Owens Boarding House

Excellent food. I loved their fried chicken, peach cobbler, biscuits and mash potatoes. I am usually not a biscuit loving person, but theirs is a biscuit I can stand behind. Family table environment makes it fun to go with friends, coworkers or actually family. Just make sure you wear comfortable pants, because you will need the extra space.

Sorry I don’t. have better pictures, I was too busy inhaling the food. Where to even start. It’s just such an interesting place, a local told me they still operate as a boarding house and still have some type of lodging. He’s been going there for 30 years, he said the chicken recipe has not changed. You walk in and there’s tables that seat about 20, the servers tell you which place setting to sit at, and you start right in. Everyone passes you serving dishes when you sit down. They consistently bring out hot platters of the fried chicken — which they every day — it’s their signature dish. They rotate other meats in along with it, meatloaf, liver and onions, pork shoulder, ham. They have the best peach cobbler I’ve ever had — they serve it on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and banana pudding on the omremaining days. The sides I had were cabbage, black Eyed peas, mashed potatoes, turnip greens, macaroni and cheese, and lima beans. The must haves are; chicken, cobbler, mac and cheese, and the lima beans. Seriously they made lima beans irresistible. Ridiculous. I travel a lot and love finding stuff like this. But this is by far one of the best local digs I’ve ever found. I’m a 145 lb female, and I ate 3 pieces of chicken, all the sides and cobbler. Everything was so good, fresh, 100% made from scratch. The aroma walking up to the building was heavenly. Absolutely cannot miss this spot, and don’t forget cash only!

Seriously garbage. Almost everything tastes store-​bought, customer service is a joke, and — while the price does match the quality of the food — they only accept cash.

This is one of the best reasons to visit Warner Robins. Down home country food. Come hungry and come early. Yes, I do mean come early. It is first come first serve and if you don’t want to be waiting in a line that runs out the door (they are this popular) you will want to be here when the doors open.
I am only going to give it a four stars because this is served family style. I have never met a stranger so it is fine by me (this is the south after all and most everyone is polite and charming), but not everyone is all that comfortable rubbing elbows with strangers.

One star because I like unique things. One star because one of the pieces of fried chicken I had was very good.
So you go in and they tell you where to sit. Because I came in with one other person, we were sat with another group of two. The waitress brought out plates with various vegetables and starches. None of these were remarkable — all tasted like they came from a box or can. We got one plate of pork and one plate of fried chicken. Also on the table when we sat down was a baking dish of peach cobbler 80% picked through.
Service was really mediocre. My coworker asked for chicken wings and was told by the waitress she’ll bring some over in a few minutes. Plate after plate of chicken wings started going to other tables. she had to ask again and then eventually got it.
At the end of our meal, we asked for fresh peach cobbler because we wanted dessert but didn’t want the scraps that had been sitting out getting cold for a half hour. The waitress said they were all out for the day. This was 12:30. Like the fried chicken, we saw fresh dishes brought out to other tables throughout our meal.
While I like the concept and the price is right, the service was really mediocre and the food (with the exception of the fried chicken) was barely tolerable.
Also — cash only.

Not once have I had a bad experience here. The fried chicken is served everyday then there is another meat served with it (ham, ribs, etc) if you like a certain part of the chicken (ie wings) ask a waiter for a basket of it and they will bring it to you (perk!!!) the sweet tea is delicious!!! With unlimited refills (make sure you grab a to go one at the door when you pay)
They open at lunch but I recommend getting there early especially if you have a large group. It is served family style so more than likely you’ll sit next to strangers. The food is brought out in bowls and replenished as it gets low. It is vegetarian friendly with enough dishes that don’t contain meat. You get to eat until you are content which is what truly makes this place. Once you are done leave a tip in the jar to thank them then take your plate to the dirty dishes window.
Only cash is accepted
You have to visit at least once to try this delicious soul food. It reminds me of eating at my grandma’s house in Mississippi so I definitely love this (figure can only handle) once a month down home meal.

You would probably drive by and never know this place existed, in fact there might be people here that drive by it every day that don’t know it’s here. A very small «shack» that is open for lunch only and always serves up a good meal.
Step past the worn out steps and overhang and you enter a totally different dimension. Grab a seat at one of the long tables and start chowing down. If you need something out of reach ask your neighbor sitting next to you or down the way to pass it down. Some of the best Southern food I have had at an excellent price. It looks rather scary from the outside but well worth the visit. And for those worried about «health ratings», this place is always rated better than most other places in town so don’t fret, just enjoy!

This place is very unique. Its only open for lunch, Tuesday through Friday and its CASH ONLY. The tables are cafeteria style, with the side dishes already out already out in communal family style bowls. You sit down at a table, and the waiters will bring out the entrees, which is Fried Chicken and another protein of the day, and set them down at the table. You may end up sitting next to strangers, but that does make for interesting conversation.
The food is Southern cooking at its finest. The fried chicken is crisp and delicious, the sides are excellent, its all you can eat, and its family style service. Chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, corn bread, biscuits, and potatoes, all fantastic. A delicious southern meal with very southern style hospitality and service. A true treat.

This is an unknown gem! The food is phenomenal! Chicken brilliant! Ribs have a seasoning that is just spicy enough to be delicious, without burning your tongue. Great, friendly service and communal seating. I love this place!

I’ve eaten in a lot of places but never one like this. Your first introduction to this unique place is the area and parking lot. Doesn’t look like much, yet. Next Is the odd size front food. Good thing you have to bend down to open the door. Watch your head. They sit you with whoever is there. Now the fun begins. Everybody passes the food to you. Family style. Chicken, greens, potatoes, peas, Mac and cheese and breads. Holy cow, good food. All you can eat. All this for about $ 10. Plus tip.
Anyway, the point is, you’ve gotta try this place. You’ll only be sorry you didn’t go. I recommend.

Boarding house reach, and you better get there early but my God they have the best damn fried chicken I’ve ever eaten. Make new friends or bring a gang and you’ll have fun. You’ll eat so much you’ll want to die… But my goodness it is good

Maybe we went on a bad day. I hestitated writing this review. As this place is almost legendary. I was excited to go here having heard so much about it. We pulled up and the line was forming already, the building looks like it should be shut down not used as a restaurant. The staff toss the food on the table with no personality… you would think you were at a prison or high school lunch room with their attitudes.
The day we went they served Ham and Fried Chicken.
The Ham was dry bland and nothing special to say.
The Fried chicken had a gamey almost off taste as if it had been left out too long before cooking and had gone bad. The oil pooled off the Chicken and it was obvious the cook that day did not know how to cook chicken. Fried chicken should not have oil pooling off of it.
Most People I know make better Fried chicken.
As for the Biscuits and Cornbread well they were like the Ham Dry and lacking as for the vegetables they were equally bad!
If this is good homestyle southern cooking I feel sorry for you invest in cooking lessons for your family members.
Our Daughter had never eaten collards so we brought her here BAD idea as the Vegetables were Bitter!
I seriously have had much better other places with better attitudes by staff in better surroundings. For much better Fried Chicken and southern cooking go to H&H in Macon and get better service as well! See my review on H &H.

Owens Boarding House is worth a visit for the chicken alone. The fried chicken might not be the best I’ve ever had, but I can’t point to a specific place where I know for sure it’s better. When you couple that with a welcoming, family atmosphere and the ultimate example of «family style» service — where you literally sit down with whoever else is there for lunch and pass bowls of goodness around the table while friendly staff keep you well stocked on sweet tea* and refill the bowls of food — you’ve got one of the best midday options you could ask for. It’s a Tuesday to Friday, 1100 to 1:00 operation where they may or may not still have any food left by the end of the afternoon. Also, it’s a straight-​cash business, as my underprepared dining companions discovered to their chagrin.
As far as the rest of the food goes, it’s your standard southern fare: Collard greens, lima beans that actually taste good,^ black-​eyed peas, cornbread, mashed potatoes,** peach cobbler, macaroni & cheese, and on our visit, meat loaf. The chicken was perfect, the lima beans excellent, and the rest of the food at least competent. It’s probably four star food with a six or seven star atmosphere. There are really only two or three reasons you might find yourself stopping in Warner Robins, Georgia, but if you do stop in, this is the place to go for lunch (and probably a nap afterward).
* I believe it’s at least theoretically possible to order unsweet tea here, but why not go with the flow? I mean, it’s central Georgia.
^ First time for me!
** Technically, melted butter with a bit of mashed potato thrown in to thicken it a bit.

This place has great tasting food and interesting atmosphere. I’m a fan but it may not be for everyone since you sit next to total strangers while eating. Also while the food tastes great, don’t expect to eat here often and not blow up. This is all greasy, fatty home cookin’ at its finest. So moderation is key. Also get here well before 11 or you might be waiting to sit. Decent price for lots of food.

I’d have to agree with another’s comment. The food was good, probably a four star. The experience was phenomenal. It felt like one big family dinner. The outside of the restaurant was something out of the dukes of hazard. Pretty non-​descript. The interior was lined with tables covered in checkered table cloths. I shared my experience with some friends. I’ll never forget it.

Owens Boarding House is true down home Southern cooking. They are open from 11:00 AM — 1:00 PM. Get there around 10:45 and wait outside if you’re worried about getting a seat, this place fills up fast and when the foods gone, it’s gone. They are closed on Monday. Their everyday menu choices include: fried chicken, cabbage, turnips, butter beans, snapped beans, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, and biscuits. Tuesday is meatloaf, stewed potatoes, and peach cobbler. Wednesday is baked ham, potato salad, and banana pudding. Thursday is pulled pork, liver & onions, mashed potatoes, rice, and peach cobbler. Friday is pork ribs, potato salad and banana pudding.
All the food is served family style. Which means you go in pull up a seat at a long table and pass the food around.
BRING CASH. They don’t accept credit cards or checks.
You can also walk in the back door and go straight to the kitchen window if you want something to go.

This place is a hidden gem. The fried chicken is amazing. The biscuits are perfection. Everything was freshly cooked. It’s boarding house style… so walk in, sit down, pass the potatoes and start eating! It’s cash only. Only open a few hours and week days… so catch this when you can, you won’t be sorry.

My wife ate here and said the food was greasy and fattening. She said if you wanted a heart attack this the place for it. Have your heart doctor standing by.
Lots of fried foods, tons of peach cobbler, and all them mash taters.
You’ll need the treadmill after this visit

I have been here a few times and would come more often if it wasn’t for the fact that the food is so darn good, fried, buttered, and southern!
I’m stationed at Robins and the first time I came here was for my last southern meal before going to Afghanistan. I was a little irked by the family style set-​up, but as soon as I sunk my teeth into my first spoonful of corn, chicken, and beans, it didn’t matter anymore. I was in love. The peach cobbler finale was like fireworks on the 4^th of July. SO GOOD.
Remember, fellow connoisseurs of good food, Owen’s Boarding House is cash-​only and they are open for only a few hours a day. Call them up or check their hours, and come on by.

I have to be honest, I don’t know what’s so great about this place. I went with coworkers once and even though the fried chicken was very good, a couple of the side dishes weren’t seasoned very well. So I don’t know if that’s their intent, to let the customer season the food themselves or what but I’m more impressed with Old Times for the money.
Have been back recently and gave it another star, pretty dang tasty!