Kennon House

Reviews

• Mason M.

  star star star star star 19 July 2026

  This is in a way two very different great restaurants under the same roof.  
  
  The buffet side features southern comfort food and has a rather casual atmosphere.  Fried chicken (very moist, probably the best fried chicken I know of), black-eyed peas, Brunswick soup (not the official name, but it really is a soup version of Brunswick stew), green-beans, and fried fish are some of my favorites and can be found there nearly every week.
  
  The 'restaurant' side caters to those with fancier tastes in ambiance and flavor.  My favorite dishes are the country ham: flavorful and not overwhelmingly-salty, and the shrimp & grits: creamy and smooth.  The walls are classily decorated with 19th century-style paintings and artifacts.
  
  The wait-staff is attentive and polite, and the owner often comes around to make sure everyone is enjoying their meals.  There is also a certain old-house smell that I find charming and helps with the feeling that you've stepped back in time, to the early days of the mud house.

• Allison P.

  star star star star_border star_border 14 July 2026

  This is a good historical restaurant if you are near the Lake Gaston area. Unfortunately, the food and service were a bit underwhelming.
  
  We came here for a family dinner with 6 adults and 2 kids. We actually lucked out and got a private room, so we were able to close the door and not have the kids bother anyone. However, there were a few times we felt a bit forgotten in the back of the restaurant. It took about 20 minutes to get our first round of drinks, and unfortunately that was the only round we got the whole dinner. One of the beers was delivered completely frozen, so I think pouring the beer into the frosty mug before leaving the table would have been better.
  
  We did enjoy the shrimp appetizer. I ordered the salmon entree with a side salad and baked potato. The salad was definitely out of a bag, and the salmon was a little on the dry side. I did try the crab cakes and those were better.
  
  Where it started to fall apart was when we finished our meals - after about 20 minutes of not seeing our server we went out to find him. I asked for a coconut cake to go and the check. It took about another 20 minutes to get that. Finally, almost an hour after finishing our entrees, we were able to leave. Hopefully this was just a one off on a really busy night - I could tell our waiter was working hard, so maybe they were short staffed. I would still go back, but maybe with a smaller group.

• Bria L.

  star star star star star_border 6 July 2026

  We met for dinner at Kennon House on June 16. The service was great, food was good and atmosphere was quiet. We had the crab cake appetizer that was delicious with no filling, mushroom ravioli that was tasty, and the rest of the party had the hamburger which was pleasing. Nice retreat restaurant out near the lake!!!

• Madilynne T.

  star star star star star 5 July 2026

  This is an absolutely amazing restaurant and a nice addition in Brunswick County! The food is wonderful and the service is very good! The chef is great, and keep in mind the menu is not always the same, as it changes every once and a while. Their fried chicken is some of the best and their coconut cake (pictured below) is my FAVORITE! Our family always enjoys going for various holidays and birthdays. Only open Wednesday-Saturday for dinner and Sunday for their lunch buffet. Highly recommend the buffet as well. See the picture below for specific times.

• Dev W.

  star star star star star_border 4 July 2026

  Historic home converted into a country restaurant in a rural wooded setting. Interior looks like a colonial home/tavern. Buffet on weekends are great but very crowded in the summer. Buffet is typical of fried chicken, fried fish, veggies, salad bar, Brunswick stew, desserts, etc. Extensive menu and bar.
  
  Local institution for 40 years. You'll notice that many of the diners know each other. Good food, good service, and great atmosphere.