Paula Deen’s The Lady and Sons
During the years we spent in Spain, while we were drinking red wine and eating incredible, organic dishes straight from Valencia’s fields, the Paula Deen Phenomenon was sweeping America. I had never heard of her, before moving to Savannah, but here she’s a bona fide celebrity. No matter where you turn, there she is, round, matronly face peering out of a store-front window, dominating the cover of every magazine, sneaking into every conversation. “You look skinny”, she seems to be saying. “Come, let Mrs. Deen rectify that.”
Everyone we’ve met in Savannah has had two pieces of advice for us. 1) At all costs, avoid eating at Paula Deen’s restaurant, Our Lady and Sons. 2) Since eating there is unavoidable, make sure to stock up on cholesterol medication.
I didn’t understand how eating at a restaurant could be “unavoidable”. You simply don’t go! But that was before I talked to my friends and family not from Savannah. “Paula Deen! You have to take me.” “I’ll come visit, sure. On one condition: we eat at The Lady and Sons.” “So tell me all about her restaurant. WHAT?! How can you not have eaten there yet?! SATAN!” That’s not hyperbole. My kindly, sweet aunt called me Satan.
And so we went, when my brother was visiting. It was everything everyone said it would be, both good and bad. We got the buffet, and I’ve never eaten greasier food. Even my beer was greasy. And we had a fantastic time watching the people for whom The Lady and Sons was a sort of deep-fried Mecca. My brother was transfixed by this woman at the neighboring table who, with every bite of her biscuit, went into a holy spasm of gratified rapture. So delicious. She had been waiting so very long, and now her pilgrimage was complete.
People really love this Paula Deen lady! I’ve still never seen her show, though I did look up the the ham-face incident on YouTube. From what people have said, she seems like a great person — fame couldn’t have happened to a nicer, more humble woman. We’d love to meet her. So Paula, if you’re reading and can forgive my calling your restaurant a grease-pit, hit us up! We’ll do lunch… at our house.
The Lady & Sons
102 West Congress Street
Location on our Savannah Map
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November 20, 2010 at 1:55 pm
November 21, 2010 at 8:11 amDave
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I think Paula is amazing; she has really made a success of herself against great adversity. Yet…I think she has overexposed herself. I’ve been to her restaurant twice, but definitely enjoy some of the more hidden and less commercial spots in Savannah. For the number of products that she sells and endorses, she is in danger of losing her credibility. Just my ‘pinion. Her fried chicken is still damn good, regardless! On my first visit, our waitress (also a student at SCAD) belted out “Summertime” acapella. That was a treat in itself!
November 21, 2010 at 8:59 amBrad Powell
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Be careful what you wish for. What if, by a weird cosmic anomaly Paula said “OK, let’s do lunch.” What would you fix….paella, scary tapas, Irish blood sauage, German desert, Austurian pizza?
November 21, 2010 at 4:22 pmSky Princess
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I ate at Paula Deen’s but stayed away from the buffet because it did not look appetizing at all.
On my Channeling Ricky blog today I have a review of some of her recipes from her Savannah Country Cookbook. Stop by and have a look!
http://www.channelingricky.com/2010/11/miss-landers-book-club-reviews-lady.html
November 22, 2010 at 8:17 pmbyrdiegyrl
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You must try Mrs.Wilkes boarding house….not sure if that is the official name…..cash only…but the best best “southern” meal you will get outside of a private home…..I have so far avoided being called Satan, but have had to drag out of town visitors to the less tourist oriented dining spots downtown!!!
April 9, 2011 at 3:02 pmBetty
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I visited the Our lady and Sons Restaurant on our way back from Florida, and
was disappointed that we couldn’t eat in her restaurant, it was filled up from lunch at 3:00 in the afternoon, and we would have to stand in line until 5:oo for the supper. My husband was in the miltary and he doesn’t stand in long lines for nothing. We didn’t get to enjoy her resturant. I was told since coming back home the you have to call ahead or make a res.
I will not get the chance to do this again, and i was very disappointed.
March 16, 2012 at 3:55 pmEdith
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I really like Paula Deen –