My daughter and I have eaten here twice. The first time was an excellent experience and so I was excited to return to try more from the menu. The second time our server was great, but there were a handful of things that they were out of. And I was not expecting to pay $4 per soft drink refill. Our bill was $20 just in ginger ale. In addition to that I ordered a special menu item, the risotto with shrimp. It was fantastic, however it was not actually worth $57. I advise customers to ask how much special menu items are as they are not listed in the regular menu.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Angie Hanna
We have been to many many restaurants over our 30 years of marriage and have never experienced the amazing food and service that we received at Girasoles! I will be bribing my parents in when they visit from the MS coast. By the way we are really snobbish when it comes to seafood being from the Gulf coast and the Shrimp and grits are the best I’ve EVER had in my life. Picture attached!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grits
Allison Hopper
The food here is really good. We came for Sunday brunch and was expecting it to be a bit pricey. $30/person for brunch (which I personally find a bit overpriced) but we were okay with it. What really bothered us what that we got charged $4 for each small cup of coffee. The waiter asked us if we wanted coffee and did not tell us that it was not included in the buffet price (which we assumed it was). When we got the bill and saw we were charged almost $10 for two small cups of coffee on top of an already expensive buffet price, we left feeling a little blah about the place. IMO that coffee should be included in the buffet or they wait staff should let you know it is separate. Probably won't be back for brunch.
Ryan R.
We love going here and the food is normally really good. However, on this visit, we waited forever for just a greeting from our waiter. I had to go to the bar to ask for a server at which point someone came over and said, they were not our server but would do our drink order. We had already looked over the menu and were waiting to hear the specials so our "not waiter" told us about the specials. We made our appetizer and drink order and then the individual that was our actual waiter passed our table numerous times without even looking at us or greeting us. Our "non waiter" then brought our drinks and said they were comped (one club soda and a cocktail...we were actually charged for two sodas in the end...I didn't say anything as we drank the drinks so I didn't expect them to be comped...but it's interested they said they'd be comped but did not comp them). Our waiter finally came over with a cocktail menu and we informed him we have already placed our drink ad app order and we're ready to order our entrees. It took forever to refill drinks. I had to go to the bar to request drink refill and water (my wife had a cocktail and wanted a water with it but no one ever asked). They left the wine glasses on the table (we weren't drinking wine). Simple things that a semi fine dining restaurant should have in place regarding service but just neglected. We could tell the other servers were frustrated with this waiter as well and were picking up his slack. Beef Wellington was good; asps were good; grouper was mediocre at best. We like going here and will try again but will likely not return if we have a similar experience. I've recommended this restaurant to friends in the past but will now have to recommend with the caveat that the service is not very good. Hope they get it better so we can continue to enjoy this restaurant.
Roger Oliver
Awesome experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Donna Dee Payne
Great!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Larry S.
Excellent all the way around. Great chef, great food, great service. This is one of the best in Oconee.
Jason R.
This is a true gem in the Athens area. Outstanding ambiance, impeccable service and amazing food. The chef/owner is extremely personable and passionate about his restaurant. Highly recommend.
Joe H.
Best meal in Watkinsville. We have never been here and not left feeling it wasn't 5 star. The shrimp bom bom is very unique. The lab with the mushroom sauce is the best rack of lamb I have ever had. The fillet is fantastic. Cannot say anything bad. Would recommend to anyone.
Elizabeth Grace Alder
The food was wonderful. The service was shall I say, lacking. However it was our waitress' first time on the job so I guess it's understandable.
We went for our 25th anniversary because we had heard so many good things about this place. Either our waiter was new or just unsure of things. We didn't even know about specials until we heard another waitress mention it to her customers. He said he didn't hear us order appetizers so we never got those. My husband got a $45 steak ordered medium & it was way overdone. We also saw a sign when we went in the door saying there was a cash discount to pay. When we gave our waiter the cash he said they didn't have a change drawer & didn't usually take cash. We said we thought there was a cash discount & he said he had never heard of that. So we paid with a credit card & the prices were more expensive than listed on the menu. I tried to call them after leaving & no one would answer the phones. I was very disappointed with our evening there.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
John
I've been comteplating on writing this review as I am never the person to criticize. Two months ago I attended Girasoles for the first time. I had the "specialty" which was the black grouper fish for $68 claiming that is market price!! You could go to Marker 7 in Athens and get a Black Grouper for a third of that price. The fish was greasy, overcooked, bland, and rubbery. The service was mediocre at best, dining room was dusty with roaches in every corner and had silverware crusted with old food. Later, the chef walked into the dining room to greet a few customers which I thought was nice, it seemed like he only favored people who had been spending a lot of money. While he was busy chatting, we waited 30+ minutes on the appetizer, which was a greasy floppy mess of fried shrimp. Walked past the kitchen on the right to go to the bathroom and saw the chef lick his fingers, not wash his hands, then season a steak with them. Directly across the kitchen was a room in which I saw a waitress plate a slice of KROGER CAKE, the same dessert I had in which we were also overcharged for. The Chef is a conartist and this place is a joke. Do. not. recommend.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Tom E.
I have never had a meal that was not outstanding. If you think it is not right , Chef / Owner Jose will make it right. Most Restaurants just say sorry - Not here. I love eating here , both at Night and Sunday Brunch. It is amazing to sit where you can watch the Omelette Show. At Brunch ask Chef Jose for a VIP Omelette. The VIP sauce is very good on a steak , but i believe it might be extra. One bite of your Omelette on Sunday will prove I am right. I saw a person eat 2 and he was he was past stuffed. Don't forget your wallet or Card. It is worth it. Ask about prices for children. The Waiter will accommodate. They are open for Sunday lunch and on certain nights. Call them or check the web. If we are concerned, we make reservations. I suppose you might pay more and get less at the Ritz Carlton or elsewhere at Lake Oconee or other places. I know I have. For me , Strike 1 perhaps , but I form an Opinion. Maybe I will take a 2nd swing 6 months later. But I never strike out. Never again is in my vocabulary. I am always up for Girasoles' & Chef Jose in Watkinsville if I am hungry. Always a great meal.
Sarah Lutz Torres
Service was amazing! We had a large group & the staff was exceptional! The food, wow, it was amazing, tasted amazing, plated beautifully!! 10/10 would recommend & will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sarah Hicks
tips are taken away from servers and kept in joses pocket as a rule if the tips arent entered before 10, he TAKES his servers tios. also if a server enters the wrong orice in the computer( yes they have to enter in prices for each entree, the cimputers all have wrong prices from menu) and ifvthe employee mistakenly entwrs the wring amount in a dinner rush, jose makes the server pay for it. This is not inly immoral but HIGHLY ILLEGAL. He also screams in his servers faces,never lets them voice thier concerns, but instead slams his fist on the table, HARD, slamming it over and and YELLS AT THEM from a very face to face distance. HIGHLY AGGRESSIVE MAN, with absolutely NO restaurant knowledge. Also very, VERY..e will just say....HIGHLY inappropriate with female staff who live in fear of it if they speak up, theyll be targeted, and treated aggressively instead of "OVERLY nice" Mothers and Fathers, ur female teen grls VERY CLOSE and dont ever EVER make the mistake of letting them work for this man. This place should be investigated and shut down...horrific
My daughter and I have eaten here twice. The first time was an excellent experience and so I was excited to return to try more from the menu. The second time our server was great, but there were a handful of things that they were out of. And I was not expecting to pay $4 per soft drink refill. Our bill was $20 just in ginger ale. In addition to that I ordered a special menu item, the risotto with shrimp. It was fantastic, however it was not actually worth $57. I advise customers to ask how much special menu items are as they are not listed in the regular menu.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
We have been to many many restaurants over our 30 years of marriage and have never experienced the amazing food and service that we received at Girasoles! I will be bribing my parents in when they visit from the MS coast. By the way we are really snobbish when it comes to seafood being from the Gulf coast and the Shrimp and grits are the best I’ve EVER had in my life. Picture attached!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grits
The food here is really good. We came for Sunday brunch and was expecting it to be a bit pricey. $30/person for brunch (which I personally find a bit overpriced) but we were okay with it. What really bothered us what that we got charged $4 for each small cup of coffee. The waiter asked us if we wanted coffee and did not tell us that it was not included in the buffet price (which we assumed it was). When we got the bill and saw we were charged almost $10 for two small cups of coffee on top of an already expensive buffet price, we left feeling a little blah about the place. IMO that coffee should be included in the buffet or they wait staff should let you know it is separate. Probably won't be back for brunch.
We love going here and the food is normally really good. However, on this visit, we waited forever for just a greeting from our waiter. I had to go to the bar to ask for a server at which point someone came over and said, they were not our server but would do our drink order. We had already looked over the menu and were waiting to hear the specials so our "not waiter" told us about the specials. We made our appetizer and drink order and then the individual that was our actual waiter passed our table numerous times without even looking at us or greeting us. Our "non waiter" then brought our drinks and said they were comped (one club soda and a cocktail...we were actually charged for two sodas in the end...I didn't say anything as we drank the drinks so I didn't expect them to be comped...but it's interested they said they'd be comped but did not comp them). Our waiter finally came over with a cocktail menu and we informed him we have already placed our drink ad app order and we're ready to order our entrees. It took forever to refill drinks. I had to go to the bar to request drink refill and water (my wife had a cocktail and wanted a water with it but no one ever asked). They left the wine glasses on the table (we weren't drinking wine). Simple things that a semi fine dining restaurant should have in place regarding service but just neglected. We could tell the other servers were frustrated with this waiter as well and were picking up his slack. Beef Wellington was good; asps were good; grouper was mediocre at best. We like going here and will try again but will likely not return if we have a similar experience. I've recommended this restaurant to friends in the past but will now have to recommend with the caveat that the service is not very good. Hope they get it better so we can continue to enjoy this restaurant.
Awesome experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent all the way around. Great chef, great food, great service. This is one of the best in Oconee.
This is a true gem in the Athens area. Outstanding ambiance, impeccable service and amazing food. The chef/owner is extremely personable and passionate about his restaurant. Highly recommend.
Best meal in Watkinsville. We have never been here and not left feeling it wasn't 5 star. The shrimp bom bom is very unique. The lab with the mushroom sauce is the best rack of lamb I have ever had. The fillet is fantastic. Cannot say anything bad. Would recommend to anyone.
The food was wonderful. The service was shall I say, lacking. However it was our waitress' first time on the job so I guess it's understandable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
We went for our 25th anniversary because we had heard so many good things about this place. Either our waiter was new or just unsure of things. We didn't even know about specials until we heard another waitress mention it to her customers. He said he didn't hear us order appetizers so we never got those. My husband got a $45 steak ordered medium & it was way overdone. We also saw a sign when we went in the door saying there was a cash discount to pay. When we gave our waiter the cash he said they didn't have a change drawer & didn't usually take cash. We said we thought there was a cash discount & he said he had never heard of that. So we paid with a credit card & the prices were more expensive than listed on the menu. I tried to call them after leaving & no one would answer the phones. I was very disappointed with our evening there.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
I've been comteplating on writing this review as I am never the person to criticize. Two months ago I attended Girasoles for the first time. I had the "specialty" which was the black grouper fish for $68 claiming that is market price!! You could go to Marker 7 in Athens and get a Black Grouper for a third of that price. The fish was greasy, overcooked, bland, and rubbery. The service was mediocre at best, dining room was dusty with roaches in every corner and had silverware crusted with old food. Later, the chef walked into the dining room to greet a few customers which I thought was nice, it seemed like he only favored people who had been spending a lot of money. While he was busy chatting, we waited 30+ minutes on the appetizer, which was a greasy floppy mess of fried shrimp. Walked past the kitchen on the right to go to the bathroom and saw the chef lick his fingers, not wash his hands, then season a steak with them. Directly across the kitchen was a room in which I saw a waitress plate a slice of KROGER CAKE, the same dessert I had in which we were also overcharged for. The Chef is a conartist and this place is a joke. Do. not. recommend.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I have never had a meal that was not outstanding. If you think it is not right , Chef / Owner Jose will make it right. Most Restaurants just say sorry - Not here. I love eating here , both at Night and Sunday Brunch. It is amazing to sit where you can watch the Omelette Show. At Brunch ask Chef Jose for a VIP Omelette. The VIP sauce is very good on a steak , but i believe it might be extra. One bite of your Omelette on Sunday will prove I am right. I saw a person eat 2 and he was he was past stuffed. Don't forget your wallet or Card. It is worth it. Ask about prices for children. The Waiter will accommodate. They are open for Sunday lunch and on certain nights. Call them or check the web. If we are concerned, we make reservations. I suppose you might pay more and get less at the Ritz Carlton or elsewhere at Lake Oconee or other places. I know I have. For me , Strike 1 perhaps , but I form an Opinion. Maybe I will take a 2nd swing 6 months later. But I never strike out. Never again is in my vocabulary. I am always up for Girasoles' & Chef Jose in Watkinsville if I am hungry. Always a great meal.
Service was amazing! We had a large group & the staff was exceptional! The food, wow, it was amazing, tasted amazing, plated beautifully!! 10/10 would recommend & will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
tips are taken away from servers and kept in joses pocket as a rule if the tips arent entered before 10, he TAKES his servers tios. also if a server enters the wrong orice in the computer( yes they have to enter in prices for each entree, the cimputers all have wrong prices from menu) and ifvthe employee mistakenly entwrs the wring amount in a dinner rush, jose makes the server pay for it. This is not inly immoral but HIGHLY ILLEGAL. He also screams in his servers faces,never lets them voice thier concerns, but instead slams his fist on the table, HARD, slamming it over and and YELLS AT THEM from a very face to face distance. HIGHLY AGGRESSIVE MAN, with absolutely NO restaurant knowledge. Also very, VERY..e will just say....HIGHLY inappropriate with female staff who live in fear of it if they speak up, theyll be targeted, and treated aggressively instead of "OVERLY nice" Mothers and Fathers, ur female teen grls VERY CLOSE and dont ever EVER make the mistake of letting them work for this man. This place should be investigated and shut down...horrific
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1