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

The reason for the 3 star rating is because Colonnade restaurant is not very consistent. I've been coming to this restaurant since I moved to Atlanta over 6 years ago. The most recent visit was in the middle of September, on Sunday at around 7 pm, and, again, overall inconsistencies. Available parking in the free parking lot is a good indication of how busy the restaurant is, and will be difficult to find when it's busy. Directly in front of the inner entrance doors is the cashier, where customers pay their tabs. The host station is to the left, with a bench seating in a small area used by waiting customers. To the right of the cashier's station is the bar area. There is a small outside patio before the entrance. For whatever reasons, there are almost always empty tables in the dining rooms, and it takes the hosts a while to call out to customers on the waiting list. Depending on which server is assigned to your table, you could get outstanding service, good service, mediocre service or just downright awful service. You'll know exactly what kind of service you're going to receive within the first five minutes of being seated at your table. Since the pandemic, menu prices have been increased, and the number of the items on the menu have been decreased. You would assume that whatever remains on the menu would be great, huh? Nope, not necessarily. I ordered the mashed potatoes, and they were completely flavorless. I had also ordered the fried pork chops, and they were served hot, were so perfectly made, meaty, crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and seasoned just right. I also ordered the cucumber salad, which was tangy enough without being overpowering, and the cucumbers were firm and not mushy or rubbery. The gravy lacked some seasoning, and I added a lot more pepper and just a tad more salt to make it to my liking. My Marian salad was great and full of fresh vegetables, and I tend to get this side salad every time I eat a meal here. My meal came with various types of bread on a small plate. My personal favorites have been the fried pork chops, southern fried chicken, black and blue ribeye and any of the side salads. In my experiences, all of these items have been fresh and delicious. My server was so-so. She was nice, but I had to keep on reminding her to get things, like refilling the water glasses, butter for my bread, and some gravy for the pork chops. It didn't look like there were enough staff available, at least in the dining areas. As customers left after dining, cleaning up the table was not immediate, nor was cleaning the floor. This place could use some updating to make it look more welcoming, including better and brighter lighting, paint on the walls (instead of wall paper), and bigger windows to allow more natural light to flow in. read more

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Five stars, to me, is relative. Colonnade is five stars in its class. Classic, Southern supper club. It's feels relaxed and special. The best bartender in town. She's truly special. And the dining room staff are all excellent and pleasant. We love the chicken livers. The Saturday special- Prime rib- is crave-worthy. And I love the Marion salad. (I think of my grandmother, Marion. ) Hubs loves the collards too. Shoutout to Christina- our favorite server. Lord willing, we should all be here to celebrate The Colonnade's 100th anniversary in 2027! read more

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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

While it may not boast the best and most flavorful food I've ever had, a visit to the Colonnade is a must in Atlanta for retro lovers or anyone looking for a bit of history in the city. We stopped in on the late side on a recent weeknight while entertaining out-of-town guests, and were immediately blown away by this spot's picture-perfect decor. One of Atlanta's oldest restaurants, this spot is 100% early '60's supper club, with deep, luxurious booths, low ceilings, and gorgeous stonework walls. You really feel like you've stepped back in time or onto a movie set, and reminded me wistfully of one of my all-time ATL faves and pandemic victims, the Golden Eagle (real ones know). While the ambiance and service were top notch, the food was just adequate. My turkey dinner, served southern-style with cornbread stuffing and smothered in gloopy gravy, was tasty, but nothing to write home about, although I did really enjoy the tomato aspic, a retro relic not often found in menus in the last fifty years, served charmingly with a side of mayonnaise. While the food was middling, I'm not exactly mad about it, as the blandness and plainness of it almost seemed to jive with the setting, reminding me of what mid-century American palates must have liked. While I wouldn't necessarily rush back for dinner (but definitely for a martini or two), the Colonnade is a classic for anyone looking for a real throwback Atlanta experience. read more

An Atlanta Southern tradition . So happy to see it open with great southern foods & strong drinks . The family of employees make this a destination. Fried chicken , Marianne chopped salad , chopped sirloin ,okra, complimentary corn bread & muffins The decor is classic Americana with great padded chairs & booths . Don't miss this ! read more

I didn't realize it's been nearly 4 years since my last visit to Atlanta, during which I made my pilgrimage to the Colonnade. Some things are just as familiar and terrific as always: fresh yeast roll and mini cornbread muffin with real butter brought to your table first thing, a huge variety of vegetables and the Marion Salad, friendly, efficient wait staff, and an army of devoted fans, to name a few. As you could tell from my last visit, I was looking forward to their legendary pork chops and, unfortunately, they were not the chops that made me such a fan. Instead of the center-cuts, they were the shoulder cuts, which have more bone and gristle. They were seasoned well, but a major disappointment, since these cuts tend to be less tender and uniform. I left about half of them on the plate. My lunchmate ordered the turkey and dressing and said that it seemed to be processed and a bit tough. I'll have to say, lots of people were ordering the fried chicken, which has always been a big seller, and for good reason. When I go back (and I will), I'll forgo the less-frequently ordered entrees and stick with the good old standbys. read more

I don't think I've ever written a review asking people to patronize a restaurant -- but if you want to keep this Atlanta institution in business (they've been around since 1927) show your support and indulge in a typical southern meal. Several months ago I read that someone started a Go-Fund-Me page for the Colonnade. They were hit hard by the pandemic and I think of all the career waiters and staff who lost their income. The restaurant was closed for a while. But now they're open. And taking precautions. When we drove there Easter Sunday, I said to T, 'if they're crowded and people are crammed in, we'll go some other time.' But neither prediction applied. Mid-afternoon on Easter they should've been packed. But they weren't. They've cordoned off part of the parking lot to accommodate people (like me!) who aren't comfortable eating indoors. Tables inside appeared to be spread out and the waiting area up front is blocked off. Management is taking the virus seriously. Now for the food. Fried chicken! Four pieces -- white meat only, all dark meat or a mix -- for $20. This includes two sides and their signature rolls. One can substitute salad for a side, which is what we did. I ordered mac n cheese and my husband got collards. A Jewish girl from NYC isn't necessarily an authority on Southern cooking. I thought the macaroni gummy. My husband -- born and bred in Georgia -- said it was good and cheesy. Like his grandma made. I have no interest in collards. Again, the Georgian said it was delicious. Made with fatback. A $28 bottle of Kendal Jackson chardonnay enhanced the meal and we left content and full with enough leftovers for another meal. read more

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Food is still wonderful. Great service lots of free parking. But the prices quoted on this Yelp and other places are completely outdated. In fact they are very pricy considering it's Southern comfort, not finer cuisine. read more

Oh so disappointed. Had read great reviews. Not our experience. Fried Chicken livers appetizer was all fried and virtually no liver. And a bit overcooked for my liking. fish and chips w Mac n cheese side. The fish was frozen strips and awful. Mac n cheese was ok. Second dish was vegetables plate with four sides. Pear and cheese was okay. Dressing n gravy was very salty as was the rice and gravy. The sweet potato casserole was good, pretty sweet tho. Service was great. read more

Colonnade makes consistently great food. The staff is always friendly, and the food arrives reasonably fast. The only gripe is they appear to scoop the Mac n cheese with an ice cream scoop, and it's not enough! read more

Colonnade - Biggest chops in ATL. - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

While in the ATL, the Mrs and my mother decided they wanted to go here to get their Turkey and dressing. I opted for the Hamburger Steak with grilled onions and brown gray. Food was ok but nothing to write home about. Service was good and the people watching was a bit slow on a Wednesday night. The one side that no one at the table cared for was the sweet potato soufflé. They add raisins and it created a burnt/bitter taste. read more

Outdated, crappy food, big prices, yuck bad service. Slow service. Not the best chicken like they said, and he is way too much salt and everything especially dressing and gravy. They've gone seriously downhill and they don't have good ice cream anymore either. The drinks are expensive and not really good either. read more

This place is an institution that deserves preservation, and we're glad to see new owners who take care of the staff and its patrons. Nevertheless, these prices are too high for the quality of the product and service. If the food and service were magical, however, I could justify the price point, but I cannot. Please lower the non-seafood prices of the most popular meals, and I'll frequent this business more often. Thanks! read more

One of the last standing great ATL restaurants!!! I usually get the chicken livers or ham.

Went there for lunch on Saturday around noon! Expected the restaurant to have been busier than it was but it wasn't! The waitress came to get my drink order right away. I went ahead and gave her my food order as well! Looking around their was only 7 or 8 other tables occupied with diners. My food came out quicker than I thought assuming with a food runner, not my Server. She came by shortly to ask how things were. That was the last time I saw her through out the entire meal!! Looking around she was sitting in the back of the restaurant cleaning silverware! Never came around to over beverage refills at all! She did see me looking around thinking she would get the hint that I may have needed something!! Didn't happen! Even when she finally decided to approach my table no refill was offered!! Sad to say but The Colonnade has always had excellent wait staff but that no longer is existent!! Will not return!! read more

Great southern tasting food with a large variety of food and I loved the simple sit down atmosphere.

An Atlanta classic. Solid food all around. There's a vibe in the walls that says this place has seen some exciting things. Everyone was super attentive and my drink was full the entire time. Huge platter of food for the price. I'll be back. read more

Colonnade - Grilled Pork Chops - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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The best! An Atlanta tradition! And a true classic. Wonderful atmosphere. Superior service. Great food!!

Some of the best home cooked southern food we have ever had at a restaurant. The place was packed and really loud but the food was amazing. The fried green tomatoes were fresh and tasty. We also had the pot roast, chicken fried chicken and rainbow trout. For dessert we got the butterscotch pie and the key lime pie. Wish they had peach cobbler because I bet it would be the best! read more

Andy Griffith would eat here.... And, I am pretty sure Aunt B was sitting near the door on her break from the kitchen! Opie was nowhere in sight. The restaurant definately carries an old Southern charm. Having visited Atlanta half a dozen times in this last year, my curiosity had me venturing outside the main city to exploring eateries on the outskirts. This was a bit of a drive from the downtown area and it took awhile in traffic. We arrived and the place was packed...jam packed swamped and parking was hard to come by. The folks waiting to be seated were very pleasant to talk to and I heard a great deal of history behind the restaurant including various awards for their fried chicken and even about a celebrity TV food host filming his experience. Oohh.. and don't forget the good ol' fresh peach cobbler and the height of GA's Peach Season! A delicious dessert and must have here! Fried Chicken is an amazing dish..except in Southern California. Amazing fried chicken is not easy to find in my area. Texas, New Orleans and the South in general definitely have the best and the style of fried chicken varies greatly from state to state. To each his own, but this is just my opinion. The Fried Chicken is good. I liked other places better though...especially in NOLA. What do you get here? You get awesome service and hospitality and very good home made food. A good experience. AOK in my book. 3.5/4 Stars. read more

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The Colonnade has been an Atlanta fixture in one location or another since 1927, but my wife and I have been coming here for "only" 20 years. People come here for the food, which is both plentiful and priced to please. I simply can't get by the two grilled pork chops I get with my order, along with a huge variety of side dishes. Service is always good, but you will have a wait to be seated during the rush hours. No worries as there is a great bar available if you're so inclined. We can argue about ambience, but not about the food. Fried chicken, shrimp, steak, chicken livers, salmon, trout - they're all on the menu and are good! Did I mention the huge desserts or the large people who eat them? Do yourself a favor and visit the Colonnade, but bring a hungry friend. read more

I saw this restaurant featured on the food network, diners drive-ins and dives.. I was expecting something different. The demographic is an older crowd, and I felt like I was being watched the entire time. The food was decent. I ordered the veggie plate and all the sides - fried okra, onion rings, sweet potato soufflé and macaroni and cheese were good. I think this might be a good spot for the baby boomer generation.. decor was not very trendy and outdated. Our server was very polite and professional. I don't think I would come if I ever visit Atlanta again. read more

Colonnade - Veggie Plate - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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The Colonnade is an institution in Atlanta! A must visit for locals and out of townees. The restaurant is old school and a little bit dreary, but don't let this fool you as it is super clean and the food makes up for the appearance. Most folks are on the older side here. Automatic rolls and cornbread at the table. The cornbread is my favorite. Today I had the 'early bird' special for $13. My choices were heavenly spinach salad (pictured), roast pork with dressing, and baked potato. Soft drink is included with the special and had coffee. And desert of ice cream. Simple good food like grandma used to make. Nothing fancy but tasty and filing. Servers can be rushed here but thought decent service for the number of tables she had to work on. Good pacing of the lunch and coffee cup never went empty. I am a fan! read more

Colonnade - Spinach salad - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Sorry to rate this so low but things have changed over the last few years. Quality of the service was still fine but the lack of quality a reasonable pricing, and quantity of the food is absurd. Sorry to say I have to right off this place as a good place to eat. read more

Always a unique and fun experience. The fried chicken is the best in Atlanta. Great comfort food with amazing friendly service. The old school Atlanta atmosphere is always fun. read more

The food here is mediocre at best.... Way too expensive $25 for chopped steak... servers don't really listen to you clearly.. I must have said sweet tea with lemon no less than 3 times.... Never gotta lemon... I said medium well on the chopped steak... got medium rare.... Just not worth the trip or the price... sorry colonnade read more

The Colonnade has been a favorite place of mine to dine and to have a cocktail since 1975. The food is always well prepared and reliably excellent. The staff is superb - always friendly and helpful, Valerie, Randall, and a new member Solomon are my favorites. The restaurant has a very pleasant atmosphere and the bar is quite cozy as well. Jay, the barkeeper, knows how to put together a terrific cocktail - her manhattans, martinis, and other mixed drinks are spot on! To sum it up, the Colonnade, in my opinion, is the perfect place for dining out. read more

The best fried chicken around. Love their sides too. Chicken livers are delicious as well as the fried shrimp. It's been around since the 40's! Must do if you're in the Cheshire Bridge area. read more

After being a customer for almost fifty years I am sorry to say we will not be back and I hate to write a bad review but I have to be honest. Ate there several days ago and the food was below par. Apparently it had been sitting under the warmer for a long time before being brought out.. The food was not hot. My meat was more rare then med- rare and was warm , my mashed potato gravy had a skim on top of it and when I put some on my potatoes it pored out as a clump. Husbands fried fish sandwich came with the breading soft and falling off. Friend ordered a Marian salad as an after thought and was much smaller then the ones we had. At a cost of around $8.00 it certainly was not worth it. Did enjoy visiting with a few of the old timers though. I wish them luck but not sure how long they will continue to survive as this rate. read more

We had a great meal tonight with 7 members of our family tonight. Marcele, our server, was very attentive & informative, meeting and aticipating all our needs. Everyone agreed the food was exceptional and up to the Colonnade standards, from the fried chicken, pork chops, southern sides, whipped potatoes & gravy, sweet potatoe Souffle, Mac & Cheese, and the Fried chicken salad. Yes, the menu has been updated, but what restuarant hasn't updated their menu, especially given the current price point, of beef and other more expensive entrees. I think you will be well pleased read more

the food was excellent. the fried chicken was tasty and generously served. the wedge salad with blue cheese crumbles was fresh and tasty. the pole beans as wellas the rolls were enjoyable. our server was very personable and we enjoyed her attentiveness. all together a great experience. we''ll see them soon again. enjoyed the new carpet and general decor. not fancy but welcoming. read more

Old School- everything about this place is old school in a good way. Love the fried chicken and also prime rib. Service is old school impeccable. read more

It was over 2-1/2 decades since I first eaten at the colonnade. The service was great. I didn't know the old saying "it's the place for grays and the gays. I ate so good I got sleepy . The atmosphere was nice and cool. I really enjoyed myself. Class of '92. read more

Meh. this is the kind od food "old people" like...Sad that this is "southern fare" Fried chicken that is their signature dish means overcooked, dry breasts...go for the dark meat if you must. Shrimp overcooked. For that matter, all the vegetables overcooked. the sweet potato side was baby food like consistency. Pies were cloyingly sweet. Service was fine and prices reasonable. Atlanta is full of wonderful restaurants serving Southern food traditionally and updated. Why go to a place that tries to emulate the restaurant in a 1960s country club? And fails. read more

Colonnade is a great neighborhood spot to go eat!! The bar makes fantastic drinks and the fried chicken is always fresh and delicious. Great crowd watching as well!! Highly recommend read more

Here's the thing. We really just stopped in for fried chicken livers and that's what we got. 2 apps and a desert. And the bill somehow was $37.00. They were great chicken livers don't get me wrong, and the number of places still serving them around Atlanta dwindles by the day, but the price is honestly ludicrous for what you get. My point, of course, is, while they are quite good, they aren't that much better than Ms. Winners, where you can get twice as much food, sides and drinks for less than 1/2 the cost: read more

The food was extraordinarily bland, fried chicken had absolutely no flavor which was a major let down considering this was supposed to be one of their "popular dishes." Really disappointed in nearly everything, green beans had no seasoning, gravy was flavorless which is odd considering that's a pretty southern staple and this is a southern soul food restaurant... Collard greens actually weren't super bad but you can definitely tell it came from a can. Even the drinks were watered down? On the other hand our server Sarah was really nice, and very attentive, and made sure we had our food as soon as it was ready, really can't complain about her customer service. :) Sadly this won't make up for the food being mediocre. read more

1st timer. Not particularly impressed with their version of "Trout Almondine". Fish was bland and seasoning was all wrong for any almondine sauce from anywhere. No browned butter to be found. Price's also are a bit excessive for portion. Love country food but I'll have to give these guys a second look just because everyone raves about the place . We all get it wrong sometimes. read more

My daughter and I decided to get carryout a couple of weeks ago. The place was packed and everyone seemed content. I have eaten there once before with family and we all enjoyed it. I got the fried chicken and it was delicious. Will definitely be back. read more