Em&#x27;s Kitchen

(157 reviews)

1.3 mi

During the last year of the five-and-a-half decades my mother lived in Athens, she survived a…read moreserious medical crisis and endured the sale of her longtime home and preparations for a move to my brother's city. A chaotic period, and when my brother and/or I were in town to help out with these exhausting and time-consuming tasks, finding quick, reasonably priced, somewhat healthy, and hopefully tasty food was challenging indeed. I unfortunately didn't discover Maepole until 2025, but it nicely ticked off those boxes. Maepole is basically a "fast casual," Southern-inflected "bowl" place, with a much heavier emphasis on the nutritious and fresh than is typical of traditional Southern cooking. You start with a base, just like at Chipotle or Cava--greens, sweet potatoes, or quinoa, etc.--and top with veggies or salads, and, if you prefer a protein, you can add chicken, pork, or tofu. Or you can just go full-on veggie plate. Top with a flavorful sauce; my favorites were the spicy avocado and lemon herb. My general impression of the food quality was that it wasn't quite at the five-star level some of the time--veggies weren't always cooked to perfection, for instance--but the general experience and value, as well as the bold flavors, argue for bumping this rating up to five stars. Plus, every time I think about Maepole, I sure wish my current city had an option like it.

First time here and recommended by a colleague. I was a little concerned about dining out in Athens…read moreduring a busy Saturday afternoon but fortunately the N Chase location is perfectly tucked away, distant enough from the downtown area. I was 3rd in line and pleasantly surprised + pleased. Think Chipotle meets Chopt (the salad bar ). Fresh ingredients. LOTS of mix and match options OR preset menu items. And just as many drink options, including locally made kombucha. I ordered the winter salad and low country plates. With the exception of the turmeric ginger dressing (a little too zesty for me) and the hoppin John salad (hoppin John OR salad ... not both ) EVERYTHING was delicious. I enjoyed the salad way more than I thought I would. The spicy avocado dressing is YUMMY! The greens were cooked to perfection - another shocker. The edamame crunch, tofu and crunchies were just as delicious. I will visit the Atlanta location just to try the fritters! A wonderfully healthy and scrumptious delight !

Quinoa + Super Greens base, Sesame Slaw + Bean Salad as sides, Tofu, & sriracha honey + turmeric ginger as dressings

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Maepole Epps Bridge

4.3

(22 reviews)

4.0 mi

Pretty good farm to table concept counter service restaurant. Their flavor is southern style. On my…read morefirst stop in I got a greens and sweet potato base with roasted potatoes and Mac n cheese for sides. Chicken was the protein and I tried the lemon herb vinaigrette. It was all pretty tasty. There is limited seating inside, but all very clean. Would definitely go again.

I visited the Athens area for work recently and loved Maepole so much that I ate here twice. How I…read morewish they had locations in Colorado! They do a wonderful job of making Southern food that is not only tasty, but healthy and nutritious. I wholeheartedly recommend the Sriracha honey sauce as well as the mac and cheese and green beans.

Interior

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Flama

4.3

(45 reviews)

0.8 mi

Absolutely delicious. The food is full of flavor. I am coming back. The service was good as well.read more

This place is GREAT! Awesome food. Nice selection of salads and appetizers at the bar. Huge…read moreselection of meats to choose from. Fresh food cooking right in front of you. Excellent service. Nice, clean eating area. Unique decorations throughout. This place has nice feng shui.

Lumb, Bacon wrapped chicken, Sausage and Garlic Beef

THE GRILL!!!

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Decor

Catch 22 Gastropub

SUCH GOOD FOOD!!! And the service was amazing!!! We loved the artwork and atmosphere!read more

Tried the Porknado for something unique and it was filling and delicious!…read moreWife got wings and loved the crisp on them. We will be back to try the wide selection of drinks!

Dining room

Filthy fries with pork

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Menu October 2023

CAVA

This CAVA location is pretty good! The Greek salad is my go-to and it was delicious as always. I…read morealso tried their falafel for the first time and enjoyed it. I thought the portions were a little smaller than what I'm used to but the food was still delicious

I had the Spicy Lamb and Avocado Bowl and it was packed with flavor! The lamb had just the right…read moreamount of heat, the avocado added a creamy touch, and all the toppings came together really well. The rice, greens, corn, and other mix-ins made it super filling and fresh. The warm pita on the side was a nice bonus too. The only downside--and why I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5--is that I found an avocado produce sticker still stuck to a piece in my bowl. Definitely not something you want to find mid-bite. Mistakes happen, but it's something they should catch during prep. Other than that, great experience and I'd definitely come back!

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The Place

Super awesome chicken sandwich and fried okra!!!!! Excellent…read moreservice!!!! What PLACE am I at? Ohhhh The PLACE is the excellent!

Probably the best meal I had in Athens on a recent visit…read more Laid back but nice overall vibe, super helpful and friendly service, and fair prices for the quality you receive. The chicken sandwich was incredibly tasty as were the onion rings and collared greens. Good drink selection to boot.

Fried Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich

Upstairs

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Southern Bruschetta

Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe - Athens

the food was incredible! BUT the service was absolutely amazing! The communication, the options,…read morethe helpful advice when hosting 80 people ! the creative suggestions they offered to help source colored plates or colored napkins or bigger cups or smaller cups all at a very, very affordable reasonable price!!! There Is not enough space on this to give the review that they deserve. always dealing with real people we got into a really big pinch ( was absolutely my fault ) without hesitation They scrambled to help me ,to fix it ,to support me ! the manager could run the world !!!THE BEST

Tazikis's is fantastic. My office is nearby so I get to eat there fairly often. They are great for…read moreevents and always well organized. Thank you!

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Newk's Eatery

3.9

(41 reviews)

4.1 mi

Newk's is always good and consistent. the service is always pleasant and the food is delicious.read more

Came to this place for the very first time. Glad we did because we really enjoyed the atmosphere…read moreand the food. The food was very fresh and was made very quickly. I had the green goddess salad and I enjoyed it very much. My wife had the half sandwich combo with the turkey avocado sandwich and a Cesar Salad. We both enjoyed our meal and will definitely be back again.

Supreme pizza and half ultimate salad.

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Exterior

Chicken Salad Chick

One of our favorite sandwich shops. Food : so many kinds…read moreof chicken salad ! We like the Scotty (cheddar cheese)! the Lauryn (Basil), the bbq one, the Kickin' one and all 3 fruit ones, etc with crackers or on a croissant or toast. 3 Soups-change daily. 3 Desserts available. Service : Order at the counter-they bring it your table, inside or outside. Staff are consistently pleasant and helpful. Facility -clean, pleasant We return frequently .

This is my boyfriend's new obsession. He said this is some of the best chicken salad he's ever had…read more I'm personally not a chicken salad fan, so I didn't order anything, but everything looked awesome! I did have a taste of the sugar cookie though, and wow, it was so tasty! All of the chicken salad chicks are set up the same but this one had a lot of "hometown" Athens pictures on the walls. It made the restaurant feel historic. We will definitely be back here!

Interior

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Big City Bread Cafe

Amazing. The Greek omelet was something special. Not one bit watery. Packed with Greek flavors…read morewith a spice dusting that really impressed. The latte was perfect. The apple tart was delicious. I would suggest heating it up a bit. Service was friendly and prompt. Lovely ambiance. In a residential looking area off a main road.

This place is awesome! They have such a diverse menu and the ambiance is lovely. Great place to eat…read moreoutside. I had the Mozzarella Tomato Basil sandwich with a cup of Tomato Soup and it was all so flavorful and fresh! The BLT looked amazing and I definitely want to try that next time!

French toast (full, way too full) & quiche.

Front counter space

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Cali N Tito's

Food is great. Best authentic Latin food outside of California! Atmosphere is laid back with self…read moreseating and super colorful! Food is served in a reasonable time, 10/10 recommended for Sunday dinner with friends

Very spacious place and decorated festively. Everyone must place their orders at the register where…read morethe drink bar is located, and then pick their own table. Foods and drinks are delivered to the table. We were there only a Saturday afternoon and there's always line at the register. Lots of available tables though. We throughly enjoyed our foods. The chipotle sauce (special request only) is

Highly suggest their tortas

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Menu

South Kitchen + Bar

Absolutely amazing experience. Really close to the Hyatt which is why I visited. The pork belly is…read moreto die for and the veggie platter is delicious! The duck fat they use is amazing. Cool building for summer nights, historical and great service!

Great brunch on Sunday. Especially loved the apple sausage patties and bacon fat tater tots with…read moremultiple dipping sauces. Service was outstanding! I love the ambiance in the middle of the afternoon. I'm anxious to experience the dinner menu and see the dining room in its evening glory. I'll be back!

Scrolling happy hour sign.

Inheritor

Beignets

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Carrabba's Italian Grill

Our decision to grab a quick casual dinner with friends mid-week was a good choice. They recently…read morechanged happy hour -now it ends at 6 instead of 6:30 and we were a few minutes late. We will remember next time. Fortunately the food was yummy -I chose the salmon with a side of asparagus. Deliciously prepared! As always-plenty of bread on the table with olive oil and herb dipping sauce. They do allow us to split dishes if we aren't very hungry and they still have the "Take home another meal for $10" deal-we chose a pasta for the second meal and it was ready when it was time to go home. The Caesar salad was fresh as always. Service -excellent as always The managers, Aaron and Joe train the staff so well that your beverage glass is full and your needs are met. Signing up for their rewards program is a great idea. Facility - Clean and comfortable. Tables are not crowded together. It was not noisy. Location -convenient, easily seen and lots of parking

We LOVE Carrabbas! The service is always on point and the food is delicious. Ambiance is always…read moreinviting and clean. We sat at Buffalo Wild Wings for 20 minutes and had to flag down our waitress for water. Been here for 5 minutes and have water, sangria, that irreplaceable Italian bread !

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Ted's Most Best

So happy we found this place! The pizzas are big single-serve size. Excellent crust, sauce and…read more toppings. The salads are very fresh and not over-dressed. Also great dessert if you have room or you can take it home for later. Lots of outdoor seating with plenty of shade. Nice folks, pretty quick, and a good vibe.

Easy place to grab a nice lunch and enjoy outside. Order at the counter and they bring food out…read more I had salad and pizza and beer. They also sell bottles of wine and cocktails. Family friendly easy place to meet friends for a relaxed meal.

Thin, only cheese with barely any sauce and extremely cold.

Inside

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Outside

Tacos Los Plebes

0 reviews

3.1 mi

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Leon L.

1

11

0

8 years ago

Super friendly, excellent food.

Em's Kitchen - breakfast_brunch - Updated August 2026

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Pretty good farm to table concept counter service restaurant. Their flavor is southern style. On my…read morefirst stop in I got a greens and sweet potato base with roasted potatoes and Mac n cheese for sides. Chicken was the protein and I tried the lemon herb vinaigrette. It was all pretty tasty. There is limited seating inside, but all very clean. Would definitely go again.

I visited the Athens area for work recently and loved Maepole so much that I ate here twice. How I…read morewish they had locations in Colorado! They do a wonderful job of making Southern food that is not only tasty, but healthy and nutritious. I wholeheartedly recommend the Sriracha honey sauce as well as the mac and cheese and green beans.

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I've been a longtime fan of the original Mama's Boy in Athens, so I had to check out The Falls…read morelocation--and wow, this one really impressed me! It's newer, roomier, and has a more polished, modern feel while still keeping that Southern charm. What I Loved: * The Peach French Toast was absolutely delicious--sweet, comforting, and full of flavor. It totally lived up to the Mama's Boy reputation. * The Strawberry Lemonade was so good, and yes, free refills! Major win. * The new space is beautifully done. Clean, comfortable, and feels more upscale compared to the original, but still welcoming. It's always a good sign when a place expands and still keeps the quality and heart. This newer location might just be my go-to now!

Maepole

(157 reviews)

During the last year of the five-and-a-half decades my mother lived in Athens, she survived a…read moreserious medical crisis and endured the sale of her longtime home and preparations for a move to my brother's city. A chaotic period, and when my brother and/or I were in town to help out with these exhausting and time-consuming tasks, finding quick, reasonably priced, somewhat healthy, and hopefully tasty food was challenging indeed. I unfortunately didn't discover Maepole until 2025, but it nicely ticked off those boxes. Maepole is basically a "fast casual," Southern-inflected "bowl" place, with a much heavier emphasis on the nutritious and fresh than is typical of traditional Southern cooking. You start with a base, just like at Chipotle or Cava--greens, sweet potatoes, or quinoa, etc.--and top with veggies or salads, and, if you prefer a protein, you can add chicken, pork, or tofu. Or you can just go full-on veggie plate. Top with a flavorful sauce; my favorites were the spicy avocado and lemon herb. My general impression of the food quality was that it wasn't quite at the five-star level some of the time--veggies weren't always cooked to perfection, for instance--but the general experience and value, as well as the bold flavors, argue for bumping this rating up to five stars. Plus, every time I think about Maepole, I sure wish my current city had an option like it.

First time here and recommended by a colleague. I was a little concerned about dining out in Athens…read moreduring a busy Saturday afternoon but fortunately the N Chase location is perfectly tucked away, distant enough from the downtown area. I was 3rd in line and pleasantly surprised + pleased. Think Chipotle meets Chopt (the salad bar ). Fresh ingredients. LOTS of mix and match options OR preset menu items. And just as many drink options, including locally made kombucha. I ordered the winter salad and low country plates. With the exception of the turmeric ginger dressing (a little too zesty for me) and the hoppin John salad (hoppin John OR salad ... not both ) EVERYTHING was delicious. I enjoyed the salad way more than I thought I would. The spicy avocado dressing is YUMMY! The greens were cooked to perfection - another shocker. The edamame crunch, tofu and crunchies were just as delicious. I will visit the Atlanta location just to try the fritters! A wonderfully healthy and scrumptious delight !

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I love this place. It truly a hidden gem because as good as the food is, there should be a line out…read morethe door. Lemme tell you about that wafffffllleeee. How did I not know that all I ever needed in life was peanut butter chocolate chip waffles? The blueberry pancake was also amazing, it was my husbands and I ate it later because he took it home. The skillet was delicious, there's salsa on the table to add. We added the ham for an all around stellar mouth full. The grits were creamy and the bacon was crispy. My favorite part was that when they scrambled the eggs they let the cheese form a crust and it created a delightful bite. 10/10 reccomend. Go here.

It's your typical little diner breakfast food. You get an okay portion, the food tastes fine, but…read moreit's just a little expensive. Service is nice and the place is always busy, packed with regulars. If you're looking for a large filling portion, this isn't it. A quick breakfast to hold you over, sure.

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Let me start by saying I love this place, their food and drinks, and normally don't have any…read moreissues. 7:10 am - all lights are on, open sign is on, door is unlocked, and no hours on the door that I saw. Went in and lady just looks at me. I said, "I just want to get coffee." She said, "dont open until 7:30." I said well, you just lost business and shouldn't have your open sign (on the side of the building to draw in traffic) on or door unlocked. I don't understand business' mentality anymore. If I owned a business that served coffee in the mornings and someone came in 15-20 min before we opened because I had my sign on and door unlocked, I would say, "it may take a few extra minutes because we aren't open yet, but what can I get you?" Thats how you keep happy customers. Instead, you turned me away losing that sale, gaining this review, AND I will reconsider next time I decide I may want to eat your food, and just go somewhere else, also this review could affect others coming there, so affecting future sales. If the lights weren't all on, open sign wasn't on, I wouldn't have come in to have this experience. Business', YOU MUST DO BETTER!!! News flash! There are tons of you for us to choose from. We don't have to eat or drink at your restaurant.

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