Food was great, seasoned good. Only problem chicken not done enough for me. Of I see blood next to bone I don't eat it. Crust on it was delicious. read more

I have heard of my mom talk about this place but had never been. When you walk in it's very laid back. Someone will show you to a table and take your drink order. It's buffet style with two lines. If you can get there when they open. It gets busy. They had fried cheese strips, baked chicken that was well seasoned and to die for. Boneless ribs that were also amazing alone with veggies, salad, bread, & desserts. My mom lives close to Forest and I told her we could plan our visits when this place was open. We will be back. read more

They have a really nice comfort food buffet. The staff were attentive, friendly and efficient. The food was hot and delicious. I would stop there again. read more

Really good buffet lunch friendly staff Hard to beat the price for the quality of the food read more

Awesome buffet! Great selection of fried and baked chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, hamburger steak, much more. One of the hidden gems! read more

The first time I had to travel to Forest for work I was disappointed that I couldn't try this place. My second time here I knew for sure I had to come here. If you're looking for homemade southern cooking, this place has it all. It's only open for lunch and it's buffet style so if you want your food fresh and piping hot, you'd better come early! Unfortunately I didn't listen to my co-workers warnings when I arrived at 1:30PM. They had a decent amount of food left but I know it could have tasted way better if I had got there earlier. I picked out some fried chicken, roast beef, mashed potatoes, black eyed peas, cornbread, and fried okra. All of it was very tasty and hearty. Except the cornbread was a big disappointment, and I LOVE cornbread so this made me very sad. The mashed potatoes were light and fluffy, so simple with just a touch of butter but very delicious. The roast beef was pretty good, the gravy was a little on the salty side though. The fried okra were ok, unfortunately I got the left over bits and pieces, one of the dishes I knew would be good if I had some fresh. My second dish was about the same thing except I scrapped the cornbread. My favorite part of the meal was the hurricane cake a la mode! The chocolate cake was so moist and the homemade vanilla ice cream was perfect! The service was just ok, poor lady was scrambling around and dropping silverware here and there. Overall it wasn't bad for less than $10 with a soda. Next time I have to learn and get here early!! read more

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The food is southern. It is delicious! The staff are friendly and super efficient. It is a little loud between 12 and 1. This is due to it being so popular for lunch. Great place to eat, it is buffet style. read more

Garden Patch has Elvis in it. Our food culture is in danger. Modern modes of soft-serve sushi, laser bbq, and other avant gard restaurant practices debase us. Infomercials peddle little frozen rations with the false promise of health--they mock us. Our waist lines balloon while our attention spans wane in the advent of the great fast food boom of the 1970s. Our food culture has nearly disintegrated. Garden Patch is a beacon calling us home. Its spirit burns brighter than the most seductive glow of the neighboring Wendy's. Its plain wooden sign signifies its simple origins and faces the modern neon fast-food-freeze-dried-sushi joints with contempt and with stern resolve. Swing those old glass doors open and enter. You pay first. No menu--this is a straight up buffet. Angels sing and prophets blush at the sight of these fresh southern veggies. They will be cooked to mush and include all types of mystery meat pork as a stock. This practice is true to form and is doctrine. The veggies include butter beans (do not read "Lima"), field peas, green beans, squash, and okra. The bread includes dinner rolls and corn bread. The most important veggie is the yellow macaroni and cheese. This is a sharp cheddar mix that will tempt your long held fidelity to creamy mashed potatoes. The meat includes pot roast and fried chicken. The pot roast in real brown and hot (temp not taste) lava gravy and falls apart to the touch. The chicken is salty and crisp. Precision is the name of the game here. All on the bone. Notice: Cultural cowards may look for strips at that Popeyes near by. Editor's Note: Jeffrey A's comments below regarding the downfall and subsequent resurgence of southern cuisine are apt and worth reading. The Barnhills, the Ryan's, and the Cracker Barrels tell a lie. They offer a false hope and are of the same ilk as those multi-national late-night infomercials peddling cheap, shitty, and frozen food at night. Garden patch holds the promise of a return to true southern cuisine. Garden patch has Elvis living within its halls. Garden patch takes us home. read more

The Garden Patch - a plate of food with beans and meat - Southern Near Me - Forest, Mississippi

Our church group of men and ladies who are advanced in age (Young at Heart Club) and a few occasional visitors have eaten here on several occasions. We are ALWAYS treated like royalty and thoroughly enjoy every item on the extensive buffet. (The fried chicken is to die for), do not pass that up !! A word to the wise. GET THERE EARLY for the best selection !!! They open at 11:00 AM and continually refresh the food items, but it is soooo good that it does not last on the bar very long. Real Down Home Southern Cooking at it's best. read more

This place is a little off the interstate and the map in the app is wrong but I located it. I am certainly glad I stopped. This is the classic southern cafeteria type dinning with all you can eat and all kinds of goodies just like grandma use to make ( that's if you are southern like me). Truly enjoyed everything was greeted with a smile and a hello from all the servers. Not sure why this place gets two "$$". All you can eat and a tea was $11.72 I assume I'd spend that for a burger drink and side salad at the Wendy's across the street. Will certainly stop again should I be in town. read more

The Garden Patch - Fried chicken, turnip greens, veggie stew and fried okra. Mmmm - Southern Near Me - Forest, Mississippi

I believe a good reviewer never judges apples relative to oranges. That said, I give this place 5 stars not because the cuisine is world-class but because they do what they do very well. Sadly, local restaurants serving southern cuisine in Mississippi really declined during the 80s and 90s thanks to the success of chain restaurants like Cracker Barrel, Quincy's, Ryan's, etc., who sold mass-produced swill on the cheap. The decline of the chains, and a new appreciation for "local" goods and services, has lead to a resurgence for restaurants like the Garden Patch. I've eaten at a lot of these new venues for southern cuisine in the Midsouth and would rate this one in the top two or three. Their buffet provides a LOT of great southern dishes including some delicious desserts. read more

Always good! The food is fresh, the service is awesome! I also love the location and style of the old building!

Excellent home cooked meal. Lunch buffet with great choices of meats, veggies, and desserts. Would definitely come back again. Bring your appetite! read more

This is great southern food. The vegetables trays like they came straight out of my grandma's garden. The fried chicken was cooked to perfection. If you want excellent food cone here. If you are looking for a fancy building go somewhere else! read more

On a recent trip to Mississippi I was looking to try some good southern food. Some friends familiar with the area introduced me to the garden patch. The place is simple, doesn't look like much. I would have never stopped by if it had not been for my friends saying this place is good. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. This is home cooked food and every thing was delicious. I even loved items that I don't normally enjoy such as fried chicken and greens. This was the best fried chicken I have ever had. I would definitely go back. read more

I love this place!! The best fried chicken on the planet. Ms Nancy knows how to cook up some good soul food.

Very popular spot in Forest...If you are a fan of southern buffet you will be pleased judging by the other comments...I guess you just need to be raised on this kinda salty diet to appreciate it. The deserts are real good, the food to me is over cooked & very, very, very salty, I have eaten here a several times and was guzzling water by the gallon within a half hour of meal every time... read more

Good place for a quick lunch. Fairly priced and the food was good. Great sit down southern homestyle food. I have visited a couple times and was never disappointed. The hours are a little strange but give it a try and leave a review! read more

The food was ok .. the only thing I didn't really like was the sitting arrangements. The tables are to close together. It hard to leave your table to go back to bar read more

This was a great lunch place. Enjoyed all the veggies. They were cooked just like southern veggies are to be cooked.

Stopped in here on our way home to TN. This is hands down the best southern home cooking we have ever had.

Good place to eat if you like poor customer service & it's only open during the lunch hour so if you go after 2 you're out of luck.