First off, this is my first review. I'm 48 and mature. My sister is moving to town and we went here for our first dinner. Everything was brilliant. Our waiter Bruce was a fantastic proper professional waiter with great personality and banter. Very easy and comforting to talk to and get recommendations. Spot on Bruce! The chef and staff did a fantastic job on everything. I mean everything (sister her husband and I tried everything we ordered, non classy thing to do but I'm from so cal lol). Gelato was to die for. Reminds of my time in Sicily (not even kidding). We will return and continue or fantastic experience in this restaurant. read more

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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

The Willcox is always a fun spot for drinks and dinner. Our waitress was Natalie and she was excellent and real attentive. Wish they would change the menu some as I frequent the restaurant whenever in town. read more

This is a great historical building where historical figures such as the Vanderbilt's and Winston Churchill dined and rested. I would certainly recommend thicker cuts of lamb chops as mine were so razor thin they were well done instead of medium. read more

Service and food is excellent. Love the atmosphere and ambiance here. Still need to try the breakfast buffet.

While preparing meal kits fue to Covid, there's also in house dining. A top rated restaurant with lots of history. Roosevelt used to arrive by train and be discreetly brought in through a hidden tunnel to keep him from being seen in a wheelchair. Excellent. read more

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Food was outstanding today: We ordered the Wedge salad, the Chicken sandwich and the Shrimp and grits but substituted the shrimp for Salmon. The service by James a new employee was excellent, he shared up front that he was new but he did great job! This is our second trip to Aiken SC , and the food at Wilcox Inn this time was equally delicious as our first meal! Keep up the good quality of service! read more

Excellent food, marvelous ambiance, but the service is reliably slow. Make sure to allow for more than an hour for lunch.

There is a reason this establishment is so favored in Aiken. The food and service are second to none. The ambiance is amazing with old, beautiful wood throughout the restaurant. I've been here several times and will definitely be back! read more

My bf and I came here to stay for a wedding :) This place is not only stunning, it's one of the most inviting places I have ever been! We have been taken such good care of and the people are so kind! We had breakfast Sunday morning and I had the salmon avocado toast and my bf the eggs Benny. We shared the coffee cake and both got bloody Mary's. OMG everything was mouth watering good thank for taking good care of us, Bruce!!! we would love to come back someday read more

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

There are so many good things about the wilcox, I had one of the best massages that ever there I've had there. My daughter and I have had mani-pedi there. Brunch is excellent. We have also done Easter lunch there. Never a bad experience. read more

My husband and I had a wonderful experience dining here. We will most definitely be back. We had a few appetizers for our brunch reservation. The bread and butter was really good as well! I would highly recommend if you're looking for fancy dining and a nice indoor setting. read more

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Great service. Good food and ambience. Great staff. The wine selection is outstanding. Love the kids at the valet park. read more

A little pricey but well worth it for lunch. I've had far richer people than me say lunch is more reasonable than dinner there. The food is outstanding though. Their cheese plate pairs excellent with a Pinot Noir as does their Pate' and bread. read more

We stayed in Aiken, SC. Everything basically closes at 7pm-8pm. We found this restaurant which is actually a hotel as well and we were very surprised because the food was actually pretty good. The only 2 things we weren't a fan of was the pita bread because it was super hard and the salmon because it was too watery. The potatoes they have are so good! Desserts were yummy. Didn't care much for the gelato. The hummus was yummy as well as the calamari! Sweet tea was perfect. Real tea read more

This place is a must if via it for Aiken SC. Historic old hotel was built in the late 1800s and the atmosphere is lovely. Whether you're stopping in for drinks in their front lobby next to the fireplace or dining in there one of three dining area options. The atmosphere is from a bygone era for sure!! The food is good with a broad variety of dishes available. If you enjoy Truffles try the truffle fries for sure as they are the best we've ever had and that says a lot as we order them everywhere we go. The chef is creative with the dishes and they change often. The service is always outstanding and they have an excellent martini menu! Enjoy! read more

The place is beautiful and the staff are very attentive without being intrusive. There's a good vibe when you walk in. The history of the Hotel/ building is very interesting. Had reservations & no wait. Food was really good . I got seated in the corner ( not a big fan) but sat next to some cool people & had great conversation. read more

The Willcox Restaurant - Filet with Mac & cheese! - Steakhouses Near Me - Aiken, South Carolina

The Wilcox is the go to place in Aiken for an incredible atmosphere. The lounge is a beautiful place to people watch or enjoy music. In the winter when the fires are roaring it adds an extra level of magic. The food and cocktails have always been wonderful and the service matches!! read more

Absolutely loved everything - great food, drinks, atmosphere and service!! Highly recommend the Brussels sprouts appetizer from the bites menu. And the stroganoff pasta of the day special and chicken entree were both delicious as well! read more

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Service was beyond great.. Thanks Oscar our server for the night. It was our 20th Anniversary The food was amazing! Every detail had that that personal touch,down to the bottle of Champagne my daughter and family called and spoke with Matt about from Florida. read more

Ambiance, delicious food, and stellar service all in a lovely historic setting. I absolutely love this place.

We LOVED going to the Willcox during our visit to Aiken. It's open to the public to eat, except for breakfast. That's only for guests (Sunday brunch is open to public!). We actually visited twice- once in the evening around 8pm to try their Chocolate Martinis, and we went back on Sunday morning for brunch. Both times, we were able to get a table right away, and very fast service. The service here was stellar. The servers were very attentive and friendly. The food was phenomenal. We loved that they have sustainably sourced options. I got the French Toast, my boyfriend got the southern bread pudding. We both loved our food. I got a mimosa and he got a peach Bellini, which were both great as well. It was apparent the champagne was high quality (I am a brunch and mimosa snob!) We would highly recommend visiting this place. What a great experience! read more

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

The absolute best restaurants in one of the most beautiful and unique horse districts in Aiken South Carolina... Every thing you could possibly want from a small town. Coffee/breakfast/lunch nearby plus Boutiques, a fantastic Hair salon and a great pet store... all within walking distance. Located near the infamous dirt roads and stunning historic homes... read more

My cousin and I came to The Wilcox and had the most amazing time! Stephanie provided top notch service and the food was phenomena! I would highly recommend if you are in the area! I think Stephanie made the biggest impact on us!!! read more

Each month, my family and I visit the Wilcox roughly 3-5 times for either lunch, dinner and drinks and are usually very pleased with our time. Previously, I rated the restaurant as 5; however, after my most recent experience I've reduced it to a 2. As a returning patron, I was shocked to find hair and dirt in my salad during our lunch. What shocked me more was that there was barely anything said about the items in my food once I had brought it to the attention of the staff. In a high end establishment such as the Wilcox, or at least I thought, a manager would at least stop by to apologize. All I received was a sorry from the server, and not even can I bring you something else. I held this restaurant in such high esteem until this experience. It was always the highlight of visiting my family. I was especially excited this visit since it was the Christmas holiday weekend. The only reason I left it as a 2, and not a one was the original friendliness of the server, and appearance of the salad before I lifted the first piece and saw the items that didn't belong on my plate. read more

The Willcox is a fairly formal dining venue with a varied, American menu. My husband and I enjoy going for birthday and anniversary dinners. There is plenty of outdoor dining in decent weather, but between the heat of summer and the cold of winter, the comfort level depends on your fortitude. We've also been to the Willcox for group celebrations. The staff is pleasant and helpful. Their private party areas are fascinating restorations. read more

First time in...not likely to return. It was okay... maybe a little over hyped and over priced in my opinion. The service was over the top, but even all the pleasantries couldn't make up for what I thought was just slightly better than average food. The salads were small and not exactly "works of art" as they were described by the waiter. Like I said, good not great. read more

All around great place to go for a quick snack or a fantastic meal. I would recommend everyone who comes into Aiken stops by for a visit!

First class service, food, and atmosphere. Outdoor dining is great in cooler months. Also great place to go for drinks.

Of course the atmosphere and reputation are 100% accurate.... Let's talk about Sunday brunch. Iggy and I thoroughly enjoyed our delicious brunch with neighbors who had been there several times before. We sat poolside. Our server was friendly and knew what she was doing. She fully answered our questions on how each item was prepared. We will be loyal customers for a long time to come! read more

Great historical building, sophisticated fare, great lobby bar serves excellent appetizers, equestrian crowd, live jazz. Great atmosphere, highly recommended it. read more

I will say, after our first experience here, I was not inclined to return. BUT! The management tracked us down through my wife's reservation; they talked to the chef, and refunded our entire ticket, even the tip (which we declined, but they sent it back to us anyway). We will be giving this another try because management sought us out and went far beyond what I thought was necessary without us asking. read more

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

Great restaurant in Aiken, the food is amazing. They have a nice drink selection and special cocktails. Perfect for a date night or Sunday brunch. read more

We went in for Lamb Lollipops and were a bit early for them to be available. The waitress checked with the kitchen to see if we could get them anyway and they graciously obliged us. My brother ordered the jumbo shrimp cocktail. The drinks were great as well as the lamb. My brother ate a couple shrimp and told me they were tough and tasteless and offered me the rest. I put one in my mouth and had to spit it out in a napkin. We told the waitress how bad they were but they still charged us. Beware of the shrimp cocktail. read more

I love the Willcox Inn on so many different levels. The place is just as charming as any photo you will ever see in a magazine about it. The restaurant is fabulous. I have been here a few times for dinner and it never disappoints. The friendly staff, the impeccable service, the great menus. I'm writing my review on dinner: Chicken liver pate. Perfect delicious. You do have to have a taste for it. It's pungent but amazing. My main course was the filet. Cooked absolutely to perfection. My friend had a burger. She loved it. I'm a big fan of cocktails if (you've ever read any of my other reviews). They're old Fashions are to-die-for. They have an extensive whiskey and bourbon menu. They also have an extensive Martini menu. They have never disappointed in any drink I've ever had. This is one of those places I just couldn't write enough to make it make sense on how great it is. Just go there. Do yourself a favor. read more

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went here for dad's 74th birthday, beautiful dining room and atmosphere.... best place in aiken for sure read more

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The Willcox is one of our favorites! The new menu is wonderful! Be sure to ask for Ned! He is so friendly and knowledgeable! You won't be disappointed! read more

The food is awful and not worth the money. The only good thing is that you can bring your dog inside.

I gave this restaurant 3 stars like I did the hotel it is in , I was here four days and ate breakfast here daily and dinner here once . The staff is friendly and attentive. The menu is very limited and my not have something that you like if your a picky eater . Nothing I ate made me say wow or made me tell a friend to come here . Remember three stars isn't bad, it means the place is just ok . There are places around town that impress me more . read more

After looking for an elegant site for my birthday lunch, I found myself at the classically styled Restaurant at the Wilcox. The drive was long from Grovetown to Aiken, but worth it if just to sit in the lobby for a drink. - Travel & Leisure #32 in world - Landmark location - Specialize in ambiance and artfully prepared cuisine - Certified Angus beef - Participates in South Carolina's fresh on the menu - Lobby bar The Wilcox promises a casual and comfortable dining experience and will WOW you with the decor. I wanted to grab a cocktail and light up a cigar while I waited for my table to be setup. I pictured a scene from the 1920's with high society skirts smoking their long cigarettes and saying things like "mind your potatoes!" ==FOOD== The menu ranges from burgers and salads to fish and steak like any place should but they promise to only use farm-fresh or organically grown foods bought from regional suppliers. We started with the tasty crispy calamari ($6) that was a bit chewy and came with a delicious garlic sauce. It was a great starter and plenty large for 2-3 people. (photo) My wife ordered a burger ($12) with toasted brioche bun, mustard cheddar sauce, house-made pickles, crispy onions, and fries. The bacon onion paste were the cat's pajamas, very well made and seasoned. (photo) I went for the salmon ($19) and was surprised that at this price is was bland flavorless with the only saving grace being the veggies. This dish was a real wet blanket on the night because I expected so much flavor and quality. Salmon is EASY! (photo) My sister ordered the Caesar ($9) that came with baby gem, Parmesan, bacon, garlic croutons, soft boiled egg, and white anchovies. There was lots of lettuce, it had a poached egg on-top with anchovies. More of the traditional Caesar I suppose. Tasted fine. I wanted to help save my disastrous entree and birthday dinner for that matter since they don't do anything for special occasions and I ordered the mango cheesecake ($8) which was fluffy and flavorful. It was as sweet and delish as it looked. (photo) Overall I would recommend the Restaurant at the Wilcox just for the experience, even if you get a bland dish like I did. I wouldn't order the most expensive food because it's no guarantee of quality. read more