43 Best American Restaurants in Athens

“Delicious food- the pimento cheese/bacon jam starter is AMAZING. The service was great too- we had a large group and they were so welcoming and kind!“

“Here's a cleaned-up version that keeps your observations while reading more naturally for a Google review:

Mya was a great server, and the restaurant is housed in a very cool historic building that adds a lot of character to the experience.

We visited on a Tuesday, so it wasn't very crowded, though we made a reservation just in case. My guess is that during the school year it probably gets much busier.

I ordered the hamburger with Hot Fries. The burger was cooked perfectly to my requested medium-rare, which impressed me since thinner patties often end up closer to medium or well-done. The only minor critique was the bun. The burger and toppings were very juicy, and the bottom bun became soggy fairly quickly. That said, it was still a delicious burger.

The Hot Fries were excellent, with a unique airy crispiness that made them stand out. They were flavorful without being greasy at all.

Overall, a solid meal, great service, and a place I'd happily visit again.“

“I've heard about this restaurant for years. I've heard it was good - and healthy. I think I resisted because it's healthy (which is irrational).
The food was prepared quickly, the price is comparable to fast food (about $11-$15), portions are generous, food tasted great! I was really impressed. On top of all that, knowing how healthy it is blows my mind. You usually have to give up something, but this is win, win, win, win - speed, taste, portion, price.
This is going to become my go to place. Need to get one in the East side now!“

“Never ate here before yesterday. First impressions are everything to the relationship between any business and it's customer. That being said, this place had a very good first impression for me. Food was delicious, service was fast and professional, and they have a television in every corner. It's not pretending to be something else. It's a pub and grill, and a great one.“

“I had a great lunch at Brett’s Casual American — the food was fresh, flavorful, and exactly what I hoped for in a casual spot. The menu has a huge range of American classics, from tasty grilled seafood and hearty sandwiches to crispy appetizers that hit the spot. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere felt welcoming and relaxed — perfect for a laid-back meal in Athens. I’ll definitely be back!“

“One of my favorite places to eat in Athens. Charming ambience, great food, and friendly knowledgeable wait staff! Just wish they took reservations!“

“🙂My daughter and I tried this place for the first time yesterday. The food was DELICIOUS, and there is truly something for any dietary need on their menu. The staff and atmosphere were GREAT! We will definitely be going back SOON!“

“Placed a To Go order because my husband was working across the street and had smelled it for hours after I hyped it up. He was all for the order and we live almost 2 hours away. I haven’t been to this Rafferty’s in 10+ years. My husband has never had it. I got the regular burger and my husband had the bbq burger and we also ordered fried mushrooms. Flavor is unmatched, quality was top tier and the way everything was packaged looked as if it took time, not just thrown together quickly. Even after an almost 2 hour drive, it was all still perfect! It reminded me of when I was younger and my grandparents took me to this same location often and I always got the burger. The staff then knew my grandparents by name and if I remember correctly, always remembered their orders. The burgers are the best we’ve ever had, hopefully another chance arises for more Rafferty’s in our future. Thank you for always being delicious and consistent.“

“a kinder, gentler dive bar“

“AMAZING! We were passing through on our way out of state and decided to stop in after reading all the good reviews. The owners were so kind, and you can tell they put their heart into everything they do. The food was delicious and full of authentic flavor. Can’t wait to come back next time we’re in the area!“

“Very tasty vegan options!“

“Stopped in today for lunch and it was delicious. I ordered the 1/2 chicken plate w/fried okra and coleslaw. Everything was fresh and well seasoned. Keep it up!“

“We ate dessert at Pauley's and it was amazing. We had the apple pie crepe a la mode- we should have ordered two instead of one, sooo good! Also, VERY honest people! Great service and fantastic atmosphere. I highly recommend any time of the day!“

“The legacy continues from Athens to Monroe, I don’t care if you go for the food, the spirits or the vibe, it’s not to be missed!“

“Good food friendly service“

“My wife and I always enjoy eating at the Hilltop Grille when we are in Athens. The cream brûlée is amazing. On our visit to Athens on 2/13/2026, around 11:30 AM, I had the grilled salmon. It was delicious. My wife shared a little of her coleslaw with me. I later experienced mild indigestion. The only other thing I ate all day was some freshly homemade brownies my sweet neighbor brought over. The following morning around 7 AM, I awoke with an extreme urgency to go to the bathroom. I almost didn’t make it. I had a one and done case of severe diarrhea. I am submitting this review just to see if anyone else experienced the same issue after eating after eating there that day.“

“Keeley was such a good server. She was on top of everything. We never had to ask for a refill for our drinks because she had them brought out before we were even halfway empty. She checked to make sure our meals were cooked properly and we were enjoying them. I was very impressed by her and she made the experience great and pleasant. Thank you Keeley!“

“Had the gumbo last night and it was really good. Spicy and meaty.“

“Got the recommendation from Kaleb Dance at Bobcat of Athens as this first time eating here. Food was fresh, really good and priced right with fast friendly service. I got the steak philly with everything on it and 5 piece wings (hot) as a combo. Wings are super tiny so I wish I hadn't skipped on the fries. They were pretty busy with people coming in and out so that says a lot in my opinion. The wing flavor was perfect, not too spicy with plenty of flavor. The Philly was buttery rich and the bread was soft but held everything in place“

“One of the oldest and coolest places in Athens. About 80 single malts.“

“Yummy! I had the Dirty Bird with the sausage gravy on the side“

“Awesome Greek salads!“

“This place is amazing! Wonderful service. The food is delicious and the presentation is a work of art!“

“Cool Bar Vibe…. Between this and the Root… best…! 👏👏“

“Wide variety of craft beer choices, and we enjoyed all that we sampled. Food was tasty with a number of options. Service (Ken) was top notch! We will be back on our next visit to Athens!“

“This place is doomed to fail. Ordered takeout and noticed the health rating as wife left with food. A glorious 85! Needless to say, food was tossed in the garbage and we will never return. This was our third attempt to give them a chance. Horrible service on first try. Horrible food on the second try and abysmal health rating on the third try. Done and done.“

“Wow! Newk's Catering is awesome! Food was delicious and the sandwiches were creative, Bundle choices were wonderful, delivery was right on time, customer service is excellent! I highly recommend Newk's (Athens) for your catering needs. Thank you, Zach and Makayla (hope I'm close on the spelling!); you both were great to work with and so helpful!“

“great food great atmosphere“

“Friendly staff, and great food.“

“Its always a quick sit down. I usually always get seated quickly and get the food fast and fresh. They have the best chicken tenders. They are so incredibly crispy and breaded well. Get them tossed in honey hot and get some ranch to dip them in and your golden. This place knows how to fry chicken. Better than any other spot ive been too. Very inexpensive too.“

“Our server, Xavier, and the bartender, Kai, were really nice and made the meal more enjoyable.

The Chicken Marsala was very good, but next time I will ask for extra gravy.

The smoked Old Fashioned with Woodford Reserve Double Oaked was amazing.

All the sides were really good: baby carrots, sauteed green beans, creamed spinach, and broiled brussel sprouts.

The mixed greens salad with grilled shrimp was also really good.“

“ADD Drug Store excels in having every characteristic a local drug store should have.“

“The service was on point, fast, and very knowledgeable. The appetizers and main entrees were very elevated. The drink menu and desserts were just as elevated as well. You have to try the Blueberry 🫐 Cobbler Cheesecake. The absolute best ever. Highly Recommend and ask for Ben. He was great.“

“Love the food and friendly staff.“

“I recommend the all star breakfast with a peanut butter and chocolate chip waffle“

“Food tasted great, and our server was excellent.“

“#roadtrip to The Blind Pig in Athens, Georgia. Got me a #ruebensandwich & wife and daughter got the #phillycheesesteak. All was really good and service was great. Will be back again when in the area. #foodie #localeats #ynotsupportsmallbusiness #athensga #goodfood #yummyfood“

“Favorite restaurant in town! Best wings, burgers and service hands down!“

“I got tuna kimbop and udon togo and they were both super good

-kimbop was not sweet, and the amount of seasoning was great. Like the rice was actually seasoned- not just white rice like some fake korean joints. Fillings to rice ratio was pretty good too. Only thing is that I expected tuna mayo instead of just tuna? But I feel like this is more of a preference so just an fyi

- udon had unexpected flavor, not that it was bad, just different than what I expected. Not like regular japanese udon but more of korean old fasion udon.. (가락국수 스타일!). It was tasty with hearth broth:)

Also the prices are pretty good for this economy“

“Last night was our first time eating there and it was a fabulous experience! Food was delicious, atmosphere was unique and pleasant, and service was phenomenal. Morgan, our server, was amazing!“

“Absolutely love this place! Great atmosphere, great service , great food! Will be back for sure!!“

“Thanks for making our combination birthday/Thankgiving breakfast such a great experience. With friendly, upbeat crew and a crowd of happy diners it was like have a great morning with friends!“