14 Best Southern Restaurants in Athens

“after dining at south kitchen in celebration of our second anniversary, my partner and i have found ourselves in a nearly catatonic state of euphoria. we can muster up only enough strength to write this review though, because everyone should know how good this place is.
the food and drinks were spectacular, but our service from reece really made the experience unforgettable. if serving is an art, reece is a true virtuoso.
definitely pricey, but if you have a reason to celebrate, south is well worth it. can’t wait until we can come back again!!“

“My favourite out of a bucket full of great restaurants in Athens. It's a counter top order but someone delivers your meal in quick time and hot. But the food is why you come here. Southern through and through. There is not a thing on the menu I wouldn't bring home for dinner or just can't wait and order in. We ordered Christmas dinner from the Preacher and everyone said AMEN! The fried chicken is mouthwatering juicy good. The Pot Roast is just like your grandmother cooked it for hours. The Collard Greens, sweet potatoes, black eyed peas are scrumptious. Just go there. It's terrific.“

“Great food and wonderful service. A must when visiting Athens.“

“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.“

“diner by day, sports bar at night. Friendly and courteus staff. Was seated immediately for lunch. We were the second group to enter for lunch so it was mostly empty. I had the catfish plate with a side of fries and collard greens. Our food came quickly. The fried catfish was very good, the fries seemed like they were left over from the night before. The collard greens while tasty, were slightly over salted. I recommend this restaurant if you like sports bar quisine and don't mind TVs being a little bit distracting. I would say it's a 50/50 chance that I will go back.“

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

“Ok, we go here a lot. A great place for soups, salads and sandwiches. Friendly place.“

“Amazing food and great staff! Everything tastes so good. Fresh and hot! I'm here for the All You Can Eat buffet this morning and I am telling you that it is honestly worth every penny.

God bless y'all and thank you for the fantastic experience. Keep doing great things. I will be back!“

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

“Really great food omg 😱 it’s soooooo good“

“The food and service were fantastic! The coffee wasn’t the best, but that isn’t what I went for. The staff is TOP NOTCH! Don’t go by the online menu though; it is completely outdated! I read the menu link on trip advisor when choosing the restaurant and it was very misleading. All in all a 10 out of 10 experience! Would go again!“

“We had a waitress and a new employee she was training to take our order. It was a little confusing to begin with. Forgot to get my daughters choice of drink. Then brought out a glass of water with a fly in it. Other then that, it was all good. And just as nice as could be with us. We had 6 adults and 5 children. We had just left my grandsons football game. And decided to eat here.. the food was wonderful, no complaints. Friendly staff..“

“I am not a fan of corporate BBQ.....but I do enjoy theirs. The people are friendly and the food is the same. The ribs were juicy and tender, the pulled pork (my personal favorite) is always a good choice. I am from the south but my taste buds are all over the place, I like a spicy sauce and a mustard base here you can make that happen.“

“I love Cracker Barrel. 90 % of the time we get a great meal. However every time I order mash potatoes they are cold and lumpy. Someone needs to learn how to make mash potatoes. A little milk and butter will solve your problem.“