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    The Place

    4.4 (552 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

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    THE PLACE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - The Place

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    Reviews With Photos

    The Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich with onion rings and collared greens
    Dustin H.

    Probably the best meal I had in Athens on a recent visit. 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.

    Shrimp & Grits
    Isabel Y.

    *Delayed post from April '25 I was pleasantly impressed with The Place! It was recommended by a few friends and I'm glad we stopped in for Saturday night dinner, though I've also heard brunch is delicious, albeit busy. The service includes typical southern hospitality and is mostly run by college age students as expected. I loved our window seats that looked out at north campus with the Arch in view. Perfect for alumni in town looking to reminisce over a meal. Food wise, I was concerned with what appeared to be stereotypical southern style food like fried chicken and shrimp and grits, but boy was I wrong!! The modern take on these meals satisfied my craving for familiar comfort foods, while elevating the quality and presentation to something I was proud to share with someone "not from 'round these parts." I highly recommend the Southern Bruschetta because the Pimento Cheese is ON POINT. Also the Shrimp and Grits, which has unbelievably delicious flavor and texture. If you're not hungry enough for an appetizer, a good combo would be the Fried Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich because it also comes with the Pimento Cheese. The chicken was beautifully fried and seasoned well. Can't go wrong here!

    Peanut Whiskey and Coke
    Mo A.

    We stumbled onto this place on Yelp looking for dinner after playing 36 holes at the UGA course. We decided to eat upstairs and glad we did. We sat at the bar and had a great time. The bartender was great. She had a great personality and was engaging throughout our meal and drinks. She provided great recommendations and I took her lead by ordering a peanut whiskey with coke cocktail and the bourbon glazed salmon with grit cakes and collard greens. I'm not a collard greens fan but these were seasoned and cooked well. I ate them all up. The salmon was incredible. It was marinated perfectly and had an amazing crust with that bourbon glaze...oooweee...makes me smile just thinking about it. And If that weren't enough, the salmon sat on two grit cakes? That's right...what had to be cheese grits then deep fried into this awesome delectable item that paired so well with the salmon and collards. That cute blonde bartender almost made me a Georgia fan...j/k... Go Gators!!!

    Front window
    Chrissy A.

    Came here for a late lunch on a Thursday afternoon. The space was pretty much empty so I had my choice of seating. Having already walked about 3 miles, I opted not to go upstairs and sat myself to be able to see outside with a view of campus. The downstairs dining room was nice with exposed brick. Not a lot of room but plenty of private booths. My waiter was great, I was probably his only table at the time but he made sure to check on me frequently without be obtrusive. I did ask for a light beer recommendation and he said that a lot of people enjoyed Peach State Lite. Unfortunately I wasn't a big fan but that's not his fault. It's was cold and came out quickly so that's all that really matters. I knew I was going to have a big dinner so I ordered Nana's salad, which was mixed greens, red & green bell peppers, tomatoes, sliced eggs, cucumbers, avocado, andouille sausage & an onion ring. It was pretty good but I'm pretty sure that andouille was actually kielbasa. But maybe I'm wrong. Overall it was a really great lunch...first time in a long time that I took myself on a date. The company was awesome! LOL

    Steak special
    Katlyn W.

    Meh I can't decide, the vibe is great and loved my cocktail but my steak was overcooked which kinda ruined the experience for me. Everything that came out looked so good thought and server was attentive

    Fried pork chop with collard greens and mashed potatoes and Black Eyed Peas
    Sherry S.

    We ate here on New Year's Day. They had a great special and everything was delicious. Service was a little bit slow, but I am attributing that to New Year's Day.

    The Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich Lunch
    Stacie B.

    Have been to The Place several times now and have enjoyed it each time. The vibe is very enjoyable inside--very quaint. Service is always great and food comes out pretty quickly. I've had the BLT and Chicken Sandwich. I had them put the avocado spread on the side for my BLT as I'm not a huge fan all the time. As a result, the sandwich was a bit dry as they don't put any mayo or other condiments on it outside of the avocado spread. After getting mayo, it was much better. The chicken sandwich was very good with high quality chicken. My partner always gets the shrimp and grits and, even though I'm not a grits fan, I have to admit they're REALLY good. Definitely stop in if in Athens.

    Downstairs booth
    Amy M.

    The chicken and waffles was to-die-for delicious and hubby had the shrimp and grits and thought it was awesome. The food was sooooo good and our server was incredibly friendly and helpful. We talked about some of the historic pictures on the wall while we were admiring the old building the restaurant itself is in. Upstairs and downstairs both have a cool vibe, we ate downstairs... but when we come back we might choose upstairs for a window view of the town. Loved The Place!

    Breakfast burrito with cheese grits.

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    6 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Best place to go after or before a game!! Shrimp and Grits my favorite! Service is always stellar and the location could not be better!

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    2 years ago

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    4 months ago

    All the food was amazing and the service was fast. Get something with bacon jam. You're welcome.

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    10 months ago

    The food here is comfort food exemplified. Jordyn our server was great. Quaint atmosphere, but fun.

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    8 months ago

    Good service and food was delicious! We had chicken and waffles, and a crispy chicken sandwich. Both were wonderful.

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    1 year ago

    Excellent food!! Excellent service!! Love the variety of choices and unique combinations.

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    9 months ago

    The service was splendid! Our server was nice and friendly. The food was great! The cocktail we got and the shrimp & grits were fabulous.

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    Ask the Community - The Place

    Yelp indicates vegan options. Could you clarify what are those options?

    Their menu is seasonal so always changing. They do have 3-4 salads on rotation. Their lunch and dinner menu are slightly different, but updated on their website.

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    Mama's Boy

    Mama's Boy

    4.3
    (1k reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Mama's Boy was always one of my favorite restaurants when I lived in Athens, so I had to stop by…read morewhile I was back in town this weekend. It had been a couple of years since my last visit, and while they've switched to counter service now, the service was still fast and friendly. The biscuits are just as good as I remembered--soft, thick, and fluffy. I always get a side of apple butter with mine, but the raspberry jam is also worth trying. The food was every bit as delicious as I remembered. It's a restaurant that's definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!

    There is not much parking, we parked at the nearby walking trail. The staff was very friendly and…read morewelcoming. When you arrive, you order at the counter before you are seated. They got a table ready for a party of 6 pretty quickly which was great! They have two dining areas inside and outside seating available. I ordered the peach french toast with potatoes, another person ordered the cinnamon roll to start and the a biscuit with gravy. My husband ordered the pulled pork bowl on grits and a side of fried chicken . The kids had french toast with fruit. My potatoes I can tell were from a bag and not fresh cut potatoes. They were tiny and probably what you can purchase at the grocery store, so they were crunch and hard to eat. The french toast didn't have the best taste, and the peaches seemed canned. Presentation was nice but I wouldn't order that again. My husband did not enjoy his pulled pork bowl either, he said it lacked a bit of flavor. The cinnamon roll was a little hard like it had been sitting for a bit. Now for the good, the fried chicken was some of the best chicken I had tasted so whatever is being done there keep it up! The biscuits with the jam available on the table were amazing! The kids enjoyed their kids meal as well. If in Athens again we would definitely get the chicken and biscuit but skip the other items we previously ordered.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Benedict eggs with salad for brunch
    Benedict eggs with salad for brunch
    Biscuits and gravy, cinnamon roll, yogurt parfait, peach French toast

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    Biscuits and gravy, cinnamon roll, yogurt parfait, peach French toast
    South Kitchen + Bar

    South Kitchen + Bar

    4.2
    (523 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    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.

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

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    View from the bar. Guinness on tap.
    The Flying Biscuit Cafe

    The Flying Biscuit Cafe

    3.8
    (88 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    We always visit the Flying biscuit every time we are in Athens! We love everything about it, the…read morefood, the atmosphere, and the staff.

    NOTE TO SELF: DO NOT PICK FLYING BISCUIT! They do NOT have gluten free anything. Last visit, 9…read moremonths ago, I chose to eat gluten. I do that sometimes when I just can't decide but I pay for it for about a week. I don't try to do that anymore. lol I did notice many similarities so the sweet gluten must be what is good there. I consider all that processed sugar and the gluten filled garbage GMO flours to be horrible for our bodies. That happens as you learn how these foods actually affect your body and DIS-EASE! Now, I am weeding out the restaurants I will no longer eat at. If you don't care about the wellbeing of your customer's health, then you only care about $$$! I will no longer be eating at establishments that don't use quality ingredients and will focus more on Mom & Pop Locally owned places that do! These businesses need to do better so we aren't constantly sick and medicated beings! They have brainwashed us to eating garbage that other countries do not allow! The ONLY positive thing I can say is the hostess was on point! She was constantly working, bouncing around, handling things, completely pleasant with a smile on her face. She is the reason for 2* and not 1. She was the only 1! I'm only giving a description of her so she is recognized because I do not know her name. Cute dark skinned woman with her hair pulled back with a head band/wrap. She deserves a raise and employee of the month! Everyone else seemed pissy or too concerned with whatever gossip they had to chat about. Waitress literally said, "They just consider it gluten friendly by taking the bread off". Not even grits or potatoes are listed as "GF". Manager came out to explain why grits weren't GF. Idk why they try to appear "healthy". They offer alternatives to pork, but that's about it. Manager said the grits company doesn't claim to be GF so therefore they don't. Well, if the company isn't claiming it, they are most likely using the cheapest of the cheap GMO'd corn! Obviously, just my opinion, but I'm so tired of these restaurants charging so much for garbage food. Waitress is extremely pleasant! lol That is sarcasm for anyone not tracking. Brought the hubs unsweet tea when he ordered sweet! Lol Asked if we were ready to order 3x in less than 5 min while our heads were still down staring at the menus. Then, when we were ready, she was taking money for a guy at the bar, serving another table a beverage, and serving another table their food, while 3 other employees stood around a cleaning station chatting. An elderly gentleman and his caregiver came in but the hostess was outside for some reason. He sat himself at a dirty table. They ignored him until he started waving his arm at staff. I saw the interaction prior. 1 employee saw what he had done and told the others but they ignored the dirty table and the people until he got agitated. Then, they moved him to the table behind him, that they did clean while he was sitting there waiting to be acknowledged. We needed a quick bite in between Dr appts. I wish we had driven a bit further rather than coming here. I'm not hopeful for the cheese grits with turkey bacon I selected because nothing else was appealing and wouldn't destroy my stomach. Guess I'll deal with inflammation today from the gmo corn. The hubs got an egg and cheese biscuit. She didn't ask him how he wanted his eggs cooked or what kind of cheese. It's a mystery what he will get lol. Yes! I am writing this while sitting here! lol It's been 10+ minutes since the old man moved tables and the table he sat at is STILL dirty with dishes. Waitress just came to inform us, after waiting 20 minutes already, that they put pork bacon in my grits so it's going to be a few more minutes. I'm confused??? Why is my husband's food not being brought out? That means his is sitting back there waiting on my GRITS! Come on! 5 more minutes and the results???? Absolutely the most disgusting thing I've ever seen brought out. Check out the picture! lol what on earth is that even? Tasted like generic cheese soup dumped on top of a tiny bowl of semi good grits with half a slice of bacon cut up in it. They called that "Loaded" grits. Lol It was disgusting and those grits are NOT creamy or dreamy! They are so cheap they don't even get the GF tag. lol The hubs biscuit was horribly dry, so little egg you couldn't see it, and the "moon dusted" potatoes tasted like yesterday's home fries, with no dusting or even salt. Quite literally the worst food and service I have seen in a long time! Watched 2 servers NOT sit a family with a girl on crutches, waiting for the hostess to finish dealing with a to-go order. It was like no one helps anyone in there and the customer is last on the priority list!

    Photos
    The bar
    The bar
    Biscuits n sage chicken sausage gravy with scrambled eggs, home fries (didn't have magic dust and tasted old)
    Biscuits n sage chicken sausage gravy with scrambled eggs, home fries (didn't have magic dust and tasted old)
    The Flying Biscuit Cafe

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    Cantaritos Café

    Cantaritos Café

    4.5
    (24 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    I'm just offsetting Ashleys post cause she was tripping. how in the world do you " like the food"…read moreand are so privileged to believe you can get by the rules of the business. If the lights off how do they open? If the doors are closed how do they get in? these are all questions a privileged person like Ashley would not ask, because she believes the world works for her.

    "Little pitchers have big ears," the old-timers used to say, bewildering the whippersnappers…read more Wait, we're talking "little pitchers" as in Ron Guidry, Tom Gordon, Tim Lincecum, Marcus Stroman, and so on? Nah, these "little pitchers" are paloma-like Jalicesense cocktails served in little clay cups called "cantaritos." Regrettably, I've never tried one. Anyway, in a town that (IMO) has been going downhill for a while when it comes to dining, the modest pan-Latin Cantaritos Cafe is one of the better restaurants to open in Athens post-COVID. In my experience, they've done a great job with everything: breakfast burrito, a Venezuelan (I think?) breakfast sandwich of some sort, massive heavy (a little too heavy, maybe) arepas, all terrific. The menu is huge. Prices have been reasonable, but it's been a few months since I was there. P.S. The review immediately preceding mine chronologically is a disgrace: "I love this place," but one star because a single employee on a single occasion didn't adequately kiss her pinkie ring? There are potentially myriad valid reasons why that employee was unable to serve that entitled Yelper.

    Photos
    Cantaritos Café
    Cantaritos Café
    Cantaritos Café

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    The Place - southern - Updated July 2026

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