Purple Chopstix

Jackie O's Public House is great for a casual beer in exposed brick dark high tops kinda hang…read more Jackie O's beer is a stout pillar of the Athens brewing scene. But I write today to praise the Public House for its private party hosting. We just celebrated a big birthday for my wife with 40+ friends. Jackie O's uptown is central, everyone knows it, and it has history for so many of us. In my case going back to the 80s when it was still O'Hooley's and I'd meet my Dad there Friday afternoons after school when he and his colleagues would kick off the end of the work week. It still plays that role for many in this college town. But back to the private party. Chelsea was a pleasure to work with, entertaining all my questions about combinations from the catering menu, deciding on open bar with cocktails, without, just beer and wine, ticket system etc. All are options depending on your crowd and your budget. We went full open bar and mercifully our friends took it easy on us in the 6-8pm timeslot we reserved the whole place for. We went with a combo of meats, cheeses, fruit, veggies that you can get at a per person rate minimum 20. We then also go some of each of the five pizza options. We had leftovers but not a bad thing. For dessert, we had the option to bring in our own cake, but instead tried their chocolate and snickerdoodle parfaits that went down very well. It isn't something you do every month or every year. But it really worked for us for a big birthday and we've attended a number of great work networking receptions there as well. And finally, as many know, Art Oestrike the owner of Jackie O's is a leader in investing in community and sustainability, delivering a creative and quality product and experience whether that is in the three Athens locations or Jackie O's on Fourth in Columbus. A business and team worth supporting.

Went to Jackie O's tonight with a couple of friends for the first time. I ordered the Appalachian…read more It was fine, but nothing to write home about. We got cheese curds to start. One friend ordered a Caesar salad with chicken and got a fruity vinaigrette instead. Another friend ordered a burger and they forgot the bacon. A third friend asked for his burger well-done, but it came out medium, also with no bacon. When he asked the server if it looked well-done, she said she didn't know what well-done looks like. He asked if she could get a new one so he wouldn't get sick, and she said she'd check with the kitchen. No apology. It took 25 minutes for the new burger to come out, and by then we had been there for over an hour and a half. When she finally brought it out, she asked if he wanted a box to take it home. Still no bacon on the burger. Also, no apology again. Overall, not a great experience. Will not be back.

Catering setup before the pizzas and the hoards arrived.

Fried Chicken Wedge. 10/10. No notes.

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Food Menu

Stephen's

3.7(33 reviews)

1.1 mi

Chris was a wonderful bartender. Quick service, super nice, let us request a million songs. I would…read moredefinitely recommend this place and its great as a college bar. People hate expecting it to be a dive bar but in reality these college kids work their butts off. 9/10!

Great service, had a burger and a veggie burger both were amazing. Great spot for a grub and nice…read moreatmosphere I do recommend.

Veggie burger

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Rhapsody Restaurant

4.1(68 reviews)

12.1 mi

Chose this place because we were taking a fall foliage ride on the Hocking Valley, Scenic Railway…read more We ask for a reservation at 5:15 and arrived slightly after disbarking. We were seated immediately in an empty restaurant, and attended to by an obviously new waitress. This is a very small restaurant that is, obviously trying to be upscale. That said the menu lacks diversity and his price for upscale, but it's not seasoned nor served in such a fashion. Given our experience, we would've preferred to return to Logan to the Home Tavern for some really good food. When questioned about the menu, she was unfamiliar with what a caper was and was unable to explain the dish stating she's never tasted it!

Had planned to have our engagement/anniversary dinner here and they cancelled our reservation the…read moreday before with no call or explanation. Had to find last minute replacement reservations at another place. EDIT: They did send a message that I missed saying their reservation system had a "glitch". Still frustrating however.

Live music was amazing

Salmon with cavatappi and NY strip

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The Union Bar & Grill

4.7(22 reviews)

0.9 mi

A great "dive" bar with a solid beer selection with cool music to boot. I was in town to see Wilco…read morebut saw a lot of great acts had played there/we're coming up on their calendar. A great spot to hang out at, I hope to catch a show there in the future.

The Union Is back, back from the fire from a few years ago & they have new upstairs bar, with neon…read morelights - really, yes really & new stage to hear great music & the pole is gone - from back in the day there was pole in the middle of the stage hard for musicians to play around & for fans to have good view of the band & now they have windows, yes can you believe windows facing Union street. The downstairs bar is well lit, very different from the old days, but they still have the best prices on beer in town. A visit to the Union is a must for Athens visit if you love good cold beer & indie music!

The Pub

4.1(42 reviews)

1.1 mi

Small dark bar with history, that's The Pub on Court Street. If you want a serious burger, get the…read moreSloppy Ben with mushrooms and cheese plus a couple onion rings. Plenty of burger options plus a fish sandwich with fries, wings, cheese poppers apps mean you can get your fix of bar food. Getting the fish bowl tower of power beers brings a little adventure to the standard beer fare. Long bar where you find the regulars and some TVs for the games. Dark wooden paneling is the same from back in the day when the drinking age was 18 so lots of continuity over time.

Have to come here a lot with my son attending OU. Not a lot of room but if you come for a late…read morelunch it wont be that busy. Their waffle fries were so yummy, not sure what was so different but they were good. We all had their famous burgers which were delicious. Service was superb!! Very attentive and must have worked there for a while because she was very knowledgeable. We will be back!

Grilled turkey and Colby

Blt

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Blt and poppers

Shade on State Street

2.9(127 reviews)

2.9 mi

When in Athens on a Monday and most breweries are closed we were hungry and thirsty…read more After going to Menards, Shade on State St is the spot. Good and prompt service by Shaylee T. and nice selection of thirst quenchers. Was a perfect way the relax before outside projects in the dirt happened. Stop here anytime and you won't be disappointed.

We were moving my granddaughter in for her freshman year of college at OU. We had a large group of…read morefamily (14!) and lunch on a Friday afternoon was busy but they accommodated us without a wait. The menu has so many unique food options and had an extensive gluten free menu and my grandson was able to have lots of choices too. Service was great. Our waitress stayed on point with drinks and checking on us. I'm sure we'll make our way there again. It was a great choice!

Beverage station

Garlic Feta

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Gigi's Country Kitchen

4.7(58 reviews)

4.5 mi

We were a party of 7 at the busiest time. Service was awesome, Tia was kept busy managing several…read morecustomers and we received excellent service. Food was outstanding. They serve breakfast all day and that's what we enjoyed. They spoiled my grandson with chocolate chips to add to his pancakes. Gigi is in the town of "The Plains". Home of Joe Burrow. Joe is a very talented QB in the NFL and a Heisman winner. (2019). I highly recommend this place. AAA+++ Thanks Tia!

Gigi's is a bulwark of what are otherwise limited dining options in The Plains. Breakfast with…read moreloads of hearty traditional options is what it means for me. Small but ample dining room, welcoming staff, and chalk full of locals. And of course probably best known for the local boy made good, Joe Burrow, captured with all manner of LSU and Bengals paraphernalia as decorations. The Joey B wall just to the right above the counter is especially classic. In the NFL off season in particular you can get lucky and see him there and of course his parents too who are local community mainstays. Only point of note I'd share that isn't a full endorsement is to go sandwich on a biscuit. One shouldn't necessarily expect a lot in this format if you choose not to sit, but my recent visit it was a pretty mushy and small biscuit.

Sausage Bowl

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Another Bomelet

Miller's Chicken

4.3(113 reviews)

1.3 mi

They've been slingin' chicken for decades from Miller's on the West Side of Athens. They have a…read moremorning crowd of people who work with their hands loading up on breakfast sandwiches and then a steady stream until the 7pm close. So don't get a hankering for the best chicken tenders (each one is essentially a whole flattened breast) or the more old school offerings like fried hearts, gizzards, or livers. You can get those in bulk and you might ask who would ever...? My high school crew does once a year when the loser of our previous year's fantasy football league caters the next year's draft, that's who. The reason to go is the fried chicken but you can order skinless if you want to behave. They also sell biscuits and multiple sizes of cole slaw, mashed potatoes and gravy, and potato salad. You can dine in at one of probably ten tables and a surprising number of people do. But for me it is about a bucket and some sides for a picnic or that quick decision when plans to make dinner at home go sideways. Parking for 10 or so cars available in front and it is rarely full for long if at all. As a college town, Athens' restaurant scene typically caters to the students. And Miller's is definitely student friendly. But while the students flock to the latest thing (new Cane's on Court Street) the locals know that Miller's is Athens true chicken king. The family business has earned loyalty over the generations. And just know, if you are back in Athens looking for some chicken nostalgia in late summer, make sure you don't land on County Fair Week in August. That is the one week a year they are closed at Miller's.

Amazing fried chicken! Service was good and atmosphere just like a diner! Mac and cheese definitely…read moreworth getting!

Chicken Sandwich

5 piece chicken, quarter pound of each of chicken liver, heart and gizzard

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Millers is one of the best kept secret in Athens. Fried chicken, fries, chicken gizzards, chicken livers = Good Eating

Latitude 39

3.5(12 reviews)

0.7 mi

The beef is local! The students are awesome at their jobs. Very modern and clean atmosphere. I love…read morewhen they host special events like, Wine Night.

9/2024 Came here for dinner on Saturday night at Homecoming. They are on the ground floor of…read moreBaker Ctr. They are a nice restaurant. Good food. Tip is included in the rate.

Taco special!

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Special Salad for the night.

Pigskin Sports Bar & Grill

3.6(68 reviews)

1.1 mi

We went in the middle of June, so there was practically no-one there! We got a $10 burger deal and…read moregot to sit anywhere. I recommend the tots they were fire. The ambiance is amazing and packed on a game day, but switches up in the summer. Slow service for an empty restaurant however! I had fun

4.5 stars. Probably in the top 3 hamburgers I've had from a bar and grill. Have to try the Mac n…read morecheese hamburger. We were the first ones in for lunch so I cannot rate the length of time for service; but the food came out quickly. Ambience was ok, typical college bar scene.

Fried Potatoes (Twist)

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Samuel N.

0

14

8

9 years ago

Very unique decor, great experience!

Purple Chopstix - newamerican - Updated October 2026

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My husband and I housesat for friends in Athens, and they recommended we go to Tavolino for a…read moreweekend dinner. This place functions primarily as a daytime café, but on Fridays and Saturdays, the chef/owner crafts a rotating four-course menu that changes weekly. There is a shared bread or antipasto course for the table, then a choice of soup or salad, two entrees, and two desserts. We went the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. The bread course was a delicious focaccia, light and pillowy and infused with rosemary flavor. When we told our server how much we loved it, she offered us a clamshell with two additional slices to take home. That was such a nice gesture! I had the soup (a cream-based Italian soup with sausage, kale and potatoes), while my husband had the salad with homemade balsamic dressing. Both hit the spot. The dinner options were a choice of pastas. I had the puttanesca, which was bursting with big flavors from the garlic, anchovy and olives. If I had one slight criticism, it would have been that I'd have loved a touch more red pepper -- but I'll freely admit I have a higher spice tolerance than most people. My husband had the "summer fettuccine," which was prepared with bacon, corn and sun-dried tomatoes in a Gorgonzola cream sauce. I didn't taste it because I'm not a fan of the Gorgonzola flavor, but he raved. Both desserts were superb: a strawberry cake and an apple cake that our server informed us was also vegan. We never would have known. It was not dense at all in the way some vegan desserts can be. The server and the chef/owner were both so lovely and welcoming to two non-locals who stumbled in for dinner on a rainy night. It seemed like they knew everyone else there by name, so this is definitely a warm and inviting neighborhood place. The four-course dinner is a steal at $38 per person (plus tax and tip). It's also BYOB. We will surely be back on our next trip to Athens!

We had a private dinner for a social group, and it was amazing! We had the place to ourselves, and…read morewe could speak openly without the normal restaurant distractions of other customers. Food was fabulous! And surprisingly reasonably priced. Service for a group can be challenging with all the discussion, but our server was perfect.

Fusion Noodle Company

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Amazing food. Crab rangoons are unique. Very and not too sweet…read more The noodles and stuff was made fresh. Great for a college town. Took time to fix but for something made fresh well worth it. Small Little place with just a few seats not this is probably more of a take out delivery being near OU court street . I def go again. I was working here from out of town and this was a great find

If you want some good pad Thai or Pho, or a funky Asia burrito this is the place. It's a tiny 20…read moreseat place, but they make very good Asia fusion. We stoped in after a OU football game, and sat at the bar. Service was good, prices are reasonable, and the food is delicious.

Kiser's Barbeque

4.5

(31 reviews)

Stopped in for dinner while dropping my son off at OU…read more I was initially skeptical of the ordering process but we managed to order the mountain of food that we wanted and it was all excellent! Portions are huge and served on a cookie sheet. The fries were hot, crispy and delectable. Prices are reasonable for the mountain of food you receive. My only complain is that the dining room was a little chilly in the cold weather. Every time someone walked in, we were blasted with cold air.

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Lake Hope Dining Lodge & Cabins

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Best pizza ever…read more Scenic Great lodge Beautiful lake Cold Beer Fun Friendly - nice

My husband and I were on the way to a rental in Hocking Hills and were looking for a place to pick…read moreup a meal on the way. We both ordered a burger with fries. Service was excellent and food was ready at the time promised. It was the most delicious burger either of us have ever had!!!! I couldn't stop wondering what they did to make that burger so tasty. We were both disappointed that we weren't staying closer to the lodge because we would have absolutely gone back for another meal! I'd like to go back again in the future, it was that good!

Stephen's

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Chris was a wonderful bartender. Quick service, super nice, let us request a million songs. I would…read moredefinitely recommend this place and its great as a college bar. People hate expecting it to be a dive bar but in reality these college kids work their butts off. 9/10!

Great service, had a burger and a veggie burger both were amazing. Great spot for a grub and nice…read moreatmosphere I do recommend.

Pearl's

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My husband & can't believe the high star reviews & that a tourist magazine would promote this…read moreplace. 1st Red Flag, powdered coffee creamer only! For a breakfast place? Coffee tasted like water and had a hair in it. Place was dirty and dingy (though table tops were clean). A fresh coat of paint to small cashier counter would even help. The staff were very friendly and the food was decent but my eggs had shells in them. We had wished we picked the other promoted place after our Hocking Hills hike.

Ginger Asian Kitchen

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Ginger was my favorite place at OU (graduated 7 years ago). My friends and I ordered quite a bit…read morevia DoorDash so that we could bring some back in coolers. The portion size is great, however a few of our bowls were completing missing ingredients we ordered. It was not as good as I remember, and I assume it's because my cheese was missed. I still love Ginger but it was not as good as remembered!

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