Dillard House facts for kids
The Dillard House is a well-known restaurant located in Dillard, a small town in Rabun County, Georgia. It is famous for its "family style" meals and delicious Southern cooking. The Dillard House started over 100 years ago, in the 1910s. A.J. and Carrie Dillard first welcomed guests into their stone house as boarders.
After World War II, travel became easier. This helped the Dillard House grow into a popular place for tourists. Since 1954, it has added more dining areas and even a hotel. There are also cottages, a petting zoo, and other fun attractions. In 1983, The New York Times newspaper wrote about how the Dillards built a big business from their home cooking and friendly mountain welcome.
This restaurant is in a town with only about 200 people. Yet, it claims to serve around 800 customers on a normal day. During busy times, like peak tourist season, it can serve up to 3,000 people daily! Many famous people have visited, including Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Lady Bird Johnson, Walt Disney, and Jimmy Carter.
The original stone house was considered for the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. This means it was recognized as an important historical building.
What is Family Style Dining?
The Dillard House offers an "all you can eat" experience. It's called "family style" because the staff brings all the dishes to your table. You don't go to a buffet line. Instead, the daily menu is written on a board when you arrive.
Once you are seated, waiters bring every dish on the menu directly to your table. Your group can eat as much as you want of each dish. If you want more of something, just ask! The food is classic Southern and Appalachian cuisine. Some special dishes include apple butter, acorn squash soufflé, and country ham.
In 1996, a book called The Dillard House Cookbook and Mountain Guide was released. It shared many of their famous recipes.
Staying at The Dillard House
The Dillard House is more than just a restaurant. It also has a motel where guests can stay. You can choose from cozy cottages or rooms in the original stone Dillard House. This historic part is now called the Oaklawn Inn.
There are also fun activities for visitors. You can enjoy a petting zoo, stables for horses, and places for fishing. The Dillard House is a very popular spot for "leaf watchers." These are people who come to see the beautiful colors of the trees in the fall. The area has lots of trees that turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow. The restaurant serves up to 3,000 customers a day during October, which is peak leaf-watching season.
