We came today for their Easter brunch and had a very pleasant experience. We called in the morning and they assured us that walk-ins were welcome, even though reservations were booked out. The hostess Victoria was a gem; she's very kind and welcoming. She was able to accommodate my family of 4 with a table inside the dining room after a 40 minute wait. We just killed time by checking out the downtown area that was a short 3 minute walk around the corner. Our server was Michael and he made our dinning experience very memorable. He was sweet, engaging, and checked in on us often. He kept welcoming us back to visit again. That's the southern hospitality we keep hearing about. Food was delicious. They had a really good spring salad with fresh peas, asparagus, radishes and a Dijon vinaigrette. We all went back for that twice (buffet style). They served roasted lamb with a mint chimichurri style sauce. It was cooked very well. Shrimp and grits were fresh and flavorful. I highly recommended coming here. Seems like a treasure a lot of locals enjoy. Thank you Wilcox staff! read more

The Willcox Restaurant - Easter brunch buffet - Steakhouses Near Me - Aiken, South Carolina

See all

I wanted so badly for this to be a good experience, but unfortunately it was one of the most disappointing dining experiences I've had in a long time. From the beginning, service felt off. A manager came to our table asking odd, uncomfortable questions instead of addressing the lack of service. The "special of the night" we were served was not what had been described, and when concerns were raised, the situation was dismissed and brushed off. The entrée--duck over butter beans with kielbasa topped with bbq sauce --was truly revolting. We waited nearly two hours without drinks or real service. By the time a very mediocre salad arrived, the bar had closed and staff had begun clearing furniture, and the warmth of the room had disappeared entirely. Things took an alarming turn when someone put out the indoor fireplace, sending ashes and embers onto me. What should have been treated as a serious safety issue was met with dismissiveness and laughter. After doing my best to stay positive all evening, that was the moment my patience ran out--I was frustrated and angry, and rightly so. To top it off, I was handed a $70 bill for this experience. Never an apology or accountability for the evening. This wasn't a small mistake or an off night--it was a breakdown in hospitality, professionalism, and responsibility. Extremely disappointing. read more

Always a great experience. Great service, quality food and a killer atmosphere. Lobby area is very dog friendly too! Must try the chicken liver pate! read more

Ann was wonderfully attentive. The pancakes were phenomenal. The drinks were the best I have had at a brunch in a while. Everyone enjoyed their food and we will be back read more

The Wilcox has a fabulous reputation which has been earned over the years. The lobby bar is The Place to be and be seen. Heavy appetizers and great drinks add to the lodge ambience and great service. Dinner is served better in the next room with regular table seating. A great place for a special night. read more

Nice dining room that can get very busy at brunch. Service slips a bit when the young service staff seem to be overwhelmed and you have to ask for refills etc. Overall the food is very good and some items are better than others. We thought the chicken and waffles and the French toast (small portion) were better than the steak and eggs, Wilcox breakfast and shrimp and grits. read more

The Willcox Restaurant - Shrimp and Grits - Steakhouses Near Me - Aiken, South Carolina

I had breakfast at the Wilcox on Sunday and it was perfect from the menu to the service and the early morning ambiance. Miss Gina was attentive and helpful with suggestions and our specific requests. Hot sauce, please! Specifically, the Wilcox Special was wonderful: two eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes and perfectly toasted wheat bread. The coffee was excellent and served with your own creamer on the side, game changer for me! Thank you for the best breakfast Wilcox! Trained professionals! read more

The best part of Aiken is The Willcox! The first thing I do when I get home from LA to see my parents is go to dinner and drinks at the most charming, most friendly, and most southern place in town. The food and drinks are always on par and the specials are creative, and it's like having the best dinner party with friends and family and no one having to clean the kitchen after! read more

Ong! Best eats in Aiken, nope. Best place to eats in Aiken, poolside in June. Yes! Grab a cocktail /and head to the pool. Full service with great eats! We had the baby back ribs, and truffle fries! Both were excellent. Followed up with wedge and shrimp. And arugula and salmon. Both were Devine!! read more

See all

This place is so wonderful on all levels. The service and food were phenomenal. It's a beautiful old hotel with a great vibe. Can't wait to visit again next April. Thanks for a wonderful evening, with some incredible value for fantastic food. The Sea Bass and Salmon are delicious. Don't forget the caviar, it's also delicious and affordable compared to California. Cheers! read more

See all

The Wilcox restaurant hasGood food; atmosphere and service; limited menu options. The best option is drinks and appetizers in the living room on Thursday nights read more

Delicious food in such a beautiful setting. Enjoyed our evening here. Service was also lovely.

Service was poor; waiter was overwhelmed. Ordered a burger which arrived cold. Sent it back and the next burger was raw. Had I not been with other company I would have walked out. Absolutely no customer service!!! Very disappointing experience. No manager to be seen!!! Update: The owner reached out to me to let me know he was addressing my comments, an earmark of a professionally run business and very much appreciated. It must be noted The Wilcox was jammed last night with lots of patrons who all appeared to be having a very enjoyable time. Based on the owner's response and a more objective review of my experience I have updated my rating. read more

I love this place and got the most horrible service on NYE. Been coming here since 2019 and nobody served us Dinner at all at the bar. We had late reservations but decided to eat at the bar, we got our drinks and never did any of the bartenders tend back to us. And by the time I got their attention the kitchen was already closed. The Wilcox used to have amazing bartenders to tend their bar but these 2 are horrible. The service was mediocre with a turn and burn attitude. NYE is suppose to be memorable but I will NEVER choose any Eve type holiday to celebrate at The Wilcox after last night's lack of service. And The Wilcox used to be so good even when it's busy but downhill it's going. And it's sad bc The Wilcox is such a local gem. read more

This past Friday I asked for Arugula salad and they gave me iceberg lettuce instead. And I know they got the order right Because they repeated it back to me. If u did not have arugula salad you should have said something. That showed a lack of class and integrity. This is the 2nd time I asked for something and it was replaced with something else. read more

My most recent visit was for Saturday jazz brunch. A wonderful event! It's like sitting in a grand living room with a live band. The service here is always top notch. It's nice to see a diverse restaurant staff. I had the shrimp and grits sans pork. They were able to honor my request and produced a wonderful dish. Their bar staff is knowledgeable of wines and spirits and can prepare drinks for any occasion. This is a great spot for dessert as well. They switch them up periodically, but I had the chocolate bundt cake with ice cream and it was a perfect end to the meal. read more

See all

Decided to try out the Willcox for lunch. Lovely location and ambience. We sat in the dining room. Hubby had the burger and I had the fish tacos. Was pleasantly surprised that there was a good amount of meat in the taco which came with a side salad. Overall, the meal was fine but nothing to write home about or that I would specifically crave to come back. The real reason people come is the historic nature of the building. I'd try it again to mix things up but will keep my go to lunch spot at Mack's. read more

The Willcox Restaurant - Fish tacos - Steakhouses Near Me - Aiken, South Carolina

Wonderful ambiance with comfy sofas and fireplace. Have been going here for twenty years. Recently went and wow, the small bites menu hasn't seemed to change in years. The food is generally good but if is busy the service is slow, which is understandable so we just relax and enjoy our drinks. read more

Sunday Entertainment in the lobby over the holidays was charming. It added just the right touch to our meal. Brooke has superb talent in the performing (vocal & acting) arts! read more

From the moment we walked in we were treated very nicely and the Thursday night Jazz was definitely a winner. I can't stop thinking about the Cesar salad or the salmon it was so fresh crispy and they had the creamy dressing layered on each piece of lettuce. The best Caesar I've ever had the egg was definitely icing on the cake the creamy yolk leaking out made it that much more delicate and delicious. The sliders were good as well and the Wilcox sauce was a plus! Truffle fries are a must. ( kinda mad they left out the bacon) m. We will definitely be returning customers. read more

See all

The Willcox is a local gem and wonderful place to stay! The atmosphere is charming, historic and moody, creating a relaxing and unique experience for any age. The premium suite was very comfortable, with plenty of thoughtful details, and they offer great accommodations for dogs--welcome bag and all! The customer service and waitstaff is excellent--attentive and friendly. The food is incredible, but the highlight was the Butterscotch Budino. It's the best dessert I've ever had. (You have to try it, no matter how full you are.) Whether you're looking for a staycation or passing through Aiken, don't pass on The Willcox. read more

Everything is good,the service and the food is really great and I really like going to this place very much

Amazing restaurant for a fancy night out... Great ambiance in the lobby with valet parking to start the night.O Parmesan truffle fries were a fantastic appetizer. Had the filet for dinner which was tiny but was delicious with a great peppercorn sauce. Cocktails also very good, highly recommend the Paper Plane. read more

The Willcox Restaurant - 6 oz. Certified Angus Beef Filet - Steakhouses Near Me - Aiken, South Carolina

Wonderful breakfast at the Willcox. Food and service was over the top. Great job Seth who served us. read more

The Willcox Restaurant - Steakhouses Near Me - Aiken, South Carolina

A small group of us went for drinks and some chill time. We sat in the comfy seating area near the fire place. We had great service and great drinks. The atmosphere was perfect to sit, talk, and relax. read more

Food is so so Service is great Ambience is great. We had a piece of bread each before our meal and that was $2. Geez. Not coming back here. It's too pricey. read more

We enjoyed our lunch at the historic Wilcox Hotel, though the cuisine was a mix bag--some hits and some misses. The Hotel is situated on the periphery of the historic downtown district in Aiken, SC. The hotel building is stately a blend of colonial and empire styles. Unfortunately, a stroll around the building is impossible as it s backside hugs the edge of an abandoned rail cut through. On to the food. We were greeted amicably by the hostess and seated at a large round table by a window. Our waitress was Gina. She was very pleasant and accommodating. She took good care of us throughout the meal. Our group of five ordered tuna poke, which we shared, a cup of potato soup, fish and chips, hanger steak salad, a BLT sandwich, Caesar salad, a cheese burger, and fish tacos. My BLT was delicious. I liked the thick cut bacon, and the tomatoes were juicy, unexpectedly good for January. If I were a real good critic I would have sent the soup back. It was under seasoned, a bit gloopy, and boasted very little taste. The tuna poke was very good, and the taro chips were a nice crunchy touch. Caesar salad was spot on, as well as the hanger steak salad and fish and chips. Not so much for the fish tacos. Again a victim of under seasoning. My wife liked her burger, though for my taste it could have been a bit thicker. I've given the Wilcox a 4, but not for the food. That's a solid 3. We enjoyed the atmosphere, history, ambience, and the staff was very pleasant and helpful. read more

See all

It's Sunday It's s after church, This looks and feels like the place to dine for lunch. The Restaurant Is filled with happiness, laughter and lively conversations. It's filled with Lots of patrons, dressed very very nice. Restaurant seating adequately Arranged Staff very friendly and competent Barry and I were seated promptly Served promptly with drinks Brunch menus Included many egg dishes Portions can and should be a lil larger. Food Hamburger over lettuce... very juicy Roasted potatoes... very good And Cheesy eggs ,toast, roasted potatoes, english muffin Portions were smaller Temperature warm, not hot But, We enjoyed the presentation and the taste of both meals We ate everything Our Service .. for us was quick and efficient The atmosphere ... happy happy happy Will we come again. Yes... Do we recommend. . Yes Sorry no photo this time Guess we were too hungry Juanita read more

Phenomenal hotel in an unexpected location. Restaurant has a nice selection. Lunch was delicious service superb!. Would love to stay for a weekend- hotel is top notch. read more

See all

We had dinner for 5 and it was incredible. The ambiance is always wonderful, I can attest that the Filet Mignon was perfectly prepared and all of our guests were pleased with their entree's. Keep up the good work, it is extremely difficult in this day and time to please everyone, but you nailed it with our party. read more

Great dine and chill option at the beautiful Wilcox "Posh Hotel this weekend! Its been on my bucket list for a few yrs, so finally took the time to visit Aiken. Parking is no issue, wither valet or find on side of the street. Customer service was fine and fabulous. I didn't expect anything less from this historic establishment. I took a few pics outside and in or course for my memories. We decided to chill in the lobby for some drinks and dinner. We didn't need a reservation, but highly recommend it due to the popularity of the hotel. After 5pm the whole lobby was full and customers were arriving for dinner reservations. Thankfully we timed it just right! All our food and drinks came out in a timely manner. Presentation is everything to me, and they above my expectations! I truly see why they have great reviews. Everything was flawless from the parking, dinner, service, and out the door! The place is absolutely gorgeous!!! Yes and Yassssss, I shall return for more in the near future! This is a perfect StayCation for all. Aiken is known for its southern hospitality, they won a award in the Southern Living Magazine a few yrs back. A few historical sites were closed but I enjoyed my time in Aiken. read more

The Willcox Restaurant - Steakhouses Near Me - Aiken, South Carolina

The Wilcox is always amazing.. Great Staff, Great food, Great drinks.. Huge selection of fine wine as well... Thanks the Willcox to be in Aiken..btw the new dining room color is fantastic.. read more

Wonderful food and service! We really enjoyed the brunch and atmosphere. Will definitely go back again'

We picked up some chocolates from a shop around the block and came to the bar at The Willcox to enjoy some drinks with them. The service was quick and attentive. We sat in the lounge near a fireplace and I have to say that this place is very very nice. It is comfortable and the space is so beautiful. My only complaint was that the drink was a bit bland. This may be due to the small pieces of ice they put in the drinks. They melt fast and seem to water down the drink. However, I will still return. This is a truly beautiful place. read more

We went to the Wilcox for lunch a while back and the meat on the salad was rancid. It smelled so bad, you could smell it as the server approached the table. The manager gave us free Creme Brule's and those were bizarre to say the least. They both came out with some weird ash burning on the plate. The server claimed it was lavender for "ambience". It smelled like wet cigarettes and made the deserts taste like smoke. The claim was "We have a new chef." Well, I hope he has left the building because it's obvious this guy was clueless. read more

The wife and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Willcox. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and preparation of the food. It tasted delicious. The plate presentation was elegant. We will definitely come back. read more

We recently stayed at The Wilcox and had the pleasure of having a few meals at their restaurant and we were so impressed with the food! Everything from the chips and blue cheese dip, hummus plate, blt, the cheeseburger, the hot brown, and the eggs benedict was great! I would highly recommend enjoying the menu at this restaurant, it's not your typical blah hotel restaurant. read more

I was visiting my friend near Lexington SC (I live near Wilmington NC ) and we went to Aiken for the day. For lunch we dined at the Willcox Restaurant. This restaurant is set in a beautiful old hotel. I loved the lobby, bar area and overall atmosphere. We had 11:30am reservations. When we arrived the dining room was empty. After a bit, it started to fill up (but not all the way). Quasheqa was our waitress. She was all smiles, friendly, and provided excellent service. She's a keeper. We started with a glass of Prosecco and sipped while perusing the menu. I ordered the mushroom soup and the shrimp tacos. My friend ordered the Willcox burger. We were served bread (warm from the oven) and butter. The butter was served on a small square of slate. I thought that was pretty cool. The soup came out hot and it was a bowl of soup, not a cup like I was expecting. It was very thick and topped with braised button mushrooms, candied pecans and micro cilantro. I shared some with my friend since the portion was big. The tacos: Well, I was somewhat disappointed, hence the 4-star rating instead of 5. There were three tacos with the tiniest of shrimp in each tortilla. It seemed mostly filled with frisee. I placed the filling from one taco and divided between the other two; otherwise I would be eating mostly tortillas. The shrimp were well prepared with green tomato relish and cilantro lime aioli. I tasted more of the relish; not so much of the aioli. It wasn't worth $14 IMHO. Along with it was a small bowl of pureed black beans topped with grated cheese and a few red pepper drops. This was not listed on the menu. With the mushroom soup being rich, thick, and filling, I didn't bother with the beans. And it's not something I would have paired with the tacos. My friend absolutely loved her burger (not pictured); said it was the best she's had in ages. the fries looked crispy. I would return here if I'm ever back in Aiken. read more

See all

What a lovely establishment. The beautiful decor creates a wonderful ambiance and relaxing dining environment. Gina was our server, she was sweet, attentive and hard working. We actually loved our meals so much we returned the following day. read more

let's start with the ambiance....its Christmas Eve dinner and when you walk through the large front doors your greeted pleasantly and surrounded by a warm rich interior. Multiple fireplaces, high ceilings, beautiful wood work and beams and to top it off a grand piano with an excellent pianist playing softly. Thats a good start Then we were seated in the large lobby with a dozen or more tables for dining and large comfortable rolled arm chairs and sedans for those just having a cocktail and some lighter plates of food. Our waitress was professional and friendly and took the orders for each course after the prior plate was finished so no rushing you in and out which made for a relaxing pace. At one point we asked why some tables were without white linens which seems so odd since its a price fix menu on a holiday eve and everyone is paying the same $'s. The answer was a head scratcher, "the owners wanted to show off the fine wood finish" or something like that was the answer. The table we were at was an old restaurant round with scratches and certainly not a fine piece of furniture. Like I said a real head scratcher. first course was Diver scallops which consisted of one scallop so why say scallops on the menu. The scallop was salty and the sauce cold.. Next course was seared duck breast minus crispy skin, the side was asparagus that were overcooked and limp, and cold. Desert was encouraging, Chocolate layer cake with a ganache that was rich, creamy and satisfying. overall a three mainly based on the good service and the rich atmosphere. We have eaten there before and not been disappointed, but this time we were. read more