Mama's Boy was always one of my favorite restaurants when I lived in Athens, so I had to stop by while 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! read more

Mama's Boy - Biscuit - Southern Near Me - Athens, Georgia

In town for a wedding but made sure we came pass for breakfast. Parking can get packed quick. The wait was about 15-20 min, they ask that you look over the menu during that time so that you can order quickly once called upon for seating. The hostess was kind and jolly. The menu is pretty straightforward with classic dishes, it also includes lunch options. Several of the beverages include free refills as well. We ordered the salmon Benedict, French toast plate, and back and egg scramble. The food came out within about 20 min of ordering and being sat, in waves. The salmon cakes were a bit dry and could've used much more hollandaise, so the hot sauce really helped! And the poached egg was cooked well done so we missed out on the runny egg. The potatoes were nicely seasoned and the drop biscuits were so delicious. We cleaned the French toast plate! And the scramble was just OK--the side of grits were cooked just like at home. We'd absolutely come back and try a few more items. read more

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There is not much parking, we parked at the nearby walking trail. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. 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. read more

Mama's Boy - Georgia peach french toast - Southern Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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This restaurant is a little different but still gained 5 stars in my book! We ordered and paid at the register before getting our food. The service from beginning to end was excellent! The food was amazing! My friend had a pulled pork bowl with banana bread. I had French toast and fried chicken breast with fruit. The place is very nice and quaint. I'd love to go back when I'm in the area. read more

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Cinnamon roll was tough, potatoes were bland and French toast was just okay. Syrup was cold, so once we out it on the French toast, it made the whole thing cold. I expected much better. read more

The hardest part about revisiting places you've eaten on vacations is that it can be so sad when you realize you probably won't have a that meal again any time soon! Thus is my pain when recounting our visit to Mama's Boy. We stopped here for breakfast before heading out of town on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in September. Prior to visiting, I read that the wait here can be a bit intimidating but we lucked out coming on a day when there was an away football game which I think took some folks out of town as we only had to wait about 20-25 minutes. It's a casual joint where you order at the counter (but only after you've been given a table) and the food is bangin'. I was not playing it healthy here, going for the Truck Stop Biscuits & Gravy which was a biscuit topped with sausage gravy, sweet tea brined fried chicken, and topped with scrambled eggs. For my side I went with grits (because when in the south!) and of course I had a refreshing strawberry lemonade to wash it all down with. Everything was excellent. The biscuit was fluffy, the chicken was juicy, the gravy was flavorful...and it was all perfect together. And the grits were so rich and smooth and so very tasty! It was casual service but everyone who we encountered was really lovely. Bless the mama's boys of the world for bringing us such a delicious dining experience! read more

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I've been coming to Mama's Boy since 2016, when I was just a freshman at UGA. Now, almost 10 years later I am still a big fan of Mama's Boy. I visited to take my friend to try an Athens' staple and everything was delicious. You order at the cashier and take a number while a server delivers your food. This is such a unique feature of Mama's Boy, but it works very well. Everything was delicious, my only comment is that the Georgia French Toast left some to be desired. I wish the actual French toast was sweeter as the toppings were not and I'm not a fan of downing my French toast in syrup. read more

Wow! Simply Wow! What a great restaurant! We had their cat head biscuits with gravy. Wonderful! Everyone else was so happy with their choices! Brunch & breakfast are superb. Service is quick & friendly! The ambiance was that of an old country place, in the middle of Athens! Great place. Their lunch menu looks superb! We will be back soon for lunch. read more

This place is so good. Everything was seasoned well. The service was very friendly and fast. The ambiance is family friendly. This is a must go to place if you're ever in Athens. I will most definitely be back. read more

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Stopped by for a late breakfast when my dog was getting tests at the UGA veterinary hospital. When we pulled up we knew immediately this place would have good food. We ordered and paid when we walked in and took a number to our seat so our server would know where we were. I had the French Toast plate. My husband ordered the Mill Town breakfast plate. I had a mocha to drink and my husband had coffee. Everything was delicious. Service was very attentive and very fast. The interior had what I would describe as homey diner vibes. We are already planning our next trip back. read more

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Stopped in for breakfast one morning while on my way out of town. A busy breakfast joint, old school style. Seating can be a premium some mornings as it was the day of our visit. A small eclectic diner, cafe with a few different areas to sit. Place your order at the register once you know what you want, pay and get a number. Grab you a spot if you're able and they bring everything to you when its ready. Service is a bit fragemented, one person brought us our hot drinks, another the cold ones, and another our food. Our meals arrived about fifteen minutes after we sat down. Its bacon and eggs, its not that complicated. The eggs were pretty good, a little overcooked for over medium closer to over hard with no runny yolk. This place is obviously popular with the locals, it was standing room only and a line waiting out the door by the time we finished our food. 3 Stars - its okay, served its purpose for the morning of my visit but, just an average breakfast joint with okay food. Not bad but not great, and the off service made it an odd breakfast experience. 01081 read more

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It's been several years since I have been here so they changed how it operates. Arrived on a beautiful spring Saturday and added our name to the waitlist. Once we were called, we ordered at the register then was given a number and told which table to sit at. The cinnamon roll was amazing. Just the right amount of icing. We did have to wait a long time for our meals though. I saw every table in the room get food before us and we still waited. Probably close to 20 minutes. My bacon egg cheese scrambler was delicious though. And it was nice that as soon as we were done, we could leave since we already paid. read more

Mama's Boy - Bacon egg cheese scrambler with sourdough toast. - Southern Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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Food was delicious! Service was excellent- you order at the counter, they give you a number and your food is delivered to your table. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, but we didn't have problem finding a table. Overall great experience!! read more

Mama's Boy - Southern Near Me - Athens, Georgia

I rate this place 5 stars because of its great customer service!! Great customer service can make any 4 star restaurant easily become 5. My partner and I visited this establishment recently and when one of the waitresses notice a few things I did not eat, she immediately began making it right. I had absolutely no intentions on sending anything back or highlighting the dishes that weren't as great especially because my partner's chicken sandwich and grits more than made up for mine but the intentionality of the waitresses and manager to make things right and gain feedback was impeccable! I'd definitely go back the next time I stop through Athens. read more

First time at MB. Efficient and food was excellent. Waited on a Sunday morning for about 15 minutes. Paying at the time of ordering was not expected, but we were then seated immediately and food was delivered within 10 minutes. Inside dining area is clean and relatively open and comfortable. I will come back to try some other items on the menu - great for small party breakfast meet-ups. read more

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It was a bit weird trying to get in - but that's not their fault...there's construction kind of causing some issues when I went. That said, fight the traffic and construction weirdness and get your butt in here. I had the georgia peach French toast plate with eggs and bacon. Definitely the best French toast I've had in a long time. One (albeit minor) issue - they said they do "soft scrambled" eggs, but they came out pretty much regular. This is a common issue with pretty much every breakfast restaurant I go to, so no removal of a star. But I'd recommend you tell waitstaff that you don't do soft scrambled if you really don't. This place is inviting and warm, and the service was great. read more

This place is adorable! The glassed-in back porch is so cute and a great place to eat the scrumptious food! Order at the counter and they bring it out. We ate breakfast- French toast, pancakes, banana bread (10 out of 10), eggs, sausage. It was all good! read more

The savory breakfast items were good and filling. The sweet items were alright, definitely sticking to my usual biscuits and gravy. The staff were very friendly and always enjoy coming here once in a while. read more

The food is usually great but today it was awful. I couldn't even eat it. On top of the food being awful they had a dog in the restaurant where most the staff were petting it and handling our food! Not acceptable at all! I also told the cashier about the food being bad and she said nothing! read more

Great service and atmosphere too. I'm not normally a fan of pecans or peaches, but the combination of the two with the French toast was really good. The pulled pork bowl was maybe missing a little sauce, but overall everything was good. Definitely a place I'd come back to, and I'd recommend it if you're looking for a good brunch spot. read more

As we arrived, I noticed the parking lot was small. There was another lot behind the restaurant, but we couldn't tell if it was for overflow or exclusively for the nearby park. We waited a few minutes in the main lot until a space opened up. After securing a spot, we approached two young hosts standing at the outside podium. They greeted us warmly and handed us a couple of menus. I noticed a few tables set up outside, but we decided to head inside. We reviewed the menu and joined the fast moving line. The setup was simple: order at the counter, take a number, choose your own table, and they bring your food out. When Wifey and I reached the counter, we both ordered the French Toast Plate, which was a combination of sweet and savory. It came with a half order of Georgia Peach French Toast, two eggs, and a choice of sides. We each got a coffee, plus an orange juice for her and an apple juice for me. The interior dining room felt like an old-school converted house with a cozy atmosphere. As we were settling in we could look directly in the kitchen area and see all the activity. I also noticed another room that looked like an enclosed patio area. The next thing we knew, our food was coming out, it arrived pretty quickly. At first glance, it was some humble plating, no big fanfare. It was not a super huge portion either, but it looked like enough. We started digging in and enjoyed everything. The French toast covered with peach compote and pecans on top was the highlight for me. The service was excellent. Staff checked on us often, refilling coffee, as needed, and asking if we needed anything else. I noticed a few biscuit sandwiches going to other tables that looked great, so that's on my list for next time. We wrapped things up and I grabbed a coffee to go before leaving. If you are looking for a good breakfast with attentive service in a local, casual atmosphere, this is the place for you. read more

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Have been here twice and I can say they serve an awful breakfast. A Waffle House, any Waffle House, would be much better. Stone cold , flavorless hash browns and toast that was not the slightest bit toasted - really just bread. And the eggs, yikes! My wife's scrambled eggs were cold, hard, and had the appearance and clearly had been made a long time before being served. The fresh fruit was way past its prime and the coffee was average at best. Truly one of the worst breakfasts I've ever had. Service was attentive but when I mentioned the food was not good, our server thought I was kidding at first and then skulked away without offering any resolution. Won't be back. read more

I've been to this place many times over the last 10 years and it used to be one of my favorite places to look forward to after driving an hour and 20 minutes to get there... not exactly sure what has happened, but the quality is really gone down and the customer service is terrible when we walked in we were not greeted behind us eventually were but we were not. There was a culture match between the people who came in behind us to the person who greeted them and not us and she was so nice to them we had to look to learn what she was telling them and then got dirty looks for seeming like we where listening to them. The eggs definitely are not cracked eggs they are from the box and it seems like they are premade and portion out and warmed up when they are given out they're also those are cooked and have brown on them. Also, the potatoes are definitely pre-cooked and microwaved again. It's really sad as I brought my mom and was so excited to show her this place I raved about but had not been for 2 years... really sad... this place has to be AMAZING and I NEVER leave bad reviews it's my first one. I'll set a drop it off when we were leaving. I smiled and said have a good day to the waitress and she completed that she made eye contact with me...:: just rude people... one older woman was very nice and wanted to make our plates good when we sent them back but still came cold and old and flavorless ...... yall can do better read more

Mama's Boy - Southern Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Wanted something yummy and local during our first visit to Athens and found Mama's Boy. The parking lot is small and so it took some time to find a spot but only had to wait an additional 15/20 minutes before being seated. The inside was so comfy cozy and still showed the old charm of the house. The place was bustling with energy and all the tables inside and outside were full during our entire visit. I'm an iced coffee gal and this was one of the few places we found that offered any and it was delicious. In our group the following things were also ordered: Bacon, egg and cheese scrambler with a side of fruit, Sausage, egg and cheddar biscuit, and a half order of the Georgia Peach French Toast with a side of bacon. Everyone enjoyed their meal and the service was great. I am so glad we found this place. read more

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Little diner-style place for breakfast/brunch/lunch outside of the downtown/university area of Athens. You order at the counter and they bring the food to your table. Outside seating area was nice (the inside was pretty plain). Food was fresh and good, but not quite good enough for a 5 star rating. The salmon cakes were good and adding capers was a nice touch. The poached eggs were maybe a little overdone, as there was absolutely no runny yolk. The side greens were good. The salmon cakes were not served on an English muffin or biscuit, but there was a large biscuit (oddly) served on the side instead. Both the sausage and the fried chicken on the biscuits with gravy were good, especially with the addition of a little of their homemade hot sauce. The same was true for the cheesy grits (which were a little gritty). It's a perfectly decent brunch spot, just not great. read more

Mama's Boy - Salmon cakes benedict (front) and biscuits with sausage, fried chicken and gravy with a side of cheesy grits (back) - Southern Near Me - Athens, Georgia

This is my daughter, favorite food her favorite thing to get there is the mac & cheese and the carrots

Start with the good, food and unlimited iced coffee was amazing. It's hard to say the service was bad but can't say good either. Explanation - took our order and paid at the front door register before sitting down which was weird to us. So, then we sat down at our table where we began to see others around us being served their beverages and meals well after we were seated. Had to walk up to.the counter and ask why and then they couldn't find our drink or food order. Seems.they totally glitched on our order. They were nice and admitted to the mistake. Our coffees and food eventually arrived. I enjoyed my salmon eggs Benedict but my wife and daughter were not as impressed with their food. Suppose it may have had to do partially with the wait. All that said, mistakes happen and I still enjoyed my meal and coffee. Chalk this one up as a one-off and expect total perfection next time read more

Mama's Boy - Salmon eggs benedict - Southern Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Very good home cooking meal here. Staff were right on us and very helpful. I don't like the set up order first then sit down. Although it's nice when you finish you can just leave. Everything was excellent. The biscuit was so good. read more

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10/10 recommend we had an array of deliciousness for breakfast. The breakfast potato's were AMAZING as were the biscuits & gravy. Everyone there was welcoming & delightful. Megan was especially helpful in giving us ideas on places to go and see. read more

Mama's Boy - Biscuits & Gravy - Southern Near Me - Athens, Georgia

I'm sorry Athens, but this ain't all that. My first trip to Athens after years of yearning to visit, I followed the glowing reviews straight to Mama's Boy. Ordered the cinnamon roll and found it to be uninspiring. Not delivered hot, not very tasty and not unique in any way. Wondered if a frozen store bought might have been better. Moved on to breakfast sandwiches - we ordered 3. Sent all 3 back :-( since the eggs were cold (not warm mind you, and certainly not hot). Got no apology or explanation. No problem - stuff happens. I get it. Minutes later, replacements arrived. Fortunately they had warm eggs this time (yay!) but the sausage wasn't warm enough to melt the cheese and the biscuits weren't warm at all. Is this what Athens thinks is a great breakfast experience? Suggest you raise your standards y'all. The rest of the world serves breakfast sandwiches warm or hot, and countless restaurants knock cinnamon rolls out of the ballpark. And while I'm at it, my Nashville roots have me biased against square biscuits that seem all the rage in Athens, Georgia. I know it's a small thing, but baking biscuits individually rather than baked and cut up like a lasagna makes each one have layers of flakiness that "squares" can't achieve. Ask your grandma, she'll set you straight. Pizzas and biscuits, with rare exceptions, deserve to be round. Finally, why have cool light fixtures to spruce the place up, but you have a half empty Walmart metal shelving unit in the middle of the restaurant as an extension of the main counter? Really? With cleaning supplies and T-shirts all lumped together? Does this mean that I can buy a roll of paper towels to go with my spray cleaner and Mama's Boy T-shirt? It's visually loathsome and senseless. I SO wanted to love this place. Scoured the reviews before enthusiastically coming here. But at least on Sunday 2/16/25, this place couldn't get it together and seemed poorly managed. read more

Mama's Boy - Janky shelving unit extends the counter and junkifies the main entry/ordering station. Are the paper towels for sale? The jam? - Southern Near Me - Athens, Georgia

I reviewed Mama's Boy shortly after I graduated about a year and a half ago, and made the point to note that the restaurant "hasn't settled to resting on her laurels." Folks, it pains me to say it, but that is no longer true. The Mama's Boy on Oak St. that I knew and love during undergrad is gone. This Mama's Boy serves their coffee in paper cups, their water in plastic cups, and sports an interior decor that's reminiscent of a middle school cafeteria. The diamond patterned seating layout? Gone. The cute Mama's Boy coffee mugs? Gone. Tablecloths? Yep, gone! Even the service fell off. All three of the staff members we interacted with were rushed and not friendly at all, and the kid taking our order just seemed perpetually confused. I'm giving two stars because the food was still good, but just about everything else was not. I understand that there's a lot of breakfast competition in town now, but I think Mama's Boy should have stuck to their higher-end brand and kept it classy. This experience felt like a debasement of the Mama's Boy brand. read more

Mama's Boy - Plastic cups for breakfast! - Southern Near Me - Athens, Georgia

I have been to Mama's Boy twice now. As a foodie, I always have to try the top-ranked eateries in new towns/cities I visit. After reviewing various sources and confirming with my UGA friend, Mama's Boy made the cut. My first visit was mid-November prior to Thanksgiving. I got the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Scrambler with Fruit and Biscuit as well as the Georgia Peach French Toast. My second one was this past Saturday, where I got the Salmon Cakes Benedict and Bacon, Egg, and Cheddar Biscuit order pictured below. For beverages, last time I got a coffee and this time a sweet tea. I also tried my friend's cheese grits. I loved everything. The biscuit is definitely pretty hearty so if you can't finish don't feel bad about taking it to-go. I thought it was nice the server gave me a water cup even though I didn't request one specifically. Both times I had a short wait but it wasn't crazy. I like that they are counter and self-seat service, I think it makes the experience more seamless/efficient. If you need to wait, there are some trails in the Oconee River Park next to the restaurant you can stroll through. I need to come back to try the rest of the menu, but especially the Pimento Cheese Burger, Breakfast Taco Plate, Pulled Pork Bowl, and Cinnamon Bun. read more

Mama's Boy - Bacon, Egg, and Cheddar Biscuit; Salmon Cakes Benedict - Southern Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Great new southern style menu with great staff to serve you. We enjoyed our experience!

I enjoyed the food. The service was quick. And the ambiance was nice. I would visit again.

I was in Athens visiting my son. We went here for brunch. Cute local place with good breakfast food! The back room had a pretty view of the greenway. The parking lot is small but we were able to park there. We had a little bit of a wait. You order at the counter and seat yourself. The breakfast was excellent! My son said the bbq was good but would probably get breakfast next time. read more

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I've always passed by this place many times while being in Athens, and finally had the time to stop by for lunch. You order at the counter by the entrance, pay, and are given utensils and your table number (you pick where to sit and they find you by the number). Food didn't take long nor did my drinks. I ordered the salmon cakes benedict which comes with some greens and a biscuit (it's huge!!). The flavors from the salmon was amazing, and paired so well with everything. Also, as someone who lives for hot sauce, they have their own and pairs so well with the benedict! Just be aware of how busy it can get especially on weekends, and the lack of parking spots. read more

Mama's Boy - Salmon Cake Benedict - Southern Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Literally been here more times than I can count, it's me and my best friends favorite spot to hang out at. Service is great, servers are really quick and nice, food is so good and actually priced really well. I always get the cinnamon roll which is bus and the coffee also slaps. If you want to get a good brunch come here, but beware of the limited parking. read more

Mama's Boy - Southern Near Me - Athens, Georgia

When we asked for Athens recommendations, Mama's Boy was the unanimous choice from our friends. We lucked into a good parking spot and a short line. The staff were friendly and pricing was affordable for a couple breakfasts and coffees. We ordered at the counter and were directed to a table. We waited quite a long time for our food (about 45 minutes from ordering). Others seemed to receive food around us, eat and leave while we waited. Once it came out the plates were very hot and food was pretty dried out. They did apologize for our long wait. I think we may have been an anomaly? We shared a standard breakfast plate and a burrito. My grits were solid (in form) like when they've been sitting a while. Eggs seemed to be powdered eggs? It could be that they were dried out. Biscuit was fine. The burrito was good! We liked the black beans in it. The hot sauce and jelly are kind of bland and didn't add a lot to our food. Overall, we left fed and I'm glad we can say we tried it. We would maybe go again as there aren't many options in the area. Perhaps it would be better next time. read more

Friendly service and amazing food. Can't wait to visit again . Enjoyed the whole vibe of the restaurant read more

Mama's Boy - Southern Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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Super fun place! We plan to return and trying more food items. The line moves quickly and we appreciate the efficiency with ordering and table assignments. Loved the decor and creativity. Would recommend the biscuits. read more

Mama's Boy - Biscuits and gravy, cinnamon roll, yogurt parfait, peach French toast - Southern Near Me - Athens, Georgia