J D's Place

Stopped here after kayaking Clear Creek in Congaree NP. Our guides highly recommended this place. The food was outstanding! The 4 of us ordered fried chicken and pork chops, each of which came with 3 sides. For us, the sides included yams, potato salad, Mac and cheese, greens, Lima beans and cornbread. We also ordered a piece of 7-up pound cake. The food was incredibly good! Highly recommend!!!

Enjoyed our stop after visiting Congaree. Homelike atmosphere. Enjoyed our food, especially okra and bread pudding. And a nice gentleman paid for our meal. May they all be blessed

Nice little lunch spot. Good food, pleasant staff and spacious parking for any sized vehicle. The very small bathroom was the only bummer.

Now I know what Southern hospitality means. The ladies at JD's are the friendliest staff I've ever had breakfast with. They made sure I had everything I needed, and the service didn't stop until I left. I felt like I was dining at Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa because the attentiveness of the staff was at the exact same level, if not greater. The food was some great homecooking with no frills just the way your mom would make it. Anyone visiting Congaree National Park, do yourself a favor and stop here for breakfast before you start your hiking or kayaking.

Waited over 30 minutes for the worst hamburger I had all year. Cooked to a hockey puck and served at room temperature. Table was dirty. There was literally no other customers sat so I have no idea what could’ve taken that long to prepare a cheeseburger. Little to no customer service, and tables all had salt and crumbs on them. Straight up dump , don’t go.

Good food and service. Price seemed high at $27 for chicken lunch special with extra piece and tea. Can't afford to return.

Great food, better prices and overall a great place to eat for lunch or dinner after or before your visit to Congaree National Park. The reviews are high, and for good reason. This is by no means your fancy 5 star restaurant, but it's as authentic as southern home cooking can be. The service by two young gentlemen was great and they were attentive to our needs. It may not look like a lot from the outside and that's ok - the food is good.

Low key, local establishment that gets Southern flavor right. This is not one of those trendy born again pretending to be old southern... This is real old school, little rough around the edges and taste great. A flavorful perfectly seasoned fried livers and gizzards with a little hot sauce of unknown origin, that makes you happy kind of place... a slow down and appreciate simple good food kinda place.

Stopped in for a Sunday lunch after a Congaree paddle and I was glad I did. This is the real thing. Super friendly folks, all food made to order and everything was great. I had the fried chicken, greens, and mac and cheese and it was all homemade and all good. Topped it off with a round of cheesecake with fresh berries. Hit the spot! It'll be a regular stop on my paddling trips from now on.

We were hungry while driving to the Congaree national park and didn´t see a lot of options for food driving on the highway so we ended up hitting JDs. We were there on Easter Sunday and the place was decorated to the theme with Easter bunnies and pastel colored table clothes. Upon entering we were greeted by the bar men and offered a table and menus. The food items are limited to burgers, fries, fried food and other foods of the sort. We ordered the burger and chicken fingers with a side of French fries which were prepared promptly and served hot. The food was pretty good and satisfying . The meal was cheap at a $7 per person including sodas. One thing to note: they do not take credit cards, so make sure to bring some cash.

First off, when you approach this joint, DON'T follow your instincts and drive on. It does have a sketch factor inside and out, but the food is solid and freshly made. The sides we're outstanding, including home made baked mac-n-cheese, fresh fried okra and chicken that is fried to order. No complaints from any of a party of 9 (an accomplishment in itself). The service was very friendly, the food came out fast, and was a bargain by any measure. It was cheaper than fast food, and a whole lot better. All in all, a great roadside stop for anyone passing by, or willing to go a little out of the way.

Delicious locally owned, operated and prepared food. Everything is cooked especially for the customer. Friendly staff always keeps conversations flowing while you wait for your food. I love JD's Place, always have and always will.

Biggest fried chicken wings in a basket I have ever seen! Fried to order!. We heard it sizzling in the back. Fried Okra! Fried, well, fries! They have burgers and fried pork chops too. We were the only ones there at lunch on a rainy Friday, at the closest restaurant to Congaree NP. We city folk felt like fish-out-of-water, but they were so nice, engaged us in conversation and made us feel comfortable. Chow down and burn some calories on a hike in the woods!

Open on Sunday. Menu has plenty of options ranging from breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I want to try the breakfast next time. We had fried chicken, fried pork chop, traditional sides, and oh my gosh was that honey in my sweeeet tea!? Yum. Your options may change depending on the day. This is your favorite grandma or aunt's type of cooking, made from scratch. Total dive.

Wow, where do I begin. So the previous review was pretty accurate in that the place looks scary and we almost turned around and walked out but that would mean driving over 20 minutes to the next nearest restaurant before our hike in the national park. Overall, I'm glad we stayed. The service was kind and the food was traditional southern home cooking. The prices are low and the portions are large. The place is very plain and reminds me of a church basement but it is very clean and the people are nice. If you're at the park and need a quick meal don't pass this place by. There's more to a book than it's cover.

Amazing fried chicken wings... Some of the best onion rings I have ever had... Very friendly staff and very helpful... Also the food came out quickly and still hot out of the fryer.

Kind of looks scary on the outside but turned out to be a decent lunch spot. While at Congaree National Park , the ranger told us this was the closest place. We were a little scared but it was our only chance so we ordered. The place was old and very dated but clean. We had pork chop , fried chicken, hot dog, and cheeseburger. All the food was good and the guy working there was nice and friendly. I think they only take cash. If you are at the park, give it a shot.