Saw this place while heading to a family reunion, should have kept going! 1. No one was there, when asked were they open the server said "yes, we are in between lunch and dinner rush". It was 5pm! 2. Server was very slow, and kept advising us that they were out of just about everything. 3. We had to ask for refills, silverware, and napkins. 4. She then forgot our appetizers, and brought them. After our food. 5. Food service was slow...by the time we all got our food the other half had eaten, and was ready to go. As if the food and service was not so bad, at check out the cashier kept adding all these hidden fees and extra tips to the bill. Then if you don't pay with card she added 3.5%. None of this was done on the cash register, it was all by phone and she would write in the amounts. This place needs some major updates, customers service and server training. read more

Ok It has been a year since I was at this restaurant. It got 1 star then but tonight it was a 4. I attended a memorial service in one of the banquet rooms. The fish was cooked nicely and the hush puppies were good. The chicken was cooked perfectly and had the appropriate amount of seasoning. The cole slaw was very different from the last time I ate there. It was similar to KFC' s recipe. The set up was very nice and we had a very attentive waitress. She was very nice and in and out cleaning without you really knowing she was there. It was a perfect place for the function. read more

This Forest location reminds me of the original. This food was cooked to order and great tasting Mississippi fish. Great service.

My family and I walked in before 8:00 and were told we could not choose the buffet. The buffet was still completely full of food. All the people at every other table were eating the buffet. The young man who seated us was most polite and the brightest spot of the entire visit. It seems the manager had decided to stop serving from it. The whole reason we came was to celebrate our son-in-law's birthday. We decided to not order and go elsewhere. It is such a shame. This Penn's used to be a great place. read more

I didn't have many options for dinner and had my hopes for some southern cooking at Garden Patch. Unfortunately Maria from Holiday Inn Express informed me that they were only open for lunch but mentioned a couple of other spots to try. When she told me this place gives discounts to Uncle Ray employees I said sure why not. Their menu stated that their staple was the fried catfish, so I ordered a combination of fried catfish, fried shrimp, and french fries. The combo also included hush puppies and coleslaw. The fried catfish and shrimp were pretty good; they were crispy and very lightly seasoned. The hush puppies were my favorite, perfectly fried on the outside yet moist on the inside with a slight flavoring of crab. I actually saw little pieces of the crab in the inside. The coleslaw on the other hand was horrible. Think of Kentucky Fried Chicken coleslaw but 10 times worse. For a $10 meal with a huge cup of sweet tea, the price and quality of the food were reasonable, but I guess that included my extra special Uncle Ray discount. It took awhile for the waitress to take my order but my food came out pretty quick and piping hot. If I ever have to come back to Forest for work, I wouldn't mind coming here again. But hopefully I'll be staying in Jackson where there's more choices to eat at. read more

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Excellent home cooked food in a friendly atmosphere. Buffet style or menu is also available. Very friendly staff. I would definitely return! read more

Penn's Restaurant - Penn's Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Forest, Mississippi

It wasn't too special on the inside, but I had the catfish plate and my 2 friends had the seafood platter. I thought the catfish was delicious ! But wanted to compliment our waitress--Maddie. She was excellent and so kind and personable. We were in town from Louisiana, we enjoyed it. We're gonna have to pass to try the all you can eat. (We didn't get any pictures ). read more

The staff was super friendly but the place is a mess. Sorry to see. Probably was good back in the day.

Dined here recently during a stay in Forest and really enjoyed it. While it doesn't look like much on the outside the staff was friendly and accommodating and the food was really good. Try the lunch buffet, especially the fried catfish. read more

Penn's Restaurant - a man standing in front of a food counter - Seafood Near Me - Forest, Mississippi

The food served in this restaurant is delicious! Your typical southern style cuisine, very flavorful to the last bite. The staff is very friendly. Not a place for vegans as most of their vegetables dishes have bacon in it. I look forward to coming back to Penn's Restaurant! read more

Used to be good Save your money. This formerly wonderful buffet has gone down hill. The quality of the catfish is terrible. The cobblers are all nasty crust and no fruit. The veggies have no side meat or seasoning and aren't cooked long enough. The wait staff are all nice and do a good job. read more

We went on a Sunday after church. The buffet had little on it and the entire restaurant seemed dirty and unkept. We wont go back.

This one of the best seafood restaurants I've been in in a long time. Catfish and shrimp and coleslaw are awesome. Will go again

What seafood restaurant has no seafood deals but has chicken deals that aren't good? Penns is who. The place smelled like it had been mopped with a soured mop. Could barely stand to eat there. Wont be back to this one. read more

Great Food Excellent Service Food Was Hot and did not Take Long To Get to us would definitely dine again so if you go to Forest mississippi be sure to dine there read more

The food may have tasted great if it wasn't all COLD. Add to that fact, the waitress & the manager were NOT nice people. Just 8 mies west from here (on I-20) are 2 much better restaurants. The catfish at the "Back 40" in Lake, MS is fantastic. My mother & I went to Penn's for the Sunday Seafood Buffet at $18 each (with drinks, tax & tip it was over $50). The food was on the buffet table 20 min before they allowed anyone to touch it, & by then everything on was almost ice cold. I mentioned it to the wiatress & she was indifferent. I mentioned it to the manager & she was unresponsive as well. We didn't want to eat cold food & the management was so indifferent that we refused to stay any longer. There was an elderly man sitting behind us & he was actually counting change to buy a cup of soup, so we asked the gentleman if he would like to have our two dinners. He sat at our table & the waitress started to complain. I stopped her and said the meal is paid for & it was mine to do with as I wanted. I paid for the meal & told the manager that she had better not kick the man out, as he was eating OUR "All you can eat buffet". I have been in food service myself and this experience was one of my all time worst experiences. read more

The Penn's fish in Madison is not professional at all. If you are black... you get to move out of line. However. If you are white you can sit there until they give you your order. When I went inside to get my order ... the lady was not using utensils. She was picking up the fish and fries with her hands... she did have on gloves. ... but that's still not how it is supposed to be done. I will not be returning. I would rather drive to Jackson to Hwy 80 and get my fish from Country Fisherman. At least they know how to treat ALL people as well as the proper way to pick the food up. read more

Don't eat here. I ordered the ribeye, salad and rice and the battered fries for an appetizer. I got a ribeye, baked potato and rice. The appetizer came along with my order. I told the waitress that I ordered salad and she said I could get one from the salad bar. I went to the salad bar and it looked like it had not been scrubbed down in years. The rice was so cold it wouldn't even melt butter. I took a picture of the rice after the butter had been sitting on it for 30 minutes. The ribeye was ok and so was the appetizer but the rest of the food was a concern because of the probability with getting food poisoning from food that hasn't been kept at the proper temperature. The waitress was not attentive and only visited my table once after I had been served and I had been out of my drink for at least 10 minutes. Eat anywhere else just don't eat here. It's not worth getting sick over and it's way over priced. read more

Penn's Restaurant - Butter after 30 minutes sitting on the rice. - Seafood Near Me - Forest, Mississippi

Pros: Friday night seafood buffet $19.99 AYCE is awesome (as long as they don't run out of crab legs)! Roomy, plenty of parking Cons: dingy looking inside, no alcohol, where's dessert? It's a decent place to go after church on Sunday for the buffet...... read more

This Penns restaurant in Forest, MS was very nasty. Food was yuck , just plain nasty, the walls had ketchup smeared all over them where I was sitting at. The restaurant had a stankin scent when I first hit the door, I should've left then but it was my first visit there and wanted to try it out. This place was just sickening. Staff was really nice but ghetto. read more

If you can eat somewhere else I would recommend it. Sat down at 3:40 and finally got my drink order taken at 3:48. Ordered the ribeye and baked potato and it came or over cooked and with french fries. Was told repeatedly that my baked potato was coming but after 15 minutes I couldn't wait for it to finish growing in the garden. Keep on going to Meridian or to Jackson for a meal. read more

There is not much in Forest and the locals consider this the finest dining establishment in their town. That's sad because this place isn't very good. The restaurant is big and cozy but the food is sloppily made and not very tasteful. The service is lazy too. The buffet is bad but man will people line up for it. If your in Forest, first off why? And secondly just order food from Popeyes or Waffle House. They're nearby and both are better. read more

Several reports of food poisoning here. Food was very limited for the price. I have lived in the area for years and this is usually more a absolute last choice. The sweet tea is absolutely great and the seafood buffet is good if you go early. read more

Fish was tasty, but my order was wrong ( I order a combination shrimp/ fish and only got fish ) and customer service can improve with phone orders and pick-up( maybe the girl was new). I had to repeat my order and name multiple times-- and still was mess up. Had experience better service at other Penn's locations. read more

Great and friendly service. I went for the catfish was not disappointed. The prices were also very fair, so if your in the mood for fried catfish this is your place read more

The only good thing is that we didn't get sick. We waited forever for catfish which is supposed to be a specialty and we waited 45 minutes to get our order! Go anywhere else - anywhere. read more

If you are from out of town I would not go to Penn's Fish House in Forest because u have no idea what u are eating because they Do Not label anything so u know what u are eating If u are short like I am u can't tell what u are putting in your salad. There tea is so sweet I got them to put some unsweet in it too so I could drink it and the food was not worth eating I will not be back!!!!!!!!!!! read more

great catfish,,exit 88 in forrest,mississippi on i-20. this place looks old and such but every thing is outstanding,the service,the flavor,the food,and perfect sweet tea southern style. read more

The first thing is the Internet price and the price I was told over the phone doesn't match. They gave very medium sized pieces of catfish fillets, 3 hush puppies, fries and coleslaw drinks nor dessert were not included and for 2 people that was $15.09. The coleslaw has a peppery or slightly spicy taste to it. The fries have no salt or seasoning. The service is ok. I would only eat here every once in awhile. read more

a quiet stop for weary truckers.. not a regularly known truck stop area.. and the food id way better than any corperate truckstop.. i hope I can remember this place in the near future.. read more

Worst food poisoning ever!!! Ate their ribs and made me so sick that I had to be treated at the hospital!! Was sick for 3 days!!!! Do not eat here!!!! They should be shut down!! read more

I ordered the Ribs, they were so tuff and under cooked, I did not eat them. Food was not hot when it arrived at the table, server was too busy talking to a couple of guys. Thank goodness I will never eat there again. read more