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Rafferty's Restaurant & Bar

3.6 (141 reviews)
ModerateAmerican, Bars
Open • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

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RAFFERTY'S RESTAURANT & BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for kids
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Rafferty's Restaurant & Bar

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Caleb D.

My favorite restaurant in Athens! Great service and the best club sandwich and potato soup around.

Nutty honey pecan croissants
Dani S.

We came to Rafferty's for dinner tonight. We were here last year at the same time. My father in law loves this joint so of course we had to come back. We came for an early dinner tonight to beat the crowd. Walking up the ramp, we were instantly greeted by one of the hostesses. She had the door open for all of us to trickle in. One hostess got our menus ready and the next host got us sat at a table/booth combo table. Deanna (I believe that was our servers name. She had on really cute flamingo earrings.) greeted us with her beautiful smile. She got our drink orders started while we were looking over the menu. Our drinks were dropped off and orders were taken. We started off with the nutty honey butter croissants. I remember eating these vividly last year so it was a must have today. They were so soft and buttery. The sweet glaze on top was so good. These things could ruin me if I lived here. It was hard only eating one. I ordered the sunshine salad tonight. Chicken salad with a side of fruit. The fruit had a citrus topping on it. I'm not gonna lie, the chicken salad didn't do it for me. It had a good amount of apples, celery and grapes in it. The chicken was nicely diced and mixed well into the salad so you got some in every bite. The dressing of the chicken wasn't my favorite. After a couple bites I knew it wasn't for me. The fruit on the other hand was delicious! I love love loved the citrus topping they used on the fruit. It was so good! I enjoyed the strawberries, cantaloupe and honeydew very much! I ended up swapping out the chicken salad for more fruit and I'm not mad about it! My husband ordered the pineapple soy marinaded ribeye for dinner. He did start off with a delicious Cesar salad. The salad was heavily dressed and the greens were so crisp. I got a few bites of his ribeye and it was so good! The steak was tender and so flavorful! It had beautiful char marks on it! I was jealous at how tasty his steak was! We were talking about our future meal next year and this steak will be my next meal for sure! I also did get a taste of the fries, which were so good! The fries are limpy and soft which are my favorite! The chicken tenders were good, especially dipped in the honey mustard sauce. Needless to say, I got a bit of everyone's meal and it was all fantastic! I want to compliment Deanna. My father in law ordered sweet tea and it did come out pretty light. It was expressed to us that there was something wrong with the ice tea machine. Deanna brought a fresh soda out for my father in law. While we were eating, Deanna brewed fresh ice and sweet tea for us! She brought out a fresh glass of teas and brought to go cups as well so we can drink the rest of it later. Servers like Deanna are special and I'm happy she served us tonight. Tonight's visit was nice. Even though I didn't like my chicken salad, Deanna made sure I left happy. She went above and beyond and I appreciate her for that! I look forward to coming back next year and having the same ribeye as my husband did.

Very tender and tasty
Debra A.

Haven't been in a while but got the deal of the day,,, Prime Rib and it was tasty. Tender and very flavorful and the salad is always great. Tuesday is the day for special price on PrimeRib.

Menu 1
Stephen S.

Fantastic Fried Mushrooms! Sorry no pi, we ATE THEM TOO FAST!!! We both had burgers they are huge & cooked to order! We love Raffertys!

Bacon burger with baked post
Kenneth J.

My new favorite place to eat in Athens Ga. This is one of the few locations that offer a 8oz burger. Mine was delicious! It's served with fries or another side of your choice. As an appetizer I ordered some croissants, which taste incredible. They are large, hot and melt in your mouth. You could get a drink and 5 croissants and have a wonderful evening. I love the environment, there's plenty of parking, and the servers are pleasant. Gabby was our server and she is the best! They even use her as a trainer whenever there are new employees. This is the best place because prices are reasonable. A basic dinner will set you back maybe $50 w soft drinks and $40 before tip if you don't order drinks. I generally tip 25% for good servers and 15-20% for average servers. I was just there last week, so go check it out! You will fall in love.

Famous Potato Soup, topped with cheese, chives and chopped bacon
Ashley M.

On a recent business trip to Athens, my colleagues suggested we try one of their favorite local restaurants, Rafferty's! We arrived right before noon and the restaurant was packed. The interior of the restaurant is bright and welcoming with a slightly upscale feel. We were seated right away in a booth at the middle of the dining room despite the lunch crowd. Torn on what to order, and wanting to try everything, I enjoyed the following: - Famous Potato Soup, topped with cheese, chives and chopped bacon - Nutty Honey Butter Croissant: hot-from-the-oven Croissants drizzled with honey butter then topped with Candied Pecans - Rafferty's American Cheeseburger: A thick juicy Black Angus chuck patty grilled on hickory wood then topped with American cheese, crispy lettuce, sliced tomato, onion, pickles, mayo and mustard. Served on a fresh brioche bun. - Hand-Cut French Fries My absolute favorite thing I ate was the nutty honey butter croissant, but that should be obvious, right - who doesn't love sweet, flaky bread? I also enjoyed the famous potato soup but have definitely had better elsewhere. The fries were good but the cheeseburger was very thick and overwhelming - I would probably choose another dish on my next visit. Maybe just an entire order of the nutty honey butter croissants. Service was great! Our server did not miss a beat and even recognized my colleagues from prior visits. Drinks were full the entire time and our server always came back with a smiling face. I'd love to come back and try other offerings on the menu!

Bacon Cheeseburger
Mark H.

First time visiting for a decent mid-afternoon Sunday experience with immediate seating and consistent service. The Nutty Honey Butter Croissant is a sweet, warm, light appetizer. Our table's entrees included the half club / soups, chicken fingers, cheeseburger and bacon cheeseburger. All of these were delicious and filling. The only feedback to the restaurant is to consider an alternative ketchup without high fructose corn syrup.

The waiter here was okay but the food was terrible. The club sandwich had brown bacon on it that looked disgusting and old and the sandwich was very dry. This place has really gone downhill over the past year. I will not be returning because the food just isn't the same anymore! This bite in the picture was all I ate because I didn't want to get sick.

House salad  with the house dressing! Hot bacon  honey  mustard dressing!

Food is always great! Service for years has been one of the best in Athens! You always feel at home at Rafferty's!

Substituted French fries for Mac and cheese
Cyndi C.

First time here. The restaurant is really comfortable. Service was quick and the waitress was nice. Wouldn't recommend ordering the Mac and cheese. My husband substituted french fries for it.

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4 months ago

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11 months ago

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3 months ago

Thank you for taking such good care of myself and my Mom yesterday. We really enjoyed our meal and the servers were excellent.

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2 years ago

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5 months ago

Emma gave us the best Mother's Day service that one can ask for. The food was deliciou.

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7 months ago

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10 months ago

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1 year ago

Broad menu. This is one of our regular stops with friends. Usually a line but wait times are usually less than what they tell you.

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Rafferty's is always superb. The prime rib is outstanding, the menu is affordable and the staff is excellent. Never disappoints!

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5 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

Always love going here. They have the best steaks and fried mushrooms. Great service too

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South Kitchen + Bar

South Kitchen + Bar

4.2(537 reviews)
5.3 mi
•$$

Wow, pleasant surprise in a home college town! It's been a while since I've been back, but after…read morethe game we wondered around for a place to eat and found South Kitchen + Bar. No reservation, waited in nice open lobby, seated relatively quick. Server was very nice, entire staff was hustling with purpose. Food was great! Tater tots for the appetizer. Kids burger looks to be an adult size and delicious. Kids chicken tenders are very tasty. Fries are legit. Salad was good. Nashville "hot" but not really was good! Definitely recommend and would go back when in town.

I absolutely want to give this place more than 5 stars, and I would give them more but for one…read moremajor factor during our brunch this Sunday. As it is, I'd still give them a 4.75 stars for such a lovely experience. I would still say you NEED to eat here if you are here on Sunday! Just be warned to wear not slip shoes! They actually take reservations for Sunday brunch, so that's already a plus. When we were running a bit late, Indie was truly a joy to talk with, and she made the change without a hiccup! Once we got there, she was even more welcoming and got us seated in no time. Before I explain my concern, let me make it clear that we will certainly be back when we visit Athens! The location is so close to the UGA campus it's a no-brainer. There was plenty of street parking around, including handicap, so it's easy to get to. While the front entrance is almost hilariously plain and non-descript, the interior is really beautiful!! I felt like we walked into a The Great Gatsby. My daughter was tickled by the ever-changing ticker sign over the bar. Everyone loved the stained glass and deep colors. Even the bathrooms were like being at Grand Central Station in the 20's. And the food!!! We tried all the classic Southern Soul Food staples, and they did NOT disappoint! From the fried green tomatoes, to the shrimp & grits, to an enormous French Toast, they put their foot in it!! Bravo! I have to note that the fried chicken is truly crave-able--crispy, juicy, & flavorful!! The fried green tomatoes were cornbread crispy and delicious! Fair warning that they do have a bit of a bite to them, so check with your littles. We appreciated that they offered egg whites in any dish with eggs, but I wish there was a non-pork substitute for some dishes. There's a vegan selection, but it's just not the same, so we didn't try it. Maybe next time! I lived my goat cheese omelette, and the portion was big enough I got to take some home with me. Just wonderful food all around. The beignets were divine! And it ended up being my daughter's birthday dessert/app. And then we just kept ordering more. Cannot say enough great things about our server--and my mind goes blank because I wish I could remember her name!! She was great the entire time for our whole 9-top group. She kept the waters filled, she cleared plates along the way, she was welcoming and engaging, and we just all enjoyed being here because of it. While we waited for some of our party to arrive, we were directed to a beautiful lobby adjacent to the restaurant. Unfortunately, the floor was exceptionally slippery--like an oily kind of slippery that is not conducive to an 88-year-old using a walker kind of slippery. I was a little worried for my F & MIL. The elevator is so far from where we needed to be that it wasn't worth the risk, so we chose to go up the 2 steps at the front entrance. Luckily for us, everyone was able to move around with care this time.

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South Kitchen + Bar - Inheritor

Inheritor

South Kitchen + Bar - Beignets

Beignets

South Kitchen + Bar - Scrolling happy hour sign.

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Scrolling happy hour sign.

The Chop House

The Chop House

4.3(75 reviews)
1.9 mi

The Chop House has been in Athens for 4 years and this was, surprisingly, our first visit. This is…read morea steakhouse with a robust menu feature a variety of steak, chicken, pork, and seafood dishes. Additionally, salad and sandwich offerings truly provide something by for everybody. The list of sides is also extensive, allowing you to cobble together the right mix of starches and veggies. There was a daily specials list that had unique offerings. Favs at the table were the filet (including the special with a Boursin sauce), the deviled eggs with bacon, blue cheese butter, all the salads, the sweet potato, and all deserts - Key Lime and the Strawberry Butter Cake - wowed). Prices land between Texas Roadhouse and a premium steakhouse (ours was roughly $60 pp with appetizers, entrees, and shared deserts). The dining room could suite your attire and mood, with patrons ranging for dressed up to casual. Service was exceptional! Shoutout to Aiva, who was an expert in the menu and a delight to talk to - a winning combo! We will be back as soon as possible! Reservations (Open Table) are helpful for busier times.

Great place for lunch. Table service with tables and…read morebooths. Prices are reasonable for a nice restaurant and portions are good. We like to have lunch with friends here because it's quiet enough to hear conversations and the menu has enough choices to make everyone happy. Their sides are done well. We like the salmon plate and the sandwiches at lunch Conveniently located but no left turn into parking lot -(so you have to do a u-turn at the light or go left at the light and take the first left to go in the back way. Facility is clean . No outdoor tables. Large parking lot Similar menu at dinner with portions and prices a little larger than at lunch. Lunch is served until 4.

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The Chop House - Seating area

Seating area

The Chop House
The Chop House

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Rafferty's Restaurant & Bar - tradamerican - Updated October 2026

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