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.