All-you-can-eat family-style country cooking just off Dahlonega's square since 1922, with buttermilk fried chicken and inn rooms upstairs.
Stops within about 40 miles of The Smith House. Collect a Lavender Passport stamp at each one.
The Smith House sits just off the historic square in Dahlonega, on land Captain Frank W. Hall, a Vermonter who oversaw gold mills in the area, bought in 1884 to build a home. Workers found a vein of gold and quartz under the site during construction, but the town refused him mining rights so close to the square. In 1922 Henry and Bessie Smith bought the property, opened a boarding house and began serving meals at long shared tables. The Welch family has run the restaurant since 1946 and bought it in 1970.
Bessie Smith's family-style meal is still the reason to come. Platters of buttermilk fried chicken, a rotating meat, fried okra, creamed corn, mashed potatoes with gravy, collards, yeast rolls and strawberry shortcake come to your table, and it is all you can eat, with bread, drinks and dessert included. Macaroni and cheese joins the spread on Friday evening and weekends. October hours are Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A bar inside the country store pours locally made wine and beer with dinner. Groups under 20 can simply walk in; parties of 20 or more and private events book ahead. To stay over, there is a 16-room historic inn, a 24-room lodge, four villas above the square and three cottages a few blocks away, and certain rooms accept pets.
Red Oak Lavender Farm, also in Dahlonega, is about 15 minutes away. It is open from mid-February to mid-December, Wednesday through Sunday, with pick-your-own lavender in June.
Red Oak Lavender Farm · about 15 minutes away
Red Oak Lavender Farm is about 15 minutes away in Dahlonega, open Wednesday to Sunday from mid-February to mid-December.
Not for groups under 20. Parties of 20 or more and private events should call ahead.
Not from the all-you-can-eat meal; the Meat & Two option can be carried out.
Yes, in certain rooms: up to two pets under 50 pounds, $50 per pet.
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
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