Wagner's Village Inn

Our Valentine’s Day adventure took us to Wagner’s Village Inn in Oldenburg, a spot long celebrated for its legendary fried chicken. The restaurant earned national recognition as a James Beard Award America’s Classic winner in 2023, a distinction that highlights beloved, locally owned institutions with timeless appeal. The restaurant’s claim to fame is its traditional preparation: fried chicken cooked in 14-inch cast iron skillets using hog fat. Leaning fully into the experience, we ordered the family dinner — roughly two pounds of chicken per person with unlimited sides (coleslaw, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, and rolls). Portions are incredibly generous; if everyone at the table orders the family meal, expect to leave with plenty of leftovers. The fried chicken is exceptionally moist, but both the chicken and gravy are distinctly pepper-forward. If you’re sensitive to black pepper, this may not be your favorite style. Let’s also be honest: this is indulgent comfort food, not a “light” meal. For sides, the mashed potatoes were creamy and satisfying, but the standout for me was the coleslaw — slightly sweet, nicely dressed, and refreshingly balanced against the richness of the chicken. The only miss for me was the green beans. They were flavorful but very garlic-forward, which isn’t my personal preference and differs from a more traditional Southern-style preparation. We both ordered tea. The sweet tea was well done. The half-cut tea was good, though those who prefer less sweetness might want to ask for a bit more unsweetened tea. The rolls deserve a mention: fluffy, light, and delicious. We only received two but likely could have requested more. My minor quibble was the spread served alongside them — I would have loved real butter instead of margarine. A small detail, but worth noting. Atmosphere-wise, the decor feels like stepping back in time — checkered tablecloths, wood paneling, and a cozy, old-school inn vibe. The staff was warm and friendly, adding to the charm. One practical tip: home cooking is not fast cooking. Service wasn’t slow, but this is not a five-minute turnaround meal. Plan accordingly. They do bring coleslaw out early, which is a thoughtful touch while you wait. Overall, this was a fun, nostalgic dining experience and we’re glad we made the trip. While it’s not somewhere we’d visit regularly, we absolutely understand why it has earned such a strong reputation. If you’re in the Batesville, Indiana area, it’s definitely worth a stop and trying at least once.

What a let down. How they won a James Beard award is beyond me. The food just wasn't that good. It seemed old and warmed up. It definitely wasn't fried fresh. When we arrived only 1 other patron was there. We sat fairly close to the kitchen and you could tell not a lot of cooking was going on. Little sound and the smell of food cooking. There were four of us. We ordered the family style chicken dinner and one fish and fries. The fish and fries were good and you could tell freshly made. The rolls were good except the second serving was microwaved, you could tell. The potatoes and gravy were okay. We all agreed the cole slaw was the winner. It was fantastic. The chicken was a big let down. Not real hot and a little dry. The fried mushrooms were okay. For the price definitely not worth it.

Charming little spot just a short jaunt off I-74 with food you don’t want to miss! Interior reminds you off a historic saloon, while the server (girl with brown straight hair) offered to let me try two drafts to see which I would prefer. Chicken gizzards (not pictured) are peppery and warm, while spicy cheese bites are rich and smooth like an elevated state fair experience. Mashed potatoes were well seasoned and topped with some of the best gravy I’ve had. The coleslaw was a perfect balance between sweet and bright. Subbed corn fritters for green beans. Chicken was well seasoned, but the sides were the stars of the show for me. Excellent affordable prices.

First time visiting and im glad we did. Some of the best tasting fried chicken I've ever had. Came with green beans , mashed potatoes and rolls. All the sides were equally delicious. Very friendly staff as well. Highly recommend this restaurant to everyone.

The food was delicious. The portions were reasonable and if you order the 4 piece meal the sides are bottomless.

We drove 2.5hrs to eat here (we love road trips). Some of the best fried chicken we ever had. And the service, it was just amazing! We will be going back and will take some family members with us!

We made a special stop in town to eat at this James Beard America’s Classic, and it was definitely worthwhile! The service was friendly and the restaurant itself is so historic! We got the fried cheese bites to start and they were crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. The fried chicken was heavily seasoned with black pepper and absolutely delicious. The mashed potatoes were excellent, although not as hot as I would have liked. However, the steaming hot gravy helped make it just right! Overall, I would highly recommend stopping by!

Pan fried chicken with a wonderfully crisp pepper crust, real mashed potatoes with creamy butter, plump green beans and sweet, Angel hair slaw. This meal HITS. THE. SPOT. Service was annoyed at us for asking questions about the menu, but that didn’t detract from the delicious meal.

Literally the best fried chicken ever, anywhere! Absolutely delicious!! Cole slaw is completely on point. Mashed potatoes are truly amazing. Gravy is extremely good and not your average gravy with fillers. Green beans are addicting. House made rolls are light and incredible. Daniel the owner is so friendly, hard working, and runs the place with precision and total dedication. This restaurant is a MUST visit! Totally worth the drive -- and also worth every dollar spent. If you love great authentic local food made with care and love, you HAVE to eat here! We highly recommend it and can't wait to go back. Everyone please support this Indiana gem. You won't be disappointed!

Finally got to Wagner's after hearing so many recommendations for it over the years. They are now open 7 days a week. My wife had the 2 piece lunch chicken special with mashed potatoes and green beans and slaw. I had the 1/2 chicken family style dinner which was basically the same with 2 more pieces of chicken. I would have been able to get more sides if I had asked, but that was enough food that we were still able to take some home. The chicken was great and the slaw was surprisingly good. Service was OK, but not quite as good as the food.. This was an hour away from us, so we will not be able to go there too frequently, but we hope to return again (with an appetite) A small town gem.

Oh boy where to get started. They've won a James Beard award for fried chicken and let me just say it's more than deserving. We went here on a Tuesday for lunch in hopes to beat a crowd. The place was virtually empty. The guy working was super friendly and chatty. Oh he also did the cooking. He had said the day before they sold out of everything so we picked the right day. When I say this was the best fried chicken I've ever eaten, it was just phenomenal. Perfectly crisp, peppery and tender. The sides were delicious as well and they were limitless but we couldn't get past what we had it was just so much food. The inside is old school restaurant with wood paneling that I'm sure had stories to tell. worth the drive. You'll need to go for a walk after.

Stopped in Odenburg to try the James Beard Award-winning restaurant, and I'm glad we did. The food was fantastic--bold flavors, great presentation, and clearly made with care. The only downside was the service, which could have been better. It wasn't bad, just not at the level you'd expect from a restaurant with that kind of recognition."

I drive an hour to come get chicken here. Also like to treat my friends when I bring some home. Plus I love Oldenberg and the surrounding area.

Been there many times . Drove a long way and today was not very good I'm sorry but the chicken was average at best . The Cole slaw was great and the mash potatoes were not the norm compared to the usual . The place was packed great vibe as always just not what has been in the past .. ps I'll give 6 months and try again .

Let's start with the service. The lady taking my order was the sweetest. The young man that brought me my food was also very friendly and had a nice smile. The ambience is definitely nothing spectacular. The place could use a little sprucing up. I so wanted to like the chicken better than I did. At first taste pepper is what I tasted. I do feel the crust was done to perfection. I will likely give it one more try. But if this pepper taste is the main ingredient on their chicken it will be my last time trying it. My green beans were exceptionally good. The mashed potatoes and gravy. We are just mediocre.

We stopped through Wagner's on the way home to Indy to break up the drive. My wife, son, and I each got the fried chicken dinner because when in Rome, right? The chicken was super hot, juicy, and fresh. The ingredients are pretty straight forward, with the lone twist being the fact they skillet fry the chicken in pork fat, but they lean heavy into the black pepper - I'm a fan, but just a warning for those who aren't. The sides are just OK: the mashed potatoes are saved by the gravy and the green beans are plain Jane, but they remind me of the ones my mom used to make. The service was terrific and everyone was incredibly friendly and attentive. Was scrolling through the reviews after the fact and I think some folks are being overly harsh with this place. Yes, it comes with the James Beard distinction, but a big part of earning that award is the "no frills" approach: it's basic, traditional, reliable, and charming. Wagner's is located in Oldenburg, a 600-person town in the giant Nowheresville between Indianapolis and Cincinnati. I barely had cell service there. Is the meal mind-blowing? No. Are the green beans canned? Yes. But, is the chicken hot, crispy, and tasty? You bet! It's rural Indiana, guys! You want a prototypical Beard experience? There's an amazing Ed Lee place in Louisville that's 100 miles away, or you can trek to Chicago in around four hours to spend quadruple the price on something more upscale and oretenoois. This place *isn't* that... and, for a family-owned fried chicken joint, that was perfectly fine with us.

I would definitely recommend this place again! We stopped here, because they have a James Beard award for the fried chicken! I just had to try it, and the pan fried hog fat chicken delivered! Honestly, so crispy, crunchy, seasoned very well! I ordered a whole chicken with sides! I ordered mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, and coleslaw. The mashed potatoes were average but the gravy was super tasty! The coleslaw was refreshing and added a great cool element! The service was lovely, very helpful and attentive! She told us the story of how they received the James Beard award and it was wonderful to hear! The decor was definitely an ode to the town of Oldenburg. It was a lovely small town! The best part of the meal other than that delicious chicken was the price! It was so affordable which was refreshing! A whole family could eat good food for a reasonable price! You can't get better than that!

Wagner's Village Inn is the recipient of a James Beard award. Wow! Once I heard that, of course I had to visit. How neat is it that a small Indiana restaurant receives such a prestigious food award? The fried chicken at Wagner's is possibly the best fried chicken I've eaten in Indiana. Them Jimmy Beard people know what they're talking about! The chicken is highly seasoned (lots and lots of pepper) and fried in hog fat. If you like crispy chicken skin like I do, you will like this chicken because there are lots of crackly bits to savor. The chicken is piled high on a plate if you get the family-style chicken meal. The family meals are 1/2 of a chicken per person, with mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and coleslaw. The sides are all-you-can-eat, but for what it's worth, I felt like they gave me a lot with my first serving, so I never asked for a second. The coleslaw comes out first by itself, almost like an appetizer, and then the other sides are served with the chicken. The green beans tasted like they came from a can, so they were not my favorite. Kind of squishy and mealy. I did enjoy the mashed potatoes and gravy, though, and that side dish went really well with the slightly greasy fried chicken. They have a kids' menu, which my children insisted on ordering from. Kids' meals all come with apple sauce, inexplicably. My kids got fried mac-and-cheese bites, and chicken nuggets with wedge fries, and they were both just "meh" about their kids' meals. I really feel like Wagner's shines with one thing: fried chicken. Everything else just can't compare and is just fine. We visited on a weekend, late in the morning before the crowds. There weren't many people in the restaurant, but the service was incredibly slow, considering! I hope they pick up the pace when they are more busy. Wagner's definitely feels like an institution in Oldenburg -- lots of local-looking people pulled up to the booths, and many more walking in as we were exiting.

Restaurant is quaint with a full service bar. They serve your fried chicken meal family style. You get coleslaw to start with crackers. Then they bring out chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans and rolls. Chicken is floured and fried upon ordering so it takes a little bit to get your food. Chicken was very good. Such good flavor and juicy. Mashed potatoes are homemade with peels in it. They are very good. Gravy is also homemade with bits of chicken in it. Gravy is a bit salty for my liking, but the rest of my family liked it. Green beans are very good. They have a garlic hint to them. We really liked them. All your sides are unlimited so if you leave hungry it's your own fault.

Not my favorite place for chicken. Don't prefer it pan fried in lard. Place feels small and cramped. Have not found it a welcoming environment.

We always come with a large party so I'm hoping that's why service is bad. I've been there about 3-4 times total. Each time it's like the servers are new or have 50+ other tables to worry about. Food is subpar and the wait time once seated is horrendous. Mozzarella sticks were fine but the pretzel bites/cheese were cold. Expect to spend 2 hours here or longer. They don't do quick service.

Just had lunch there. We both ordered the chicken dinner. The review on the food is excellent - really good fried chicken! The sides were fine - gravy stood out. Service? Not so much. 2 servers barely acknowledged us as we entered. The one who worked with us looked and acted like she just didn't want to be there. She literally 'tossed' a bowl of Cole slaw on the table and said nothing and walked away. Not a smile from either of them. We both have had experience as service workers, and had many not so great nights on those gigs. But the vibe came off as if they truly wanted to be anywhere but there. Pretty uncomfortable.

The fried chicken is second to none I am told it's the cast iron skillet but it has to be the love that goes into the chicken. A small, unassuming restaurant in downtown Oldenburg IN - but super clean and friendly. This is a consummate family restaurant that will be serving chicken for years to come - just don't change anything!

After reading all the reviews. I did not know what to expect from this place. People love it or hate it. We just came home from there. The chicken and livers were very good but if you do not like hot food, you will not be able to eat them. REALLY heavily spiced with pepper. I asked that they hold the pepper. I was able to eat my livers but I could not eat my husband's chicken. Coleslaw is great. Mashed potatoes are good and not instant as someone stated. Green beans are nothing special. But we had good service and overall really enjoyed our meal. Also... very large portions.

The owner is carrying on his grandparents' legacy & has perfected the culinary art of pan fried chicken. Delicious & crispy! Family style servings give customers a great potion size. Also, it keeps to the Germany heritage with the wall art. This restaurant is a James Beard award winner as well!

We come here around every other month and on this occasion they were the busiest they have been in a long time. At first I was ready leave since to took a long time to get service but we realized how short handed they were so we stayed and were glad we did. The fried chicken was great as usual as were the sides; slaw, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy. The only downside was the cost has gone up the last 2 times we have visited. We love this place, but unfortunately, at $22.95/person, we are contemplating the cost for another visit.

Honestly, hubby and I were not impressed. We appreciated the old time charm and legacy of the restaurant, but I guess with them being an award winner and all, we thought the food would be really good or even amazing. I think our expectations were set too high. My husband ordered the unbreaded chicken thighs. I ordered the Wagner salad, which my served said contained their famous chicken. Hubby said his thighs were good, but the green beans were canned, the slaw unremarkable. My salad was all bagged iceberg with some diced pink "grocery store" tomatoes, unappetizing chunks of strong white onion, a sprinkle of orange cheese, a little bit of bacon, and a half handful of fried chicken skin, cartilage, and breading. I didn't have more than one or two bites of actual chicken meat. The Lance Crackers brought to the table were stale and the small plastic pot of ranch dressing was warm. Looking around the room, we did see some people sharing big platters of fried chicken, but with the same green beans plus mashed potatoes. Couldn't tell if the potatoes were instant or not, but the people seemed to be enjoying the chicken...at least the quantity of it. The restaurant itself was definitely dated and kind of run down. We liked seeing some of the vintage items, but my husband noticed water stains on the ceiling, and general lack of attention and updating. Service Was fine. Our server did as expected and was pleasant. I'm not sure that we would have the desire to dine here again. Maybe we would consider takeout chicken only, but we wouldn't order sides, or any other menu item, other than the fried chicken. We have been to some pretty shabby hole in the wall places with outstanding food, but we just didn't find that here. We feel sad about that. Seems they held on to the fried chicken legacy but let everything else go.

Amazing chicken! The owner/chef/waiter was extremely nice. Long standing family business deserves 5 stars or more.

Chef Joseph, best chicken I've ever eatten. It was worth the drive. Drinker came with fryed chicken, coleslaw, greenbeans, mash potatoes, gravy, it was all good.

This restaurant received the James Beard award. A year ago this place was the best to go to for fried chicken. Went again for the first time in a couple of years. They served dirty mashed potatoes (peels on and smashed), salty as hell green beans and greasy fried chicken, cole slaw was excellent. The plate it was served on was swimming in grease. It is the first time we left chicken on the table and did not take it home. I suggest James Beard needs to visit again. We will be going back to the Brau House in Oldenburg. Waitress was very friendly, attentive and kind.

Worst chicken i ever had kfc is better the chicken was so dry i had a hard time swallowing the food the potatoes had no tastexat all Service was great very nice servers clean place drove 4 hours to eat there what a waste of time

Wow! Incredible fried chicken. Made on a tabletop fryer in lard. Best fried I've ever had. Waited twenty minutes for a fresh serving. On Fridays they have chicken livers and gizzards but other than that there is no other meal served here. It's too bad you can't get something different if chicken isn't your thing and your with a group.

I will not go here again. We called ahead to make an order and told it would be an hour wait, which was fine. The lady sounded annoyed that we'd wait but then said they might be out of food. Then she said they did have food so it'd be okay. Awesome. When we went in to pick up our order the lady behind the bar was less than helpful (guessing she's the one on the phone as well). We paid $60...got a small thing of cold potatoes, separated gravy that looked gross, and a small tub of green beans that were probably from a can. Chicken was tiny and burned. We had eaten here a few times within the last two years and something has happened to this place. Yikes.

I luv the fact it had won James Beard award. It was good, not great. Simple basic recipe one can recreate at home. Service was so slow and one of the worst I've had. Never checked on us, would have ordered more beers/drinks. You can only order the family size platter $17.95 (1/2 chicken with sides) There are appetizers otherwise chicken only. I understand since they won the award, capitalized on it and make it easy on the staff.

Great food. And lots of it. Shared the family meal. Affordable and great service. Dated decor but that made it even better!

Now, I know what all the hype is about! The restaurant is approx 50 miles southeast of Indy and easily accessible from the highway. It is in a small, quaint town with plenty of parking on the street and surrounded by some small shops. I was greeted by Lexi when I walked in. She is quick, friendly and provided a little history about the restaurant. She answered all of my questions and took my order, promptly. Before, I knew it, she brung out the silverware, drink and napkins. I love quick service! Then, Kole greeted me almost as quickly. He is personable. As I observed, he was constantly working in the kitchen or just staying busy. Kole put his "foot" in that chicken! It was well seasoned, crispy and not dried out. I love good chicken! The food and service were excellent! Food presentation is extremely important and they did not disappoint. The restaurant is family friendly and clean. Next time I'll be bringing some people with me and I'm ordering peach cobbler too. This place definitely deserves an award!

Took a "field trip" to this quaint town to experience a James Beard award winner dinner! This restaurant got swamped after the win so now the only menu item is their famous fruit chicken! I'm not a big fan of fried chicken, but this WAS the bomb! Served with bottomless coleslaw, mashed potatoes and green beans, and only $17.95. Two types of Warsteiner German beer on tap. Worth the trip!

The chicken was delicious. Sides are great too. When I was there the owner was working the shop all by himself, service was really good. Hats off to someone working to keep a family business going.

Ate lunch there today so nice to be greeted, very clean, food was great, large portions and great service. Can see why it was given the James Beard award.

We went to Wagner's the other evening for the first time to meet some friends there. The hubby and my friends all ordered beer a Dunkel. My friends order that beer all the time and they really enjoy it there. I ordered a cocktail and didn't really have anything in mind so they asked me what I liked and they made me something and it was good. I ordered an appetizer for us which was the fried hot cheese. My friends ordered the liver and gizzards. We also ordered our entree at the same time and my hubby ordered the fried chicken with french fries and I ordered a grilled pork tenderloin with onion rings. Our friends ordered a plate of chicken. The fried cheese was pretty good and the waitress also brought another round of drinks for my friends and my hubby. She was very attentive. She delivered our entree and the cook forgot my onion rings so they made a order of them up quickly but they were greasy when I got them. That pork tenderloin was very good it was small and thicker because it was not all pounded out. My hubby loved the fried chicken he couldn't get over how well they seasoned it! This place is known for their fried chicken but I am not a fried chicken fan so I always look for something else on the menu when we go to a place like this. I was happy with what I got. I am sure that we will go back here again.

Award winning fried chicken. Don't miss out on this little gem. Out of the way off the beaten path. Well worth the trip! 5 star food

Very good chicken, love the pepper in the batter. Nice option to get family style, had seven of us there it was just enough

Excellent service, food was fantastic. Pan fried chicken, real mashed potatoes and gravy. Slaw was slightly too milky, but good. Green beans a little sweet but still good. They could bring more than one roll per person.

Selection of food was not very good and the price was crazy. They charged $19. for their buffet because they added fish. It was not worth it. Service was not good. Will not go back. I had also ordered a cake to take to a pitch in from the bakery. It was the worst cake I have ever had in my life. The cake was dry and the icing was supposed to be butter cream but this was not. I am not really sure what it was. I paid $22 for a 3 layer round cake. It was not worth it at all. No one liked it because it was so bad.

Years ago we use to eat there 3 to 4 times a year! It never disappointed. Then they won this big award and their menu totally changed. I liked the chicken before and it's still the same but it seems you can only get chicken! The prices blew upwards also. We couldn't get individual items off the menu. They created a new menu of just a few items that didn't jive up to their old menu that had way more food to choose from, not just Chicken.

I drove all the way out to this little town to try this restaurant's famous fried chicken. Appetizers were pretty average, the macaroni bites were made of Kraft instant mac and cheese instead of homemade, cheese bites were melty and crispy so overall good, the breaded mushrooms were crispy. Chicken was underwhelming, it was tender and crispy and the breading had lots of black pepper in it. It seems like the whole thing was hyped up and exaggerated way too much so perhaps I just excepted more from a James Beard award. The servings are enormous, half of a chicken for only one person. It wasn't anything super special and not really worth driving hours to get to. Gravy was delicious and flavorful and seemed to be made from the chicken drippings. Overall it was a nice place with an old fashioned ambiance. The service was good, and servers were friendly. I would recommend if you were nearby, but not to drive hours to get to.

The chicken here is fine. It's better than average but it's far from stellar. You're given half a chicken per person. The breading is crisp but not heavily seasoned. The chicken is moist and well cooked. However I found dragging the chicken through the provided gravy improved the experience as otherwise it was on the bland side of things. The cole slaw is also fine. Leaning toward bland and watery. The other sides were completely disappointing. Instant mashed potatoes and unadulterated canned green beans. When James Beard gives out "American Classics" awards I've found it speaks more to the experience than the food itself. The town is charming, the restaurant is also charming and the drive to the location is beautiful. If you stumbled upon this meal I think it would be a delightful surprise but I would firmly say that if you are making the trip just for the chicken, as I did, lower your expectations.

Pass by the reviews made by sad individuals who have never accomplished anything in their lives and can't stand to see someone else be successful. This is a small town restaurant serving an excellent dish, not a big city restaurant trying to earn a Michelin star. The chicken itself is certainly deserving of a James Beard award, and the mashed potatoes were excellent. The service is small-town friendly as well. Definitely worth a try. For the record, the Thursday special is two dollars off draft beer

Excellent Chicken! Great sides Quick Service We placed a to go order while traveling. They told us 45 minutes since everything is made fresh. We arrived in 50 minutes. Picked up our order and had great dinner

This was the first time that we had been to the town of Oldenberg. The reason for our visit was the chicken at Wagners. To start off, the town of Oldenberg is beautiful. There was a group of 7 of us and when we arrived at the restaurant they got us seated very quickly. The wait staff was very nice and very efficient. The food was wonderful. I absolutely loved the chicken salad and my husband couldn't get enough of the chicken and mashed potatoes. We will definitely go again!!

On this inauspicious day we tried Wagner's fried chicken and shooweee it did not disappoint. The southern style, down home cooking at this restaurant puts the Colonel in a body bag. The fried chicken is so moist and flavorful and the gravy so peppery and thick will make you wonder why you haven't stopped here every weekend. This place recently got featured on a couple mainstream articles but they've been slanging the best fried chicken for decades. You really need to give this place a visit and try their food while you can. Excellent service too as it's not too big for a small gathering.

Oh wow. Wagners is the place to go if you want your grandma's fried chicken. It's rated the best in SE Indiana. It's really that good I hear and I will soon find out for myself. We ordered the Wednesday 1/2 off special of livers and gizzards, Cole Slaw, mashed potatoes and gravy with a side of hot sauce and a side of gravy for dipping. I really have no words to express how good everything was. We will be back for sure.

We visited a few weeks ago for an early supper, after a hike. By the time we were finally seated, waited on, served, and paid, it wasn't early anymore. It seems they were short staffed and were doing the best they could with the limited resources. The only waitress was doing her best to have a good attitude and serve a lot of people on this busy Sunday, which we really appreciated. The food was very, very good. The chicken is pan fried and was worth the wait. This is a very peppery chicken and I loved every bite. The mashed potatoes and gravy were nearly as good as the chicken. My wife is a coleslaw junkie and said this was the second best she has EVER had (#1 spot goes to The Schoolhouse Restaurant in Cinci). Besides the staffing issue, the only other negative was how awkwardly quiet it was in the room we were in. I can't stress how badly they need some music going in here. We'll be back.

Based on the precious reviews I had very low expectations for this place. However, I was pleasantly surprised! Limited menu, family style dining, and it was all really good. The fried chicken was amazing, as we're the green beans and corn nuggets! Good southern cooking at its best. Go eat there!!

First time at Wagner's. Drove 65 miles to try their award winning fried chicken. The chicken was different than any other fried chicken I've ever had. The pieces were small but we're ok. The breading was delicious, but honestly the meat was very dry. Overall it seemed overcooked. I still liked the chicken but my girlfriend didn't like it at all. The slaw, potatoes and green beans were good. The service was unimpressive. The slaw was delivered long before our drinks. Then 2 of us got the wrong drinks. (the server apologized). Our dinner rolls were never delivered...we had to ask. None of us got drunk refills. My girlfriend ordered coffee with her meal....it never came. Finally delivered after we were nearly finished. (again, server apologized). In summary, we had an ok meal and it was certainly affordable. I'm not really sure it's worthy of the famed James Beard award. If your in the area...give it a shot. We won't be returning.

FRIED CHICKEN!!!!! The food is really good and friendly staff. Worth the trip for sure.

If you win the Janes Beard award: you have a responsibility to bring it every night. Wagners did not this past Saturday night. We had a party of 4 adults and two kids. Drinks came out timely and the cole slaw was good. The chicken was overcooked but the mashed potatoes were spot on. Now the real bad: the green beans had so much butter or fat in them I couldn't eat them In good conscience. Disgusting comes to mind. The absolute worst was the gravy. Chicken gravy is more often than not a cream color not dark brown. The gravy had "pearls" of flour in it causing me to speculate the cook doesn't know how to make a roux. there are a number a chicken restaurants nearby that bring it every night for every customer Also take the chairs down on all the tables it doesn't speak highly of you if you're not expecting a crowd on Saturday night. And...the bar was disgusting when we paid our bills: dishes were gone but coleslaw and gravy remnants were still waiting to be washed off. I can't recommend visiting here. Wagners used to be a restaurant you could expect great food every visit: presently you can only ride a reputation for so long before the word gets out your standards have dropped and your food is awful.