Cool dive bar. Good drinks, good service & reasonable prices. Great place for late night eats. They have a good mix of food, perfect for anyone. read more

The Earl - Bean burger with tots and nachos in the back - Dive Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Came here on a local recommendation and it is everything I love... good food, not bouzhie af, good old school soul music and punk rock, and Sunday mimosas to nurse the hangover from a Saturday night show lol! My go-to spot anytime I return to the ATL... read more

Food is amazing!! I'm a vegetarian and I have a lot of good choices for dinner and for brunch. Amazing friendly and attentive servers. Sound in the venue is amazing. Bathroom floor could be dried somehow, I have almost fallen a handful of times. read more

The service here is cool and the people are even better. Bring cash or cards cause tap is not acceptable here. The burgers are fire and you will be full. The place was quiet enough, yet don't sleep on this location it does get loud and super busy read more

It's just a dive bar. Dirty, cheap drinks, but unfortunately no pool table nor darts.

Came here with some friends after landing in Atlanta. Beer menu was limited. They didn't have a few beers that I wanted. We started with "The Earl" nachos. Basic nachos with queso, cheese, salsa, jalapeños, lettuce and sour cream. No big wow factor at all. I ordered the black bean burger for my entree. It was topped with pepper jack cheese, verde and sour cream. It was just okay. It had way too much sour cream (see picture). That much is unnecessary. The black bean burger also had too much char. Tater tots were good. Service was okay...we weren't rushed. It's a bit dark inside so it makes the menu difficult to read. Eh. Just okay. read more

The Earl - Earl Nachos - Dive Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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My first experience at the earl was seeing the punk rock outfit, Black Lips, and it was a great time, I've heard much about the earl and it was nice to finally go! Great prices on drinkies :) There was some drunk fucker who was bothering everyone and he was thrown out, that was cool! Shoutout to the security! Overall nice time. I would give 5 starts but I've been doing that a lot lately and I feel like it's kinda cheap, so my reasoning for not 5 stars is because there's no stall door, so, you'd better poop quick! read more

The Earl - Dive Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Quality bar food in the city paired with the expected ambiance of a dive bar. good vibes, good food & rationale drink prices.

Wow! We thought this would be a hole in the wall, and it was actually amazing! When I go to Atlanta, I usually buy a burger at the Vortx. That burger is the best I've ever had. But now that I have gone to the Earl, my favorite burger is there! Take a look at the picture. You cannot find a better burger, and it was cooked to my specifications. Then, when you're finished eating, there is a music venue hooked behind it. We went back and had a great time listening to five different bands. A very mixed group of ages, and a very cool group of people! You've got to try this out! read more

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Food was ok The service was horrible and the security guy with the blue sweatshirt out front was rude. read more

Went for a brunch on Sunday around 1 pm. There was no hostess and seating is open first come first served. Got a seat at the bar and got our drinks right away. The food however took forever and it was their brunch hours. We got the traditional breakfast with eggs bacon and hash browns and the mini mountain (biscuits, sausage and gravy and eggs) It came with a very mini side of fruit. The food was strictly ok, maybe we ordered the wrong things. The bar tender was attentive and service was good hence balanced it off at 3 stars since the food wasn't impressive read more

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We came for a show and left our tab open at the bar. We proceeded to get over $600 worth of fraudulent charges before we closed our tab. If they did this to ONE a person, imagine what they are doing to all the drunk people coming in. Disgusting. read more

The burger here is FIRE. Thick patty, which I don't even normally like, but it's very juicy and flavorful. My new favorite in EAV. read more

The Earl - Burger and fries - Dive Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Small venue , It's nice to be able to see some of the smaller artist. It's adjacent to a bar and restaurant. The sound was great. But they seriously need to do something about their bathrooms. Would be nice to have a door on the stall instead of a shower curtain. Only a few places to sit , But most people want to stand to see the artist anyway. read more

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It would appear that my love of burgers trumps my hatred of cigarette smoke. I've been wanting to try The Earl's [stylized as The EARL's] burgers after seeing them on Atlanta magazine's list of best burgers. Finally got the chance when I happened to be in East Atlanta Village with a hungry stomach. Decided to risk the smoke after spotting tables right in front of the entrance. It was more pleasant and gentler on the lungs to be outside. We were fortunate in that the other patrons on the patio happened to not be puffing away, though a used ashtray on another table did emit some tobacco odors. Prime people-watching opportunities abounded for sure. I ordered the EARL Burger ($9.50) with American cheese ($1 extra). There were several other cheeses you could pick from, and chili, bacon, and Brunswick stew could also be added. The burger's colors with the ripe tomato, lettuce, and onions jumped out in the sunlight. A picture perfect burger. I was fond of the sturdy toasted sesame bun. The half-pound of meat wasn't as buttery and rich as some other fancier burger places, but this was a classic basic hearty burger. However, I requested medium and the meat looked more well-done. I selected the shoe string fries as the included side, and they reminded me of McDonald's fries, in the best way possible. Crunchy but not dry with big salt grains as the finishing touch. Note: burgers are not served during "dunch." Try back around 4 PM. The EARL is also a music venue that books some talented artists. I'll have to keep tabs on the concert calendar. read more

The Earl - EARL burger ($9.50) with American cheese ($1) - Dive Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Do you want a burger ? Then you should come here. It's that simple. Wonderful burgers beef and turkey. Absolutely delicious. Never disappointed. Also, get the fancy pants side and upgrade to sweet potato fries. So worth it. Would recommend. However , they do allow smoking so keep that in mind. Also it's 21 and up; So my apologies children. read more

Your perspective on the Earl may be based, in part, on what you are expecting from a dive bar like this in terms of both food and service. Their burgers are recognized in Atlanta for a reason, they are f*&kng delicious. Their classic, the Earl burger, was exactly what I was looking for last night. I ordered medium and got exactly that with a nice mix of flavors with the pickles, onions, ketchup, and pepper-jack cheese. My only feedback was the bun was a bit soft and wonderbread-e. EAV has its share of good burgers (the Argosy for one just next store sharing the same parking lot), the Elder Tree, and the Flat Iron, but I'd go back here for their burger anytime. At $11 with the crispy, delicious side of fries, it's not a bad deal. The bar gets very crowded and with shows going on you could be forgotten if you don't speak up. Our wait last night was attentive and came around often enough but I know that ordering/getting food & drinks for others can be frustrating. If you know what to expect and don't just sit around expecting waiters to be refilling your water cup every 15 minutes you'll be fine. read more

Well it is a "dive bar" and it lives up to its description. Very eclectic but hey, if you like dive bars then go for it.

I've been here several times and every time I'm treated with excellent food and service! I have tried quite a few things on their menu, including the Earl Burger which is the best! The Philly cheese steak is also good and so is the pita wrap sandwich.You can't go wrong with anything off the menu! The food is superb considering that is bar food, it tastes more like you are in a real restaurant. Seating is limited, and most of the bar seats are filled with regulars. Parking is ample because Argosy and the Earl share the same parking lot. There is also street parking. read more

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The bean burger never misses!! The raspberries horseradish sauce is amazing! Sweet potatoe fries y taaty

We came here for Dunch and we were a little disappointed right out the gate because the menu had been changed and certain items we came here for were no longer offered. I started with a cup of coffee and couldn't even stir the my sugar because we had no stir sticks or silverware to do so. I then decided on the magic mountain for my breakfast and was a little disappointed as I was expecting a little bit more food considering the word mountain is in the name. Overall food was delicious and the service was on point I just think the serving size should be a little bit bigger. I will return again to try another dish because the food and service were good!! read more

The Earl - Dunch menu - Dive Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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The Earl is a the perfect watering hole to get a beer and a burger. They have few to pick from, but my favorite is the El Diablo $11.5 (burger topped with chili, Diablo Salsa, jalapeños, roasted poblanos and pepperjack cheese.) The Chili is on point, no beans. Reminds me of chili burgers in Southern California. I always order the tater tot's with my food. read more

The Earl - El Diablo Burger - Dive Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Excellent burger -- worth a trip for that alone. Shoestring fries are a nice change of pace, good and crispy with the right amount of salt. Service is generally good in that hipster, thigh-high wearing way. DH and I were there after a long day of handyman/yard chores to get our house ready to sell. I know thirst and hunger are excellent seasonings, but that first beer was the best i've ever had. Hubs is a sucker for their grilled cheese and tots. They had a special for grilled HAM and cheese, and I worried his eyes would bug out of his head. DELISH ooey gooey cheese surrounding yummy tavern-style ham?? YES PLEASE. We were sweaty and no one cared. Very comfortable place. One star off for painful patio chairs. read more

They have always made my food taste the best!! I spend good money here. But today,, that crew i guess didn't like blacks. Everybody food looked delicious but mines. read more

The Earl - I've never been treated so rudely nor have i ever received burnt food i can't bite into. - Dive Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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I'd NEVER go back there! I ordered a beer from the bartender then my friend asked for a lemon drop. He seemed to be in a bad mood so she said "or a coke, whichever is easier." He had an expression of irritation so I asked if the woman behind him was working because we didn't mind waiting for her. He said, "She's not bartending, I am. Do you want a drink or not?" My friend turns away in shock. He then yells, "WELL GET TO F* OUT then!" with a flick of the hand. Huh?! On the way out, I stop by the security to tell him and he says, "You MUST have made him mad." What?? We weren't there for 2 minutes! It was RIDICULOUS! We're females and our race shouldn't matter. This was absolutely iINSANE ! read more

The Earl - Bartender - Dive Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Great venue. Excellent sound. Nice staff. Didn't try the food but looked good!! Plus free parking!!

Horrible experience and quite disheartening. I am not usually one for reviews, be it good or bad but this time its a must. My girlfriend and I were treated like peasants when visiting this establishment. We walked in to a pretty decent crowd, so we decided to grab a couple of drinks. The bartender, Kyle wasnt the least but friendly but oh well. My girlfriend asked to see a food menu, he then tells us we have to sit at a table if we wanted to eat. That was confusing to say the least, seeing as how the guy right next to us had a burger, a basket of tots and some peanuts. Im not sure if we just didnt fit the part for sitting at the bar or maybe he just thought this young black couple wont tip. Regardless, we felt there was something deeper. We both looked at each other kind of thrown off but we didnt make a big deal of it. We went and sat at a table, only to not be spoken to for going on 15 minutes. I got a server and she took our order. We ate our burgers and closed our tab with the server. Now I can say the burger was good, so that is the only bright point to this experience. As we were getting ready to leave and I asked my girlfriend if she wanted one more before we leave. She said sure so I went to the bar for another round. Kyle tells me he cant serve me since I went to a table. I told him my tab is closed with the table and we only went to the table because he stated thats the only way we could eat. I was polite the entire time and explained to him, I work in the same industry. This isnt cool. Guests decide to spend their hard earned money in your establishment, they should never leave feeling empty, disrespected, or unsatisfied. read more

Cool bar with lots of outdoor seating nearby. Few things on their menu but all of them good options, nachos were bomb read more

The Earl - Nachos - Dive Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

One of my favorite bars in ATL. Years ago, my favorite bar was The Point in Little Five Points but they closed like 20 years ago. I liked The Point because I could go in and get a beer and a basket of fries and chill. Also, if I wanted to I could go see some live music. This place reminds me of The Point. Good prices, regular beer & pretty good food. They have a nice patio. The live music venue is in the back. You can drink & eat in front without buying a ticket for a show. They have a cigarette machine and you can smoke there. Some shows are non-smoking though so you can't always smoke in the back. All of the staff that I have spoken with have been cool, polite & quick with anything I need. read more

I used to consider an EARL burger to be the best burger in East Atlanta and one of the best burgers in Atlanta. However, I'm hear to report that there is a better burger. The Big Earl is the new reigning champion. Whoever came up with this combination should patent it. It would sell a million! Start with two delicious all beef patties, add lettuce, pickles, sautéed onions, cheese and special EARL sauce and cap it with a bun sturdy enough to handle all that. Sesame seeds are a nice touch. The EARL is open for socially distanced dining inside and outdoor seating is available. Pre-covid it was one of the best places in town to see a show and I'm hopeful I'll be able to see my favorite bands on their stage again soon. Until then I'll have to make do with more Big Earls. Don't settle for cheap, fast food imitations. read more

Great place. Friendly staff from the bouncer to the bartender. Excellent bathroom with some character. 5/5 We went here for a concert and it was stellar. The venue was perfect and radiated chill vibes and good times. The boiled peanuts blended perfectly with the ice cold beer. Fond memories were made throughout the evening. We will return. read more

The Earl - Bathroom - Dive Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

First time here and I ordered the black bean burger with fries. The burger was so delicious and had a subtle kick from the salsa verde on top. The shoe string fries were perfectly cooked and perfectly salted. Wonderful service. The music here was great too. read more

The Earl - Black bean burger - Dive Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

*Non-inclusive environment* We came to the Earl to watch our friend's band perform. During the set while our friend was playing, an unprompted, rude woman came up to my partner, who happens to be black, and scolded him saying she couldn't hear the band over his voice. This came as a surprise to us because she didn't scold me or our other friend who are white and were also talking. We looked around and quickly realized there was not even one other black person in the venue. There were several other groups cheering and talking around us but the woman only scolded one person. It was later brought to our attention that the woman who singled out my parter is the owner of the Earl's wife! We will not be returning to the Earl knowing it is the practice of the owners to target micro aggressions to people of color. Shame on her. read more

I live 5 minutes away from The Earl, and I love this bar. I love it because I disappear here. I can have a drink, a sandwich or listen to a band and any of that is cool. I've met so many band members and listened to so much music here that I can't keep count. The music room is small but it's POWERFUL. I feel the music here. I've been coming here for over six years and my favorite bartenders are not around as much. However, the other bartenders get the job done just as well. My favorite food item here is salad. (Yes, I'm surprised too.) I've eaten my fair share of this menu, and I stand by my choice. Order a salad. You won't regret it. I don't fit in here in my pink pastels, goody-girl glasses and non-visible tattoos, but that's never stopped me from having a good time. read more

Out of the detritus upon which the Metropolis stands, the denizens of the Stein Club flocked to the The Earl. Along with The Fountainhead and the Echo Lounge, The Earl was one of a triumvirate of cool--edgy folks with heady 'tude. At the time, East Atlanta Village was the epicenter of hip, with more slackers and MFAs than a dozen Apple stores. I remember those days, when people would spill out onto Flat Shoals for no apparent reason and the best place to go to the bathroom was the secret bathroom in The Fountainhead that people only used to snort coke. Unless you're me and you just used it to go to the bathroom. But alas, only The Earl remains as one of the originals. What's the secret to their longevity? They smartly offer something for everyone. It's a smoky bar. It's a place to see up-and-coming bands. It's got good food. It's even a brunch destination. The Earl is all of the above and as I've aged, I've gone through each permutation. Right now, it's the food that concerns me. The Earl burger remains one of the best in Atlanta while the side of red beans and rice is a favorite. Their alligator bites, though, could use some work. Brunch (or in Earl parlance, "Dunch") has most of the breakfast basics set to live musical accompaniment. Beyond the food, The Earl did one thing a few years ago that cemented a place in my heart. In a poorly thought out date choice, I asked my girlfriend to see "Captured by Robots" play in the backroom, a concert to which she foolishly agreed. What she ended up getting was a man pretending to be enslaved by a group of robots who plays loud thrash metal. Who. Plays. Thrash. Metal. As a bonus, the robots were dressed as the crew of Star Trek: The Next Generation since this was their "Tribute to Star Trek: The Next Generation" Tour. And did I mention the thrash metal? The fact that my now girlfriend agreed to a third date demonstrates 1) my girlfriend truly loves me 2) she has infinite patience 3) The Earl has wonderful, magical powers and 4) chicks (apparently) dig thrash metal. So thank you for that, Earl. For better or for worse, I owe the past two and a half years of my life to you. May you, and them robots, live long and prosper. read more

The Earl - Dive Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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I became aware of this place because a band I liked happened to be playing in the concert room in the back of this bar/restaurant. Since that was my introduction, I just figured The Earl was primarily a music venue with food and drinks as a afterthought. This is not the case! It is in fact a top notch place to dine frequented by many locals and a chill place to drink while easily making friends at the bar. They just so happen to have a dedicated stage for live music in the back room that can hold around 150 people. It's a intimate area to catch some live music... don't miss that aspect of this bar... especially if it's a band you've been wanting to experience. Heck, even if it's a band you don't know, just watch a show here if you enjoy live music. As for the food, I tried the Black and Blue burger. The meat was thick, juicy and flavorful with perfectly cooked strips of bacon crisscrossing the top of the blue cheese topped patty. The sweet potato fries were excellent as well. Drink prices were very reasonable and the service was outstanding. Joe was my server and bartender.... I was really impressed with how much he hustled, making sure every customer was properlly taken care of, and he did it in a very cool manner. This dive bar has a very urban, chill, funky feel with lots of freindly people. Dress code is very casual. Seems to be very hipster friendly, lots of bearded guys (glad I grew mine back) wearing skinny jeans and beanie caps (in the summer) and many good looking women with sleeve arm tattoos and cool glasses. If I only lived closer, this would be my dedicated watering hole. This bar has a very Pacific Northwest vibe to it... seems like it would be right at home in say, Portland, Oregon. Can get loud. Hope that helps give you an idea of this place. read more

The Earl - Dive Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Stopped by for a drink with friends. Cool little bar in East Atlanta and located near a lot of cool shops. Friendly staff and casual, lively atmosphere but entirely too smokey for me. I guess I don't notice how smoke free most places are until I'm in a smoking allowed establishment. If you smoke or don't mind cigarette smoke, you should check it out cuz they have a great menu, full bar and a variety of beers. I did have a snack, chicharrones, which were crisp, light, warm and spicy- just the way I like em. Not likely to go back because of the smoking but encourage you to check it out if you don't mind it. read more

Where else can one find a pub that serves beer, food & you can smoke in? We were here last night for dinner. I felt like a salad and I ordered the Large House Salad with some hesitation. Came a big plate of greens with my dressing. My husband had the Philly Cheese Steak with Onion rings & some fries. Both were good. The rings and fries were fragrant & crisp. My plate of greens did not pale in comparison to the meaty dish my husband had. Overall, a very good experience. As for non-smokers, choose to sit at the counter that's facing the road. The gap between the counter & the glass garage door/window let in some fresh air. Husband and I are ex-smokers. And some say ex-smokers are the biggest complainers of smoke irritation, but sitting at the counter was a good choice. We chose to sit there because the place was crowded and those were the only 2 spots available. read more

I am sure there are some great bands that play here on a regular basis. I am also convinced that this is probably a scene in Atlanta that most people enjoy and prefer over the typical bar scene. The reason that I mainly did not enjoy The Earl as much as the next person is because of location specific factors and the bands that I saw on the particular night that I visited the location. The location specific factors that contribute to my low rating address the fact that The Earl is located in the east part of downtown Atlanta. This is not exactly the nicest or safest part of town, but The Earl does have at least one or two cops on duty and in attendance on a regular basis. The bands that I witnessed during my most recent visit with The Earl were hard to bear, to say the least. One of the bands sounded like a cross between Tenacious D and The White Stripes, which was a bad combination. The other band that I saw was trying to do their best imitation of Radio Head possible, and they failed with flying colors. Aside from both of the negative aspects of The Earl, which I am sure do not bother others in the same way as they bothered me, this is a great place to hang out and drink some Paps Blue Ribbon. read more

The Earl - Dive Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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I recently saw Sylvan Esso perform at The Earl's tiny little venue. The show was amazing and the intimacy of the venue contributed to the "awesomeness". I have never been a fan of huge venue concerts due to the fact that you have to give an arm and a leg to even see the artist without a jumbotron. The Earl is the perfect setting for me as long as it's a "smoke free" night. The night that I saw Sylvan Esso perform was smoke free. For as small as the venue is, I can't imagine a night where smoking was permitted. I've had my fair share of smokes, but a smogged out room is just not my thing anymore. The max capacity for The Earl is roughly 300 so if you are there early enough you can get right up to the stage and stare into the face of the artist you are there to see! Located in EAV, the vibe is undoubtedly hipster but this may vary depending on what's going on on stage. The Earl is also a restaurant and bar. I have yet to try their food but I hear that they have quite a few options for vegans/vegetarians. You must pass through the restaurant to get to the stage area and the restaurant/bar is always "smoking". Until that changes I will probably not eat at The Earl. Call me a senior citizen, but I think smoking indoors should be a thing of the past. read more

The Earl - Great time with Sylvan Esso! The smallness of the venue makes it more intimate. - Dive Bars Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia