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Rafferty's Restaurant & Bar

3.6 (137 reviews)
ModerateAmerican, Bars
Closed • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

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Rafferty's Restaurant & Bar American Restaurant Photos

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RAFFERTY'S RESTAURANT & BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Happy hour specials
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Rafferty's Restaurant & Bar

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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.

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.

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!

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.

María B.

My family and I stopped by Rafferty's after a day wandering around Downtown Athens (11 min drive) and we loved it! Rafferty's serve American food, and they have many locations all over the USA! Some of the stuff we ordered: - House Salad. Highly recommend. It was served with a small croissant that was absolute deliciousness, and the salad itself was very fresh! - Ribeye $22.99. Super tender, cooked to desired temp, and the dry rub was very good! - Chicken Alfredo $15.99. meh, I've had better. - American Cheeseburger & Backyard BBQ Burger $10.99 I highly recommend trying their burgers. Their buns are so good, and the BBQ burger with grilled onions is incredible. Food is great, and service even better. Ashley was so helpful and patient with our big family and made us feel welcome. I totally recommend this location! ESPAÑOL Mi familia y yo pasamos por Rafferty's después de un día deambulando por el centro de Athens (11 minutos en auto) y ¡nos encantó! Rafferty sirve comida estadounidense y tiene muchas ubicaciones en todo Estados Unidos! Algunas de las cosas que pedimos: - Ensalada de la casa. Recomendada. Es servida con un pequeño croissant que era una delicia absoluta, y la ensalada en sí estaba muy fresca! - Ribeye $22.99. Súper tierno, cocinado a la temperatura deseada, y el los condimentos que usaron estaba muy bueno! - Alfredo de pollo $15.99. meh, he tenido mejor. - Hamburguesa con queso y BBQ Burger $ 10.99 Recomiendo encarecidamente probar sus hamburguesas. El pan es super rico, y la hamburguesa BBQ con cebollas asadas es increíble. La comida es excelente y el servicio aún mejor. Ashley fue muy servicial y paciente con nuestra gran familia y nos hizo sentir bienvenidos. ¡Recomiendo totalmente esta ubicación!

Ordered a HOUSE SALAD , received less than a side salad

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11 days ago

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

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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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10 months ago

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10 months 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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5 years ago

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3 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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Brett's Restaurant - Texas Chili Cheddar Burger- gone!

Brett's Restaurant

4.3(167 reviews)
1.0 mi
•$$

Love this neighborhood joint! They're buffalo sauce is the best I've had anywhere in the whole US!…read moreI am a buffalo connoisseur and it's out of this world. They have great ranch that is made in house. Prices are always great and they have wonderful owners that always check in with you during the meals! Is a little off the beaten path and tucked in a shopping center. Definitely worth stopping in!!

Reminder about service dog etiquette and ADA rules I want to…read moreshare something that happened today because it was a personal violation and a reminder of how important it is for businesses to understand ADA rules. I stopped at Brett's Casual American with my service dog, Stormy. The server was excellent -- respectful, professional, and even asked before petting her. He mentioned he used to foster Dobermans growing up, and he clearly understood how to behave around a working dog. The issue was with the owner. He demanded to see "papers," insisted Stormy needed a vest with a visible ID tag, and told me I was "harassing his staff," even though the staff had been nothing but kind. For anyone who doesn't know: under the ADA, businesses cannot require documentation, certification, or specific gear. They can only ask two questions: Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability What task the dog is trained to perform What crossed the line for me was when he reached out and touched Stormy without permission. I walked out immediately. Touching a working service dog is not only inappropriate -- it interferes with medical equipment and puts the handler at risk. It felt like a personal violation, not just a misunderstanding. Most people in Athens are great about this, and I really appreciated the server who handled everything correctly. I'm sharing this so neighbors are aware of the proper etiquette and to help prevent situations like this in the future.

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Brett's Restaurant - Entrance

Entrance

Brett's Restaurant - Nachos with chili

Nachos with chili

Brett's Restaurant - Fried cheese bits I think is what they called them

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Fried cheese bits I think is what they called them

South Kitchen + Bar

South Kitchen + Bar

4.2(519 reviews)
5.3 mi
•$$

We had a fantastic experience at South Kitchen + Bar! We started with drinks--a frozen chocolate…read moremartini (absolutely decadent!) and a few beers. Great spot to celebrate our graduate! Go DAWGS! The real standout of the meal was the duck fat tater tots. These were sinfully delicious. They were crispy, rich, and easily one of the best appetizers I've had in a long time. They include three different dips We visited during lunch service, and everyone in our group enjoyed their meals. The portions were generous, especially considering the price, and the overall quality was excellent. If you're looking for a great lunch spot with memorable bites and solid service, South Kitchen + Bar is definitely worth the visit!

I'd give this a 4.5 if I could! I had a few hiccups with timing, but the flavors and the proactive…read moreservice recovery made it a place worth returning to. The ambiance was also a vibe. The food: I went with the Fried Chicken Blue Plate. Between the regular and the Nashville Hot, the Nashville was the winner--flavorful and moist without being overwhelming with the spice. Huge shoutout to my server for suggesting the brussel sprouts; that glaze is incredible and they were easily my favorite part of the plate. The mashed sweet potatoes were unique--I'm still debating if I liked them or loved them. The jalapeño cornbread was a bit sweet for my taste but on par with most restaurant cornbread. The mac & cheese wasn't bad, but also didn't do much for me like most restaurant mac & cheese. The cocktail: Do not sleep on Nana's Naissance. I wasn't sure what to expect from the ingredients, but it's like an elevated take on Rumchata. The service: I was seated at the bar and experienced a noticeable delay--a group that arrived well after me almost finished their meal before mine arrived. However, the waitress acknowledged the wait before I even had to mention it and made things right. I really appreciate that kind of proactive service. We're all human, and they handled the situation very professionally.

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South Kitchen + Bar - Inheritor

Inheritor

South Kitchen + Bar - Beignets

Beignets

South Kitchen + Bar - View from the bar. Guinness on tap.

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View from the bar. Guinness on tap.

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

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