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1950s diner and meat-and-threeThe Nations$$$$

Wendell Smith's Restaurant

A third-generation family diner in The Nations since 1952. Breakfast from 6 AM, fried chicken on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Wendell Smith's Restaurant
Photo: Wendell Smith's Restaurant

#6 in Meat & three + Southern

Google 4.5 2,324 reviewsYelp 4.0 193 reviews

Meat & three + SouthernLocals' favorite

Directions

What to get

  • Fried chicken on Tuesday or Saturday
  • Meatloaf or a fried pork chop
  • Fresh fried corn, marshmallow yams, mac and cheese
  • Banana pudding ('defines the category') or chess pie

When to go

Early: it opens at 6 am for breakfast. Tuesday and Saturday for fried chicken.

Insider tip

Third-generation family ownership training the fourth (Eater). The menu rotates daily: follow its Instagram for the board.

Heads up

Closed Sundays.

Find it

Reservations
walk-in only

Recognition

Checked Oct. 1, 2026. Ratings are a snapshot from Google and Yelp; ranks are ours (how we rank). Something out of date? Tell us.

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