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Rafferty's Restaurant & Bar

3.6 (141 reviews)
ModerateAmerican, Bars
Closed • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

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RAFFERTY'S RESTAURANT & BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Rafferty's Restaurant & Bar

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Caleb D.

My favorite restaurant in Athens! Great service and the best club sandwich and potato soup around.

Nutty honey pecan croissants
Dani S.

We came to Rafferty's for dinner tonight. We were here last year at the same time. My father in law loves this joint so of course we had to come back. We came for an early dinner tonight to beat the crowd. Walking up the ramp, we were instantly greeted by one of the hostesses. She had the door open for all of us to trickle in. One hostess got our menus ready and the next host got us sat at a table/booth combo table. Deanna (I believe that was our servers name. She had on really cute flamingo earrings.) greeted us with her beautiful smile. She got our drink orders started while we were looking over the menu. Our drinks were dropped off and orders were taken. We started off with the nutty honey butter croissants. I remember eating these vividly last year so it was a must have today. They were so soft and buttery. The sweet glaze on top was so good. These things could ruin me if I lived here. It was hard only eating one. I ordered the sunshine salad tonight. Chicken salad with a side of fruit. The fruit had a citrus topping on it. I'm not gonna lie, the chicken salad didn't do it for me. It had a good amount of apples, celery and grapes in it. The chicken was nicely diced and mixed well into the salad so you got some in every bite. The dressing of the chicken wasn't my favorite. After a couple bites I knew it wasn't for me. The fruit on the other hand was delicious! I love love loved the citrus topping they used on the fruit. It was so good! I enjoyed the strawberries, cantaloupe and honeydew very much! I ended up swapping out the chicken salad for more fruit and I'm not mad about it! My husband ordered the pineapple soy marinaded ribeye for dinner. He did start off with a delicious Cesar salad. The salad was heavily dressed and the greens were so crisp. I got a few bites of his ribeye and it was so good! The steak was tender and so flavorful! It had beautiful char marks on it! I was jealous at how tasty his steak was! We were talking about our future meal next year and this steak will be my next meal for sure! I also did get a taste of the fries, which were so good! The fries are limpy and soft which are my favorite! The chicken tenders were good, especially dipped in the honey mustard sauce. Needless to say, I got a bit of everyone's meal and it was all fantastic! I want to compliment Deanna. My father in law ordered sweet tea and it did come out pretty light. It was expressed to us that there was something wrong with the ice tea machine. Deanna brought a fresh soda out for my father in law. While we were eating, Deanna brewed fresh ice and sweet tea for us! She brought out a fresh glass of teas and brought to go cups as well so we can drink the rest of it later. Servers like Deanna are special and I'm happy she served us tonight. Tonight's visit was nice. Even though I didn't like my chicken salad, Deanna made sure I left happy. She went above and beyond and I appreciate her for that! I look forward to coming back next year and having the same ribeye as my husband did.

Very tender and tasty
Debra A.

Haven't been in a while but got the deal of the day,,, Prime Rib and it was tasty. Tender and very flavorful and the salad is always great. Tuesday is the day for special price on PrimeRib.

Menu 1
Stephen S.

Fantastic Fried Mushrooms! Sorry no pi, we ATE THEM TOO FAST!!! We both had burgers they are huge & cooked to order! We love Raffertys!

Bacon burger with baked post
Kenneth J.

My new favorite place to eat in Athens Ga. This is one of the few locations that offer a 8oz burger. Mine was delicious! It's served with fries or another side of your choice. As an appetizer I ordered some croissants, which taste incredible. They are large, hot and melt in your mouth. You could get a drink and 5 croissants and have a wonderful evening. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I love the environment, there's plenty of parking, and the servers are pleasant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Gabby was our server and she is the best! They even use her as a trainer whenever there are new employees. This is the best place because prices are reasonable. A basic dinner will set you back maybe $50 w soft drinks and $40 before tip if you don't order drinks. I generally tip 25% for good servers and 15-20% for average servers. I was just there last week, so go check it out! You will fall in love.

Bacon Cheeseburger
Mark H.

First time visiting for a decent mid-afternoon Sunday experience with immediate seating and consistent service. The Nutty Honey Butter Croissant is a sweet, warm, light appetizer. Our table's entrees included the half club / soups, chicken fingers, cheeseburger and bacon cheeseburger. All of these were delicious and filling. The only feedback to the restaurant is to consider an alternative ketchup without high fructose corn syrup.

Famous Potato Soup, topped with cheese, chives and chopped bacon
Ashley M.

On a recent business trip to Athens, my colleagues suggested we try one of their favorite local restaurants, Rafferty's! We arrived right before noon and the restaurant was packed. The interior of the restaurant is bright and welcoming with a slightly upscale feel. We were seated right away in a booth at the middle of the dining room despite the lunch crowd. Torn on what to order, and wanting to try everything, I enjoyed the following: - Famous Potato Soup, topped with cheese, chives and chopped bacon - Nutty Honey Butter Croissant: hot-from-the-oven Croissants drizzled with honey butter then topped with Candied Pecans - Rafferty's American Cheeseburger: A thick juicy Black Angus chuck patty grilled on hickory wood then topped with American cheese, crispy lettuce, sliced tomato, onion, pickles, mayo and mustard. Served on a fresh brioche bun. - Hand-Cut French Fries My absolute favorite thing I ate was the nutty honey butter croissant, but that should be obvious, right - who doesn't love sweet, flaky bread? I also enjoyed the famous potato soup but have definitely had better elsewhere. The fries were good but the cheeseburger was very thick and overwhelming - I would probably choose another dish on my next visit. Maybe just an entire order of the nutty honey butter croissants. Service was great! Our server did not miss a beat and even recognized my colleagues from prior visits. Drinks were full the entire time and our server always came back with a smiling face. I'd love to come back and try other offerings on the menu!

The waiter here was okay but the food was terrible. The club sandwich had brown bacon on it that looked disgusting and old and the sandwich was very dry. This place has really gone downhill over the past year. I will not be returning because the food just isn't the same anymore! This bite in the picture was all I ate because I didn't want to get sick.

House salad  with the house dressing! Hot bacon  honey  mustard dressing!

Food is always great! Service for years has been one of the best in Athens! [[HIGHLIGHT]]You always feel at home at Rafferty's![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

Substituted French fries for Mac and cheese
Cyndi C.

First time here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is really comfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was quick and the waitress was nice. Wouldn't recommend ordering the Mac and cheese. My husband substituted french fries for it.

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1 month ago

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13 days ago

Thank you for taking such good care of myself and my Mom yesterday. We really enjoyed our meal and the servers were excellent.

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2 months ago

Emma gave us the best Mother's Day service that one can ask for. The food was deliciou.

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7 months ago

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7 months ago

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1 year ago

Broad menu. This is one of our regular stops with friends. Usually a line but wait times are usually less than what they tell you.

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Rafferty's is always superb. The prime rib is outstanding, the menu is affordable and the staff is excellent. Never disappoints!

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

Always love going here. They have the best steaks and fried mushrooms. Great service too

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Visited 7/11/26 Epps Bridge & 7/14/26 Normalton (Prince Ave) locations were both really good to eat…read moreat. We had a family breakfast and this morning ate at the Normaltown Prince Ave location across from the Piedmont Hospital. We shared the waffle breakfast. With an extra two eggs over medium (my favorite) and the potatoes. The grits are really good, but better with syrup. Booth locations have really great staff people and really colorful walls and atmospheres. Shoutout to 809-Gabriel who helped us in 7/11/26 was excellent, very friendly and easy to talk with like Gabriel. We'll both be back again. Good food and fair prices.

Pleasant casual place to have breakfast or brunch with friends -outdoor during the lovely spring…read moreweather. Food : large menu to meet most favorite morning appetites. We like the eggs Benedict, the tacos, the fruit side, and the omelettes. The grits are good, too. Bacon is done nicely crisp but not overdone. Coffee and tea are served promptly and cups kept filled Service: pleasant and efficient servers Facility ; Clean, cheerful, has coveted outdoor tables as well as indoor tables. The outdoor area is next to a busy parking area but it isn't annoying. Tables indoors are spaced nicely-and can be moved to accommodate groups of 12 or so. Location :conveniently located in a strip mall area close to a main road ; plenty of parking

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Epps Bridge (in Trader Joe's parking lot)
Epps Bridge (in Trader Joe's parking lot)
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We had the privilege of being served by Kayla at this wonderful restaurant in downtown Athens. The…read morebuilding is stunning and Kayla was most helpful with the history. Food was delicious and well presented. Prices were affordable for a lovely night out. Trest yourself to a special night out and ask for Kayla... she can help you with all your good choices.

I'd give this a 4.5 if I could! I had a few hiccups with timing, but the flavors and the proactive…read moreservice recovery made it a place worth returning to. The ambiance was also a vibe. The food: I went with the Fried Chicken Blue Plate. Between the regular and the Nashville Hot, the Nashville was the winner--flavorful and moist without being overwhelming with the spice. Huge shoutout to my server for suggesting the brussel sprouts; that glaze is incredible and they were easily my favorite part of the plate. The mashed sweet potatoes were unique--I'm still debating if I liked them or loved them. The jalapeño cornbread was a bit sweet for my taste but on par with most restaurant cornbread. The mac & cheese wasn't bad, but also didn't do much for me like most restaurant mac & cheese. The cocktail: Do not sleep on Nana's Naissance. I wasn't sure what to expect from the ingredients, but it's like an elevated take on Rumchata. The service: I was seated at the bar and experienced a noticeable delay--a group that arrived well after me almost finished their meal before mine arrived. However, the waitress acknowledged the wait before I even had to mention it and made things right. I really appreciate that kind of proactive service. We're all human, and they handled the situation very professionally.

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Inheritor
Inheritor
Beignets
Beignets
View from the bar. Guinness on tap.

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The Chop House

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Seating area
Seating area
The Chop House
The Chop House

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Rafferty's Restaurant & Bar - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

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