We arrived at the lodge after a hike of the lower loop, ready to eat. AMBIANCE: Great It was a summer Monday, almost 2 PM, so a very light crowd. We were able to get a table for five by the window with a spectacular view. FOOD: Above Average My wife's bleu cheese spinach salad with chicken was heavy on the bleu cheese and craisins but light on the chicken. My son had the buffet. The fried chicken and pecan pie was delicious, the au gratin potatoes and rolls were okay. My older daughter was content with her patty melt, with little other description. My younger daughter's buffalo chicken sandwich was missing the buffalo sauce so they brought it on the side. That worked out very well for her, she could control how hot she wanted it. My hamburger was closer to a steak burger. A little overdone, but they didn't ask how to make it and I didn't specify, so I guess well done is their default. SERVICE: Slow but attentive when you need it There were long periods when our server was gone, but when she was there, if we asked for something, she immediately returned with it. All in all it was a good intermission during our day at the park. read more

Ate lunch there today and everything was delicious! Fresh salad bar, two soups, and delicious sides and entrees on the buffet. The price is reasonable considering you'd pay ten bucks or more for a fast food combo meal. Food at the Maple is expertly prepared, and it's all you can eat. The view is priceless. A wonderful experience. read more

A considerable disappointment from last visit. Lunch meant a buffet with food that seemed like re-hashed leftovers, a server who seemed far more interested in her cell phone, and just a cheap, dirty feel to everything in the hotel. There didn't seem to be any leadership there. I asked to speak to a manager and spoke with a nice older lady named Cathy who was apparently another server. She cut our bill in half and treated us with that country charm. At least they have one good person there! I wish the food matched her charm! I can't imagine trying it again. read more

We hosted a three day event for over 70 people and they made sure to accommodate everyone's dietary needs. When gluten free food was not initially available with the lunch buffet, the chef brought out a specially prepared meal that those with gluten restrictions could eat. He also made a point to check in each day to make sure gluten free food was available and that everyone was fed. The staff was friendly and we appreciated the attentiveness. read more

As we entered the park gate, we were handed a menu for this restaurant and no map. After a few hours of hiking the loop behind the visitors' center and back down the stairs we decided to find the restaurant for the menu we were handed. I saw a couple of vegetarian/pescatarian options. We went to the restaurant, we were seated, and nobody got our drink or helped until I flagged down a waitress. Two ladies came out separately to 1) explain who our waitress would be, 2) explain that we couldn't order from the menu, but that 3) we could have hot dogs and sloppy joes from the bar. We went for the vegetarian/pescatarian offerings. I had considered coming back to stay at the lodge in weeks to come, but the poor service and dearth of food options are a deal breaker for me. Too bad. Still worth the drive up to hike for the day. read more

Disappointing food masked by a beautiful view of the mountains. Unfortunately my family and I chose to eat here during our stay at the lodge because of convenience. The breakfast buffet was a huge disappointment. The coffee was awful. It was a watered down version of instant coffee. The eggs were a powder mix that was watery and cold. The only tasty parts of breakfast were the fresh cut cantaloupe and cooked bacon and sausage. We skipped lunch all three days of our stay because we just couldn't stomach eating here three times a day. Dinner was better than breakfast but not by much. The menu is limited and all the food options lacked flavor. The best thing I ordered was the chicken quesadilla. My husband enjoyed the power bowl with chicken. The kitchen staff two out of the three nights we dined were behind and the wait was too long for mediocre food. In fact, the hostess had to turn people away if they didn't have reservations on two of the nights we stayed. The waitresses were all wonderful and attentive. I feel bad that they work for such a poorly run kitchen and have to deal with the complaints and unhappy customers when it isn't even their fault. This restaurant has so much potential, but due to the poor management of the kitchen and the disgusting food, I can't provide anymore than a 2 star review. If you're staying at Amicalola Falls Lodge, I highly recommend staying in a room or cabin with a kitchen and making your own food. You'll be glad you did. read more

Our family absolutely love it here at the Maple. The view is to die for and the service is outstanding. EVERYONE IS ABSOLUTELY A GEM. My son wanted something special and the kitchen made it happen. I love love love the buffet when it's here, so much to choose from. With my husband being a "vegetarian".... it has enough options to make us all happy campers! And yes I used the quotes correctly lol he's a vegetarian when it's convenient. read more

We have enjoyed dining at this restaurant since 2005 and it has always been a wonderful experience! The staff are very friendly and the view of the mountains is beautiful. After a long day hiking and taking in nature, the restaurant is a perfect end to an amazing day. Breakfast is always amazing too! read more

I was concerned when I saw 2.5 stars but also very hungry. Since the closest hot restaurant seems to be at least 20mins away outside the park they won when it came to supply and demand lol. Surprisingly the food was not that bad. The menu is weird because for basic items like chicken fingers and a hamburger they cost more than the buffet. The food was very home style and satisfying. I'd actually come back again instead of packing lunch. The view is amazing and staff extremely friendly. read more

Truly disappointed. The hostess didn't even make eye contact with us or crack a smile as she told us the only option for the evening was Buffet. The food was rivaled by a frozen meal from the grocery store. The waitress was overworked and bill was $18 a person. Do not recommend. read more

Brad the manager, Susan and kaley were allamazing. very personable took great care of us the 4 days were were here. front desk staff attentive gave great suggestions we definitely will be returning soon! read more

One star for the view and one star for the fries. Our meals were painfully average and too pricey for what it was. Don't get the power bowl or turkey club. Your best bet is to get the burger. Nothing special, but decent. read more

Went here for my fiancées birthday! Thought it would be romantic to have a steak dinner on top of a mountain but it was a buffet!!!! Now they have a sign that says 10 a person make sure you know that is for a child and not a adult! It is 20 a person and the food is just ok, not worth 20 a person one bit! They have so much potential and limit it with this horrid buffet! They had chicken fingers, brisket, pork chops, fruits, veggies, mash potatoes, and Mac and cheese! Not much for a buffet honestly but hey when you are the only place to eat for miles I guess you can do what you want! I was very displeased with this place and will never go back, hope 40 dollars was worth never seeing another dime from me or anybody else that asks me in the future to eat here! Sever was great, that was about all! But seriously guys, I kinda want a retribution for that utter disappointment! read more

Good restaurant because it is the ONLY place the eat at the lodge or within a 20 min drive . Mostly buffet items . However, there is a Hidden GEM a 20 min drive away called Appalachia Cafe. A company called ridge runners will also deliver food to the lodge for you. read more

My husband & I love eating at the Maple Restaurant. We love the buffet and the dessert bar and the staff. This is one of our favorite drive day trip venues. We drive 1-1/2 hrs to enjoy this restaurant, the gift shop, the falls & visitor center. read more

We had several great meals here. Breakfast was good with very generous portions. At dinner the trout was the best, and I would certainly order it again. read more

The view and dinner ambiance was the only positive experience we enjoyed. The dinner buffet was unimpressive and the dessert "chocolate cake" was dry with a stale crusty layer like, as though it had sat out in the open air for more than a day. Expect the food taste and quality to be on par with a school cafeteria, only at the price of a finer restaurant. Breakfast was no different. Scrambled eggs were like army surplus grade quality, only worse, because it too was dried out and crustied. We will be journeying into town for the rest of our stay at the lodge. read more

Just okay/ average, maybe slightly less than. Came for the lunch buffet. The options were sadly limited. The food was a bit bland. Not terrible, but also not great. But the staff was friendly and attentive. read more

Great simple fare: trout was good n waitress recommended blackened pasta dish with chicken, also good. Service was excellent.

We've given this restaurant a few tries just because we love the view. Easter buffet today was end of the line for me. Service was very good but that can't make up for the mediocre food. I must admit I'd much rather have a good meal served to me than go thru a buffet line. Today the filet of beef medallions were beyond well done while the flounder was lukewarm. The soup and a mixed salad were both heavily laden with dill which to suit my taste should be used sparingly. The carving station with leg of lamb was the one redeeming item. It was perfectly cooked and very tasty. There was a good selection of desserts. Overall the meal was a disappointment...but you should go once just to enjoy the view! read more

I am seriously not kidding when I state that their lunch buffet for $13 per person is worse than the swill served at a high school cafeteria and/or soup kitchen for the homeless. I've tried this place three times (once for breakfast and twice for lunch) and today was the last straw. The views are stunning, the inn is fun, and the servers are very sweet. However, the food is horrible! The lunch buffet offered bagged crap iceberg mix for the salad bar, COLD veggie burgers with cold rolls, chicken tenders, bagged chips, and commercially bought pies and desserts. They didn't have refills on the hot foods for at least 10 mins and the remaining picked over foods were cold. C'mon...unless someone has the palate of a 3 year old, why the hell can't you serve up some homemade Southern fare or decent hot foods in this ideal spot. You are in a gorgeous location with local farms nearby. Why? Why do you serve toddler food? Take some lessons from Dahlonega. Get a "real" chef and get rid of the soup kitchen swill. The breakfast was equally disappointing after a stay at the inn. I will starve and find another place or bring my own picnic the next time I visit the lodge. This place has so much potential...so sad. read more

We dinner, and had wonderful pan fried trout and huge rib eye steak both cooked to perfection.....then had breakfast this morning.....with myself and my lady friend each having eggs benedict....poached eggs covered with a delectable bearnaise sauce....amd as well be here staying in the most gorgeously decorated Amicalola falls lodge for another 36 hours will be having more meals for sure read more

I just spent a couple of days at the Lodge and high expectations for the Maple, considering it is the ONLY restaurant in the park. Overall, I was disappointed by the quality of food. Compared to the hearty and nutritious meals at the Len Foote Hike Inn - only available to guests - the Maple pales in comparision. There is nothing extraordinary about the food, just standard American favorites for breakfast (make your own waffles + bacon, scrambled eggs, sausages, grits, cereal, etc.) or lunch and dinner (roast beef, salad, soups, fish, chicken, etc.) There is a good variety, especially with lunch and dinner, but the food is just under-whelming. If you are expecting high-quality food, then you are not only in line for a disappointment but also an inconvenience, especially if you are staying for more than a day. The only enjoyable meal I had here was the Sunday lunch buffet, but at $17 per person, it had to be good to justify that price. The desserts were really disappointing too. read more

This lodge and restaurant has so much potential, it is a shame that it was the worst breakfast we've had ever. Not only was it horrible food, but it was expensive. $27 for two people for powdered eggs, dried corned beef hash, cold saturated in oil tater tots and overcooked bacon. We were told they had made to order omelettes but that wasn't true. They were kind enough to make an omelette after much discussion. This restaurant needs a major overhaul. It does not match the classy updated rooms on the property. read more

We were a little nervous to eat here based on the reviews, however I am so glad we took a chance. The view is breathtaking, the staff is friendly, and the food was great. We went at lunch time and there was a nice simple buffet with salad, soup, different types of BBQ, fruit, a couple of sides and dessert. My kids (10 and 4) can be picky, but we had no problems finding things they would eat. Their prices were not bad either especially for the buffet and the view! I would recommend and I would go back! read more

We found the food to be excellent and the wait staff attentive. The menu is limited (which was challenging for our group, most of whom avoid meat) although they did allow us to order sides. The soup and salad bar was well done. Cream of Broccoli soup was yummy! The kitchen was slow and our food came out staggered (my meal came after everyone was done eating). read more

Stopped at Amicalola falls Lodge before heading to Ellijay for Spring Break. It was Easter Sunday so we figured our pickings were slim for open restaurants (Besides chains) so we decided to give it a shot. It was a lunch buffet & the food was edible, but much of it was over cooked and pretty greasy. The dessert selection was pretty good. I wish that we had checked the price beforehand - definitely not worth the $90+tip for our family of 4. read more

I was in a group and we walked up to get to the lodge. We were starving and expected good food. However, it was horrible food. It took forever to be seated and to get our drinks. If you like cafeteria food, this is the place to go! Otherwise, don't bother eating here. The only good thing is the scenery. read more

I read through the reviews and I was shocked to see that people did not give this restaurant glowing reviews. All the food is home made. They had the most delicious pot roast I have ever had and "TENDER!" In addition, we tried the fried green tomatoes and they were lightly breaded with a mixture of flour and corn meal. Very delicious. After climbing the falls, the restaurant was a very welcome addition. The atmosphere was great and the hotel had a bird show (immediately adjacent) to the restaurant. The window seats were amazing. We also stepped out onto the patio and enjoyed the sun and the breeze for a few minutes. Fun day at the falls and great food. read more

The view is the only reason one should waste $19 a plate here. I could go on & on a/b the poor quality of the food or lack of choices or how some of the plates at the buffet line were dirty straight from the kitchen, but I won't. Plenty of folks have reviewed before me. You've been warned. read more

took a very long time for the food to come out. this is the only restaurant without driving 12 miles out to Elijay

Ok... PEOPLE!! Come on, please!! (And I have no affiliation with this place) This place deserves a good review. I heard a couple folks (from a tour group) moaning about price and groaning about running out of food while dining today. Think about the logistics. If it doesn't make sense then Go drive 20+ miles to a near by town and enjoy (and think about the cost to get food UP there). And if you can wait just a moment these folks WILL replace those empty serving trays with a fresh new batch of what was in it in what I thought was very reasonable time (as their own group wiped out the buffet). I'll stay here, enjoy the ridiculous view, and be very happy. Let's review this for what it is! This is a state park restaurant that is 20 miles from nowhere! It's not Ruth Chris, fine dining or even a ruby Tuesdays, but this place is REALLY pretty good! It's more like a banquet food buffet, but it's actually really tasty with descent choices from soup, salad, and main course entrees and very tasty breakfast choices. My family and I had at least one meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner while staying at the lodge exploring the mountain and the falls over 3 days. Give this place it's due! The staff is super friendly, they have really good freshly brewed iced tea, offer a descent selection of adult beverages, and with the dramatic breathtaking views of the valley it doesn't even matter what they are serving or that it's not a zaggat rated restaurant!!! The views are incredible and the food is good, especially while dining during sunset- the food does not detract from that! Enjoy, relax and take in the mountain top dining experience for what it is and save your overly critical foodie critiques for someplace that deserves them! Bon-appetite!!! read more

I went to eat at the maple restaurant at Amicalola state park and I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich when it was brought to me it looked amazing and then I took a bite of it and realized that the chicken was raw not even close to being cooked it was charred on the outside and complete pink and slimy on the inside I meantion this to management and they apologize but I could no longer eat after that and yet I still had to pay for my meal I personally will never go back to the restaurant and the staff there inform me of how they are treated and most likely the cook would be fired I do not believe he should lose his job over an accident but with good management comes good employees read more

The place is clean and the views are spectacular, but the food is just "ok". The waitress brought me the wrong drink twice and service was very slow even though the restaurant wasn't busy at all. The food tasted mass produced and wasn't at all worth the cost we paid. read more

The view is breathtaking, the large windows allow you to see the mountains and the valley. You can see most of the park from this vantage point. We enjoyed the dinner and the breakfast buffet. The food was good there were many options at both of our meals. The staff is so friendly and nice. We will be back! read more

The food sucks, the service is even worse, and it costs $20 a person plus gratuity. Its absolutely terrible.

Everything about this place could make it amazing, great location, friendly staff, beautiful view....but the food ruins it. Weekends are buffet only and the food is horrible. It's like the Shoney's buffet with half the food at three times the price. Such a disappointment. The lodge is really great but it's not cheap, you'd expect a nicer restaurant to go along with rooms priced over $200 per night. read more

The views are beautiful, however the food choices for a 20.00 per person brunch were limited. Having been to many brunches, no pastry tray, no fruit assortment, no omelette station, no carving station. This restaurant needs the proper management to understand exactly what a real brunch consist of. read more

Food looked so disgusting that all 4 of us, starving, decided to drive 12 miles to the closest restaurant. Looked a LOT worse than any fast food restaurant. read more

This is a restaurant inside a lodge at a state run park...and as such contracts out for food items from the same providers that supply the prisons. Take that as you will. Lunch/dinner as mentioned by others' reviews, is a buffet. Not a great buffet....but not a bad one either. Food was tasteful and cooked correctly however quality is not the highest (see first sentence). As a lodge that caters to hikers and those out all day in the heat sweating and giving off odors, this is a nice reprieve from the heat and elements, but that's what this place is. While eating lunch, many new guests arrived to eat stinking of their efforts of the day and dripping sweat all over their tables....this restaurant and lodge is for them.....for those hiking within the park and nearby Appalachian Trail. There were of course non hikers and elderly guests enjoying a nice meal after visiting the parks offerings. My only issue was the non attentive staff taking care of the buffet. Some training and retraining is needed. While in line waiting to advance to get food...(and you will wait - as this buffet moves slow for some reason), staff brings out 55 cooked hamburgers and looked baffled as guests ask them about buns....as they stare at you wondering what you are talking about, they then look down into the steamers to see there are no buns available, but 55 hamburgers....thats a big no no. Then you have to wait 10 minutes while new buns are unpacked, prepped, steamed, and brought out to the food area....very annoying. All in all, great views from the window seating area, they serve beer...which is nice, but the food is as described above....tasty prison food. read more