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The 2023-2024 Flagpole Guide To Athens, GA

Restaurants American

  • Add Drug Store

    add-drugstore.com/lunch-counter

    Price: $☆ Expanded Listing!

     

    Locations

    • 1695 S. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30606. 706-548-2239 View Map

    File Under: American. Hours: Breakfast and lunch. Features: Counter service. • Opened in 1961, this soda fountain and lunch counter inside a Five Points pharmacy hasn’t changed much since then. Grab a stool and watch the cooks make your fries and bitty burgers. Real cherry and vanilla sodas, plus malts, milkshakes and floats. A serious bargain.

  • Akademia Brewing Co.

    akademiabc.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 150 Crane Dr. Bogart, GA 30622. 678-726-2288

    File Under: American, Breweries. Features: Full bar, live music, trivia. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. Brunch. • Unlike most breweries, this one has a full restaurant of its own as well as a really wide variety of brews that is always changing (more than two dozen on tap at any given time). Beer features in many dishes, like ale-battered fried fish. Also: flatbreads, burgers, salads, biscuits + beer at brunch. Cocktails, wine, shots and cider, too.

  • Another Broken Egg Cafe

    anotherbrokenegg.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 2375 W. Broad St. Athens, GA 30606. 706-850-1593

    File Under: American. Features: Breakfast, vegetarian friendly, full bar, catering. Hours: Breakfast and lunch, seven days. • Mostly breakfast (eggs, pancakes, biscuits, French toast) with a few lunchier things (club sandwich, burger, salads) and a whole bunch of cocktails like spiked coffee and mimosas from this national franchise.

  • B&B Theatres

    bbtheatres.com/athens-12/theatre-info

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1570 Lexington Road Athens, GA 30605. 762-216-5051

    File Under: American. Features: Full bar, trivia. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Burgers, chicken, flatbreads, hot dogs, funnel cake fries and the like, available for munching while you watch a movie or play trivia or bingo in the lobby on Wednesdays.

  • Beef 'O' Brady's

    beefobradys.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1860 Barnett Shoals Road Athens, GA 30605. 706-850-1916 View Map

    File Under: American, Bars. Features: Catering, outside seating, trivia, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. 

  • Brett's Casual American Restaurant

    brettscasualamerican.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 3190 Atlanta Hwy. Athens, GA 30606. 706-850-1395 View Map

    File Under: American. Features: Beer and wine, curbside pick-up, catering, outside seating, delivery, take-out, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Family-oriented restaurant with a huge menu, great deals on kids meals and something for everyone, including celiac folks. Big salads, fried apps, tacos, burgers, grilled seafood and more.

  • Bulldog Bistro

    hotel.uga.edu/dining-in-athens/bulldog-bistro

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 1197 S. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30602. 706-338-8781 View Map

    File Under: American, Coffee Houses and Bakeries. Features: Take-out, outside seating, full bar. Hours: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. • This restaurant inside UGA’s Georgia Center does a wide variety of dishes throughout most of the day, including some grab-and-go stuff and made-to-order breakfast. Bar snacks, Savannah Room favorites like celestial chicken, Thai chicken salad, burgers and more.

  • Catch 22 Gastropub

    catch22gp.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1021 Parkway Blvd. Athens, GA 30606. 706-549-6333 View Map

    File Under: American. Features: Full bar, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • This hashtag-happy gastropub welcomes "thirst seekers, hopgazers, palate pushers" and plays fast and loose with flavors like sriracha and blue cheese. Good beer selection, regular specials, street tacos, lots of fusion and a food truck that pops up at bars and breweries.

  • Charlie Graingers

    charliegraingers.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 1791 Oconee Connector Athens, GA 30606. 706-521-5767

    File Under: American. Features: Counter service, outside seating, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Hot dogs, brisket and barbecue.

  • Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

    cheddars.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 2040 Oconee Connector Athens, GA 30606. 706-353-0217

    File Under: American. Features: Full bar, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days.

  • Chili's Grill & Bar

    chilis.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 183 Alps Road Athens, GA 30606. 706-613-5405 View Map

    File Under: American. Features: Full bar, curbside pick-up, catering. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days.

  • The Chop House

    thechophouse.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 2055 Oconee Connector Athens, GA 30606. 706-395-7855

    File Under: American. Features: Delivery, full bar, take-out, Wi-Fi, reservations, curbside pick-up. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Mainstream chain steakhouse in Oconee does an array of steaks and chops (beef, pork, lamb) as well as big, ice-cold salads with a ton of toppings, seafood, and way more sides than the average place of its type. Beyond Meat for veggie folks. Kids menu and cocktails. Lunch has specials that can be a good deal.

  • Chops and Hops

    chopsandhops.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 2 S. Main St. Watkinsville, GA 30677. 706-310-1101 View Map

    File Under: American. Features: Full bar, catering, outside seating, reservations, Wi-Fi, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Steak and beer, but also seafood, chicken, ratatouille and burgers at this somewhat upscale Watkinsville restaurant. Tap takeovers, mocktails, southern veggies for sides and gluten-free items. App-y hour from 2–5 p.m. brings food and drink specials.

  • Clean Eatz

    cleaneatz.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1791 Oconee Connector, Ste. 560 Athens, GA 30606. 706-850-6415

    File Under: American. Features: Catering, curbside pick-up, take-out, vegetarian friendly. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • This franchise focuses on healthy eating, and is a lifestyle brand as much as a restaurant. It has wrapz, burgerz and flatbreadz with keto-friendly options but also deep-frozen meals for later.

  • Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

    crackerbarrel.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1913 Epps Bridge Pkwy. Athens, GA 30606. 706-208-0304 View Map

    File Under: American. Hours: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days.

  • Dooley's Bar and Grill

    instagram.com/athdooleys

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 259 E. Broad St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-850-1587

    File Under: American, Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, live music, trivia. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night. • Restaurant/bar combo serves fancy grilled cheese, fried stuff, soups, salads, smash burgers and dessert (deep-fried Uncrustables), with an upstairs bar that also has darts and a pool table. Kids menu. Kitchen closes at 9 p.m., but the bar stays open late.

  • Effin' Egg

    effinegg.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 140 W. Broad St. Athens, GA 30601. TBA

    File Under: American. Features: Breakfast. Hours: Breakfast and lunch. • Fast-casual breakfast sandwich franchise coming to downtown. Burritos, tacos, the requisite bowls, pancakes, waffles, loaded fries and tots, cinnamon rolls and more.

  • Em's Kitchen

    emskitchenathawthorne.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 975 Hawthorne Ave. Athens, GA 30606. 706-206-9322 View Map

    File Under: American. Features: Catering, counter service, curbside pick-up, delivery, outside seating. Hours: Breakfast and lunch. • Family-run eatery inside Hawthorne Drugs does a surprisingly good Cuban sandwich as well as southern lunch standards (pimento cheese and the like), plus breakfast plates, milkshakes, hot dogs and more. Kids menu and a super family-friendly atmosphere.

  • Five Bar

    five-bar.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 269 N. Hull St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-543-5515 View Map

    File Under: American, Bars. Features: Full bar, curbside pick-up, delivery. Hours: Dinner, weekend brunch. • Five entrees, five desserts, five apps and so on. Seafood from Destin is a point of emphasis, but you can also get a ribeye or fried chicken. Jazz brunch on weekends. Five specialty cocktails from the bar.

  • The Flying Biscuit Café

    flyingbiscuit.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1180 Prince Ave. Athens, GA 30606. 706-850-5656

    • 1850 Epps Bridge Pkwy, Ste. 117 Athens, GA 30606. TBA

    File Under: American. Features: Beer and wine, catering, outside seating, take-out, vegetarian friendly. Hours: Breakfast, lunch and weekend dinner. 

  • The Garden Grille

    hilton.com/en/hotels/ahndtgi-hilton-garden-inn-athens-downtown

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 390 E. Washington St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-353-6800 View Map

    File Under: American. Features: Catering, Wi-Fi. Hours: Breakfast. • Inside the Hilton Garden Inn.

  • George's Lowcountry Table

    georgeslowcountrytable.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 420 Macon Hwy. Athens, GA 30606. 706-548-3359 View Map

    File Under: American. Features: Full bar, catering, reservations, outside seating, take-out, delivery. Hours: Dinner and Sunday brunch. • Gulf and low country classics: étouffée, shrimp and grits, sherry crab bisque, oysters (raw, fried, grilled), jambalaya, redfish and much more. Good wine list from all over, beer and Southern-accented cocktails.

  • Hi-Lo Lounge

    hiloathens.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 1354 Prince Ave. Athens, GA 30606. 706-850-8561

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: American, Bars, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Full bar, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Family-friendly tavern is all things to all people, with lots of food (including a kajillion vegetarian and vegan options) as well as a major bar selection. Noodles, soups, chili, hot dogs, grain bowls, falafel. Great beers; also whiskeys, classic cocktails and juice for kids.

  • Hilltop Grille

    hilltopgrille.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 2310 W. Broad St. Athens, GA 30606. 706-353-7667 View Map

    File Under: American, Bars. Features: Reservations, live music, full bar, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner, Tue–Sun. Monday dinner. • Country club-ish place does classic American food with a bit of a Southern accent, like meatloaf, steak sandwich, crab cakes and gumbo. A fair amount of fried stuff but salads, too. Big desserts. Nice patio. Earlybird specials.

  • home.made

    homemadeathens.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 1072 Baxter St. Athens, Georgia 30606. 706-206-9216 View Map

    File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, take-out. Hours: Lunch. • Refined, Southern-inspired chef-forward restaurant has gone back to its catering roots. You can still eat lunch there, or order ahead from the website from a changing menu for pickup or delivery. Lots of veggies, fantastic snacks, still plenty of experimenting.

  • J&J Flea Market

    jandjfleamarket.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 11661 Commerce Road Athens, GA 30607. 706-613-2410 View Map

    File Under: American, Mexican. Features: Outside seating, counter service. • Wander around the flea market inside and outside and find some eats while you’re there. La Michoacana…es Natural has its ice cream/paleta truck there most weekends. Options inside include Taqueria Mi Tierra and a place that offers pizza and other crowd-pleasing foods.

  • J. Christopher's

    jchristophers.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1650 S. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30606. 706-850-3520

    File Under: American. Features: Outside seating, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Breakfast and lunch. • Breakfast favorites are served all day, as well as salads, sandwiches and burgers.

  • Last Resort Grill

    lastresortgrill.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 184 W. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-549-0810 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Outside seating, art, full bar, vegetarian friendly. Hours: Dinner and weekend brunch. • Crowd-pleasing restaurant mixes Southern and Southwestern cuisine; veggie and vegan choices, plus fish and seafood are highlights. Large dessert case. Plan ahead for lines at brunch. Well-stocked bar, with American vodkas, gins and vermouths, as well as Armagnac, ice wine, Madeira, sherry and a long list of wines. Large outdoor dining area.

  • Lindsey's Culinary Market

    lindseysculinarymarket.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 520 N. Thomas St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-353-0558 View Map

    File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, take-out, counter service. Hours: Lunch and early dinner (open until 6 p.m.). • Salads (chicken salad, pimento-less cheese and the like, plus bowls of greens and vegetables), soups, lots of veggies that change daily. Cookies, brownies, fancy chocolates, candy and gift items available, too. Holiday menus. 

  • Little City Diner

    littlecitydiner.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 135 Cherokee Road Winterville, GA 30683. 706-742-7590 View Map

    File Under: American. Features: Counter service, curbside pick-up, delivery, take-out, outside seating, vegetarian friendly, catering. Hours: Breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. • The Little City in question is Winterville, just outside Athens. Southern breakfast and brunch include biscuits, eggs, quiche and Red Mule grits. Lunch means sandwiches on housemade breads, burgers and salads. Good desserts, coffee and veggie options. Occasional dinners.

  • The Local 706

    thelocal706.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1676 S. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30605. 706-207-8700

    File Under: American, Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, outside seating, trivia. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Sports bar and grill in the middle of Five Points. Lunch is meat and three. Dinner brings tacos, sandwiches, burgers, salads, fried cheese, wings and kids menu. Also, Southern-themed cocktails. Heated outside dining.

  • Locos Grill & Pub

    locosgrill.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 2020 Timothy Road Athens, GA 30606. 706-549-7700 View Map

    • 1985 Barnett Shoals Road Athens, GA 30605. 706-208-0911 View Map

    File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Curbside pick-up (Timothy), delivery, live music (Timothy), trivia, catering, Wi-Fi, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Locally based sports bar chain has a big menu with lots of vegetarian choices, deli sandwiches, burgers, salads, grilled cheese and chili combo, wings and fish tacos.

  • Longhorn Steakhouse

    longhornsteakhouse.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 2170 W. Broad St. Athens, GA 30606. 706-548-0054 View Map

    File Under: American. Features: Full bar. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days.

  • Madison Bar & Bistro

    indigoathens.com/dining

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 500 College Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-546-0430 View Map

    File Under: American, Bars. Features: Reservations, outside seating, live music, room service, take-out, Wi-Fi. Hours: Breakfast and dinner, seven days. • Hotel Indigo’s restaurant serves croissant sandwiches and omelets for breakfast, plus a full dinner, with steak, salmon, sandwiches, salads and even a kids menu. Nice cocktails.

  • Maepole

    maepole.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1021 N. Chase St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-850-3600

    • 1880 Epps Bridge Pkwy., Suite 207 Athens, GA 30606. No # specified.

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Outside seating, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Virtuous and tasty quick service, now franchised and expanding elsewhere. Start with brown rice, quinoa, sweet potatoes or salad greens. Add a protein, two veggie-forward sides and a housemade sauce. Menu changes seasonally. Condor Chocolates and cookies for dessert. Kids meals. Gluten-free choices. Everything is recyclable or compostable. Epps Bridge/Oconee location opening later this year.

  • Marker 7 Coastal Grill

    marker7coastalgrill.com

    Price: $$$☆ Expanded Listing!

     

    Locations

    • 1195 S. Milledge Ave. Athens, GA 30605. 706-850-3451 View Map

    File Under: American. Features: Full bar, outside seating. Hours: Lunch, dinner and brunch. • Coastal fish shack does Georgia and Gulf seafood with mostly open-air seating: lightly fried baskets, peel-and-eat shrimp, oysters (raw or cooked), grilled or blackened entrees and sides like coleslaw and hush puppies. Burgers and chicken tacos, too. Beachy cocktails.

  • Newk's Eatery

    newks.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 1850 Epps Bridge Pkwy. Athens, GA 30606. 706-543-5700

    • 700 Baxter St. Athens, GA 30605. 706-510-6545

    File Under: American Features: Catering, delivery, dinner, lunch, take-out. Hours: Seven days.

  • The Original Hot Dog Factory

    theoriginalhotdogfactory.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1725 Electric Ave. Watkinsville, GA 30677. TBA

    File Under: American. Features: Catering. Hours: Lunch and dinner • Atlanta franchise does, as you might guess, a whole bunch of different kinds of hot dogs (beef, Impossible, polish sausage, turkey, etc.) topped with a whole bunch of different kinds of toppings. Also corn dogs, burgers, chicken tenders, deep-fried Oreos. Kids meals. Coming soon to Watkinsville's Wire Park.

  • Outback Steakhouse

    outback.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 3585 Atlanta Hwy. Athens, GA 30606. 706-613-6015 View Map

    File Under: American. Features: Full bar, curbside pick-up. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days.

  • The Pine

    thepineathens.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 1235 S. Milledge Ave. Athens, GA 30605. 706-395-6278

    File Under: American, Bars. Features: Full bar, outside seating. Hours: Dinner and weekend brunch. First Friday lunch. • Mostly a bar, with a nice wine list, regular wine tastings and discounts for members of its wine club, but also a restaurant. Champagne brunch on weekends has quiche, burgers, sandwiches, waffles. Oysters, tapas and cheese plates. First Friday lunch pop-ups.

  • Porterhouse Grill

    porterhousegrillathens.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 459 E. Broad St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-369-0990 View Map

    File Under: American, Bars. Features: Outside seating, live music, reservations, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Downtown steakhouse also does crab cakes, chicken, shrimp scampi and other things that aren’t red meat as well as a la carte sides. Lunch includes a fried green tomato sandwich, grilled salmon BLT and she-crab soup. Desserts divided into edible and drinkable. Port and cognac for after dinner.

  • Rafferty's Restaurant & Bar

    raffertys.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 15 Huntington Road Athens, GA 30606. 706-613-0045 View Map

    File Under: American. Features: Full bar, catering, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days.

  • Red Lobster

    redlobster.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 1956 W. Broad St. Athens, GA 30606. 706-549-5376 View Map

    File Under: American. Features: Full bar. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days.

  • The Rooftop

    georgiatheatre.com/rooftop

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 215 N. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-850-7670 View Map

    File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Counter service, outside seating, live music, catering. Hours: Dinner. • Bar/restaurant on top of the historic Georgia Theatre is open during and just before shows, with food from pop-up restaurants.

  • The Savannah Room

    hotel.uga.edu/dining-in-athens/savannah-room

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1197 S. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30602. 706-338-8781 View Map

    File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Full bar, Wi-Fi, take-out, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • UGA Hotel restaurant has been around for ages, serving strawberry ice-cream pie and celestial chicken, but also does shrimp and grits, salads, meatloaf, southern vegetables and more.

  • Slater's Steakhouse

    slatersathens.com

    Price: $$$$

    Locations

    • 1680 S Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30606. 706-395-6082

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: American Features: Full bar, reservations. Hours: Dinner • High-end steakhouse with attentive staff and beautiful drinks (martini service comes with a little extra in a glass carafe on a bed of ice and is thoroughly customizable). Expect that sides aren't included but are family style. Not just steaks, but definitely meat-centric.

  • South Kitchen and Bar

    southkitchenbar.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 247 E. Washington St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-395-6125

    File Under: American, Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, catering, outside seating. Hours: Weekend brunch, lunch and dinner. • Historic former hotel with a menu of small and large plates, all with big flavors: sweet potatoes, chicken-fried tofu, duck fat tater tots, candied bacon, that kind of thing. Gluten-free stuff. Rotating draft beers in full or half pours, good wines by the glass (and bottle) and regularly changing craft cocktails with housemade ingredients.

  • Square One Fish Co.

    squareonefishco.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 1298 Prince Ave. Athens, GA 30606. 706-353-8862

    File Under: American. Features: Full bar, outside seating. Hours: Dinner and Sunday brunch. • Seafood, both on the raw bar (oysters, seafood tower, tuna tartare) and cooked (blackened salmon, étoufée, snow crab clusters). Also land-based choices, wedge salad. Brunch includes omelets, fish tacos and oyster shooters. Good, refreshing cocktails. And a new food truck that pops up around town.

  • Texas Roadhouse

    texasroadhouse.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1021 Dowdy Road Athens, GA 30606. 706-613-1300

    File Under: American. Features: Full bar, take-out, reservations. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days.

  • Trappeze Pub

    trappezepub.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 269 N. Hull St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-543-8997 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Full bar, outside seating, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night, seven days. Sunday brunch. • Big menu of food and beer with lots of vegetarian choices: loaded mac and cheese, southern fish and chips, tabbouleh salad, housemade pickles, a vegan Reuben, buffalo tofu taco, plus scores of unusual, well-described beers in the bottle and on tap. There's also wine and nice cocktails.

  • The World Famous

    facebook.com/theworldfamousathens

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 351 N. Hull St. Athens GA 30601. 706-543-4002 View Map

    File Under: American, Bars, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Counter service, delivery, art, full bar, live music. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night. • Half bar, half restaurant, with hearty, fun food (poutine, meatball banh mi, General Tso's tofu), lots of veggie choices and regular specials. Creative cocktails, well-priced beer (including lots of canned craft brews), wine, housemade nonalcoholic sodas and a great chalkboard.