This Neighborhood Georgia Buffet Has Locals Coming Back For Heaping Plates Of Country Cooking

Whole fried catfish shows up every Friday at one Georgia buffet. Hushpuppies, salmon patties, and baked whiting usually ride along with it.

The rest of the week brings its own lineup. Monday might mean fried chicken livers, while Thursday offers chicken and dumpling soup. The menu changes daily, so the calendar matters here.

Sweet tea comes included with the meal. I appreciate a place that doesn’t make you pay extra for the most Southern drink possible. Peach cobbler and banana pudding wait at the end of the line too.

I’d probably plan my visit around the day of the week. Would you pick Friday fish or Wednesday pork chops?

Fried Chicken Has Been The Headliner Here Since 2001

Some restaurants chase trends every year. Johnboy’s Home Cooking has stuck with famous fried chicken, slow-cooked Southern favorites, and homemade dessert since 2001.

That’s more than two decades of keeping the fryer busy in Marietta. In the restaurant world, that kind of staying power says plenty.

The fried chicken sits at the center of the everyday buffet. You’ll also find baked chicken nearby for anyone who wants a lighter plate. Both are part of the regular lineup, so you won’t need to time your visit around them.

Crispy chicken pairs well with almost everything else on the line. Creamy mashed potatoes with gravy make an obvious partner. Collard greens add a little balance to all that crunch.

I can’t imagine skipping the chicken on a first visit. It’s the dish the place built its name around, after all.

The buffet setup also means you can try a piece before committing to a second round. Start small, then go back for more. That’s the beauty of all-you-can-eat dining in Georgia.

Nobody needs to make a final decision on the first trip through the line.

Every Day Of The Week Gets Its Own Menu Personality

Monday and Thursday barely look like the same restaurant. The main dishes rotate daily, and each day brings a different spread to the steam tables.

Monday can feature hot wings, beef tips, Salisbury steak, and BBQ chicken. Tuesday swings toward country fried steak with white gravy, chicken pot pie, and pulled pork. Sauerkraut and winnies show up that day too.

Wednesday is pork chop day, with both fried and grilled versions. Chicken and dressing and spaghetti join them. Thursday brings meatloaf, BBQ riblets, fried chicken gizzards, and chicken and dumpling soup.

Saturday repeats some favorites, like beef tips and country fried steak. Popcorn shrimp appears after 3 PM, so late lunchers get a bonus. Sunday mixes meatloaf and pineapple ham with a surprise: beef tacos.

The smart move is checking the daily menu before you head out. A craving for meatloaf on a Tuesday could leave you a little sad.

Planning ahead turns a good meal into the exact meal you wanted. Some folks probably keep a mental calendar just for this.

Friday Fish Night Deserves A Spot On Your Calendar

Whole catfish. That’s the first thing worth knowing about Fridays at Johnboy’s Home Cooking.

The Friday lineup leans hard into seafood. Catfish filets and tilapia join the whole catfish in the fried section. Baked whiting offers a non-fried option for anyone pacing themselves.

Salmon patties bring an old-school Southern touch to the mix. Shrimp pasta and crab salad round out the seafood theme. It’s a lot of ocean for a buffet in north Georgia.

The sides follow the fish-fry tradition closely. French fries and hushpuppies make the plate feel complete. Broccoli and rice casserole adds something green, technically.

I’d probably grab a little of everything on the first pass. Then I’d return for whichever fish disappeared fastest from my plate.

Friday fish feels like a weekly ritual at plenty of Southern homes. Here, someone else handles the frying and the cleanup. That alone makes the trip sound worth it.

Arriving with a group helps too. More people means more chances to compare catfish against tilapia without overloading one plate.

Vegetables Get Way More Respect Than You’d Expect

Southern vegetable sides could fill their own article. At this buffet, they easily fill several trays.

Collard greens, green beans, yams, and cabbage show up every day. Then the daily rotation adds even more variety to the line.

Monday brings rutabagas, pinto beans, and okra with tomato. Tuesday offers Brussels sprouts, butter beans, and squash casserole. Wednesday’s green beans with pecans sound like a clever twist on a classic.

Thursday is a big one for vegetable fans. Fried okra, baby lima beans, carrots and sweet peas, and Northern beans all appear. Saturday brings fried squash, while Sunday serves fried green tomatoes and black-eyed peas.

Hashbrown casserole pops up on Wednesday and Saturday. Broccoli and rice casserole lands on Friday and Sunday.

Here’s a fun idea for your visit. Try building a plate made entirely of vegetables first. It’s a great way to taste the kitchen’s range without filling up on fried chicken right away.

Freshly baked cornbread and rolls sit nearby for soaking up pot liquor. Good luck ignoring those.

Save Room, Because The Cake Lineup Is Serious

An assortment of desserts fills out the buffet. That’s the kind of variety that makes a second plate feel completely reasonable.

Johnboy’s Home Cooking keeps the sweet side of the buffet stacked with Southern classics. Peach cobbler and banana pudding lead the pack. Candied yams also land in this section, which feels very Georgia.

The cake selection runs deep. Mocha cake and Oreo cake bring something a little different. Pineapple upside-down cake, coconut cake, carrot cake, and chocolate cake cover the traditional favorites.

Homemade dessert has been part of the restaurant’s identity since the start. It’s right there alongside the fried chicken in how the place describes itself.

My advice? Grab small slices of a few cakes instead of one giant piece. That way you can compare mocha against coconut without needing a nap afterward.

Peach cobbler is hard to skip in the Peach State. I’d probably put a spoonful next to some banana pudding and call it a fair compromise.

Pace yourself during the main courses. Dessert here isn’t an afterthought, and it deserves your full attention.

Sweet Tea Comes Along For The Ride At No Extra Cost

Free refills on sweet tea might be the most Southern perk imaginable. At this buffet, the tea is included with your meal.

That small detail adds up fast. Nobody has to tack on a drink order or count glasses. Just sip and keep eating.

The salad bar offers a fresher balance to all the comfort food. It’s an extensive spread, and fresh watermelon chunks sometimes make an appearance. Watermelon and sweet tea together feel like a Georgia summer afternoon.

Crab salad on Fridays and broccoli salad on Saturdays and Sundays add more cold options. Those give the salad lovers something extra to look forward to.

I like starting a buffet with something crisp and cool. It wakes up your appetite before the gravy takes over.

Budget-minded diners will appreciate the setup too. The buffet is known for being affordable, and senior discounts are available.

Families stretching a dollar can enjoy included tea, although soda costs an extra dollar. That makes Sunday lunch after church much easier to plan.

Grab A Seat In The Sunroom If You Can

Natural light makes almost any meal better. Johnboy’s Home Cooking has a sunroom dining area that brings in plenty of it.

The overall vibe stays relaxed and casual. It’s a family-friendly spot with a homey, welcoming feel. Nobody expects you to dress up for fried chicken here.

Comfort matters at a buffet, since you’ll be getting up and sitting down a few times. A cozy setting makes those multiple trips feel easy.

The staff carries a reputation for friendly, attentive Southern hospitality. Servers handle drinks and tables while you focus on the steam trays.

There’s no outdoor seating, so plan on dining indoors. The sunroom gives you a bit of that outdoor brightness anyway.

I appreciate restaurants that don’t try too hard. A simple room, good light, and friendly faces can carry a meal a long way.

This is the kind of place where grandparents, kids, and coworkers can all share one table comfortably. Nobody feels out of place. Everyone just goes back for seconds at their own speed.

Finding It On Canton Road Is The Easy Part

Getting there takes less planning than choosing a dessert. You’ll find the restaurant at 3050 Canton Rd, Marietta, GA 30066.

Canton Road is a busy local route in Cobb County. That makes the buffet a handy stop for a weekday lunch or an easy family dinner.

A private parking lot sits right on site. No circling the block or feeding a meter while your chicken gets cold.

The doors open at 11 AM every day, so early lunch crowds can get first crack at the trays. Closing times can shift, so a quick check before a late visit is smart.

Reservations aren’t accepted. This is a show-up-and-eat kind of place, which fits the buffet style perfectly.

Big group coming? Just plan your arrival time and roll in together. Buffets make it easy, since nobody waits on separate orders from the kitchen.

Marietta has plenty of dining choices around its historic square. This spot offers something different, a straightforward Southern meal without the fuss of downtown parking.

Take The Country Cooking Home Or To Your Next Party

Not every craving fits into a sit-down lunch. Johnboy’s Home Cooking offers takeout for those days when the couch is calling.

Grabbing a to-go meal lets you bring country fried steak, mashed potatoes, or mac and cheese straight to your own table. It’s a solid plan for busy weeknights.

Catering is another option worth knowing about. Office lunches, family reunions, and church gatherings all run smoother with fried chicken on the table.

Southern food was practically made for crowds. Big pans of greens, beans, and casseroles feel right at home on a long folding table.

I can’t imagine a Georgia potluck that wouldn’t welcome a tray of this chicken. Add some peach cobbler and you might become the most popular guest there.

Planning ahead is key for catering, so reach out early with your headcount. That gives the kitchen time to prepare the right amounts.

Whether you dine in or carry out, the food comes from the same kitchen that’s been at it since 2001. That’s a lot of practice feeding hungry folks in Marietta.