Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Barbara Jean's Restaurants

    4.0 (679 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 8:30 pm

    Barbara Jean's Restaurants Photos

    Business Info

    BARBARA JEAN'S RESTAURANTS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    More like Barbara Jean's Restaurants

    Recommended Reviews - Barbara Jean's Restaurants

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Katie W.

    This is a solid choice when dining in the area. Prices are very reasonable, although I noticed about 2% increase from the menu to the bill, but it's still a good value. Don't get me started on the bread basket, which is like coming to grandma's Thanksgiving dinner. The food came out very fast and the service was good.

    7oz crab cake with side of dirty rice and squash casserole
    Emmi A.

    Food worth trying, but cleanliness needs attention When we first walked into Barbara Jean's, we were immediately hit with a non-food smell that was honestly off-putting -- even our 7-year-old commented that "it smelled awful." The menus were sticky too, which didn't give us the best impression of the overall cleanliness. That said, once the food came out, things improved quickly. The bread basket alone was a highlight -- pumpkin bread, jalapeño cornbread, and rolls, all warm and comforting. Honestly, you could make a meal just out of the bread. We ordered the shrimp & grits (upgraded to include the she crab soup instead of sides) and the crab cake entrée with dirty rice and squash casserole. The crab cake had zero filler -- all crab, just how it should be. The soup and sides were super rich but flavorful. Everything had a real Southern comfort food feel. We left full and happy with the food, but the initial experience took away from it. If they addressed the cleanliness and atmosphere, this would easily be a 4 or 5-star spot.

    Menu
    Gemice W.

    Our server was an amazing! The ambiance was great! I didn't enjoy my fried fish but other than that our food was good!

    Jenn C.

    A quaint restaurant at the St Simons Island Pier. Dark inside, full bar, nothing fancy. Went in for a small nibble & cool off a little. I got a jumbo baked potato, mom got a cup of shrimp stew & small salad. 1 Diet Coke & 1 Iced Tea. $40 PLUS tip. Apparently if you pay with a card they UPCHARGE your food cost. My baked potato ended up $6.40, etc. WHAT THE HECK?! NEVER heard of this before. If you pay CASH, the food costs what is listed on the menu. ABSURD!!!!! Food was good, but we did get basic. Service was very kind. They need to rethink their charges- caught us completely off guard without warning when we sat down. Would have been nice to know upfront.

    Shrimp and grits.
    Jeffrey G.

    I would have given this place 5 because everything was great from service to food. The only thing that kind of ruined the experience was, I ordered a beer and never received it.

    Crab soup
    Valerie M.

    This is a old restaurant . Could use some updating Food was ok Waitress was wonderful

    Crab cake dinner
    Virginia B.

    Located on the Main Street in St Simons that leads to the pier. Parking is up and down the street and in a lot near the water that is free. I was seated quickly and had a very comfortable , clean booth . The menu is huge with many different seafood and country cooking dishes and lots of vegetables. The sweet tea is awesome and comes in a huge glass. I chose a crab cake, spinach and squash casserole. The crab cake was delicious and filled with crab. The squash was excellent too and was homemade for sure. The spinach came out of a can I think so was disappointing. Love the bread basket that was brought with some butter. The pumpkin bread was my favorite. My server was wonderful and checked on me several times with a big smile and great attitude. Will visit again next time!

    She Crab Soup and bread basket
    Mike G.

    We were visiting Saint Simons Island, and we were hungry so decided to try Barbara Jeans. Our raider was cordial and conversational however, he did not mention any of the specials. I ordered the She Crab Soup bowl and meatloaf platter and my wife ordered half-and-half, which was a crabcake and catfish. They boast an all crab meat crabcake with little fillers. The waiter brought out a nice basket of bread, including cornbread and pumpkin bread and a standard roll. I can say all of the bread items were excellent. The She Crab soup was thick and lumpy like a white gravy with bits of crab. The taste was fine but U would have preferred a more creamy smooth consistency. I found the crabcake to be tasty, however not to the level of a lump crabcake with better quality crab. Nowadays, it is rare to find a really good crabcake. I would rate the crabcake a B at best but definitely ok. The catfish was average and fine and the side dishes of grits and squash casserole were fine. The meatloaf was a nice portion, however it was covered with a tomato sauce and green peppers. I like a brown gravy style meatloaf so it wasn't for me. I had to remove most of the topping and what I could of the meatloaf. My sides were sautéed zucchini and mashed potatoes, both we're fine as well. Not sure if I would go back as it was unremarkable at best.

    Potato soup and chicken fingers
    Jason C.

    This place was recommended to us for the crab cakes. Very convenient to downtown shopping with a good variety for everyone. The crab cake was quite good with very little filler. Mac n cheese and onion rings were great!! Quiet spot, good food. I do wish the customer service was better and would have gotten Barbara Jeans 5 stars

    Ana S.

    Look no further, this is the place. Delicious food, big portions. Violet was our waitress and she has an excellent attitude and disposition. Great restaurant.

    Auto tip charge ...we are a party of 2 not 6+.  Beware.

    See all

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rick T.
    687
    1519
    15950

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Scott F.
    420
    15
    27

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eddy N.
    0
    144
    1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lauren H.
    104
    132
    54

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Food was great! Make sure you order the doughnuts for dessert. They are amazing!! Crab cakes were great too.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cory C.
    149
    41
    13

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of E R.
    3
    98
    30

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J S.
    0
    14
    0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Best southern food on the island and near and far. Cornbread biscuits are complimentary and so good

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tanya B.
    273
    13
    9

    6 years ago

    Not super impressive. Basically a locally owned Cracker Barrel. Service wasn't the best either.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dina H.
    13
    17
    94

    6 years ago

    Ordered unsweetened tea and half and half of buttermilk shrimp and crab cake, fried okra and cabbage. It was so yummy!!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John B.
    6
    301
    32

    5 years ago

    Nice place to eat. Portions were robust. Location is right in the middle of town. Prices fair. I would visit again.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rosanne S.
    145
    58
    36

    7 years ago

    Fabulous crab cakes but pricey. Local favorite but go for the crab cakes, veggies nothing special.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dan G.
    1
    116
    5

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 7 of 17

    Ask the Community - Barbara Jean's Restaurants

    Cleanliness of restaurant?

    Yes. We dined there for lunch amid Hurricane Debby (rain, gusts). It is old but that adds to the yesteryear charm. Clean and great food and incredible service. We'll go back next trip.

    Can I make Reservations?

    No. First come, first served only.

    Are well behaved dogs welcome on the outside area currently?

    Call the restaurant and ask first. It is a very highly trafficked area.

    View All 5 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Southern 384 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Bennie's Red Barn

    Bennie's Red Barn

    3.3
    (315 reviews)
    5.1 mi
    $$

    We love Bennie's Red Barn!!! The great experience starts…read morewith the hostess. She is always smiling and very responsive to return calls when making reservations. Our service is always great and they make you feel like family. Dinner starts with warm rolls and a tasty salad. My husband and I always get the fried shrimp dinner with a loaded baked potato. The huge fried shrimp are at least 2-3 bites each of the best shrimp I've ever had! And the baked potato comes with all the toppings on the side so you can make it just the way you want. Steak bites are also excellent, which is what our son likes to order. This is the restaurant we take friends and family to when they come to visit us on SSI. I highly recommend this restaurant and appreciate the great job that they are doing!

    I am givng 3 stars because we were seated without a reservation but I have to add that I checked…read moretheir website to make a reservation and reservations were not mentioned anywhere so I assumed that meant they did not take them. Maybe they only take reservations by phone, even though it is 2026, but it should say something to that effect on their website. It was evident they preferred reservations and said they were packed but there were plenty of tables unseated. The table we were seated at, was very wobbly. Which is an annoying thing that is easily fixed. I will say that the bread and the marinated saladswere both very good and our baked potatoes were perfect but that's where it ends. My son got the filet and my husband got the ribeye. They both ordered medium rare but both were well done and chewy. We did not say anything to our waitress or complain bc we are just not those kind people but it was disappointing to say the least. A steak place that has been in business for as long a they have should have perfected their steaks, I got the grilled chicken and when it came, I thought they had brought me fried chicken by mistake. I was expecting a grilled chicken breast (my mistake for assuming) but it was 4 pieces of what appeared to be smoked chicken on the bone. They were pretty tasty but felt like something I would get at a bbq restaurant, not a steak house. Needless to say, we will not be back.

    Photos
    Bennie's Red Barn
    Bennie's Red Barn
    Delicious hot rolls
    Delicious hot rolls
    Bennie's Red Barn storefront

    See all

    Bennie's Red Barn storefront

    Barbara Jean's Restaurants - southern - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...