waitress was the only positive part of my whole experience, my chicken was cold, and the older lady at the register where you pay before you leave asked me if I was leaving a tip with my card I was paying for my food with and I said no and her whole demeanor changed and didn't respond to anything else I said and she proceeded to charge me $4 more then my total was. read more