Nextdoor to Headshots in the bottle works is this narrow restaurant with a row of tables and seating at the harbor next to the kitchen but I think folks were sitting outside bas well. Very pleasant quick friendly and willing service. They have a modern take on Vietnamese food tasty and a little spicy. Inventiveblike a cridp chicken skin appetizer. I had the spicy beef pho. It needed salt I thought but had a nice spice to it I ordered a plate of herbs for $2.00 extra with the usual sprouts, red onion , jalapeno, home and herbs and shot of Hosin sauce which made it even better. It had overly large slices of beef (which I had to take out and cut up on the side), rice noodles and raw egg which cooks in the bowl. Totally filling and satisfying. . I will return to explore the rest of the menu read more

See all

5 stars is not enough! Interesting, creative Vietnamese food. The ambiance is wonderful; the service flawless. We had the vegan street corn, which is one of the best things I've ever eaten. Savory, spicy, sweet, spectacular. The stir fried vegetables were also amazing with vegan chili crisp, and fried garlic! Then, the viet crispy crepe - savory, flavorful, light, delicious! We bought the kitchen staff a drink; it was so good. Highly recommended! read more

If you have hearing impairment, English is your second language, you're unfamiliar with home-style Vietnamese cuisine, or it's your first time here and you haven't memorized the menu photos, prepare yourselves if Justin works your table. We had a party of around 16-20 people, mostly first-timers excited to try the menu Chef curated. A lot of us are current or former servers ourselves, so we're understanding and chill. Our actual server, Haley, was wonderful. Justin ran diva town. The first interaction had us awkwardly side-eyeing. Justin brought drinks over and our side of the table tried figuring out whose drinks were whose because we genuinely couldn't hear him. You basically have to yell to hear each other in there. Once I realized which drink was mine (after literally a couple seconds), he snapped at me with, "You don't know what you ordered...?" and walked away before we could even respond. I'm not gonna lie... I was gagged. Next, he brought out two Vietnamese iced coffees in short glasses that honestly looked like cocktails. One coffee was hidden behind tall water glasses, so several of us genuinely thought only one coffee made it to the table. When we tried double-checking, Justin paused, looked at me, and said, "...Are you messing with me right now?" while pointing at the glass before walking away again. Now everybody on our side of the table is looking at each other like... girl what is this man's issue??? Nobody was being rude. Nobody was "messing" with him. We were literally just trying to figure things out at a huge table with unfamiliar menu items. Then he brought salads out, waited maybe two seconds while people checked whether anyone else ordered the same thing, and acted irritated AGAIN. Most of us have worked in restaurants before. We understand awkwardly standing there with plates in your hand. But Justin... it was two seconds and a large party. At least they weren't hot plates. At one point I genuinely wondered if this was a micro-aggression because I was the only Asian person in that packed venue among patrons and staff, and his energy toward me specifically felt hostile from the start. Maybe not, but when someone immediately acts suspicious and condescending toward you before you've exchanged a full sentence, the thought crosses your mind. Eventually I pulled him aside and asked, "Bro... are you good? Are WE good?" because the vibes were bizarre. He responded with, "I thought you were messing with me," and walked away again. At this point it felt like a movie starring Justin. Every time he exited the scene, the TikTok sound "Attitude! Now walk off!" should've started playing while we stared into an imaginary Office camera. Like sir... who are your opps? Why would random strangers come into a restaurant just to psychologically mess with you over iced coffee? We're rooting for you. Haley comes in to check with our table and we tell her what happened and asked for his name. We didn't think to make a review. We were genuinely curious because we thought it was his first day. When we're on the part of the story where Justin says "Are you messing with me right now?" she busted out laughing. We tell her "Nothing about this situation is funny..." She says that his name is Justin and he's one of the managers. She goes on about how he's such a great server... Of what we've seen... who, what, when, and where? She apologizes on his behalf and we say "You have nothing to be sorry for. You're literally great. He's just being weird." She said she'll go talk to him. We never hear from Justin after that. Maybe he's in time-out...girl idk. No apology from him, but at least the bad vibes were gone. I genuinely love supporting chefs who bring new cultural experiences into areas that may not have them. I'll literally sit solo and order half the menu just to support the vision. That's why this experience was disappointing. No food is good enough to outweigh feeling uncomfortable while dining. Being dismissive and immediately thinking people are out to get you, before a single sentence is exchanged, when working is obscenely unprofessional, especially when granted a managerial position. Unfortunately, we won't be returning to Pretty Boy in Athens. The food was cool though. read more

Everything was a little odd. I was hungry, so I ate quite a bit of the Drunk Noodle, but I can't speak to what I was eating because it tasted and looked more like Pad Thai than Drunken Noodles, though it was neither. My daughter's Mushroom Pho was fine, nothing I would ever order again. I guess the vegetarian Bahn Mi with mushroom was yummy and I've never had any bahn mi quite like it before. But this non Vietnamese version of largely Vietnamese food was more expensive and in no way better than the real deal. read more

If this place ever starts franchising, and you can buy jalapeño futures on the commodity market, do it. They take a very FAFO attitude when it comes to jalapeño usage. Anyway, never in Athens but we came for a concert and decided we felt like pho. The ambiance of this place is great. Modern fun Asian decor and environment. Outside patio, too, but we felt like being inside. Unfortunately, it was a game day, and they were fully booked with reservations, so we sat at the bar. Bartender was friendly and helpful with the menu. We each started with a drink. I got a Japanese whiskey highball which tasted mostly like club soda. I know Toki is a light whiskey but this glass was mostly clear. My wife's gin drink was much better. My second drink-a spicy margarita, was very good. We started with a fried tofu roll appetizer which was excellent. Our entrees, however, just weren't great. I got the chicken pho and my wife got the mushroom pho with tofu. The problem with hers was a lack of flavor. It definitely needed sauce added. If you can believe this, it wasn't salty enough. The issue with mine was the flavor was all jalapeño. The photo I added to this review is the jalapeño I took out of 1 bowl of pho. I did not add this myself (unlike a traditional Vietnamese restaurant, the pho came out all put together already). It was an inhuman amount of jalapeño and , obviously, made the broth entirely too spicy. It was all you could taste. I do think I'm being a bit unfair with 3 stars but I cannot bring myself to justify the 4th. So, another 3.5 if I could. Not a bad meal at all, just not great overall and a bit disappointing. read more

Pretty Boy - This is the jalapeño the restaurant put in 1 bowl of pho, not including the few slices I did eat. - Wine Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

I don't even know where to start. Pretty Boy was our first dinner in Athens, and came very highly recommended by several people, so we were excited. The space is small and I would have loved sitting on the patio if it wasn't so hot outside, but we had a great table and a great server. I started with an Old Fashioned, which was lovely, while my husband went with the Rhinestone Cowboy (Rhinestone Cowboy tequila reposado, passionfruit, ancho chile liqueur, lemon, palm, cacao bitters, chili oil) as he loves a spicy marg and this was the closest thing. From there we ordered the cucumber salad with lime, charred jalapeño vinegar, basil, mint, sesame seeds and peanuts. I could have devoured the dish myself. The boys opted for the Hanoi Chicken Pho, but I went with the Chilled Peanut Noodles, and have never been happier. Too full for dessert, although they had several options. This is a must-do in Athens. read more

See all

We ate at Pretty Boy for the first time. We chose an early time on a Sunday so we would avoid the crowds. We sat outside. Our server was Hailey and she was veery nice and recommended some great dishes. The food was very flavorful and plated very well. If there was a low point to the meal, it was the green sauce under the coconut ribs. It had a very strong bitter and off putting taste to it that was distracting from the flow of the flavors. A sweeter sauce would have been more desirable to complement the ribs and subtle coconut flavor. Everything else, from meeting Hailey, to finishing the last item we ordered, was delicious. read more

See all

I was in town and needed a solo dinner spot. Yelp led me to Pretty Boy, the reviews were glowing and I love Vietnamese food, so I was excited. This turned out to be a very non-traditional take, and honestly I had a hard time figuring out what to order. That's usually the point where you want to gracefully back out, but I stayed. Unfortunately, the meal just didn't land for me. It was more "meh" than memorable, which was surprising given all the rave reviews. Definitely not my vibe or appealing to my tastebuds. read more

Food was okay. We were expecting a bit more authentic Vietnamese food but it was more fusion. The restaurant was full and we sat in the patio - which was pleasant until flies and gnats joined us. Service was good. read more

Pretty Boy - Spicy Beef Pho - Wine Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

See all

Excellent service from start to finish. Food was absolutely amazing, one of the best experiences ever. Staff is really accommodating and will add or subtract and that you fast service read more

See all

Amazing experience get coconut spare ribs for dinner ! Try everything on menu if you can delicious food.... read more

See all

Great service... relaxed atmosphere.... delicious food.. im a total foodie and chose my selected items about a month before we went. Walked in for our early reservation and was warmly welcomed, seated, and our server came immediately, and surprised us with a daily featured special menu... ohhhhh whaaat? This changes everything.... she gave us time to choose while she got us 2 delicious old fashioneds...we enjoyed our drinks, ordered an appetizer of fried chicken skins... verrrrry good. We kept an eye over the incredibly beautiful and delicious smelling foods being served around us.... we ordered a special menu salad of cucumber, jalapeno, Thai peanut and cilantro... anddddd.... 2 more old fashioned because this was pure enjoyment.... the place folled up and the staff performed effortlessly and smoothly.... we chose the coconut spare ribs and the curried mahi mahi with jasmine rice and root vegetables. EVERYTHING complemented each other. The dessert was almossssst another round of old fashioned, but .... one of the most delicious versions of one of my favorite desserts was on special..it was their version of tiramisu...but...waiiiiitttt. It was Vietnamese iced coffee tiramisu...waaaitttt...with...5 spice...whaaaaat???!!!!@! AND a sesame cracker/ cookie topping...OMG!!!! MIND BLOWING DELICIOUS. The relaxed atmosphere, incredible service, unique and DELICIOUS food was such a great experience. Next time, should I order the specialty menu? Alllllll the apps...? Or repeat a perfect meal? We are looking forward to a return visit soon to decide. And next time, we are getting that 3rd old fashioned!!! Kudos Chef... you got a great team! read more

See all

Food is very good and servers very attentive. We didn't need to wit much. Ambience is warm and cozy.

We always get the mushroom rice paper pizza. My favorite starter is the cucumber salad. The fried tofu on the drunk noods is perfectly crispy. read more

Pretty Boy - Pandan cake - Wine Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Had the opportunity to try Pretty Boy for dinner while in town recently, it did not disappoint. This new little eatery has it going on with its simple concise and well executed menu, small shareable plates, noodles and big shareable plates are whats happening here with an extensive libations offering as well. Reservations are highly encouraged, I made mine for 5pm and the place was already busy when we walked in even only opening up at four for dinner hours. A simple and small interior, with a long bench supporting a handful of tables with chairs and some bar seating in the front, a private dining area in back. Our server was kind, professional and on point, the entire staff engaged and active, with a open kitchen the staff all hustling and the owner/chef hands on and expediting every dish leaving the kitchen. From my vantage point it was a real treat watching his team work and taking in the whole experience while enjoying every dish presented. We started with the fried Imperial Rolls and the Viet street Corn to begin our evening. The rolls, crisply fried comes in four pieces, easy to share, were delicious. A unique twist, with mushroom, cabbage and tufu, glass noodles and tamari dipping sauce with a tangy bite. A great starter. As were the street corn, four half cobs to and order, these coconut milk braised tasty treats are exceptionally good, with scallions, chili oil and fried garlic I picked mine up in hand and went old school on them. You can request a knife and fork if you prefer that approach. Sweet, spicy, tangy and simply delicious again. Another great starter. We both opted for the Pho, one mushroom and one Hanoi chicken style, the Pho for one is a generous portion, fyi. Both were very good, fresh vibrant and well prepared. The mushroom Pho had grilled local fungi with fried tufu, bean sprouts, basil, cilantro and chili oil (which is "heat" adjustable) to taste. The chicken Pho, with a beautiful toasted five spices shredded chicken, onions, scallions, thinly sliced jalapenos, and an egg yolk floating on top. Absolutely sublime, I added an additional drizzle of chili oil and it definitely kicked the "heat" level up. Both were dishes are great choices. We wanted a just little light sweet after the excellent Pho so we shared the Dragonfruit Panna Cotta with pineapple-ginger compote and almond nougatine topping. Served in a small glass jar, this is a light refreshing panna cotta thats easily shared with another. It was an excellent finish. An exceptional meal, in a very cool environment with stellar staff on all levels. Well worth a visit and your support. If you enjoyed this dining experience as much as I did, you can even buy the kitchen team a round as I did. 4.5 Stars rounded up for the great staff 01045 read more

See all

Chicken skins, amazing. You won't get something like this within 40 miles of Athens. Cucumber salad, golden, lots of depth and texture. . I loved the pork loin skewers. Reminds me of their crudo that I have had in the past in that the flavor was so loud. Great textures and flavors. Having print paper menus with unavailable cocktails is silly. Really, you could not bother to print another when out of the peppers you need for it? That seems lazy. Serving a fizz cocktail to the brim with ice and no straw? Why? Lazy. I had been telling anyone who will listen that this is THE next Athens place. Flavors bury 510, the national. They can be more daring than those places but they have to clean up sloppy stuff like printed menus that are out of date at 6pm. I should not pour over a drink menu that shows what are presumable the specials to hear at 6 they can't make it. Bush league bar tending there. Those folks should have taken it on themselves to cross off stuff they don't have. Bartender was zero help in matching an alternative and just walked away after telling me they can't make the drink on h the with computer printed menus. I totally get being out of stuff but sacrifice the extra paper to reprint the menu. read more

This is one of the best restaurants in Athens! At this point I've tried most of the appetizers and quite a few entrees and you really can't go wrong with anything! My favorite are the imperial rolls and the beef pho. Plus the staff here are always so lovely! It's very popular so make sure you book a reservation well in advance. There's paid parking outside but if you're willing to walk a few blocks away there's free street parking in the neighborhoods! Perfect spot for a date night, work lunch, or graduation celebration. read more

See all

This was a interesting take on Vietnamese food, it was alright however its far from phö in the normal sense. This restaurant is doing their own thing which feels new to athens, so its not much of a bad thing. However this bowl along cost me $20. I had a taste for phö and didn't feel like going to justphö for the day. After the first taste I wish I had...the broth tasted of regular beef broth and an obscene amount of soy sauce. The beef itself was a little overcooked which I was expecting it to be raw or atleast rare. The flavor was good though. The addition of the egg yolk did add to the richness and milded everything down ,but I couldn't move past the saltyness of the bowl it self. The noodles had a strange texture as well. Also, it wasn't spicy, I have a very low tolerance for spicy food and asked for the satay on the side. Id give the over all bowl a 5/10. Portions was perfect for the price non the less. The vibes of the restaurant itself gave me California vibes, perfect for the night life extrovert. I am a introvert so it was a bit much for me. The sever I was assigned was very welcoming, helpful and nice. He went over the menu and explained everything throughly. Overall I feel I would go back during summer break where less people are in athens and try something different from the menu. Id give it a 7/10. Authenticity is my choice of options in the long run. read more

Love this place -- innovative dishes with ample quantities served in a fun atmosphere with good service at fair prices. What more can you ask for? !$ read more

First time trying this restaurant, and it did not disappoint. The menu had great options for starters, shared plates, and individual noodle bowls. The Vietnamese Street Corn was simple yet so delicious. The pho noodles hit the spot on a cold day. The flavors were well balanced and the presentations were lovely. Add a little chili oil for an extra kick, but go easy because it is pretty spicy. We went in at 4pm when they opened without a reservation, but the dining room filled up fast, so reservations are encouraged. Try and go during happy hour, it's every day from 4-6, and they have lots of specials for happy hour, just ask the knowledgeable and polite servers. The daiquiri was timeless. Their house red wine was also delectable. We will definitely be back to try more items on the menu and to experience the quaint and stylistic interior of the restaurant. The lighting was perfect, and the bathrooms were designed cool and kept clean. It's really the small things that make the experience grand. read more

Pretty Boy - Street corn, chicken pho, beef pho, daiquiri, red wine. - Wine Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

The best part of eating with a big group is how quickly manners fade. Everyone orders something different, and before long, the table becomes quiet math of how much can you take before anyone notices. At Pretty Boy, that's exactly how it went. Ten of us, countless plates, and by the end of the night, we had conquered most the menu. Everything was excellent, but the Beef Carpaccio, Coconut Spare Ribs, Viet Street Corn, and Mushroom Rice Paper Pizza were the real stars. The spare ribs were so good I'll still be thinking about them years from now, probably while pretending to listen to my son's piano recital. And just when I thought chef Kenny Nguyen couldn't make the evening any better, the staff put on "Still Standing" by Goodie Mob. It felt less like a playlist choice and more like a benediction. Good job, Pretty Boy read more

loved the food! the service was excellent, and I love Vietnamese food, so I was really in heaven. I defiantly will recommend this to my friends!!!!!!! read more

Tremendous experience! Food was both delicious and unusual. Service was great. Prices are reasonable for the quality, both on the plate and in the glass. We'll be back, for sure. read more

Athens has a new jewel dining experience. Fresh ingredients expertly prepared. Each dish we tried came with multiple layers of flavors. Don't miss trying the Viet Street Corn..... Wait staff is super helpful.... looking forward to enjoying their large outdoor patio when the weather gets warmer.... give it a try you won't be disappointed. I recommend making reservations..... read more

This place has some magic. First, it's one of the only places that acknowledges the notes I add to my reservation (food allergy) and every server always makes sure to tell me what to avoid. Drinks are always amazing (the patty pistachio, hey beautiful, and hot toddy were insanely good). Food is awesome, and they keep tweaking it so every time it's better than the last. Not to miss: chicken skins, viet corn, shrimp chips, spicy beef pho, banana ice cream. Beautiful ambiance, great service, awesome food. Hope they never lose their magic; we'll be coming back soon! read more

See all

This is currently my favorite restaurant in Athens. The food is fantastic and unique. The space is comfy and joyful. And the staff and service are top-notch. I love taking visitors here or just going on a random night for a chill dinner... either way, it's just the best. read more

Once again, I had another amazing experience at pretty boy! Definitely all the dishes there are meant for sharing and I love spending time with the people I love so it was a wonderful time. The drinks are awesome and the environment is very upbeat and I enjoy my time there. Awesome for dates and wonderful groups and awesome for those who just want a drink :) read more

The food tasted alright and the overall vibe was pleasant, but I wouldn't call it a Pho place. Would recommend if you are in for Asian esque food with a pretry good selection of drinks, but would not recommend if you are looking for a Pho place like I was read more

Phenomenal! Don't sleep on the Viet street corn. The monkfish curry was the first I've ever had and will be hard to beat going forward!

Shrimp chips and chicken chips were great, but need more freshness to balance. The chicken chips in particular were very rich and mustardy, so it was quickly fatiguing. The pho broth was not particularly rich but the egg yolk was a great touch. The beef itself was very flavorful and had a charred flavor as well as a tender texture. It was by far the best part of the meal. The service was average and the ambiance was nice and modern. read more

See all

Great spot with elevated vietnamese food. The rice paper pizza and grapefruit and pear salad were amazing. Truly distinctive and so tasty. I was not a fan of the imperial rolls or the street corn but my husband loved them and I think it's just taste. They were well executed, just not to my taste. Jasmine tea was also delightful. So excited to have another spot in Athens. read more

Ambience was unexpectedly interesting and positive. The pho was excellent. Go there and try it out.

Incredible food, great tapas feel. Reservations are usually a must, and seating can be challenging if you end up at the bar or a counter. But this is always worth the trip. read more

This was when we went out from Valentine's Day, I managed to book the only available reservation for 10pm and we got there earlier than expected, around 9, we entered and we were promptly greeted and I asked if we could get in right there and to me and my partners delight we were promptly seated! So service was phenomenal! Our waiter was a great guy, definitely cared about the customers experience. We got the imperial egg rolls (not pictured, too good, eaten before phones were pulled out) and the viet street corn (also too good to be shown on camera) shortly after we finished our apps our entrees came out, and I didn't even take a picture of my coconut short ribs before I was tearing into them! My partner ordered the spicy beef pho with a few modifications (one being tofu, extra protein yum) Food was excellent! Desert was even better! Pretty sure it wasn't a staple there but the tiramisu if you ever get to try it is to die for! Thank you chef Kenny! read more

See all

Lots of food and I highly recommend the chicken salad! Insightful service and good environment/ fung shui. read more

Pretty Boy - Beef noodle bowl - Wine Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

See all

Ambience is so awesome, and the service is top notch, but really I just want to talk about the food, because it's the best pho I've had in my life. Not exaggerating. The custom drinks were delicious as well. I would say it's a bit expensive, but it's actually a great price considering how amazing this food is. This is a must-go restaurant. read more

Fantastic food! I am very happy to have something different in Athens. I highly recommend.