It's a classic for a reason! This is the second oldest restaurant in Atlanta! The fried chicken was perfect. It's a must if you like comfort food. Will come back for dinner. The cocktails look fantastic. Alex was the perfect server. read more

Colonnade - Mixed fried chicken with pintos, squash casserole, dressing and greens with sweet tea. - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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I was visiting my friend in Atlanta and we decided to go to dinner at The Colonnade to get some fried chicken. Several neon signs greet you at the entrance of this charming old school Southern restaurant. They don't accept reservations so we gave our name and then chose to wait in the seating area by the hostess stand although we could have waited at the bar area. We were called to our table in about 30 minutes. We were seated at a semicircular booth and our server greeted us right away and gave us menu and got our drink orders. The hardest part is figuring out which entree to get for dinner, as there were many to tempt us such as prime rib and roast turkey, but my friend ended up ordering the Chicken Fried Chicken with Tomato Aspic and Baked Potato and I ordered the Southern Fried Chicken with Sautéed Spinach and Whipped Potatoes (each entree comes with a choice of 2 sides and they have many to choose from). It felt like only a few minutes went by and our server was already bringing us each a bread plate with a cornbread muffin and a biscuit, plus my friend's Tomato Aspic. I had already told my friend I wanted to try the aspic but I wanted her to try it first. She said it was great and tasted like cocktail sauce with pieces of celery inside. I took a bit of Mayo on my fork, like she did, and then slide into the aspic to grab a bite. It wasn't bad! In fact, I took a few bites more. It tasted like a cocktail sauce/ketchup combo, in gelatin mold form. Our main dishes also came out really quickly and they were huge! My $24 fried chicken was an entire half chicken with a wing, a drumstick, and a giant thigh and breast. It was really crispy and tasted delicious. The spinach was nice, too, with pieces of garlic and the potatoes were yummy as well. I only finished the breast piece and took the rest home. My friend also took home half her meal and we saw that pretty much everyone was bringing home leftovers. This was a great meal and a great value as well. read more

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Pretty good, I guess. I hadn't been to Colonnade much in the past 13-14 years and not at all, I think, since before the covid pandemic. But I was downtown on a Saturday and decided to stop by for dinner on the way home. I had heard it changed ownership recently. Well, i guess the food is about the same as it ever was, which is good. A couple of downturns: 1. The bartender says "the new owners don't like beer", so they have maybe only 5-6 dismal beer choices. WTF? 2. No rutabagas. According to my server they were dropped from the menu a few years ago. WTF? I had red snapper Francaise. Who knows if it was really red snapper, but it was well prepared and tasty. Vegetable sides were sorta meager in their little monkey dishes, and I left needing more food. What Colonnade does offer is a kinda weird time warp trip back 25+ years into the past. Like going to my great-nephew's high school football game (he's starting qb), only that seems 60 years in the past. Blows my mind a little bit to find out people still do these kinds of things. Whoa. read more

Fantastic fried gulf shrimp!! Great service from the experienced wait staff. The ambiance is really something. Love this place.

The Colonnade is one of Atlanta's oldest restaurants, and even from walking up to the building from the parking lot, it exudes history and character. Right inside there's an a wall of the restaurant's changes and accolades over the years. You can see menus dating back to like the 1930s, movie posters of different ones that have been filmed there and more. It's super cool. I think this place stays pretty busy, especially for dinner. If your party ends up having to wait, they have an extra room to the right side that has a bar where you can order a drink while you wait. But the bartender don't mess around- if you don't know what you want, she'll move on to the next guest that does. We were blown away by how good the prime rib was. One of the best cuts of meat most of us had had- and even my family from Wyoming that live on a ranch and raise their own delicious beef agreed. That's a high compliment. I tried the stuffed salmon off of the specials menu and it was okay- needed a little more seasoning but I still enjoyed it. Every guest also gets 2 pieces of bread while waiting for the entrees. Honestly I wasn't impressed with a majority of the food, except for that dang prime rib. We had a great waitress as well who made the experience that much better. It's definitely an expensive meal but it's a nicer restaurant in my opinion not a casual place so you can't expect to pay casual prices. I will definitely be back to try the prime rib again and make sure it really was that good because it was almost unbelievable. read more

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So it's been 4'yrs since my last visit. This place has been here since 1927 if that doesn't speak volumes idk what will. First time I came here it was so packed at the time I had to park at the hotel that is no longer there. I've have been talking about this restaurant to my mom. She has never been here before. I looked on the menu and see that they have a seafood platter and delicious gulf shrimp also. I got the fried chicken dark with 2 sides Mac and cheese and dressing with gravy! The dressing with gravy is delicious one of the best ever tastes like thanksgiving came early the mac and cheese is delicious also. The meal comes with corn muffin and a roll and a pack of soft melted butter delicious. The chicken is seasoned and fried crispy.Complimets to the chef. I didn't need it but I got a slice of key lime pie also. I visited on 3-29-2026. Definitely worth the trip not a disappointment. Pull up and check them out. read more

Colonnade - Dark meat chicken plate with dressing with gravy and Mac and cheese with cornbread muffin and a roll. Key lime pie on the side. - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I grew up in Atlanta and lived in the area most of my life and yet this was my FIRST time ever at the Colonnade!!! It is an institution and I am so glad my friend brought me here. We started with drinks at the bar where my pomegranate martini was very strong. We sat in the bar area that was decorated for Halloween. We then went to the main dining room which was dark with wood paneling and I was digging the retro feel. I had the fish and chips with a side of okra and all were hot and fresh tasting. We split a brownie and ice cream dessert. The servers work hard and fast here. We even met the owners who were sitting close by and had a nice chat. Very homey and relaxed vibe, very affordable prices for good home cookin' food and I will definitely not wait over 40 years to come back! read more

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The Colonnade is not an Atlanta institution for no reason. We made the pilgrimage because, let's be honest, there are very few places truly worth their salt when it comes to fried chicken (don't snicker, you know it's true). We split the fried chicken, because nobody really needs that much food, and added whipped potatoes, lima beans, and sautéed spinach. Everything was spot on, though I'd skip the spinach next time; the heavy garlic-and-butter prep just isn't my favorite, especially alongside fried chicken. And whatever you do, don't miss the martinis. They're absolute perfection. read more

Good food and service. It's an Atlanta landmark it's been in business well over 50 years. Not a bargain but what is these days?

Wow. What a flashback. I haven't been to the Colonnade in decades. Guess what? It hasn't changed. The menu hasn't changed since the 1960s -- except for the prices. When's the last time you saw tomato aspic on a menu? Or fried chicken livers? Salads made with iceberg lettuce? Does anyone under 50 even know what tomato aspic is? The waiter is the spiritual descendant of the 1950s waiters. At least she didn't call us "hun." I had forgotten that there's an old 1950s style motel behind the Colonnade. Was it originally the restaurant for the motel guests? On the plus side, the room with the bar seems to be a sort of community center for the neighborhood senior citizens. The Colonnade sure beats eating and drinking alone. You gotta go once -- The Colonnade is a cultural if not a culinary experience. When you do, make a toast to your grandparents. FYI Tomato aspic is jellied tomato soup. read more

Fried chicken...fried chicken...did I mention the fried chicken?? Collard greens and fried okra along with fried green tomatoes! Martinis were definitely a generous pour and old school. First time here and loved the throw back ambiance! read more

Colonnade - Southern Fried Chicken - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Amazing food and wonderful service when I arrive it is like going home! The staff know my name what I would like to drink a most likely my favorite food. Thanks to the new owners for keeping this wonderful restaurant open for all Of us! My entire family loved this place when we walked in on Friday night the staff would say it must be Friday Mr. Ball is here! read more

Fantastic food, service, and atmosphere. My favorite restaurant in Atlanta for sure!!

What a pleasant surprise. We recently traveled to Atlanta from New England to visit with our son who lives there and he took us to The Colonnade for dinner. What a classic and what a treat. True Southern fare well prepared and with generous portions, pleasant and attentive service, nice cocktails and appetizers, and a surprising special of "Yiayia's Chicken" of Greek Style Roast Chicken with Lemon Potatoes and String Beans in a red sauce, just like Yiayia (Greek for Grandmother) used to make. The Fried Chicken was absolutely outstanding. Can't wait to visit Atlanta again and to definitely dine at The Colonnade, read more

I have mixed feelings about the food, but I'm giving 4 stars for service. They were out of sweet tea, but did say it would be ready in 10 mins. I ordered the country fried steak and a bunch of sides - whipped potatoes, Lima beans, fried okra, and dressing with gravy. The combo of all these was way too greasy. The country fried steak was also salty for my taste. When my waiter (John Thomas?) noticed I wasted so much food (over half the steak), the manager came over and asked what was wrong with it. I told him I had ordered poorly, but he took it off my check anyway. The waiter came back and told me they took it off, and when I said not to, he just said not to worry about it and to come back again. The coconut pie, Lima beans, okra, and dressing were all delicious! I asked for gravy on my potatoes, which was a mistake. The brown gravy made the fluffy hand mashed potatoes heavy and just added to my poor choices. I will def be back and prob get a veggie plate with all the fresh veggies. This place is def an Atlanta icon, and I can see why it's been around for so long. read more

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Great southern food and excellent service! This restaurant has been a favorite for many years.

Tried calling to surprise my uncle with a bottle of wine for his birthday dinner. This was my plan all weekend to make his night extra special. He is also a regular at this establishment. They refused to help me with this and were very rude. Guess my money is not good enough and I plan on letting my uncle know this. I hope he does not support this rude establishment ever again! If my money is not good enough his should not be accepted either. They really need better customer service. Literally ruined my birthday gift for a very special man in my life. read more

We were the youngest people there. Just visiting Atlanta and craving fried green tomatoes and fried chicken. It was all good. Not particularly flavorful but huge portions and friendly staff. read more

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I took my 21 year old daughter there this week because it is a must eat place to experience a truly authentic 'meat n two' dinner. I hadn't been there in over 20 years so color me pink when we drove by and I insisted we stop. Not only that, but it was full of diners on a rainy Wednesday night! We, of course, had fried chicken, limas, Mac n cheese and mashed potatoes. Just exactly what the doctor ordered! I will say if you prefer your chicken a little juicier and easier to eat the Chicken Fried Chicken is a little better than bone in. Generous portions, friendly staff and reasonable prices. I took some home to the hubby! read more

Colonnade - Southern Fried Chicken - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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I've had many a good meals here at this Atlanta institution. It's a classic meat and 3 but feels more like a southern supper club with a bar. It's been open since 1927 so you know they are doing something right ! The menu makes it hard to choose. Lots of seafood, steaks, prime rib, And also pot roast, fried chicken, salads and veggie plates. And more. Tonight I had the southern fried chicken. I had mixed white and dark meat so I could share with my fellow diners. The chicken was great! Crispy, not greasy. The breast meat was a tad dry ( this is why I usually prefer dark meat ) but the thigh and drum were great. Not quite Popeyes level of seasoning and flavor ( Popeyes spicy is the best fried chicken, period, I'll die on that hill) . I had black eyed peas and collards for my sides, Both were good. My fellow diner had fried okra and while it looked to be breaded in house and was delicious, it was a tad cold. The sides list by itself could be its own menu. Everything from fried okra to whipped potatoes to pears and cottage cheese. Service was good. Bread was a little hard. That bummed me a little as I remember the warm yeast rolls with butter being epic. Corn muffins were great though, ( especially with my collards) . Ambiance is 'supper club' plus 'country club' plus 'Piccadilly' with a bar and professional servers. All in all -another great meal and experience at an Atlanta institution. I'll be back for sure. read more

Delicious food. Attentive and friendly staff. Managers supported efforts in planning our 25-person family gathering. The evening was simply enjoyable. read more

Fun experience and ambiance, but average food. Came with a group of 3 around 7pm on a Saturday and only had to wait 10 mins. We ordered the fried chicken 8/10 (sides: hush puppies 7/10 and mac n cheese 3/10); prime rib 4/10, lots of gristle (sides: whipped potatoes 7/10 and collard greens 5/10) and roasted turkey 8/10 (sides: whipped potatoes 7/10 and squash casserole 4/10). Huge portions. Service was very slow. Fun to check out once, but don't think I'd come back. read more

So good! One of my favorite places in Atlanta. Service is quick even when the restaurant is busier, and the food is awesome. Just have to be careful to not order too many side dishes in one sitting read more

This is a restaurant of my youth. I came a few times and it was not so great in recent years. So it's been a couple of years and my husband and I decided to come today. We both ordered fried chicken and it is without any question the best fried chicken I've ever had in my life.. crispy on the outside juicy on the inside wonderful flavor and all the sides are great too. I love this restaurant you should come. read more

I rarely write reviews- I had a long layover in Atlanta and I looked up iconic restaurants nearby, Colonnade popped up and although the 3.7 star review at the time of writing this made me a bit sus I was sure a spot that was open since 1927 had to be at the very least decent. The ambiance and staff are all good, friendly and warm. My girlfriend and I both in our mid 20s were by far the youngest, by at least 30 years. The food was not great, we got off a red eye flight and hadn't eaten in 12+ hours so anything would have tasted heavenly, but the food still fell flat. The gravy was so salty I felt my blood pressure spike and the fried chicken was so so bland. The Mac and cheese...the roux they made for the sauce broke and the cheese was curdled. The best bite we had was the fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese and even that was a 6/10. Overall, it's cool that we got to eat somewhere that has been open for almost 100 years, but the food tasted 100 years old too so there's that. read more

I have been a long time Atlanta resident and after 30 years I finally gotten a chance to eat here under the new ownership. The service was great! Food was good but the broiled seafood (snapper, shrimp) just had no flavor. The other dishes were fantastic! Definitely will come back to try the other classic southern dishes. read more

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Wonderful staffs, Good food very excellent ik giving my honest review towards this very yummy and tasty

There is a Nostalgic Vibe about this place that makes me want to like it, but unfortunately it's just ok. It's good but not great. Prices seem a little too high for the quantity and quality. There was a small gathering waiting to enter as the doors opened. The patrons were mostly older but there were plenty of families with kids mixed in the crowd. I almost ordered the Fish and Chips, but balked at the $21 price. Went with the Pot Roast instead. I had a side of green beans and Mac-N-Cheese. I should have opted for mashed potatoes. My bill was $36 with a drink and tip. read more

I am giving this restaurant 4*s because I would like to see it succeed. First. The specials, too many. It's like having another non southern menu. Just go ahead and add another page to the menu or have an insert and mention the desserts. The bread was not good. It lacked the in-house made appeal and taste. The staff could be warmer, (I mean, at least a smile, a little excitement?) though I guess that's how they are here in Atlanta. I have not been to restaurants where the Staff has character. They are efficient though. The only restaurant where the staff has a personality is at Poor Calvin's. Colonnade needs to become a little more trendy. Add some music (piano?). Plants. A bar area. Like to the right entrance. Big plants, make it look like a southern tropical resort of sorts. Outdoor lights. Something! The food. I got distracted with the specials. I ended up ordering the grilled red snapper. It was pretty good. Maybe offer tartar sauce along with the dijon sauce. The side should not be in a separate dish. More like a garnish, would be nice. The plate could have used a sprig of parsley or something. I made a mistake by ordering the Marion salad as a side. Too large and not appetizing at all. Iceberg lettuce is out. A combination with a few spring lettuces would have spiffed it up. Generally, I got the feel they were skimping though the fish portion was very adequate and grilled to perfection. It lacked creativity. Maybe a sprinkle of an herb? A splash of melted butter for looks. The tables should be set, even if it's just the placemats. A carnation or succulent perhaps? Make it feel more welcoming and attractive. Right now The Colonnade has less appeal than a Cracker Barrell or Country Buffet... Hmmm. There's a thought! Weekend buffet? read more

I adore the Colonnade Restaurant on Cheshire Bridge. I've been eating there for many years. The service is always top notch by well seasoned waitstaff, many who have been there for many years. The vibe is kind of retro but comfy. The food is always spot on. They have a convenient chalk board in front with the evenings specials clearly spelled out and they show case the inventiveness of the chef and a departure from their regular items. Their fried chicken is quite good as are their biscuits, chocolate pie, most vegetables and they even have tomato aspic still on the menu from its opening so many years ago. Their prime rib is fabulous as is their broiled seafood, always cold crisp salads and many other menu items I have had over the years. We used to each order a meal and then one for the table. Of course the prices have mirrored other restaurants and gone up but I still believe it is a good value for what they serve. Think I'll head over there now. Just talking about it makes me want a good taste of the Colonnade. Yum!!@ read more

Great comfort food with a welcoming vibe. The menu truly offers something for everyone, and everything we tried was flavorful and satisfying. From start to finish, the experience was enjoyable. I thoroughly enjoyed the visit and would definitely return. read more

I have been a customer of Colonnade for years. Normally great food and service. Today , we arrived at 1:30 and gave our order. An hour later and after several asks what is taking so long our waiter Julian stated it was my well done chop steak. Well the food finally arrived and my chop steak was rare. No sorry no explanation - I still left a 20 dollar tip because there were 3 other people joining me for lunch. The least they could have done was say we are sorry or offer a dessert . We asked for our favorite server and was denied because we were unable to roll a member in a rollator to the back of the restaurant. Our bill came at 2:58. Way to long----- read more

Practically ignored on my last visit last week. After sitting unacknowledged for a while after being seated I started timing and 10 more minutes went by with no greeting by server. The host ( man with curly hair) acted like he didn't care when I said something so I left. They sat a table of 6 several minutes after me and the server that had ignored me approached the table of 6 first to take their drink order. This will have to improve if they expect to survive. read more

Great midcentury modern restaurant. Best fried chicken in Atlanta, good veg, and excellent retro wedge of lettuce salad. It's been featured in quite a few films too. J at the bar makes kicking cocktails, including her twist on some popular ones. And the yeast rolls and cornbread mini muffins? delish! Do yourself a favor and give it a try - you won't be disappointed.!!! read more

Colonnade - Daily specials today. Nearly always specials in every category. - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Last night myself and 5 friends went there and everyone was very happy with their entree and sides. Plus everyone got a cocktail and said they were good. Portions are large, I took half my meal home. Service was very good despite restaurant being full. Excellent value. read more

I have been a long time customer but have moved from the Atlanta area so now can only go when come back in town. Food has always been good as has the service. Sunday lunch was a gigantic disappointment. First of all we got our drinks immediately but no one came for our order. When the waitress did come by she said she would be back and left bread. It was over 20 minutes before she took our order. Then almost that long before the food came. I ordered the turkey and dressing on her recommendation. The turkey was a prefab with a not good taste, the dressing was hard and lumpy, gravy greasy, black eyed peas very overdone to the point of mushy and the squash casserole was nothing but sliced yellow squash that was undercooked with a bad cheese sauce stirred in. The rolls was wonderful. My husband got catfish that to me looked greasy. My sister got grilled shrimp that she said was good. Regardless, for $69 plus tax and tip, I felt very cheated. I will be moving on to the other famous Southern restaurants in Atlanta on my next visit read more

Got some veggie plates for takeout on the way home from Hartsfield-Jackson. Just the perfect southern meat and three. Homemade Mac and cheese, perfectly done black eyed peas, fried okra, collard greens with flavor. Just everything that you want if you need a southern bite. The host (Helen?) was lovely and walked through menu adjustments very patiently. I was able to pick up my order right away, even though I hit the after church lunch rush. Delish! read more

Colonnade - Veggie Plate (takeout) - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

So disappointed. The food was bland and room temperature at best. Will not be coming back.

Friendly staff, consistently good food, and a great value. At almost 100 years old it is going strong. Understand a makeover is coming to update and upgrade the interior. read more

Just not what she use to be, been going for 10 years. The prices have gone through the roof in just the past 8 months. Charging 23 dollars for fried chicken is absurd. Every menu item is way overpriced, 4 dollars more dollars for about every item. Their food reminds me of the food at Baptist church in the early 90's except they want to charge you like they won a James Beard award. It's fried chicken y'all. You've had it before; at Chick-fil-a, the gas station, grandmas. It's not the best fried chicken maybe for some people it is, but it's what your preference is. It isn't special. My favorite thing to get here is the fried oysters, and no one in Atlanta does it better than them. Of course they didn't have them, nor the salmon croquettes. Really annoyed me the waiter didn't let me know until I was ready to order. Was afraid to know the "market" price for them. Oysters are never market priced anywhere. They are trying to disguise the disgusting amount they want to charge for oysters. Crushed my spirit though they didn't have them. I had the fish and chips and they were fine. Mary Macs is very similar to The Colonnade but charges 13.75 for their fried chicken and 16.99 for a four piece. This kind of food and place should be accessible to all people. This place had one of my favorite atmospheres. The old nostalgic feeling and the clientele was mostly senior. It was a magical place, loved to sit in their bar, but that magic has worn off due to greed. read more

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