Bennie's Red Barn

This was our first time visiting the establishment. It was great food in a big old style barn!!! I love the decor and the service was good too. The shrimp and calamari appetizers were amazing. The salads and bread were delicious. We chose this place because it was a local restaurant with a long standing history of good food and great dining experiences.

Good meal at the oldest family owned restaurant on the island. Had 5 PM reservation, should have chosen 5:30 PM as they were not quite set up. Wide selection of food, seafood, steak, Italian, to satisfy any taste. Full bar. We had sirloin steak, baked potato, salad which was good. Staff was mixed. Dining room was warm.

This restaurant is a gem with a love of the history of St. Simons Island and its place in it. Forty years ago I went to a restaurant down the street from there called Alfonso’s Old Plantation Supper club which was owned by a former waiter at Benny’s. Now out of business. As I recall, both restaurants were established long ago as an alternative to the Cloisters restaurant, for locals. At the time at Alfonso’s they would drop a salad in front of every patron at the start of their meal whether they ordered one or not. The salad was slightly wilted iceberg leaves with some tomatoes and a garlicky Italian dressing. When I went to Benny’s last week they served the same salad the same way. It’s an example of how serious they are about old tradition at the north end of St. Simons. And they’re still in business with lots of customers 40 years after I was last in the area. They have a sand parking lot after all these years. This place is a piece of living history. I got the fried chicken and baked potato. Perfect.

My childhood favourite when visiting Grandparents on Sea Island With only fond memories but one! Best and most authentic Steakhouse/Restaurant in Golden Isles. Unmatched Food, Service and Ambiance a true icon and pillar of SSI life. A true testament to southern hospitality and Authenticity in all respects.

Stopped by with a small group on Friday evening. We were seated quickly. Service was pretty lacking from the start. Had to ask for bread to be brought to the table. Waitress had an attitude. Food came out and multiple people got overcooked steaks and orders were brought out incorrect such as wrong sides or fried shrimp when grilled was ordered. Presentation was pretty bad for the price. When we went to pay the ribeyes were $40 on the receipt but only $38 dollars on the menu. Not huge but when we asked the waitress about the discrepancy she said the price had gone up but menus hadn’t been updated. Very shady business practices especially considering the menus were dated recently. I would not recommend nor will I return.

We Were Part Of A Wedding Party... Wait Staff Good.... We Got One Basket Of Rolls Were Told They Were Out.... Placed Order Took Over 2 hrs To Get Food Very Aggravating

We had dinner here after our wedding with two of our best friends. We had a warm welcome when we walked in seated us promptly with the reservation. when I made reservations I asked if I could bring my wedding cake and very cheerful. He said yes you may and you may bring whatever you need. Most restaurants would not accommodate you this way after the restaurant closed the bar in the next room opened and stayed open until late with a live band. Full bar, outdoor fireplace, open air under huge live oak trees with draping Spanish moss. So much fun I would visit again the next time we are in St., Simons, Island.

Wonderful place and incredible service, Johnny was his name I think. Steak was perfectly cooked. Would definitely go back.

We started with beers and onion rings. We got talked into these over the crab dip but they were average. Makes we wonder what the crab dip would be. We enjoyed the setting of the place. Very cool atmosphere. We both got the Ribeye which was wood fired great. The loaded baked potato was average. I'd get mashed next time I enjoyed my salad as well. Our service was awesome! I've given 5 stars to lesser experiences but this place was just a degree off of what the prices and expectations for what this place could be. Tip: get the raccoon if you want a fun adult milkshake to cap off a delicious meal! We were having a good time!!

After reading all the "good" reviews, we thought we would give this place a shot! Hate to say it, it was disappointing to say the least! Ambiance... cute concept of the barn, very rustic and cute, love the history behind the reason for the barn. Loved the huge fireplace, but the cuteness stopped there. The inside was very dark, had to place menu in any light we could find to read. Our table, let's just say wibble wobble and might have tumbled over. It was so uneven honestly, didn't want to touch the table so I didn't wear my drink. Let's talk about the large tables, 6 foot folding tables. Honestly thinking since the establishment has been around since 1954 and at one time required coat & tie, I would think they would have better structured table & chairs! I mean, it felt like a BBQ place w/ all the red checkered tablecloths on every table, than a "fine" steakhouse. Also, I feel they are use to big parties than just parties of 2! Honestly, we didn't eat the steaks which they are known for just because we just lost interest in the establishment 10 minutes after sitting down. BUT we did have their dessert....cheesecake and pecan pie! Let's just say, the hubby said the pecan pie was delicious, cheesecake on the other hand, nothing special at all and could tell it was frozen before. My piece still thawing out! Oh I can't forget to mention the "sweet tea"...ummm NO!!! It was either instant sweet tea ( which is insult to Southern Sweet tea,LOL) or it was days old. Just not good at all! Didn't even finish my first glass, just gross! Hopefully someone else can have a better experience, best of luck!

Vibes are way off as soon as you walk in. They seat you at an uncomfortable table probably too close to another. It's too hot and too loud. They first serve you terrible salad, like really bad salad. Like a sad high school cafeteria salad. Their servers sing to you in a way that probably only your elderly southern grandfather can appreciate, if you know what I mean. The entrees are just like my mom's home cooking, except my mom was an awful cook and her pork chops sucked and her steaks were always too tough and chewy. There's a reason only the old people like it here.

We went there after being concerned about many of the most loyal servers, etc. leaving after bad management made working there impossible. Bennie's used to have a family atmosphere that we enjoyed along with the tenderest steaks, their special wilted salad and yummy onion rings. We were greeted by a waiter immediately, seated and attended to quickly. This night we ordered fried chicken-unbelievably delicious! Our wait staff could not have been better. So. I guess the management has improved. But I do miss the old, great guys and gals. They have style of their own and had a real knack for making you feel special. Too bad someone ran them off. Will be back as long as the food is great and servers are happy.

Feel like taking a step back in time and having a meal in a unique and rustic restaurant? This is your spot. From the staff to the menu and decor, this spot has all the southern living vibes. Tons of seating with a bar and a separate area called the treehouse, it has something for everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed my mahi mahi and my husband said his steam was too 5 he's ever had. The salad starter was delicious and the rolls melt in your mouth. I'd highly recommend trying the onion ring appetizer, it's not too big and so tasty. I wish I'd saved room for dessert, they all sounded delicious including the boozy drink, but it will give me something to look forward to next time. The bonus was that all items on the menu were priced very reasonably. Overall a 10/10 for the unique and delicious dining experience.

Good meal at the oldest family owned restaurant on the island. Has 5 PM reservation, should have chosen 5:30 PM as they were not quite set up. Wide selection of food, seafood, steak, Italian, to satisfy any taste. Full bar. We had sirloin steak, baked potato, salad which was good. Staff was mixed. Dining room was warm.

WOW.... What a fall this place has taken. Food was not good at all and service, all I can say is they don't have any. For those eating there because it's been around and you hear about it from years past, this one needs to stay in the past

Best kept secret in Georgia. Great food, top notch service, and the interior of the barn is amazing! Best steak I've had to date.

Love the place, great food, best service and the ambiance is like no other! Highly recommended

The food is okay. It is loud and has set sides like you find in fast food restaurants. It has been in business for a long time and it seems to be setup to cater to large groups. The wait staff seems to have been there for a longtime. It is very loud. The prices seem reasonable but the service is very slow. For an upscale place like St. Simons Island, this place is not where you want to go. When we got the bill, it had an item on it that we didn't order, and our waiter disappeared and we had to have the hostess correct the bill. Then the waiter never came back so we just paid cash and left. I would avoid this place.

Historic, love the old atmosphere. It's a cool place for dinner. The nightlife is a little surprise I didn't expect. Overall enjoyed it

We were seated at 7PM, food did not come until 8:30PM and was at room temperature. I ordered the $33 seafood combo, broiled, but the shrimp was fried and cold. You will love the dinner salad if you like soggy lettuce in a bowl with a split cherry tomato. Our friends ordered the $50 catch of the day, which was grouper. I've seen thicker paper towels. Finally, when the checks came, they were all jumbled up. We sorted it on our own. First time in many years I left no tip.

I have been to many steakhouses in big cities and all over. For the price quality service and ambiance this is by far the best. The NY strip was cooked perfectly medium and was so tender but had an amazing char from the grill. The salad to start is homemade and delicious. The dinner rolls are better than any chain results rolls. The service was amazing and drinks and food came out quick. For 2 meals and two glasses of wine our bill was still under $100 what a deal. We will be bringing all of our visitors here to experience it.

Staff was nice and great for our big party. Food was ehhh but fair price. Ambiance was pleasant

After three months of living on the Island, we decided on dinner at Bennie's. We were immediately greeted and sat by the window under a giant wild turkey . This places oozes history and preservation of what works in a family owned business. We both received hot fresh rolls and salads tossed in a vinaigrette garlic dressing....so tasty. We were greeted by Ethel and she offered suggestions as what was best sellers: we ordered onion rings for appetizer, steaks for dinner with baked and sweet potato. I regret only not having enough room for dessert:( Next time we will save room. EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS! Thank you for the southern hospitality and ambiance

Came here after being receiving some recommendation regarding some good steaks around the area, so we had to try it. It did not disappoint. Good steak at a good price. Got an 8oz filet for a little bit less than $40. The filet was flavorful and tender. Worth trying out for their steaks

My husband and granddaughter LOVE Bennie's! The atmosphere is amazing, they walk around and sing at your table island songs, gospel, and just fun songs:) The food is always really good! And a plus, any day on St. Simons Island is a happy day! *Seafood, steaks, fresh vegetables, Italian salad, spaghetti, great fried chicken, yummy desserts, cocktails. And, the barn atmosphere is fun:)

This place seems to be the local hangout. Casual- but great food! and then ima free dinner the music and dancing starts! Definitely was a good time!

I was visiting the area and was interested in taking in as many local restaurants as possible. Glad I visited the Red Barn (and if Yelp allowed, I'd give a 3.5 star review), but I probably wouldn't go back a second time. I was with two other diners. While we were quickly seated, service was slow to our table (a Tuesday evening, about 3/4 full). While our waitress was nice, she didn't engage with anyone at the table. After a lengthy wait, our drinks arrived from the bar (they were good). After more waiting we received our rolls/buns and salad. The rolls were great. The salad tasted good; however, the lettuce literally was swimming in the salad dressing. A dining partner had an appetizer. He was pleased with it (something fried). After more waiting, our entrees arrived. Two of us had the seafood platter. We both thought it was good; but the food cooled off quickly (the plates needed to be heated before plating). Our third had a steak. It appeared to be cooked properly and he said it was good. On our way out, we saw a group of friends dining off to the side of the room. While they also pronounced the food "good", they had the same complaint on slow, non-engaged service. While the prices were reasonable, the "good" food and slow service would encourage me to seek out a different restaurant on my next visit to the area.

Bennie's was recommended to us while on vacation in St. Simons Island as a great place to get a really good steak. Reservations were easy to get as we eat fairly early so we were the first customers to arrive when they opened. The inside is very dated and seemed to have alot of dusty random k ick knacks all over but our table was clean and our waitress was really nice. The first thing that came out was bread and butter and then our salads. We ordered the house dressing which is homemade and that was so good my daughter is still raving about it. I ordered a filet done medium well and mashed potatoes and gravy. The mashed potatoes were good, but the gravy was not heated all the way through so some bites were refrigerator cold and the temperature was very uneven. My filet was a nice size and looked like it was cooked perfectly until I cut into it. It was completely raw all the way through. Our waitress was super nice and as soon as she saw me cut it, she offered to send it back. I ended up having to send it back twice and the third time just ate what I could off the parts that were not raw. The steak had a great flavor but just was not cooked properly. The food portions were generous, the ambiance leaves a little to be desired but the service was great!

Staff were pretty rude and standoffish. We visited from out of town but come to St Simons often for my fiancés work. They seemed to be vetting if we were locals or not, as the hostess made a weird comment to the other girl about us while we were standing right there, and the waiter spent significantly more time with other tables. To the point that every time we tried to ask for something he was already walking away from us mid-sentence. While we initially wanted to get coffee and dessert we decided against it due to the poor service. My fiancé loved the steak but my meal was just okay. Definitely overpriced for the quality. Not sure what the vibe is supposed to be exactly as they have Italian, steak, and seafood but we'll probably try somewhere else when we're back in September just for the fact that everyone was so incredibly rude. Considering every patron in there was dressed casually Im not quite sure where the attitude comes from.

I don't really know what to say except we got a great parking spot. Food was not good at all. Service was one of my worst experiences. EVER! Bill was a nightmare and included many items we did not order. Waiting for final credit card statement to see what happens. New to St. Simons and the restaurants here are amazing. PLEASE do not waste your time at this place. Do not let its history fool you. To be honest , I read the bad reviews and tried it anyway. My Bad. Waitress acted like she was going us a favor.

First visit to this restaurant and it has a very laidback vibe. It almost seems like it should be fancy, but it's casual. The menu is simple, which I liked, because you can order quickly. Our group had fried okra and onion rings for an appetizer. They were fried to perfection. I had the filet steak and mashed potatoes and gravy. It was tasty, wasn't expecting the bacon on outside, but it worked. Once again, not anything fancy. The yeast rolls were served hot. They are delicious, airy and melt in your mouth. They also serve a small lettuce salad with tomato, at first I wasn't impressed, but the garlic dressing that's on it made it so good! Definitely a great place for large groups! They had a group of 100 in there, but it was not a private room, just section of restaurant. If you are looking for southern charm and southern hospitality, this place has it!

Great food, great service and great atmosphere. Highly recommend! Had the steak and shrimp with a side of spaghetti. Was really good and the waitress was wonderful.

Unfortunately this will be our last time. We have been bringing our family here since our kids were little. But tonight we were served a rancid steak! We first thought it was undercooked and sent it back to be cooked a little more. When they returned it to the table the smell was so awful. The waitress was super nice about it and had it taken off our ticket. However I was very disappointed the manager didn't come to our table.

We arrived at 6pm without a reservation on a Tuesday and were greeted by a friendly if not frantic hostess. She said we may not be accommodated since they only had 4 servers and many reservations but would "check." In a couple minutes she scampered back to say everything would be fine but to be patient because "we only have four servers tonight." We were seated at a big round table near the bar and given the caution decided to get our own drinks. But before we sat down with our cocktails a waiter appeared and was surprised we "helped ourselves." He appeared rushed and a bit 'harried.' I asked for a few minutes to review the menu and ...no problem. Within a few minutes we received warm rolls and butter as well as the house 'wilted salad.' Both were very good, especially the rolls. Within another few minutes the waiter returned and took our orders. The restaurant was busy but not full. Wait staff were rushed but very courteous and helpful. Our meals arrived as ordered but were passed around overhead, to the side and here and there (we were in a corner after all). The food was delicious! I had a filet, medium (which was red inside and more rare than medium). My husband ordered "pink" for his filet so we switched and we both were more than pleased. Large portions served hot and good. Our friends had an array of foods from salmon to scallops...ribeye to surf and turf. All were happy with their meals. Would I recommend Bennies? Absolutely! Will we return? Of course!

Came for daughters birthday. As usual wait staff is beyond reproach. Chip sang at our table and our waitress was wonderful. We ordered 2 steaks, porterhouse and seafood. I had the seafood platter, grouper, shrimp, oysters & scallops. Huge amount of food...I had to share. I wasn't thrilled with the seafood batter...it was very hard, like a shell on the seafood. The porterhouse steaks were very thin compared to the steaks we usually get at Bennies. We were happy with the meal but it was just different than usual. We'll always go back because we've been going to Bennies since the mid 70's. Feels like home.

My family and I went for dinner at Bennie's Red Barn on the Friday night after Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful time! The salad with their house dressing, which has a wonderful garlic flavor, and the tenderloin steaks were delicious. We also enjoyed some onion rings for the table. But the true highlight of our visit was getting to hear Chip Wilson sing "How Great Thou Art." It made for an incredibly memorable evening. We will most definitely be back!

Met expectations - which were that this was a restaurant that probably should have closed in the 1950's or 60's, certainly by the 70's. Service was slow and awful, had to ask for refills of basics like water. Food was edible but not up to what I'd expect for the prices paid. Sides were wrong and we got answers like "well now you have a baked potato" rather than an "I'll fix it." No discernible management in sight, and most of the staff looked harried. No one checked to see if meals were ok. Couldn't wait to get a shower after, to wash off the grease and sweat from the poor ventilation. The one bright spot were the rolls, but that couldn't save the experience.

DO NOT GO HERE. Not only was my lasagna cold and weirdly wet, I also witnessed a RAT run across the door frame. Service was decent. However, the owner was yelling at the staff and being unnecessarily rude to them. I will not be returning. Someone call the health department.

Dropped in here on Mother's Day while we were in the area. We were quickly seated and given tossed salads and warm rolls and butter. I had the seared tuna. Very good cooked perfectly medium rare. My partner had the rib eye which was delicious. Nice little place if you're visiting the island.

An absolutely amazing restaurant. This place provides top notch customer service, ambiance, and great food. The servers are the best around and have the menu committed to memory. I've not had a better steak or homemade rolls anywhere. Please go by and enjoy a fabulous dinner anytime you're close to the St. Simons area.

My wife and I enjoyed a delicious steak accompanied by superb customer service. As a bonus, Chip Wilson joined us to talk about growing up on the island and the history of Bennie's Red Barn. Plus, it was interesting to hear the stories about his cousin's restaurant Alphonso's Plantation Supper Club where my wife and I had our wedding reception 30 years ago. Enjoyed him signing and entertaining the customers making it a memorable experience.

Unfortunately, this wasn't a great experience for us. We came as a party of 6 and everyone's food was a disaster, from the raw steak and I'm talking raw, not rare, to the cold crab a tad warm on the bottom that looked like oatmeal or throw up in the bowl with crackers on the side. I do have to say, the rolls were delicious. It's really unfortunate that I have to write this, but it was pretty bad- our server was very nice but over overwhelmed.

Our family of 9 had dinner tonight. the food was really good and our sever, Johnny was amazing. We will come back next time we are in town and recommend to anyone visiting.

Still so so good. get the grouper balls. Fried chicken is divine. Finish it off with a Raccoon!!!! Top notch staff. Top notch food. Great times and a comfortable down home atmosphere. Can't recommend Bennie's highly enough. And I will continue to defend my Dukedom!

The name is a perfect reflection of this large, open dining hall. Bennie's is old school and popular with the tourists, as well as many locals. The historic restaurant is a staple in mid-island SSI. Every night Bennie's is a popular dining destination. It is pretty lively and tends to be loud. With that said, they are very accommodating and cater to families with small children and larger groups. The 3 times that we have eaten there over the past year have proven consistent in service, which can be so efficient that it seems rushed. Our Waiter was really nice and experienced with the menu, which actually made him seem to forget to communicate specific information like what preferences we had for salad dressings (which comes automatically with your meal choice as does the fantastic bread.)

Food was good, expensive for the quality served. Old man Johnny was very rude and he just didn't give a crap. He was mad and rude at our table of 12.

Outstanding scallops. The steak and shrimp were phenomenal. We had a party of 13 and we were served quickly with that many people. Make reservations.

Service and food was great. Steak was cooked just right and very tender. Will go back.

The food was great. I had the Salmon and it was cooked perfectly. Our waiter was awesome, he really knew what he was doing. Unfortunately, they had him waiting on lots of tables, they needed more great waiters like him, but I know it's hard to get employees these days. The history of the barn is on the wall and very interesting. We enjoyed our dinner.

I've never left a bad review on a restaurant before but I had to for this place. The Ribeye was disgusting. $37 for a steak that tasted terrible. I HAD to have steak sauce with it in order to enjoy it. The ambiance is probably the only good thing about this place. The service wasn't the best either. I hate to say it, but I would never come back here again.

This is a "storied" local restaurant on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Based on the quality of this place, it's a sad story. If I'm going to get bad service, cold food, and bad alcohol I'd better be in a honky tonk with amazing music. This place lacked the music, but it had bad service, cold food, and bad alcohol. Steak was downright bad. Tough, cooked very unevenly, and gritty. How can a steak be gritty?! Fried appetizer, their onion rings, also bad. The much vaunted salad? Iceberg soaked in dressing. So many better choices on St. Simons. Don't go here.

Poor experience with service, served cold steaks with no condiments! I know this place used to be very popular on the island but it seems to have gone downhill!

If there was a way to give this place 10 stars, I would give it 11. Excelant food. We had Chip Wilson sit down with us and give us a history of the resturant then sing us a song. I am adding this place to the list of must go to next time we are down here.

Great local spot for steaks, drinks and their brunch buffet on the weekends. Always good food with a St Simons touch of hospitality.

We live in the area and took friends from out of town. Previous two visits were average. Last night 2/3/24 was horrible. The retaurant was busy but not packed at 7 pm. The entire wait staff excluding one server had unfriendly and unhelpful appearances. The salad guy dropped the salad immediately after we sat down with no offer of water. Finished our salad and bread with no drinks. The server was rushed and didn't get the order correct. The lamb chops had to be sent back due to being undercooked and the steak and shrimp kabobs came to the plate looking like a mess. Server never approached the table unless we flagged him down . Server never explained specials nor anything on the menu. The bill came and he charged use for 6 beers and we only ordered 4, added $2 to our baked potato because we asked for butter and sour cream. The hostess corrected the bill and the server claimed it was because of a new system. Mularky !! The server only got attentive when it was time for his tip which we gave the smallest I have ever given, Overall a big fat F of an experience. Go to Longhorns!!

Visiting St. Simons Island for the first time and read about this restaurant with high hopes for a nice dinner to celebrate my wedding anniversary with my wife. Sorry to say it was not a success. The salad and rolls that are part of the meal were ok but the main courses were less than mediocre for the prices that they charge. My wife ordered a filet mignon and I had a T-bone steak. All I can say is we were very disappointed with the quality of the beef and would not recommend this place if you are expecting such.

Probably one of the worst meals I have had in a restaurant in a very long time. Salad consisted of iceberg lettuce soaked in vinegar. I ordered the Grouper which was overcooked and barely lukewarm. The veggies were the pre-frozen mixed ones you get at Costco that had been boiled to mush - also lukewarm. The best part of the meal were the rolls and a healthy pour of wine. The service was okay and that was about it. And to add insult to injury this place was not cheap. We are visiting here but I could never imagine wanting to eat here again.

Horrific service and cold food. The waitress was downright mean and management did nothing to remedy the issues. It took over an hour for appetizers to arrive. I'd rather catch my dinner down at the St. Simon's pier than eat at the barn again.