Fortify Kitchen and Bar

Well, it's down a couple of stars. I'm not from Clayton, but…read morewe love this little town and visit it often, last trip in January 2026. I noticed the window sign said "Angie's Clayton Cafe" and whilst being seated at 11:45AM on Tuesday June 2, 2026, noted the wall art had changed, no more local memorabilia, and the menu is now a well worn, two sheet pieces of copy paper. No problem, the place was nearing capacity per usual and we did get a window seated table. But, then I noticed, no collard greens on the menu. So, if you read my earlier reviews, you will note that I have eaten at quite a few "meat and three" style country diners and that I also know how to cook this food at home. That's a big qualifier, because Clayton Cafe had become a part of our destination trip to Clayton from Greenville, SC. It was just that good, a notch above the crowd. I didn't find this experience to be the same. The decor, service, ambiance was the same. Even the same crowd starting a 15 minute table wait shortly after noon. Business has not suffered, but the food is not the same. Overall, everything was less flavorful, more bland. The highlight, the white sawmill gravy was piping hot and flowed well, not a gloopy mess and I like that it was served on the side. The country fried steak was tender, but it had less crunch on the crust and was significantly bland - pepper and salt please. The green beans had a small chunk of meat involved, but they too were very bland and lacked a depth of flavor expected from the hamhock, the biscuit was good, but not the buttery crusty biscuit if yore. The okra was straight up flour breading with no cornmeal in the mixture and that's a game changer on this dish. Fried chicken was good. Squash, or squash casserole was a bland mess and left uneaten. Don't get me wrong. This three star rating means "OK". It's still a good meat and three. It's just not an exceptional meat and three as experiences my multiple prior visits. So that's when I asked the server if the restaurant had changed owners and yes, in April 2026. Well, there ya go, but Bon Chance to the new owners and Godspeed towards the hard work and keeping it going. Obviously, a full house lunch crowd on a Tuesday in June shows positive momentum. I'm just saying, pay attention to flavor, both in depth and complexity, to make these Southern standards stand out from the meat and three crowd.

We wanted a hot breakfast while in town for a wedding and this cafe was so charming…read more We ordered a variety of breakfast dishes like the corned beef hash, omelets, and eggs. The biscuits were delicious and not too dry, but the corned beef hash was a little too salty (even for a fiend like me) and my omelet was both under and over cooked. Even if the food was ok, I have to call out the exceptional service we received. Our waiter was kind and attentive, clarifying whether we wanted sweet or unsweet tea (my California ass forgot I was in the south now), warning us the kitchen was running a little behind due to the morning rush, and in general being a gem of a human being. I'd come back for that treatment! Logistics: - limited street parking in front - indoor seating only

Interior

Pina Colada French Toast

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Yardbird Chicken Sandwich

Sunday Diner

4.4(141 reviews)

0.6 mi

•$

This place blew me away. The food was absolutely tasty and the offerings were amazing. If I had…read moremore time in Clayton, GA, I probably would have had all my remaining meals here. This diner is located in a back street, next to a market and close enough to a strip mall with restaurants. It's a quiet place although lots of people come in and out. We sat down, got our coffee, ate our meals, and wondered if we could eat more. The food was so tasty that we really wanted to take more food with us. I had a chicken fried steak and my gf had an omelette. Every table around us was busy eating, we were not the only ones who appreciated this food. For a humble place with delicious food, the prices were average. The coffee could use a little help, as well as the A/C, but all in all, it was a win for us hungry bears.

Local home grown people and food,great pancakes breakfasts are their speciality…read more Would recommend

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Universal Joint

4.0(488 reviews)

202604241618…read more Parking's can be tricky. Maybe you'll luck out & be able to park in one of the coveted six spaces behind the restaurant. Otherwise park further behind or across street & short walk over. It's an old converted gas station on the corner. Majority of seating is outside. There's some inside seating & a bar inside. Old gas station style bathrooms outside & around the corner. There's a stage for events. Appears to be pet friendly. Nice view of Main Street with shops, desserts & boutiques. You can watch both people & vehicle traffic. Service is quick, quiet & friendly. Lots of specialty drinks to choose from. Food is really good. The Smokehouse Burger is prepared to order with bacon, fried onion rings, melted cheese, tender, juicy, delicious. When you're done, walk up one side & down the other to walk that food off & get yourself ready for dessert. Enjoy!

The good first. The burgers were very good. My wife and I enjoyed the burgers very much. Tasty,…read morehot. While we were greeted and seated quickly, the service was subpar. The establish was not busy. The tables were sticky and had visible signs of glass rings. For not being busy, it took a considerable amount of time for the food to come out. While my food was very good, the wife had fries that were cold. We were served food without any utensils or napkins. It took 8 minutes for utensils to arrive and one napkin each. We asked for more napkins, which never came. My wife mentioned the cold fries and she was brought another serving of equally cold fries. When we were finished, I asked the server for a couple to go boxes. We received one and had to ask for more; eventually getting one more box. It took an additional 10 minutes to get the check, and another 10 to have it retrieved with the credit card. The neighboring table was also dealing with cold fries.

The bar area, demonstrative of the decor.

Quesdillas chicken on corn tortillas.

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Since 2011! Sign on the outdoor stage.

The Rusty Bike Cafe

4.5(382 reviews)

0.8 mi

•$

We have been there several times over the years and it is the best breakfast restaurant in the…read morearea. The service is very good and prompt. We always look forward to going back every time we are in Clayton.

My husband I enjoyed a fabulous lunch at The Rusty Bike Cafe. I loved the Summer Salad with all the…read morefruit, veggies, and vinaigrette. It was pure summer happiness on a plate. My husband loved his Philly Cheese Steak and coleslaw. He orders PCS whenever he can, and he said this was one of the best he's ever had. The menu is extensive and everything looks wonderful. Look at the menu ahead of time if it takes you a long time to make decisions. The service was great. We arrived after the lunch rush, so we were seated and served quickly. The place is decorated with biker memorabilia. We enjoyed looking around. The place has a happy vibe. We'll be back!

Inside the dining room

Breakfast burrito

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Restaurant

Mountain Grill

3.9(44 reviews)

0.6 mi

An undiscovered GEM. . Made from scratch home cooking with recipes that takes years of experience…read moreto develop and perfect. Biscuits and gravy are outstanding. Coffee as fresh as any large chain coffee shop. $2.50 w/refills. Sausage is locally sourced. Plenty of seating and easy parking. Friendly folks.

We stopped by here for brunch as it had plenty of seating compared to next door and it advertised…read morefamous cinnamon rolls in the window. The cinnamon roll was tasty - not too sweet, not too dry, not too moist - but it would have been better if it had been served warm for eat in diners. We ordered a variety of breakfast dishes, including corn beef hash (too salty even for me), calf liver (overcooked and dry), egg plate, and quiche. The egg part of the quiche was good but the crust basically uncooked. Each dish came with a biscuit, which had a great tang but interesting texture more like cornbread or coarse cake than flaky biscuit. The most annoying thing is that our food took 30-45 minutes to come out even though were were the only ones there? With no communication of the wait. They didn't even bring out the premade cinnamon roll as an appetizer until I asked. We were so hangry and were met with disappointing taste to boot. Logistics: - indoor seating only - strip mall parking in front but it was pretty full at peak weekend brunch time due to the other cafe next door

Made from scratch bakery goods, breakfast and lunch deals.

Homemade Cinnamon Roll

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Friends Clayton Grill

4.2(55 reviews)

Came again. We got the buffalo chicken wrap and okra. They were both good. We got pink starburst…read moreshot(soooooo good) and lemon drop and michelob ultra on draft. Service was excellent will be back!

UPDATE: After expressing my disappointment, I was kindly…read morereached out to by the owner of Friends. As we all are, when you get down to it, a real person. He offered his apology, a refund, and an appreciation for the feedback. It goes a long way when a person takes responsibility, especially business owners. Based on his explanations to me, which fit my experience, they were understaffed by 1 person, and also had double the traffic that they do on a usual Tuesday. I don't know if I'll ever be around this area enough to give them another shot, but I do appreciate reaching a real human, especially in this day and age. Old Review: "Yes, I'm reposting my Google review so Yelpers don't miss it: This was a total disapointment. What a terrible meal. Don't take them up on Tuesday's "BOGO" night for hamburgers. It was bread on a tray with a flavorles, overcooked bison burger hockey puck, a side caesar drowning in dressing, and water that came at the end of the meal. Stay away. Yuck. Oh yeah, and weak drinks, more sugar than anything else."

Indoors

Texas twisted skins

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View of Clayton

Fortify Pi

4.3(210 reviews)

We came in on a busy Saturday. We were promptly seated. Our drink orders were quickly delivered…read more Our server was quite busy but very efficient. I forgot her name but she was great! We ordered a starter of wings which were fantastic! The spicy apricot flavor was new and unique. I really enjoyed it. Spicy but not overpowering. The table ordered a total of 4 small pizzas. Each one of them came out perfect. Mine was crispy just as I asked. There was a generous amount of toppings. The price is a little high but I felt the ingredients were of quality so that can be expected. I would definitely recommend this pizza spot. I would gladly come back.

This restaurant is permanently closed. The pictures and reviews do not depict the new restaurant…read morethat was opened in a different location. The website takes you to a completely different restaurant.

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Caprese salad with tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, balsamic and olive oil.

Oinkers

4.0(77 reviews)

2.3 mi

•$

The pulled pork sandwich was solid. . The pork was tender, and perfectly smoked, with just the…read moreright amount of char to give it a delightful texture. The sandwich was generously portioned, served on a soft, slightly toasted bun that soaked up the juices without becoming soggy. The pork was just slightly dry in my opinion. What truly sets this place apart, aside from the food, is the atmosphere. The friendly, laid-back staff made me feel like a regular, even on my first visit.

Absolutely loved the food. Sweet tea and soda refills felt limitless. Everything was delicious and…read moreseasoned to perfection. But MOST of all the service was top tier. Our waitress was attentive and so welcoming. This was our first time at Oinkers and it will not be our last. Half of our party is from out of state and this was the truest definition of southern hospitality I wanted them to experience! She made everything that much more special. Five stars!!!!

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Old Know Bev Co & Mocktails

4.9(12 reviews)

0.2 mi

Not many places get me excited, not many places make me want to go back, and not many places are as…read morefun as Oldknow. I am not local to the area and I do wish I could revisit this establishment. My bar fly days have been long gone, yet I guess "closing the bar" is part of my genetic structure, and these things don't go away. It's not something that I intend on doing, but the conversation flows with me and around me, and people just don't want me to go home! So, we ended up hanging out with one of the owners, and this gave me an insight to the whole idea behind this concept. If you are interested in local, unique products, and search for new flavors, this is the place to find excellent quality drinks. There's in-house gin and bitters, and that is all I will say. Well, one more thing I will say: don't be surprised if this bar becomes a national destination. The bar itself is classy and inviting, the music is great, the crowd is cool, but the hospitality is above tops. This place has it all and deserves a visit. Closing statement: very few places deserve 6 stars, this is one of them.

Old Know is situated in downtown Clayton and brings an eclectic vintage approach to grabbing a…read moredrink. They offer around 3 mocktails, but several different cocktail options. Their cocktails are on tap, which is an interesting approach. The drinks are packed with flavor and the staff are super accommodating in helping you pick out a drink. They had a fun selection of cards and board games too!

Gin & Tonic

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The Hush Cuban kitchen & bar

4.6(173 reviews)

0.1 mi

Great authentic cuban food Great prices…read moreWe ate very well Had palomilla steak and vaca frita Croquettes, tostones and maduros were very authentic They put a lot of cilantro on everything( not my favorite herb) Would definetely recomend and will go back when in the area

We had an exceptional lunch at The Hush Cuban kitchen & bar today, and honestly, it was some of the…read morebest Cuban food we've ever had. We started with the beef empanadas, which were traditional, flavorful, and perfectly done. Then came the Cubano, and wow, absolutely outstanding. The pork was cooked perfectly, juicy and tender with just the right amount of crispy pieces that gave it incredible texture and flavor. We also ordered the Cajun Arroz con Pollo, and it completely blew us away. It was packed with flavor, the crispy chicken was truly perfect, and the Cajun seasoning was spot on, bold and delicious without being spicy. From start to finish, every bite was memorable. Add in the cool downtown Clayton vibe, and this place is a must visit. We'll absolutely be back.