All you Mothercluckers and Nashville Hot Chicken lovers look no further for your fix than a quaint little house in Pier Village called Porch. And what a cool porch (and patio) they have here nestled underneath the generous shade of a beautiful live oak. This is one of our favorite go-to restaurants for a casual meal that never fails to impress.
I’ve had Hattie B’s in Atlanta and Prince’s Hot Chicken in Nashville itself, and what owner Palmer Fortune has created here is a serious competitor. Named “Best Fried Chicken” by Elegant Island Living, Porch quickly became a fan favorite of the island. In 2020 Palmer and his wife, Amanda, expanded their ventures to Dallas and were named Best Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich in all of Dallas Fort Worth.
I can handle some heat, and the first time we came, I got the Motherclucker Sandwich and figured I’d go standard Nashville Hot. When I’m really in it, I start sweating from the very top of my head. I always joke that it’s my love for spicy food that caused the sweat to burn off that little bald spot on the back of my head. Could be! There was some sweating that first time. Cassie was smart enough to order Novice and it’s where I’ve settled on the scale myself. I don’t know anyone who has survived the Napalm, and of course you can always get naked if you want. Just do that in your own home.
You can get your standard assortment of breasts, thighs, wings, etc or a huge Motherclucker sandwich with house made (delicious) pimento cheese or 3 jumbo tenders with 2 sides, white bread and pickles – one of my very favorite staples. You can always substitute a waffle for the white bread if you’re that sort. None of these dishes will knock you back more than $15.
But wait! There’s more…
So much more! And these are the really good bits! When it’s August and you’ve had a hard day sunbathing on the beach, nothing, in my opinion hits the spot like a spinach salad at Porch. Get it with a couple of tenders or some chicken salad and you’ve got a very satisfying meal. I’m a spinach salad with blue cheese junkie and Porch does not skimp on their ingredients anywhere. Wash it down with some Silver Bluff and finish off with a Bangin’ ice cream cookie sandwich and your sweet relief from the summer sun is complete.
The catfish is excellent. The tacos and wraps are always a good choice. Both come with a side, so let’s talk about the amazing sides here. The Pimento cheese grits are some of the very finest grits on the island. The tots are cooked to a crispy perfection and the collards… y’all the collards would make your grandma squeal. So good. If you want to go premium, I would get the Brussels sprouts, but tell them to hold the honey (that’s just me. I love a plain old fried Brussels sprout).
And then there’s the shrimp… that sweet, sweet Wild Georgia Shrimp. Get a plate of it with a side of slaw and baked beans. Get it fried or grilled or get it in a taco. Get it on your Caesar salad, but whatever you do, get it! And of course, like everything at Porch, choose your heat.
The parking lot can be a little tricky. If you’re driving a Denali or some such tank, you might want to find public parking and hoof it here. You’ll thank me later, but one cool thing is there is a dedicated spot when you first drive in, on the left side of the building (odd right?) for to-go order pickups. Very handy if you’re renting a house and you ordered off their family menu.
Save room for the delicious nanner pudding. Relax, have a beer from one of their six taps. Do not miss Porch St. Simons Island. It is one of our faves!
PORCH ST SIMONS ISLAND
549 Ocean Blvd, St Simons Island, GA 31522
Every Day 11am – 9pm
$10 – 20 pp