Barbara Jean's

Perfect local relaxed restaurant with massive portions of fresh cooked eats. I had the blackened chicken sandwich and my wife had the chicken but made with real chicken breast. Sides of cheese grits and roasted veggies were uniquely tasty! Service was ultra friendly and the whole atmosphere was quiet and relaxed! Heartily recommend this place.

Had an amazing dinner yesterday at Barbara Jeans! The inside view feels like a comfy home cooked restaurant. The onion rings were pretty good (great crisp), but the Shrimp and Grits were to die for!! Crab cakes were legit all crab which was amazing! Would definitely recommend to anyone!

Located right next to Saint Simons pier. Quaint and comfortable atmosphere. Basket of bread included pumpkin bread, cheese and jalapeno corn bread and a roll. The corn bread was scrumptious. Hubby had the coconut shrimp. They were large shrimp and very tasty, but he didn't care for the orange marmalade that came with them. He said the red beans and rice were out of this world good. He also had the cheese grits. I had the crab cake which was filled with a lot of crab and very little else. It was good but I wish it was served with remoulade instead of tarter. I enjoyed the coleslaw because it wasn't sweet. The squash casserole, however, was delicious. Service was extremely fast and very friendly.

They helped me convince my daughter to try new cuisine/ food. She loves the grilled tuna. She was also nice enough to save me some of my own darn food! Her smile was priceless. The she crab soup and house made onion rings held me over. 🤌🏿

Best food we have had all week!! Fresh home made and delicious!! The onion rings are the real deal! Crab cakes chock full of crab! She crab soup was delicous and cobbler just the right amount of crispy crunch and sweet deliciousness!!

So, we have been by this place a lot of times and always wanted to try it but always hit or go to places when we're at St Simons.. we actually stopped today to try Barbara jeans and needless to say we were not too impressed. We got onion rings and fried shrimp as an appetizer those were good. My wife had the chicken fried chicken and she said it was very dry and her mac and cheese was good. I got the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and dirty rice, the meatloaf is over mixed and was like a brick the mashed potatoes were off it had some kind of greasy taste to it in the dirty rice was actually pretty good. Are waitress was super nice and we had a good time interacting with her.

Incredible food. Great service. Very much southern diner experience but lots of variety. Crab cake was fantastic and coconut shrimp was devine. I think the drink was called Paradise Punch. Super lunch!

Food was amazing. Server was very attentive. Loved the variety of bread offered. Shrimp fritters were awesome.

I wish I had taken a picture of my food, but it didn't make it that far. My family and I are visiting and decided to stop by. I being a lover of tuna decided to get the tuna sandwich and what I got was not what I was expecting. On my bun was a MASSIVE piece of tuna, seared and marinated to perfection. It came with some kind of sauce that put me in heaven when I ate it. Service was great, quick and friendly, and helpful. The building is what I'd consider small-medium sized but is so cute and homie. Would 100% recommend and get the tuna!

This restaurant specializes in seafood and Southern cooking. From what we could tell, it would be hard to go wrong with anything on the menu. With our meal, they served three types of bread to the table. One was jalapeño cornbread, one was sort of a spice like gingerbread type bread and then dinner rolls were the third kind of bread. Butter was served with them as an option. They didn't really need it because all of them were extremely delicious and already moist and fresh. Especially memorable were the crab cakes, the shrimp and the grits. Although the decor was dated, the atmosphere was very welcoming and comfortable, and the server was very pleasant. Also, as with all of the restaurants we visited on the island, the manager was consistently checking in on the table to make sure that the customers were happy with their food. We were! Saint Simons Island is a fantastic place to visit and the restaurants are a vital part of what makes it so appealing!

We came back for dinner ... April was our server. This place is a diner -- not fancy -- but EXCELLENT FOOD! We had the Yellowfin Tuna steak -- I had the tuna sandwich (seared) . My husband had the tuna entrée (seared) which came with delicious green beans, Excellent rice with a little bit of pork in the rice and a crabcake. All delicious ... key lime martini good & cold draft beer good!

Stopped in for dinner tonight since it was close to our hotel and didn't seem too busy from the Valentine's Day crowd. I just got the BJ's salad cause I was in need of some leafy greens. Hubby to be got the steak tips over rice with a broccoli soup. Server was sweet and attentive. A complementary bread basket came before the entrees and the cornbread was delicious! The soup was thick and tasted like velvet-a but I'd order it again any day. Steak tips were flavor-able. Salad was a unique mixture that was different but tasty.

Cleanliness. It is filthy. The floors are nasty. Every dish has sugar in it. One thing I would order again would be rice and broccoli and squash. But so much has sugar. I will say the wait staff was hard working and we were tended to beautifully. It is not their fault the restaurant needs to be closed for a weeks cleaning.

Very good food! Huge serving! Was geared more towards older crowd serving meatloaf and stuff like that. My only complaint is the Cole slaw tasted so cold it might have been frozen. And with the fish it would have been great to have hush puppies but the cornbread and pumpkin bread they serve was also good! Nice size restaurant so you're not sitting too close. Server was great too!

A friend and I enjoyed lunch here on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. We both ordered crab cakes which are solid crabmeat. There's no filler or weird fancy flavors. Just the taste of delicious crab. Definitely the best crab cakes I've ever had other than my moms. Our sides included spinach, white cheddar grits, red beans and rice and stewed tomatoes. The white cheddar grits and red beans and rice were fantastic. The bread our server, Beverly, brought to the table was also amazing. Pumpkin, jalapeño cornbread, and rolls. For dessert, we had the key lime tart which is pure perfection. Beverly provided excellent service. I'm hoping to go back to Barbara Jeans before we leave the island.

Tons of food with a complimentary bread basket, normal beach prices. The waitress was a gem-- super personable and helpful, and a sense of humor. This was a nice little respite from the heat and shopping crowds of the St Simon's pier.

Top recommended place by locals and visitors for seafood, particularly crab cakes on St. Simmons. The bread basket comes with a surprise of bread rolls, pumpkin bread as well as corn bread. Corn bread has pieces of jalapeños; unexpected, but a nice balance to the sweetness of the corn. Opted for a blackened tuna steak with the squash casserole. Casserole was very unique and delicious. Ordered Lima beans, daily veggie, but received the fried okra instead. Tasty dinner, a bit on the salty side. No reservations, first come first serve basis, quick service.

Good southern comfort food with a seafood flair. Seating inside and out. Full bar. Quick seating. Brought selection of breads, yeast rolls, jalapeño cornbread, pumpkin bread. Wife's burger looked excellent. I had the 7 ounce crab cake. I had heard good things about the crab cakes and I was not disappointed. April took excellent care of us. We also had these large baked potatoes with real bacon , cheese and butter, the perfect side. I would go again.

You cannot die until you've tasted the she crab soup! Oh my goodness...if anything, it had too much crab. Outstanding. The breadbasket had 3 delicious rolls/bread. Bread pudding was great. But, tbh it was all about the soup

Stopped in for lunch in January, as many places were not open for lunch (in January). It took a minute to be greeted, but once we were it was warm and welcoming. The place looks like a local diner (and it probably is) and has just one restroom for guests, so don't wait too long if you know what I'm saying. The food server was lovely and very attentive. We had crab with crab and were not disappointed (as they claim to do crab well and lived up to this). The crab cakes had almost no breading (just ever so slight to bind the meat together) and mostly all crab meat. The bread basket offered 3 differ by types of bread, all delicious (pumpkin being my favorite). So glad we stopped in!

Very solid southern option- one of the best in downtown St Simons. The squash casserole was insanely good. The shrimp and grits were good but the grits were a little too thick. My son didn't love the country fried steak. The service was friendly.

We heard so many great things about Barbra Jeans so we came to try it!! So glad we did!! Southern food at its finest!! Every bite was so FULL OF flavor! We couldn't believe how tasty it all was!! We have tried southern food all over and yall this has got to be one of the BEST!!! So great!! The decor and outside of building is a lil deceiving, because you might walk right by it!! STOP AND GO IN TO EAT!! By the way the chicken and crab cakes were best we have had and we are total Foodies!

Food is really delicious, tap was down tonight so no beer unless in a bottle. Crab cakes were 100% crab and were wonderful! Waitress was very attentive

Stopped into Barbara Jeans for dinner with the family and it was very good! The food was very good and there was alot of it! The ambiance is a little dated, which we did not expect based on the looks of the outside of the restaurant. It was very clean inside, and the service was awesome - pleasant and very attentive. The portions were large and so flavorful. Our server brought out a basket of bread that had pumpkin, cornbread and regular bread and it was soft, hot and tasty! The prices were affordable too! I would definitely recommend!

I didn't get food poisoning. Yeah, that's about all I can say that's positive. What I so experienced, a lackluster menu that contains mostly seafood and meat courtesy of Sysco Systems, an outdated interior that seriously need a dusting, a wall of magazine covers and news articles that showed the once great origins of this sad remnant. My folks were part of a group that went so I tagged along, next time I'll find a Taco Bell, or the deli at Winn Dixie. The staff was wonderful! I will then all the credit for making this visit tolerable.

Food was delicious. Service was exceptional and very nice, friendly from both people who waited in us. Ambiance was a fun busy restaurant -- popular with tourists and locals alike. Would definitely recommend and will eat there again if back in the area.

Amazing atmosphere. Very laid back, the staff here make you feel like family. Started off with the Barbara Jeans Sweet tea to drink, and it was amazing, very refreshing drink. The mixed bread is amazing. I loved the cornbread and my wife loved the pumpkin bread. The she crab soup was out of this world, full of delicious lump crab, and super flavorful. The food here is amazing. The mashed potatoes was probably the best I've ever had. All the food was delicious, seasoned to perfection. Can't wait to come back.

Delicious! I ordered a crab cake and catfish combo. The seafood was great and the sides were even better. Best meal of my trip

A great intro to this location/island and their southern cuisine. We stopped by for a late lunch. Our service person was warm, friendly and welcoming. The comp bread basket was addictive. House-made still warm pumpkin bread, and jalapeño corn bread were great. I started with a cup of their she-crab soup. It was a very creamy base with a lot of shredded crab. After that I had their (4) fried shrimp appetizer -- delicious. My husband had a blue cheese salad. It didn't have much crumbled cheese and came with a different sort of dressing, but it was still good. After that he had their fish bites. The cod pieces were lightly battered and flaky. We were too full for dessert -- after all that bread -- but they sounded appealing as did a number of other "comfort food" items on their menu. This restaurant is a "keeper".

Well as first timers to St. Simon Island we were clueless where to eat. Of course, we turned to Yelp. At least fellow Yelpians helped narrow down the possibilities. As fans of the Reba show, we couldn't resist Barbara Jean's. If you know you know. We visited on Saturday evening. Parking was an issue so I dropped Angela off to get our name on the wait. Before I even found a parking space, she called and said, "I am already seated. The menu was basically southern cooking or seafood. Neither of which are my favorites. I am not a big fan of fried or cooked with fatback. And unfortunately I now have a shellfish allergy. However, Angela wanted to stay. We decided to split an entree, we selected the pot roast, squash casserole and mashed potatoes. There are a couple of southern staples I do love including banana pudding and sweet tea. I turned to our server and asked "is the sweet tea real southern sweet tea?" She laughed and said "of course honey!" We added a side salad and settled in. I really had low expectations at that point. The salad arrived and was simply spectacular. I know right, how can a salad be spectacular. Well it was! The salad was fresh with a variety of items and an amazing honey vinegarette dressing. Then a plate of bread arrived. Yes, I am a weirdo but bread is nothing special to me--until now. The bread selections included a pumpkin bread and some sort of whole wheat roll. My taste buds jumped with joy. Their homemade breads produced a reaction in me never before felt. The main course was not bad either. The pot roast was better than some grandmas make. My own grandmother is probably rolling in her grace but Barbara Jeans' pot-roast tasted better! We took a box of the bread back to our suite. I almost forgot, our server was simply fantastic. She could not have been friendlier. She was so good I over-tipped (by a lot) but don't tell my wife. Would I go back? Why, yes I would. In fact, we got another fantastic meal there Sunday night! And I would be remiss if I failed to mention the "Chocolate Stuff"--literally what they call it. I am not a chocolate fan (did I already mention that I am a weirdo), but the Chocolate Stuff is so decadent. It is a decadent chocolate pudding and brownie concoction served with homemade whipped cream. Eating it felt so sinful I had to ask for forgiveness at Christ Church...

4/28/2024 at 5:30pm. Went to sit at the bar for dinner and the Bartender said that he was to stressed to serve us and we needed to get a table in the dining room, if we wanted to sit in the dining room we would have done that when we walked in so we left. I was so dumbfounded that he would push away business. He looked like he was the owner/manager and just did not give a f--k and would rather lose business... WOW, went across the street to Iguanas and enjoyed a $100 dinner there.

We had read about the reviews on this place and decided to give it a try. I am glad we did. A nice friendly environment with really good food. I started out with the crab soup which was quite delicious. I followed this up with a Caesar salad with grilled tuna. Another good choice. My other half got the chicken fried steak with white gravy. They do a really good job with the southern comfort food. A great choice if you're visiting the St. Simons Island area.

They were able to accommodate a party of 17 people (including 2 babies) and our waitress was very sweet, attentive, and had great conversation with our table. The pumpkin bread and jalapeño cornbread were very addicting! Best crab cakes I've had so far on St Simons.

Best meatloaf I've had in years!!! Actually reminded me of my Mom's!!!! Good service and the Key Lime Martini is the bomb!!!!

The food was beyond delicious. I ordered the shrimp & gritts with a side of cabbage (so yummy). Oh do i wish i could have some right now lol. It was definitely the best food I had while visiting brunswick. Seasoned well and great portions. Our server was amazing. OVERALL great experience

Absolutely delicious! It was hard to choose from the huge number of options on the menu but you can't go wrong with any choice. There is literally something for everyone. Service was outstanding and we got the most amazing Bloody Marys from the bar. Wonderful spot for friends, couples or families.

Came into st Simon island and was way past lunch time n was hungry. Stopped by for lunch today n enjoyed the food. The dirty rice n she crab soup were very good n delicious. And also the fried fish. Had the trio of bread n was very good. Friendly staff . Tx 4 a great lunch .

We chose to have dinner at Barbara Jean's since it was one of the few restaurants that were opened on Thanksgiving Day. We ordered the Half and Half Platter that came with a Crab Cake, Fried Fish Fillet, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, and Hans' Ambrosia Salad. Both of the Crab Cake and the Fried Fish Fillet were way too salty, and the Hans' Ambrosia Salad was over-killed with sour cream. I don't think anyone should ever eat the Hans' Ambrosia Salad. The Mashed Sweet Potatoes was suitable for dessert since it was very sweet. My partner ordered Shrimp & Grits, Fried Shrimps, Dirty Rice, and Broccoli & Rice Casserole. The Shrimp & Grits were salty but the flavor was good. The Fried Shrimps weren't anything special. The highlight of this meal were the Dirty Rice and the Broccoli & Rice Casserole. They balanced out all the salty food but to be fair, maybe the saltiness is a local preference. Also, we highly, HIGHLY, recommend that the water be removed from the menu, please. It literally tastes like sewage. But definitely keep serving the complimentary breads. They were amazing!

Unbelievably great service!! Loved both the pretzel and orig chicken tenders especially with the jalapeño cornbread (and I don't like spicy so don't worry about that at all). However the breaded (fried) fish was probably the best I have ever had. Even the fries were excellent. I have had some amazing crab cakes in my day but these were really close to the top as well. The only thing bad was the ice water we joked!!

The first time I went to Barbara Jean's it was in Ponte Vedra and I was invited by a co-worker. The bread basket made a lasting impression and it helps the it was gushed over before hitting the table. I love seafood and they offer plenty of choices, but on this day I opted for comfort food instead- a turkey dinner with stuffing, mashed potatoes and green beans. John got the coconut shrimp with mashed potatoes and dirty rice. The bread basket arrived with warm rolls and warm pumpkin bread and I was in carb heaven with each bite. I even asked to take some home and our server obliged. Not too much longer our plates were being set in front of us and my eyes grew huge- the plates had so much food! Good gracious! Even John's plate of coconut shrimp! They were huge shrimp and so many- I knew in a heartbeat I couldn't finish my meal (not really surprising) but I also knew that I wouldn't have been able to finish John's meal either- which I considered getting. Neither of us finished. Blame the bread- blame the huge portions- but we both took home boxes. My turkey was perfect and the stuffing delicious. Mashed potatoes- as John would say- were real. John's shrimp were freaking delicious! I almost regretted not getting that for dinner. Almost. A huge reminder that we need to add Barbara Jean's to our rotation. The star lost is really for the dining room floor- it didn't look clean. I don't know if it was stained- but it momentarily grossed me out when we walked in. Food and service was top notch.

This was my first time eating here and my dinner was fantastic. I have been told their complimentary bread was good, but it was even better than that! Our server was very nice, and she was very attentive. She quickly brought out the breads and we really enjoyed the jalapeno corn bread. It had just the right balance to make the jalapeno stand out but not be too overpowering. The pumpkin breads were also sweet and delicious. For my entre I had the coconut shrimp and crab cake combo platter. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and were not oily at all. The crab case wasn't loaded with filler and was cooked very well. For my side I got the zucchini casserole that was light & delicious. Their coleslaw was creamy and bright and had a good flavor to it. It also came with complimentary tarter & cocktail sauce. This is a great neighborhood place where the locals like to eat and they know how to serve a great meal.

Definitely not the place for anyone allergic to dairy products! They already have a lot of the food pre- cooked and the rice , spinach and vegetables etc are all prepared in butter. I ended up having the salmon over salad - the salmon was so so. My wife had the crab cake and she said it was excellent.

My wife and I each got vegetable a plate which consisted of five different vegetables each. Each were unbelievably good.

absolutely love the food.. and the guy who answered the phone was so sweet. They made my food and even though I was there at closing time, it was FRESH! They are worth a drive! I love that they have variety of food to choose from, not just the same ole' same ole'. The last few times I've been I've gotten my food to go so I can't comment on the service in the restaurant but hopefully I will soon. I can say the portion is great for the price that you pay. I enjoy the turkey and dressing and I absolutely love their bread and butter

Our server was slammed with all his tables but thanked them all for their patience. My boyfriend and I both had the she crab soup which was delicious. My crab cake entree was just ok and the side of squash casserole tasted too much of nutmeg and my broccoli casserole was gummy. His shrimp and grits he said was just ok as well. Our bar drinks didn't arrive till after entrees.

Always has the BEST crab cakes! I really haven't had any other crab cakes that compare. They have the best consistency and taste by far. I've been going for years and the staff is always so kind and down to earth. Great people and great food!

Food and service are consistently amazing! We have been going here for years and they are amazing every time !

If you're ever in St. Simons Island, GA, this is a must stop. Great service and food, just a perfect way to enjoy the peer and historic community.

My wife is very good at finding great places when we're are traveling and this place was a hit! Parking is tight but well worth the hunt in this touristy strip near the St Simon's Island Pier. Large glasses of Sweet (or unSweet) Tea for us, although they do offer Beer, Wine and specialty cocktails at very reasonable prices. Lots of home cooked meals featured and some island fare to choose. I chose the small "BJ Blue Salad" and the fried Fish (Cod) Bites for my lunch from the Appetizers. The namesake salad had Blue cheese, red bell pepper, celery, mandarin oranges, candied pecans, bacon, romaine and Iceberg lettuces, topped with a light citrus vinaigrette dressing. The Cod fish bites were six (you can order a larger amount) of two bite nuggets with the delicious Cod perfectly fried! Our server was friendly and quick to deliver our orders and any requests we had. The bread basket comes with a large yeast roll, jalapeno cornbread, and three nice slices of sweet pumpkin bread. Yum yum...

Omg the bread basket . Cornbread, pumpkin bread and rolls sooo yummy! I had a crab cake and coconut shrimp, recommend!

A friend recommended this place to us and they were spot on! Food was excellent (probably the BEST crab cake I have ever had)! Portions were good sized! Staff was so friendly and helpful! The bread basket was so good. We aren't bread eaters and loved sampling each! Can't wait to go back!

My pregnant daughter and I got a food-borne illness from the she crab soup and couldn't eat much for 3 days afterwards. Neither of us ate much of the soup. It was cool, thicker than oatmeal and tasted like flour. My mother loves their crab cakes. They are almost completely crab without much seasoning. She is going to have to find someone else to go with her to get them in the future.

It is not often you find a good restaurant on the coast that offers more than seafood! As vegetarians, we were very pleased to find Barbara Jean's with an excellent selection of vegetables that were delicious. The onion rings were really good as an appetizer, followed by dinner with squash casserole, cheese grits, green beans cole slaw, ending with a delicious ambrosia! The service, by our server Pete, was exceptional and the ambiance of the restaurant was such a good feeling of a friendly place! I would definitely recommend Barbara Jean's in The Village of St. Simons Island!

We got seated after a few minutes, and our server was very attentive and efficient even though he had many other tables to attend to. We ordered the chicken fried chicken sandwich and two fish sandwiches, all were amazing! The sandwiches were huge! Totally recommend this place.

Barbara Jean's is a must when I visit Saint Simons. The food is always good and service is amazing. Would highly recommend to others! Don't skip out on the Bread Service and Dirty Rice!!

Food was absolutely incredible!! Our server was so attentive and timely, even while the place was packed!

The service, the value for the money and the home cooking CAN NOT be beat!! One of my favorites

The food is great here and the service is exceptional. What I love most about this place is that on top of the wonderful food, and reasonably priced drinks, the staff are so nice. Both times I went I sat at the bar and they allowed me to sit and work for quite a while undisturbed. When I was done, I had some great conversations with both patrons and bar staff. The first time I went I had the coconut shrimp appetizer which was great! They gave me plenty of sauce to go with it too! The second time I went I had Shrimp 'n' Grits which was also very good! On top of that it is just a short walk from the pier where the views are awesome. If you are in town visiting this is just a great spot to chill and get some good eats! I highly recommend stopping by!