My first visit here and I wish I'd discovered this place sooner. The service was kind and courteous, the food piping hot, and the drinks refreshing and delicious. We wish they had tables big enough for large parties on their patio. Would be fun to spend an evening out there with a group of friends. read more

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I don't usually go for Southern food, but I'm glad I stopped by to The Swanson. Interior wise, it's like a house turned restaurant business. The foundation is still there with the rooms and decor but with lots of tables set up, similar to hosting a gathering at home. Not only that, everyone here was really friendly! We really felt welcomed, and though the second time, service wasn't as outstanding, it was still good. I think they really nailed down the vibe of southern hospitality. For drinks, they have seasonal cocktails, which I think is fun, but I'm not around at a time where I would be able to chill and drink. I end up with a go-to sweet tea. Strong and sweet, that it kept me up, but not the strongest nor sweetest I've had. There's also complimentary bread that's mini muffin shaped and dense like a biscuit. It's buttery and salty, but I like it! Before coming, I saw so many things about the sampler, so I definitely wanted to get it and try out. Love the fried green tomatoes with the honey mustard. It didn't feel oily, and it held up pretty well when cut and dipped into sauce. The pimento cheese here is probably the best I've ever had, but I will admit that I have not had many (I tend to not like it). In fact, both these items stay on my mind enough that I do think about coming here more often than I thought I would. And this is just for the apps. The rest of the entrees are pretty standard. Some better than others, but that's due to preference. I haven't gone through the whole menu, but I do prefer their chicken to some of the other menu items. For their sides, I haven't seen or heard of some of them. I asked about them, and they were described p well, enough for me to not want to try congealed salad. I'm not a big fan of jello type things, but I did try the pear salad. Not for me. Absolutely not for me. I did really enjoy the collard green soup and sweet potato souffle though! They were great, esp the souffle. It was my first time having nuts in them, and I loved it so much. Everything else was alright, like I'm sure you've had or can make better mac. Overall, I'm glad to know this place because it's a good rec for the area if you're in the mood for Southern food. It's not a bad pick for vegetarians either, though they would only have appetizers and sides to pick from, but I liked them more than the entrees. There's a parking lot, and it's in a good location to see the rest of downtown Perry too. read more

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First time in town and searching for a place for dinner. This one caught my eye so we landed here. It did not disappoint! Charles was our server. He was polite, timely and knew the menu. He even took the time to confirm our our fee before leaving the table and he had it right the first time. I ordered the smothered chicken. I have to say it was the best I have ever had! More flavor than most and the extra thick and crispy bacon was great. The restaurant was busy for a Thursday night but still our food same out together, hot and timely. The menu made it a bit difficult to pick dinner. Several items caught my attention. The proportion was generous but not over the top. The cost was very reasonable too. Great ambiance. I know the wife would have enjoyed it. Tonight it was sort of waisted on my road trip buddies. The restaurant was spotless and very clean. So was the bathroom which was very appreciated. Great staff. I'm not this way often from Michigan, however if I find myself back here again I will be sure to visit again. Earns every star! read more

It's a really nice restaurant, definitely Southern vibes. However, the deviled eggs were not my cup of tea. At. All. I am not one to spit food out but it took all my will power to keep them down. I got the Carroll street chicken and the chicken and fried okra were delicious! I'm not a huge fan of my bacon being dark/crispy but that's a personal preference. Their biscuits... although cute and bite sized were not my favorite. Our waiter was phenomenal. I just think it's a difference in opinions on what "southern food" tastes like. I would try it again but now I know to stay away from the deviled eggs and their biscuits. read more

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Based on the ratings we decided to give it a try. We both had the fried chicken. My wife was shocked that the white meat only choice only had a breast and no wing. I thought the chicken lacked seasoning. The cornbread muffins were too dry to eat. The ambiance was nothing, just plain rooms with plain tables. Wished we went to KFC. read more

A delightful gem right off the interstate and well worth the short detour for those traveling through Perry. If you're not in a hurry, it's location in historic downtown is close to cute boutiques and shops and handy free parking. On our visit (a Tuesday evening in November) we had no wait and were immediately seated. I ordered the Carroll Street Chicken which was wonderfully seasoned. I took advantage of the variety of the sides and had the Lima beans as well as mashed potatoes. My wife ordered the Chopped Steak and found it delicious. She shared a bite with me and it had a wonderful caramelized crust that really enhanced the flavor. The complimentary bread is miniature muffins that were also excellent. Service was excellent and we never lacked for drink refills. The table settings are elegant with fresh flowers, and the decor is classy. read more

Great food with an excellent selection of side dishes. Paige provided excellent service. I enjoyed the Carrol Street Chicken. The collards and sweet potato soufflé were delicious. This southern house is a place for people to meet and eat. Definitely a good value. I will visit again. read more

Stepping into The Swanson--an old house turned eatery in the adorable town square of Perry, GA--felt like walking into your grandma's living room, where the welcome mat doubles as a free pass for sweet tea and Diet Coke refills. I rolled in with a lively crew of seven, and let me tell you, those drinks flowed so freely we considered starting our own soda river! The service here is nothing short of miraculous. I'm pretty sure the staff underwent a secret Southern charm boot camp because they treated us like long-lost kin. And then there were the mini biscuits: fresh out of the oven, dripping with a twang of buttermilk that had us wondering if we'd just discovered the fountain of buttery youth. They kept coming like they were on an endless mission to win a biscuit marathon. I dove into the baked chicken plate with stuffing, side salad, and fried okra--each piece of okra was so crispy it might as well have been auditioning for a role in a crunchy symphony. Our friends embarked on their own culinary adventures with salmon patties that defied the fishy stereotype, friend chicken that was, well, friendship in edible form, and shrimp platters that were as abundant as our laughter. To top it all off, dessert came in the form of bread pudding--a warm, sweet hug that perfectly wrapped up our meal. In short, if you're in the mood for a down-home, comfort-food extravaganza served with a side of Southern charm, The Swanson is your go-to gem. It's not exactly a place for the calorie-conscious, but who cares when every bite is a cozy, delicious adventure? Enjoy the charm, the food, and the belly laughs--your taste buds (and funny bone) will thank you! read more

The Swanson - Bread Pudding - Southern Near Me - Perry, Georgia

So disappointed, heard so many good things, but truly disappointing, from the start bland tasteless muffins, to wrong sides delivered, black overcooked fried okra, over cooked fried chicken, and what they call salmon croquette, over cooked and bland, service was polite but obviously disappointed, we brought it up but no offer to take off anything. Even the berry crisp was lacking with one not even having crisp just berries. Don't know if okra, chicken, salmon was old, fryer oil must have been burnt, or just not Caring what they served. No Manager, owner ever stop by, no thought of any type of discount just stomach upsetting food and a bad taste for The Swanson, glad there are better options in town Orleans, Trattoria, Fuego Fresca, Oliver's are just a few i would push you towards read more

So I had to be in Perry to give a friend a ride to the DMV to renew his license and decided to get a good dinner. I thus looked around and foudn The Swanson. I figured that a somewhat gourmet southern cuisine would be worth a try, and so I went there for lunch with my friend. Came in and was not disappointed. There was a special Christmas cocktail available, the Misteltoe Mule, which was a mule, but with Maker's Mark as the spirit, together with lemon and cranberry juice alongside the ginger beer. It was an excellent combination, and was quite tasty. For the entrée, I went with the chicken fried steak (or country fried steak, as I believe it's called on the menu). I did not regret it. Chicken fried steak can be rather basic, but for this order, the breading was extremely tasty, and not just your standard, fried saltiness. Likewise, the meat was quality, and the white gravy just perfect. But the best part was the sides. An entrée comes with two sides, and I opted for collards and green beans. The green beans were tasty and buttery, but they didn't go with too much butter, which southern cuisine places can sometimes do, so I got a tasty, buttery order of green beans that was just right. But the collards. Oh, man, the collards. You could taste the pork, but ther pork did not overwhelm. I asked what pork they used, and the server told me that they used ham hocks and andouille--and that combo gives a wonderful smokey, porky flavor that complements the deep, tasty flavor of the greens just right. I didnt' eat for the rest of the day, so great were the portions, and I also appreciate how tasty it was. The staf was pleasant and friendly. If you're ever in Perry and can spare a bit of time to go downtown, I highly recommend The Swanson. read more

The Swanson - A Mistletoe Mule - Southern Near Me - Perry, Georgia

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Yummy ! , homestyle cooking. Husband had the BLT! Said it was truly amazing!! Everything we had was delicious, their choice of sides was very extensive and something for everyone. Would definitely go back. read more

They were unusually busy on Monday night with folks standing outside. Our group of 6 had the Country Fried Steak with brown gravy, chicken and dumplings, 8oz Salmon filet, fried seafood platter. These meals come with 2 sides, our group had fried okra, salad, very good collard greens and excellent squash casserole. Mini biscuits with butter were super yummy! read more

The Swanson - Starters and lighter foods - Southern Near Me - Perry, Georgia

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I kind of stumbled upon The Swanson: I was looking for some country cooking and expected, at best, to find a small-town diner or cafeteria type place. When Google showed The Swanson as "Southern food" I thought, "ok, that should do". Boy, was I in for a very nice surprise: The Swanson it turned out is a local landmark located in a beautiful old house downtown--even has the interior ceilings painted "haint blue". The Swanson is pure Southern charm. My waitress, I forget her name, but she was super-sweet and very prompt. The menu is one of Southern classics like fried chicken, meatloaf, and chicken-fried steak. The real stand-out however was the very vast array of sides, including not just your typical mac'n'cheese and collard greens but a squash casserole and rutabagas . . . when have you ever even seen rutabagas on a modern restaurant menu?! Well, they sure do have them here! And I ordered their chicken and dumplings with the aforementioned rutabagas and squash casserole--all items were outstanding, simply outstanding. The boiled the rutabagas and they were perfectly soft and tender. Everything was just as you would hope for it to be if you're hoping for a time-tested Southern dining experience grounded in small-town charm and earnest, farm-fresh, ingredients. read more

The Swanson - Not the best photo but my lunch of chicken'n'dumplings, rutabagas, and squash casserole. - Southern Near Me - Perry, Georgia

I regret not eating here sooner! Large menu selection of Southern food done right. Beautiful downtown area as well. Service was friendly and prompt. I had the fried pork chops and my wife had the chicken and dumplings. Everything was fresh, hot and tasted amazing. We will definitely come back! read more

Very good food, excellent service and a reasonable price. We'll be back Very good food, excellent service and a reasonable price. We'll be back read more

The Swanson - Southern Near Me - Perry, Georgia

Second time at The Swanson, so good! This time we had the chicken fried chicken. In one word, divine. Fried green tomatoes and side salad for appetizers. Love this place. The food is great, the servers are so good at taking care of the customers. read more

Have you been here yet? What are you waiting for?!?!?!? So many delicious items to name but my favorite is the sweet potato soufflé. When I only want veggies, they have that option. Check out that menu and take your family for a homie but classy establishment. I've been a few times of course. First time was to meet with realtor to go over contracts, I've had family meals as well as pick ups. The staff is so sweet and really on it. read more

We got there, and I've been 100 times before. No issues, but today, they wanted us out real bad. They brought our food within 3 minutes, and it was HAIRY. They then asked if we wanted a TO GO box for the food with hair in it! She brought us the ticket, and we said we weren't taking the food back, so she got the manager to knock it off, but they really tried to make us pay for the hairy food. read more

What a great dining experience when visiting Perry. I was planning on going somewhere else but a local said they only at here and we had to try it! This is "stick to your ribs" food so get ready. Country fried chicken with green beans and mashed potatoes with gravy ... couldn't finish it all but I tried. Flavorful, homemade dish. Appetizer sampler - pimento and cracker made the dish worthwhile! Deviled egg and fried green tomatoes were okay but the dip was divine. read more

The Swanson - Street sign, outside - Southern Near Me - Perry, Georgia

We used to live nearby and have come here many times over the years. Tonight is our first time back after several years. Still love this place. Food is awesome. Good drink menu. Folks are always super nice. And the atmosphere is nice and homey--in fact in an old house with wrap around porch, original hard wood floors, old fireplaces. read more

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A wonderful restaurant, love the catfish and squash casserole! Great service!! Attentive staff and lovely decor! Can't wait to go back. read more

This place was recommended by our Airbnb and did not disappoint. It's in a quaint old house with a charming country atmosphere. Our server was perfect and the food so fresh and tasty. This is authentic Southern comfort food. The bread pudding is the best I've ever had. read more

Wish I lived in town because this would become my new to go spot. The menu is filled with down home comfort food and portions are plentiful! Loved the decor and the server was very attentive. Highly recommend for date night, dessert & coffee or group dinners. read more

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Great atmosphere and delicious food! Has small town charm and a historical feel. Would definitely stop by again when passing through. read more

The last time I ate at The Swanson, they served me (what looked like) day old meat loaf for the third time and I haven't been back. Three is the charm. I am done with this place. I don't know what happened to this place. It used to be good. read more

Excellent food! Awesome service. The Swanson well exceeded our expectations! My wife and I were exploring downtown Perry and walked by The Swanson at just about lunchtime. The smell was so tantalizing! It drew us in like a Siren drawing in a sailor! We couldn't resist. She had the fried chicken, which she rated a 9/10. I had the chicken salad sandwich - also very good. Angel couldn't have been better - friendly and helpful. Our stop into The Swanson was great! We'll be back! read more

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I'm starting this review with our waitress, Emily. She is the best waitress in the world. Then the pimento cheese. The atmosphere has the southern charm us out of towners love. The little biscuits: straight from heaven Collard Green Soup: best thing I've eaten in a LONG time. Chicken fried chicken: juicy, not too much breading! White gravy is amazing. Catfish: two thumbs up on the catfish! read more

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The Swanson has excellent service, food, and is moderately priced. The ambiance of a southern home excellently showcases the motif of good southern cooking. I have nothing bad to say about my experience here. read more

Love the white tablecloth. Service was excellent. But the food was meh. Almost the same exact menu as Cracker Barrel. We had earlier at lunch today. My baked chicken was extremely salty and way overcooked. read more

Food- delicious Service- Excellent Ambiance- Old School House, built in the 1860's Highly recommended Get there before 2pm read more

The Swanson - Meat Loaf, Broccoli Rice, squash casserole Flew in from Gulf Shores for Lunch--- - Southern Near Me - Perry, Georgia

We went here for dinner with my husbands boss while he was in town and it was delicious! Can't believe we haven't came yet, will be back! (Service was great) read more

We ate here for an early Sunday lunch. The menu has a nice selection and everything we ordered was tasty. The staff was super friendly. The restaurant was clean. The only negative is that it can get rather loud inside the old house when the lunch rush kicks in. read more

This place is very cute and love the home cooking. The little biscuits you get at beginning of meal and delish and def try the baked chicken. And the chicken fried chicken. Sides decent. Stay away from creamed corn weird texture. Deviled eggs a plus. Gravy good !!! Live the Main Street vibe. Will def come back b read more

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The Swanson had always been the place that our group of friends goes to for birthday Lunches. Their food has been consistently good. My 92 year old father is really happy that prime rib has returned to their menu and said it was great. Our only complaint, which is totally minor, is that the younger waitresses don't seem to understand bar/drink orders. My folks drink Crown Royal-Dad likes "a double over ice. Mom likes hers "in a tall glass with water and some ice." The last two times we were there, the waitress seemed stumped with what wanted. She brought her Crown over ice in a short glass and a large glass of ice water. Mom made do and fixed up her drink. No big deal. Because The Swanson is basically an old house with tall ceilings it can get kinda loud with all the conversions going on. Otherwise, it's a nice place for a southern meal. read more

My wife and I stopped by the Swanson for dinner a month or so back. They did a great job rehabbing the house into a full restaurant. We ordered an appetizer sampler. I can't remember what my wife ordered, but she is a great cook and she was not impressed. She said the meal as ok, but the cook was afraid to use seasoning. I ordered the salmon, blackened. The first round was barely seasoned, Like her's. I said something. The manager brought me a whole new plate. THAT, was seasoned. Blackened. Made me sweat a little. SO mine ended well. The atmosphere was nice. I could tell there was repeat locals. I do wish the waitress checked on us a little more. I had to flag her down too much. They did look short staffed. read more

Wow... One of my favorite meals I've had in Perry. No reservations so its first come first serve. I ordered the Baked Chicken and dressing with cranberry sauce, fried okra, and sweet potato soufflé. Everything was perfect. I also ordered the bread pudding and even though I was already full, it felt like it just melted in my mouth. read more

The Swanson - Bread Pudding - Southern Near Me - Perry, Georgia

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Excited to try this restaurant but was somewhat disappointed. We were seated right away. The server was a few minutes in getting to us to take our drink orders. I was going to add an app of deviled eggs to get it in but she zoomed off before I could. She came back with drinks and we placed the appetizer and she asked if we wanted it to come out first and we said yes. She said I'll be right back to put it in and left. Then she comes back to take the rest of our order. The deviled eggs came out quickly and were ok. Something was missing ingredient wise that I can't put my finger on. Not bad but not great. We hadn't finished our app when our meal came to the table. I ordered the meatloaf with creamed corn, broccoli rice casserole and squash casserole. All was good and perfectly portioned. My husband got the chicken and dumplings with a salad and rutabagas. He was extremely disappointed with the chicken and dumplings. It was watery, had very little chicken and the dumplings were tasteless. The server was curt and made us feel rushed even though it was not all that busy. read more

The Swanson - Meatloaf, broccoli rice casserole and squash casserole - Southern Near Me - Perry, Georgia

This is where the locals eat. We heard about it from a friend who told us to stop if we were passing through Perry, GA. It's a pretty place with true Southern food. It tasted like my Tennessee raised mother used to make. The tiny biscuits are delicious! I had a vegetable plate, choice of 4 sides for $10. I had green beans, broccoli rice casserole, collard greens and fried okra hubby got a beautiful salad with champagne vinaigrette dressing. The service was great! read more

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Ambience was charming. Service excellent. My waitress was the bartender too! Fried green tomatos, baby limas and Southern squash casserole delicious My disappointment was with the pork chops. Unseasoned and deep fried. The could have so delicious. A shortcut that was painful to the consumer. Also. No desserts. The sounded delicious and were sold out T 5pm. read more

This restaurant has a real homey feel to it. A warm and inviting ambience that makes you feel like you're back at grandma's in a good way. The wonderful decor inside made the experience feel even better. Our meal stared with complimentary biscuits which were delicious. Not dry but could've used a bit of butter to enhance the flavor. I ordered a strawberry drop drink to start and it was fantastic. For my main I ordered the chicken fried steak with mac and cheese and sweet potato soufflé. The chicken fried steak was good but a bit over cooked for my liking. The soufflé was flavorful but lacked a bit of punch. All in all I thought the food was good but it doesn't knock your socks off. Room for improvement of developing flavor profiles in the food. The service was wonderful though. read more

The Swanson - Country Fried Steak - Southern Near Me - Perry, Georgia