When you walk in, there isn't a sign or anyone telling you to seat yourself. The place was busy on a Saturday evening around 5:30pm, and another guest actually told us to grab a seat wherever we would like after we stood there at the door for a bit. There were 3 ladies serving the entire restaurant. From what I could tell, they were responsible for drink orders, bringing out food, bussing tables, and plating desserts and bringing those out too. There are no menus and only 1 option for family style chicken and fish, with a salad, bread, and sides consisting of corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, dumplings, and green beans. They don't tell you this. I had spoken to another guest, so I knew this was the case, but if I hadn't, with this being our first visit, I would have been very confused. We had a very young waitress who was still new. She was doing her best, and I felt bad for her, but we waited for extended periods of time on food, and never had a drink refill. The only thing hot when the food came out was the chicken. All of the sides were barely warm at all. The fish and hush puppies were also not hot. They bring you one piece of chicken each, and then we waited 20+ minutes for additional food once we were able to finally ask the waitress for more. The table next to us ordered desserts when we got our bread and drinks, and they still didn't have them when we had already finished our meal, paid the bill, and were leaving. The waitress explained to them that she had to make the desserts herself and she was slammed with just trying to bring food out and get drink orders and that she was still new. She apologized multiple times, but it's not a good system at all. They need someone bussing tables, so the waitresses can focus on drinks and food. They need a sign that tells you to seat yourself. They need to ask if it's your first visit when they walk up to get your drink order so they can explain how they do things if it's your first visit. The bread and strawberry butter was my favorite part of the meal. The side salad had a good flavorful dressing, but only comes as a bowl of lettuce with a couple grape tomatoes sliced in half. The food had good flavor, even though it was cold and we waited for extended periods of time to receive it. The restaurant was clean. Since you have no menu and no idea what to expect, the prices are $18.95 each, and a 4% up charge for debit or credit cards as of July 2025. Unfortunately, we were not impressed at all and probably would not visit again based on this first experience. read more

Gabby & Granny's Kitchen - Bread with strawberry butter - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Whiteash, Illinois

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Was a little confused at first. Went on a Sunday. Not much to look at from the outside. But when you walk in cute place. We didn't realize it was family style service. And they then started brining out food. At this point we were really confused. We hadn't ask for anything. Every table was the same. Once we started eating, well let's just say we were glad we stayed. Every thing was amazing. Wasn't sure I was happy with fried fish. But very good. Let's just say everything was good staff was friendly and we left not Hungry. Would stop again and again. Stop you will be glad you did. read more

First time eating at Gabby & Granny's tonight. It was kind of a strange experience. We didn't have a chance to eat lunch so arrived right at 4 pm opening. I was surprised to see many cars in parking lot. When they opened I saw that interior is much larger than I thought. Over 20 tables including 3 for large groups. The waitresses were quick to come out and take drink orders. At no time during the meal did our server ever explain the routine here. All that they serve is one meal. Fried chicken, catfish nuggets and hush puppies, dumplings mashed potatoes and gravy, corn and green beans with a green salad for a starter and bread. That's it. No menu, no variations. Our waitress came back with our drinks, salad and bread. The dressing is very good, not sure what it was. Next thing a runner was placing food on our table. It was all very good. The only problem with it was that all the ceiling fans blowing made the food get cold very quickly. The only things worth eating were the portions we put on our plate and ate first. I've seen it referred to as all you can eat. We were never given that option and still don't agree as to what that means. I think the food they brought out first was enough to fill us up. I could have eaten another piece of chicken, but I don't even know if that was an option. Our waitress did come back after we finished eating and told us our check was $40 for the 2 of us $41 something if we wanted to pay with a card. We never even saw a check. So the food was good, I guess we were full, service was quick. Still not sure about AYCE. read more

Gabby & Granny's Kitchen - Inside of restaurant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Whiteash, Illinois

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We ate there today and it was great! Chicken was outstanding and fish and sides were all good too. Wish I knew what kind of salad dressing they used. It is addictive. Bill was easy to read. Also took home 2 dinners and there is plenty of chicken in both of them. Don't know what some people's problem is. read more

This is a little ma and pop place. The place is small and out of the way. This is a seat yourself place and I would recommend that you let them know you sat yourself just to get quicker service. I had the family style all you can eat dinner. It comes with chicken, fish, dumplings, and a few other sides. The food was great fast service once I placed my order. Would recommend if in the area. read more

Gabby & Granny's Kitchen - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Whiteash, Illinois

We stopped at Gabby & Grannys Kitchen on the way home to see if their food is as good as I've heard. Fried chicken and chicken and dumplings being two of the things that I've heard people raving about. I love both but don't tend to like fried chicken at most restaurants and almost never find chicken and dumplings that I like outside of our kitchen; my husband's are spectacular. We'll definitely be going back and being family and friends. Let's start with the amount of food they gave us. Each order was enough to feed two people and the whole bill was only about $31. I had the fried fish and he had the fried chicken. The fried fish is done off the best I've had anywhere in southern Illinois. The chicken meal was literally a half chicken and the fried fish meal had as much fish just in smaller fried pieces. The sides were green beans, kernel corn, mashed potatoes with chicken gravy and chicken and dumplings. I almost never eat gravy other than milk gravy but I always try things before saying no, even with chicken gravy which is usually my least favorite. Their's is really pretty good! Their green beans are really good, too. The kernel corn was good but that's not a hard one. The chicken and dumplings were excellent -- not as good as others but probably among the five best I've ever had from a restaurant anywhere. I'll drive from Marion to Johnson City just for their chicken and dumplings. The fried chicken is the best I've had in recent memory. The people who work there are so friendly, too! Granny to our order and Gabby brought our food to us. They're both SUPER nice people and the two members of their staff we spoke to last night were so nice. If you haven't eaten there yet it's worth the drive even if it is out of your way to get there. We'll be going back and we'll bring our family and friends with us. They serve family store for people dining in at their restaurant. read more

I was very excited to try the fried chicken, dumplings, and catfish that everyone raves about. No one greeted me as I walked into a busy restaurant by myself. The only 2 top was occupied, so I sat at a table for 4. Several servers walked past me during the first five minutes I was there. One finally brought me a water and told me someone would be with me soon. A few more minutes and someone approached saying, Do you want it all? I hesitated then when they didn't offer any other words, said I would like a tea and sure, I don't know what all that entails, but yes. The Strawberry butter bread and salad were the highlights. The fish was very dry, cool and tough. Corn was way overcooked. The chicken was ok, nice crust, but no flavor in the meat. The dumplings were just wet flour. They had been so hyped on FB, that I could not have been more disappointed in them. Instant mashed potatoes and canned gravy. The salad was swimming in dressing, but I rescued it onto my plate and it was very tasty. Not the homestyle meal that I was hoping for. I sincerely hope it was just a bad night. read more

Amazing family style all you can eat restaurant. A hidden gem and great home cooked items.

Excellent homemade Fried Chicken and Fried Fish. Perfect homemade vegetables and Chicken n Dumplings. This is a great spot for good home cooking. Service is excellent and pleasant owners and servers! Great Sunday After-church place. read more

I was in Marion to visit my mother, we found this wonderful little place to eat on Saturday evening! The food was served family style, and it was delicious! The fried chicken and fried fish were the best I've had in years! The service was outstanding and we met the owner, he was so welcoming, could not ask for better! If you live in the Marion area, you need to check this place out. Great home cooking, great prices, and great service, I will certainly go back for dinner when I am in the Marion area! I should have taken pictures of the food, but didn't think about it until we had finished eating. read more

Great experience and great food . We were surprised when we went in not knowing it was family style. Everything was delicious!

The food was very good. Every table gets the same family style meal. It was too much even for the four of us to eat and there are no take home. read more

Awesome food and service! Have been trying to get there and finally made it today. I'll definitely be back soon. Fried chicken just like mom made it. The sides were seasoned well and delicious. Just wish they were open more! read more

The food was tasty, but none of the hot food was hot. I didn't expect that given the rave reviews.

I've heard great things about this place but be forewarned that they stop seating 45 minutes before they close., so if you are going there, don't cut it short. read more

Driving through southern Illinois on a Sunday and found a great local restaurant. Gabby & Granny's has an excellent Sunday noon meal. Fried chicken and dumplings are a staple but all is served family style. Today, they also served turkey and dressing rolls in addition. Makes you feel like home or grandma's house. Service was great. Will definitely stop in again! read more

Gabby & Granny's Kitchen - Sunday lunch served family style. Today's menu included fried chicken, turkey & dressing rolls, mashed, potatoes and all the fixings! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Whiteash, Illinois

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This is the place to eat home style cooking!! Love the bowls on the table country cooked foods. Reminds me of grandmother and my aunts cooking. read more

Gabby & Granny's Kitchen - Amazing!! Family style restaurant. All you can eat bowls on the table. Highly recommend!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Whiteash, Illinois

Good good food . Like you would get if you cooked it at home . Convenient , really I haven't had to wait to long for table , even as busy as they are . I would and have recommended it to my family and friends . read more

I'm so glad we decided to dine here!! We have heard good things about this place but it's a bit off our radar so we would forget about it when time to make a decision for dinner. So glad we thought about it. Right off the bat we were greeted by a friendly waitress that told us to have a seat anywhere. She quickly brought us bread and and strawberry butter. Omg. Yum! We got the family served special of catfish, chicken, dumplings, potatoes, corn, green beans, salad, cucumber salad, pinto beans and gravy. Whew! We did not leave hungry!! We didn't have room but i saw someone order dessert and it looked delicious!! The only thing i hated was being served so much food and not being able to eat it all. Seems wasteful. I wish i could have taken home the leftovers but we weren't offered that. (Oh, i will add that we didn't ask for any extra servings at all) I can't wait to dine here again and bring friends. Great dining experience! read more

This restaurant is great! They offer an array of comfort foods that will knick your socks off. The chicken is fried so good that I had to meet the cook because I thought I had fried the chicken myself! The fish is fried just right ans flavorful. The meatloaf us one of my dad's favorites. The sides are plentiful and they serve a wide variety of sides from: mashed potatoes and gravy, chicken and dumplings (the best), green beans, corn, corn-on-the cob, salad, fried okra, fried pickles, cole slaw, potato salad, ham & beans, greens, hush puppies, bread, corn bread, soups, etc. They also have a select variety of desserts! The staff is excellent and friendly, as well as, the owners are the nicest people with big hearts and they run the place like there are no strangers; only family and friends walking through the door! read more

My wife and I stopped here on our way home after a weekend of hiking in the Shawnee National forest. Great family style meal. Awesome service. Everything taste as if it was made from scratch and with lots of love. We will definitely stop by on our next trip through the area. read more

Excellent food and service. Catfish very good. Fried chicken great also. Down home country food and service.

wow !! 1st rime there and they didn't disappoint !! amazing. bluegill catfish fried chicken salad green beans corn on the cob thunder and lightning fried potatoes !!!!!!! wow wow wow. definitely going back read more

This was one of the absolute best dining experiences I have had. The people are friendly, the service is amazing and the food is unbeatable. They are defiantly doing something right! read more

They have really good food! I have had the Gabby hamburger and it was real meat and hand patted. Delish! I have also had the BBQ porksteak special. It was so tender and with no bone. Great again.... read more

Gabby & Granny's Kitchen - Gabby & Granny's menu 4-9-14 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Whiteash, Illinois