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    The Swanson

    4.2 (367 reviews)
    ModerateSouthern
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    The Swanson Photos

    Business Info

    THE SWANSON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - The Swanson

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    Menu
    Julia G.

    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.

    Bread Pudding
    Cara L.

    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!

    Starters and lighter foods

    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!

    A Mistletoe Mule
    Andrew R.

    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.

    Not the best photo but my lunch of chicken'n'dumplings, rutabagas, and squash casserole.
    Mike W.

    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.

    Jeff B.

    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

    Street sign, outside
    Tricia S.

    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.

    Cocktail menu
    Clayton S.

    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.

    Fried green tomatoes!

    Nice restaurant in Perry Georgia! It's actually in an old house! Nice setting and the food is great! We had fried chicken that was cooked to order!sides were collard greens,Mac and cheese, squash casserole! We got fried green tomatoes for an appetizer! Went here after leaving the fair! Will definitely be back! And they have complimentary houses made bread!

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Excellent food and service. Ambiance is very southern and dignified with tablecloths and linen napkins.

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    1 year ago

    A lot of places say "home cooking" but at this place it's actually true. Everything was delicious! I wish we lived closer!

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    1 year ago

    Good classic southern county food. Reminds me of "grandma's" cooking at church pot lucks.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    We always enjoy the service, the food and the decor. Feels like someone invited us over for dinner!

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    1 year ago

    Chicken was soooo salty I could not eat. My husband sent his back, I should have. Rest of meal o.k.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Outstanding, try the meatloaf! Great staff. I will be back when rolling through town next!

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    2 years ago

    Baked chicken breast, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes and creamed corn. Delicious!

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    This place is so good. The food is great and the staff is so good. Love the historic house it's in. Very cozy. Highly recommend

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    Page 2 of 10

    Ask the Community - The Swanson

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    Oil Lamp Restaurant - Southern Comfort

    Oil Lamp Restaurant

    4.3(136 reviews)
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    SO GOOD! The description "old cafeteria style", while technically true, you never had food this…read moregood in any cafeteria! Driving North from Florida, we wanted dinner and preferred not fast food, but good food served efficiently. Well we hit that out of the park by ending up at The Oil Lamp. My friend had the chicken & mashed potatoes (these are the real deal!!). I had the beef tips on gravy over mashed potatoes. We shared sides of braised cabbage that had a fair amount of garlic - I will be thinking about it, yes thinking about cabbage - first time for everything. We also shared creamed corn and this is NOT from a can. The corn was so sweet and there was a crunch to it, which only fresh corn can give. Everything looked delicious. I eyed those desserts, but I'd finished my plate and just no more room. I live like 4 hours away, but I'm hoping to time my return trip to return to this gem. This isn't fancy, it's good food that has been cooked by chefs that know how to cook old school. Last note - generous portions.

    Prior to going, I'm not sure why I thought of this place as a "greasy spoon"...it was more of a…read morecafeteria. Much more updated and cleaner than anticipated. Upon entry, you go to the right to get in line and order. There is a sign with daily specials (you can also check out their Facebook page!). Up first are the trays and silverware and then the salad bar. After that are some entrees and sides they dish out for you. We ordered the rib-eye meal which comes with a side and bread but you can add whatever you want! I think it was $29, which at first seemed a little expensive, but my brother and friends assured me was definitely worth it! We also grabbed a drink and some dessert. All of the employees were very kind and welcoming. We went right at 5 on a Thursday evening so there was plenty of seating. The tables were big and there was room for all 10 of us (that's why we went early!) The food...was amazing! The steak was PERFECT. I asked for it medium and it was medium. So tender and flavorful! My brother wasn't lying when he said it was worth it. I also had the loaded mashed potatoes - excellent, biscuit-yummy, and the chocolate peanut butter pie- OH MY! I will definitely be returning to this establishment. We really enjoyed it.

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    Sweet P’s - Breakfast Menu

    Sweet P’s

    3.6(11 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    The worst service ever!!! Didn't even get a chance to try the food…read more Sat down at the bar. Chairs awfully uncomfortable!! Second. Took 10 minutes for someone to even say hi to me. Remember, I'm at the bar where all the servers are at. And they were not that busy. It was Mother's Day. I was traveling and by myself on a hard day as my Mom passed away 2 years ago, and my mom always enjoyed local mom and pop restaurants so I had never been to this place. And when she did she said she was training a new person, ok???? How about trying to train her to take care of customers!! I ordered. And 27 minutes later, NOTHING! For just eggs and biscuits and gravy! She never even came back to me for water. Rude rude!! I finally just walked out. Unbelievable! I spend a lot of time there at the fairgrounds and will make sure I tell all to stay away. I was very disappointed!

    Wanted to grab a quick bite....we actually wanted breakfast, but they stopped serving breakfast and…read moreit was probably 1030ish. Disappointing, but I understand and quickly assessed my lunch options. We decided to order an appetizer and then split a lunch plate. For the appetizer we got the loaded fries, since they were hand cut as we were sitting there. Overall the loaded fries were okay. I think they went too heavy on the cheese and the other noticeable thing was that the cinnamon in the chili was a little stronger than I would have liked. For lunch it was a Big Sexy Burger which had a double burger, pimento cheese, bacon jam and maybe some other stuff. But those items mentioned sold me on trying it. My only criticism about the burger would be the pimento cheese, it seemed to be heavy on the mayo and not as much cheese, but overall a decent burger. I think the real star of the meal was the onion rings, I would definitely recommend these. Now that we tried their lunch, I am looking forward to trying their breakfast menu.

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    Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q - Smoked turkey, smoked chicken and brisket with baked beans

    Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q

    4.3(61 reviews)
    11.0 mi

    We were driving from FL to GA for a wedding and were so excited to see a Jim n Nicks!! We used to…read morego to the Bluffton,SC one all the time when we lived there so it was awesome to have it again! The staff were AMAZING! So friendly and kind but also so supportive of each other! They were celebrating a Manager getting a promotion and all the staff just seemed so happy for them! My 7 yr old son was so excited he was even in the back clapping with them! It was genuinely so lovely to see a group of hard working employees who looked happy at their job! I loved the quick service aspect! It made it so much faster for us because we had 2 kids! And I loved the patio! The weather was perfect and they had so much seating space! And the food-always delicious and so flavorful! The cheesy bread is a classic staple for Jim N Nicks and one you just can't stop eating! I got a burger and it was delicious as always! My husband got the 2 meat platter and was soo excited that they had Jalapeño Cheddar sausage links!! Our 1 yr old loved the Mac n Cheese and baked Beans! Our 7 year old got the grilled cheese and Mac n cheese! It was a great place to stop on our 6 hour drive!

    3.6 so rounding up to 4…read more I have to be fair, it was good, just didn't make me want to put it on my last meal list. The food is good ish, but it wasn't as much as an emotional experience finding a mom and pop spot in the back woods that has amazing bbq. The sides were ok, this is where the mom and pop locations shine. Corn was ok and had better Mac. The meat was good but the brisket was dry. Maybe I had just an old or bad slice. This could depend of when you come and will give them a pass on that. Found it over priced to be honest. I enjoyed it, sadly I don't think I will be back. If your are around one and wanted to enjoy some bbq sure come here. But I think you can find much better in Georgia.

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    Lane Southern Orchards - Peach ice cream

    Lane Southern Orchards

    3.7(267 reviews)
    8.7 mi
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    Three years, that's how long I've been driving past the giant billboards for Lane Southern Orchards…read moreon I-75 telling myself "one day we should stop there." Well, this past Saturday my husband and I finally did. The entire property felt like a scene straight out of a Southern postcard. Families were out picking strawberries in the patch, people were relaxing in rocking chairs on the porch with ice cream cones, the café was buzzing, and the roadside market was full of shoppers loading up on goodies. The place was busy but somehow still relaxing. We started in the roadside market where I immediately grabbed one of the little carts because self-control clearly wasn't part of the plan. I stocked up on fresh produce, preserves, ciders, wines, and somehow convinced myself I "needed" adorable wooden earrings from a local artisan. We sampled a few local wines and naturally left with several bottles. The market also has gifts, souvenirs, and and entire section dedicated to dogs/ furry pets. After shopping we headed next door to the café for dessert. They offer cobblers, cakes, pies, homemade ice cream, and enough sweet treats to make you abandon every diet plan you've ever created. My husband is a peach cobbler enthusiast, so ordering their famous peach cobbler was mandatory. According to him, it absolutely lived up to the hype. I went with the peach pound cake and it was moist, buttery, and delicious. Their breakfast and lunch menu also looked really good. If I were road-tripping through the area, this would absolutely be a stop for a meal. It's also definitely going on my list of places to take guests when they come visit Middle Georgia. What really tied everything together was the staff. Everyone we encountered was warm, welcoming, and full of genuine Southern hospitality. Needless to say, we won't wait another three years before stopping again.

    Store was massive and so were the rolling orchards leading up to and way from the massive peach…read morewelcoming you to the storefront! The selection was HUGE and it's guaranteed you will find more than you need or are looking for haha for example we found really nice sheriffs badges for the kids when we wanted peach jam! Haha from wine to candy even to dog toys they have you covered! The place was clean including the rest rooms. However, they lost stars due to staff. I wasn't given a friendly welcome by the greeter he kind of just stared at me and my kids when I smiled and said hello. Another was extremely helpful when I asked where the rest rooms were but when I returned found him chatting with another female employee and the greeter who openly and loudly said "here they come" when we were walking out of the hallway followed by a laugh from the female who turned her back on us. While I was checking out one employee was running around the checkout counter frantically waving a fly swatter around me and other patrons (he certainly wasn't a kid so no "he's just a nitwit kid" age appropriate excuse) then the bag boy (separate young man who was the only teenager in this whole experience) accused me of snatching the bags out of his hands which was incredibly uncalled for and simply not true. It stopped me in my tracks I said "oh I'm sorry I didn't realize or mean to I just was picking up my bags and gathering my kids" and he snapped back "whatever" rolled his eyes and shook his head. The cashier I had no problems with and was joking around with just prior so his attitude was highly unexpected and jarring. Unfortunately the employees left a very sour taste in my mouth and made me feel incredibly uncomfortable being there. I wish I could say I would go back because the store was so cute and there was so many fun things I would like to try but based off how I was treated and I hate leaving less than positive reviews but honestly I would not return.

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    The Swanson - southern - Updated May 2026

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