50 Best American Restaurants near Watkinsville

“We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Southern Prospect. The food was delicious. We had some hiccups but the staff, Charlie and Beth, managed the obstacles beautifully. We will be back!“

“Great food, staff and prices!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My wife and I had the absolute pleasure of dining at Girasoles, and it was an unforgettable experience! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance set the tone for a perfect evening.

We started with a glass of wine and their seafood stuffed hush puppies, which were nothing short of perfection—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with flavor. For dessert, the crème brûlée was divine, with the perfect caramelized top and creamy custard that left us wanting more. To top it all off, the espresso martinis were an exquisite end to the meal, crafted to perfection and the ideal blend of bold coffee and smooth indulgence.

The service was impeccable—Deniella our server was attentive, warm, and knowledgeable. Every dish and drink felt like it was prepared with care and passion. Girasoles truly knows how to deliver a dining experience that delights every sense.

We can’t wait to return and highly recommend this gem to anyone looking for exceptional food, drinks, and hospitality! Thank you, Girasoles, for an unforgettable evening!“

“Food is delicious. Staff is friendly!“

“I can’t say enough positive things about this place. The new location has a nice staff, laid back atmosphere, and terrific food which is the perfect mix for a hometown bar & grill. The “Cocky Cowboy” is the best chicken sandwich in the game and I’ll die on that hill. So glad to have them back in Watkinsville, looking forward to more good times, and good food, from great people.“

“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!“

“The food is always delicious. Freshly prepared. Fresh ingredients. We have never had a bad meal or experience from either location. It's easy to order pick-up through the Toast app with no additional fees and our order is always ready in a timely manner. This is our go to place for filling lunch or dinner in a pinch. One of our top five in Athens, and has been since moving here in the fall of 2022.“

“I placed a large order for pickup and had issues with the order going through. I reached out via email and got a very quick response from Michael. He spent alot of time and effort trying to help me. I was able to pickup the order yesterday with no issues, the food was delicious, service was super friendly. I have already recommended to a few friends in the Athens area. This is a great location if you have food restrictions like vegan, keto or gluten. Highly recommend!“

“Nestled in the heart of our community, Brett’s Casual American Restaurant is a delightful gem that truly embodies the essence of local dining. From the moment you step inside, you’re welcomed by a warm, family-friendly atmosphere that makes you feel right at home.

The highlight of my visit was undoubtedly the food. Brett’s specializes in showcasing the best of local cuisine, and it does not disappoint. I indulged in one of their signature burgers along with crispy French fries , it was amazing!

Service at Brett’s was exceptional. Our server was attentive and friendly, ensuring that our glasses were never empty and that we had everything we needed without being intrusive. It’s clear that the staff takes pride in their work, and their enthusiasm contributed to a wonderful dining experience.

When it comes to pricing, Brett’s strikes the perfect balance. The menu offers a variety of options that cater to different budgets, making it accessible for families and individuals alike. Given the quality of the food and the level of service, the prices are more than reasonable.

Overall, Brett’s Casual American Restaurant is the perfect spot for a delicious meal in a welcoming environment. Whether you’re dining with family or catching up with friends, or having a business lunch, this restaurant ticks all the boxes. I can’t wait to return and explore more of their menu!“

“Go support Lindsey’s. Amazing food. Eat in or take home. Catering too. Can say enough great things about this restaurant and this owner. 🥳“

“We ate here during a weekend visit to UGA. It was by far the best meal we had the entire visit. The atmosphere was great, the waitress and staff were excellent, and the food was soooo good! The croissants were melt-in-your-mouth flaky goodness. I would come here everyday just for those! Filets, salmon, mashed potatoes and even the Caesar salad was all amazing. I had two fish-bowl margaritas, and omg they were so tasty, and were only $7 each. And this wasn’t during happy hour. If I had known the margaritas were only $7 when I ordered them, I would have a had a few more! Don’t pass this place up. Best place to eat and have a few drinks while in Athens. We will definitely be making this place our go to restaurant whenever visiting 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.“

“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“

“Perfect place for delicious food and a laid back, atmosphere! Bar tenders are great!“

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

“My husband and I just ate at "The Hilltop Grille" in Dec. 2024. I have heard rave reviews for yeats. My rating is this: Great Food, Not friendly service and not memorable except for the food. Waitress was not attentive enough, had to ask 3 times for condiments to eat lunch. Not sure if returning...“

“Great service. Great atmosphere. The food was lacking. Biscuit was overly salty. Sausages were cold in the center. Eggs were not seasoned (which is fine, you’d just have to ask for salt a pepper). The duck taters were good but greasy, but deliciosu. Would come back again, but would order something else.“

“Came in for a little brekkie while on spring break with my kiddo. Absolute gem. We were greeted by the warmest, most genuine “good morning!!!” From what I am assuming to be one of the managers. Set the tone immediately. Aesthetically it was adorable, food was delicious and tasted real… not like the chain restaurants. Menu had little quips and fun food facts which really invites you in. Devon our server was fabulous, easy going, not rushing around. Definite must try in Athens!“

“Very tasty vegan options!“

“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!“

“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!“

“Tried to order the steak and ribs combo. Was told they were out of ribs. Got the steak and shrimp instead. My two sides were mashed potatoes and fries. Got 4 shrimp the size of quarters. And the sides also seemed very underportioned. Most restaurants I go to, I struggle to finish my plate. Here, I'm left still hungry. I feel they need to re-access their portion sizes and how four little shrimp can equate to a slab of ribs. While the quality is good, the quantity is questionable. I'll pay the extra price to leave full from Chophouse next door.“

“The Last Resort Grill is our all time favorite restaurant in Athens! We enjoy taking friends and family there because we know they ALL will enjoy the fun atmosphere and delicious food! It’s consistently fabulous!“

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

“Decided to stick with a classic & they did not disappoint. My fiancé & I shared an appetizer + entree which was plenty of food! The steak was cooked perfectly and the spinach dip was delicious. I tried their Dragonfruit Margarita which was definitely the star of the show!! It was AMAZING & I also got the long pour which turned out to be almost 3-4 cups!

They also serve bread which is always warm & delicious!“

“Great restaurant awesome food.“

“Good food friendly service“

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

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

“Sincerely, the best burgers I've ever had in Athens and the second best I've ever eaten in the whole state!!

Amazing fries and tater tots as sides with a great variety of funky dipping sauces, from raspberry ketchup to wasabi mayo. There's a full bar here too with a variety of well-made adult drinks. I had the El Diablo, a spicy, fruity tequila cocktail with my blackberry bacon jam burger. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

If you have room there are milkshakes, kid friendly or boozy milkshakes! but we were too stuffed to try.

I love vintage, so the kitschy diner decor - B movie posters, neon, etc made for a fun atmosphere as well.

It's a small space, there's outdoor dining too - but I'll bet it's crazy around regular meal times. We arrived around 9:00 on Saturday and it was busy but not nuts.“

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

“Food is almost Good every single time, I’ve only had 2 bad issues in all my years eating there. Chicken & dumplings are my favorite thing to eat when I go.“

“Love the food and friendly staff.“

“Great atmosphere, great customer service, great music, and great food-from drinks to even dessert. We truly enjoyed ourselves! We didn’t even know but we showed up in time for Happy Hour and got half off on the appetizer and we came on a day with a New York Strip special! A huge shout out to Anna for her awesome personality and her wonderful customer service!

We will be back and we will tell others!

The only regret I have is that I didn’t take any pictures of our food!

Thank you Anna and Frank & Sons Neighborhood Bistro!“

“Amazing chicken wings with fantastic flavors!! The friendly service makes you feel right at home :) Highly recommend this local gem for a delicious and satisfying meal! I highly recommend the garlic parm ranch and the fruit juices! TRUST! The pear juice is so refreshing and those wings are flavorful!!“

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

“Delicious sandwiches and awesome pimento cheese and bacon Mac/Cheese. Staff was super friendly“

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

“great food great atmosphere“

“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!“

“I have ordered the honey sriracha shrimp (with the slaw on top and the side of tortilla chips---the yummy, thin kind) several times. At times, I have been disappointed with the quality and/or quantity of the order. However, today (9/20/24) I was very satisfied. I wanted to give props to whoever is in the kitchen this afternoon (around 11a.m.) because the tacos were put together well, with heaping quantities of slaw with the shrimp, and it was super yummy. Thank you! *no photos b/c I ate it all so quickly. :)“

“It’s easy to forget about the not-downtown restaurants in Athens, but my meal here was as good as anything I’ve had in town. The service (all students) was impeccable and prices are surprisingly reasonable. I had the crispy Brussels sprouts and the salmon entree with Gouda risotto, peas, and mushrooms. Everything was SO delicious and served beautifully. You don’t need to be a guest in the Georgia Center hotel to check this place out!“

“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!“

“Awesome environment and great bands“

“The food was fabulous!! I highly recommend Clarke’s Standard!!“

“Very good food and awesome service. We got the fried green tomatoes as an appetizer. They were fantastic, hand breaded and hot. We also got the wing combo with onion rings. It was also very good. Wings were cooked perfectly.

Parking: Small tight parking lot.“

“Our waitress (Natalie? I think?) is always the best! She listens to what you want, makes suggestions, and brings you exactly what you ordered! She works like a dog, too! Always helping others, clearing tables, or washing dishes. I'm sure she is not paid near her worth to Waffle House! And I pray I have her name right. I'm sure she could really use all the shout outs she can get!“

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

“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!“