the food is ok. the drinks aren't bad. I can take my dog and sit on a great patio. I want so badly to like it here because is is 2 blocks from my house. But, the service is just god awful. Last time we were there we asked for water 3 times and it never came. We waited for over 30 mins. We couldnt even get someone to take an order. i have given it 3 shots now. I always want to give places a fair shot. But every time the Universal Joint lets me down hard core. read more

What a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon! I have been a few times now and the service has been good. It can slow down a bit when there are lots of big tables, but I always see the servers working hard.The food is typical bar food but when you are drinking beer, what else do you really need? Very laid back place to meet up with friends or in our case, make new ones. I also like the fact that I can bring my dog, very cool! read more

Good times on the patio at Universal Joint... that pretty much sums up the experience. Kirsten treated me to lunch here today and we had a great afternoon eating, drinking, and meeting new dogs (really, there were dogs on the patio too). I had the steak sandwich special and she had the tilapia tacos... both were very good and made fresh just for us. Our server was very friendly and I am looking forward to my next visit. Be sure to try their sweet tea - some of the best I've had in a while. read more

After a birthday dinner at The Brick Store, we headed over to the U- Joint. How have I lived in the ATL for ten years and never even knew this area existed? Shame, Nikki, shame... Anyway, this place was very small but cozy. We got there on trivia night and Bjorn is pretty right about their trivia. We got there during the last three questions and my friends and I all sort of looked at each other like, "whaaa?" But we were also sort of drunky from dinner, so... Anyway, we were lucky enough to get the last table in the place, and we watched as others came in, looked around, scowled, and walked away. It was the night before the first snow of 2008 and it was brutally cold!! But I can see how it will be fun to frequent in the summer with the nice sized patio overlooking an intersection that is probably pretty busy on the weekends. I like watching folks and looking for cute doggies! read more

The U-Joint is immortal to me in that it has the hardest, weirdest trivia ever on Tuesdays. I went there with a group of trivia regulars a couple of times and we were totally blown away within a few questions, and completely demoralized by the end of the evening. That said, I really like hanging out at this place. It's one of my favorite patios in the Atlanta metro area. The beer selection is good. They have good pub food that's not boring, and mostly under ten bucks. And it's within walking distance of home for me. Plus it's in a charming little out of the way neighborhood. What's not to like? read more

One of my favorite neighborhood hang-outs. We are always running into our friends and neighbors here. Either they are eating there or walking by. The food is very good for high quality bar food. Love the outdoor patio and if your on the edge of the patio your dog can enjoy too. The only downside to this place is the services has been notoriously slow over the years. Would have given it 5 stars except for the slow service. Really great place. read more

Been going here for a couple of years and still don't understand the love people have for what is basically an average bar. The pros: Decent beer selection Good patio for people watching The only TV is large enough to enjoy watching a game, but doesn't make the place feel like a generic sports bar (Taco Mac, I'm talking to you...) The in-between: Tuesday trivia is both awesome and demoralizing; the same guy does trivia over at Mojo's on Wednesday and will make you feel just as dumb The cons: Uneven service Maybe my taste buds are different than all my neighbors, but the food here is just poor; we've tried the entire menu in the past year and, with the exception of a pretty good burger, it's just bad Prices for beers and food seem a bit high, given the quality Overall: It's not a bad place - slow and casual with a bit of hipster attitude amongst the breeders - kind of like Oakhurst itself read more

This place is a good hang out. The food is average, but they have a decent beer selection. This place is not meant to be a culinary feat, at least I hope not? But it is a laid back bar where you can take your dog. Parking can get a little bit hectic but the overall atmosphere is great. The patio is awesome at the place, totally worth a few hours on a weekend afternoon. read more

Great atmosphere! Excellent food and remarkable service! We were greeted promptly and our food came out in a jippy! read more

It looks very nice, but unfortunately I couldn't eat in there today since nobody took our order. On the contrary, the two waitress I asked help for yelled at me, being extremely disrespectful and rude! Disappointing. read more

I had terrible service here, which is too bad because the food was pretty decent. There weren't a ton of people there (or at least not enough to justify terrible service). I had to ask multiple times just to get a water, let alone order an actual drink. Once we finally got our drinks, we then had to wait FOREVER in order to just put our order in. It honestly was like our drinks were our appetizers and the server waited for us to finish them until we placed the order. Once we finally placed our order and got our food, we didn't see the server again until our food was gone and we were waiting for our check. I've heard that there are different servers and some of them are pretty bad. I suppose I'll give it another shot given that the food was decent and the atmosphere was good...but if the service continues to be terrible, I certainly won't come back. There are too many other great places in the area where service isn't terrible. read more

After meandering around the Oakhurst fall festival for a couple hours, I was pretty freaking hungry. So a friend and I pulled up some stools at the Universal Joint's outdoor seating area. Another dude plopped down beside me, cigarette smoke swirling into my face. He asked me if the smoke bothered him, and I said "yes." I was pretty impressed that he moved. Anyway, I ordered the tilapia tacos. The fish was, like, shredded, juicy and substantial. REAL lettuce, tomato and jalapeño sauce rounded out the flavor. The service was sort of slow but friendly. Whatever. It was Saturday afternoon. read more

Holy hell; mediocre food and TERRIBLE service. This was my first time here in several years, and it turned out that I hadn't been missing much by staying away. The beer selection isn't great, and the beer itself is a long time in coming. You know how at most places you order your next beer when you're half-done with your first one? Here you pretty much have to order your next one once the first arrives. The food had similarly regrettable timing. One member of our party didn't get his entree until 10 minutes after the rest of us had been served. And what did arrive on time wasn't all that impressive. The kitchen seems to have a hard time discerning between "medium" and "well" when it comes to cooking temperatures. Maybe I should order my burger rare next time. The fries were from frozen and came doused in an overly salty MSG-ish dunk or something. I might come here again if someone else is buying. read more

The service can be iffy, but the burgers are outstanding, the beer and liquor selection top-notch, the patio sublime and they let me turn the TVs onto obscure soccer games anytime I ask. I read a review somewhere that referred to the U-Joint as Oakhurst's cafeteria, and that sounded about right to me. read more

It's ok, chicken was dry and bland. I had the chicken quesadilla my friend had the chicken pasta his chicken was dry too. I guess people go there to hang out at 3am or maybe everyone is drunk when they go so they don't realize how bad it is. read more

I just realized that I've never been inside the U Joint except to use the bathroom. I can't even remember what it looks like. The patio? I could tell you about that for twenty minutes, but you'd probably get bored reading that much... Perfect spot in almost any weather to kick back and relax. The food and drinks are great, and the servers are very laid back and reflect the mellow Oakhurst vibe. There's not a ton of traffic, lots of trees, and it's very relaxing. It's like the anti-Buckhead. The U Joint is at the center of Oakhurst and gives you a great view of the whole neighborhood. It's great for a change of pace if you're getting tired of Little Five or the Village. read more

I went to Universal Joint on Tuesday night to play trivia with some friends. I was told to be there at 8. So, got there a little early and asked what time trivia started. I was told that it starts just 'whenever the guy shows up.' It was not a Team-Trivia sanctioned event. No biggie, except that I couldn't really just hang out all night waiting. So, the server finally came over and started to take our order. We had 6 people and after getting my order, he said 'Um...be right back' and left. When he came back several minutes later, he finished taking the order. It was about 15 minutes later when my beer arrived. Then about another 10 minutes before the food arrived. Finally around 9 PM, the trivia guy shows up and gets things started. The waiter doesn't come back...we finally have to flag him down to get attention. 4 of the people with me said they've had him as a server before and he's usually on top of things. But, he wasn't impressing me that night. The food was good - I had the chicken sandwich and liked it. But, the service was lacking. I'd go back if I'm in the area, but wouldn't make a special trip for it. read more

I don't get inside the perimeter much, but I had the occasion to be near Decatur today and I'm glad that someone made the recommendation to check out the universal joint. Had a great lunch and the people dining here as well as the staff are very friendly and personable and helpful. Definitely put it on your shortlist for a place for a great burger. The bartender, John, Ask my name, and remembered and used it throughout my dining experience. Can't tell you how much this made me feel at home here and add it to the experience. John was very accommodating and friendly that I thought he must be an owner. He wasn't , but that's what I call dedication. read more

Universal Joint - American Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

If I could write 2 separate reviews for this place I would. The food is amazing. The U Burger is one of the best in town... but I won't go there anymore because of the horrible service. And I'm not writing this from one bad experience but from many. We've had the servers be rude to us for standing "in the way" when there wasn't any room to move anywhere else. We've had the phone hung up on us after waiting 5-10 minutes to place a to go order. The list goes on, so we've decided it's not worth the hassle of being harassed for the food. Like I said food I would rate the food a 4, but the service gets a 2. read more

Universal Joint is a perfectly reasonable option if you happen to be in the near vicinity; however, it's certainly not a place I would go out of my way to visit. For one, the patio is not nearly as captivating as some of these reviewers will lead you to believe-only a small portion is covered and it's typically overrun with dogs and hoards of chain-smokers. I'm also perplexed by those lauding the people watching opportunities - this is Oakhurst - the people watching consists of housewives, the elderly, and school children. Food: The menu at Universal Joint consists of traditional American pub fare, including heavy appetizers, sandwiches, and burgers. They also feature a handful of Tex-Mex options, including quesadillas and tacos. All burgers and sandwiches come with your choice of either fries or tots. A chicken or black bean patty can be substituted for any burger option on the menu. During my recent visit, I opted for the bleu cheese bacon chicken sandwich with a side of fries, both of which were decent. Service: The service here leaves much to be desired, particularly on the weekend and during evening trivia. The staff are all friendly, but the restaurant just isn't adequately staffed for the patron volume. During my last visit, we waited nearly 15 minutes alone for the check to arrive. Atmosphere: Casual and lively. The restaurant consists of a large bar area and two dining rooms with both low and high top seating options. There is also an outdoor patio, which the locals seem to be quite impressed by. Cost: Inexpensive. Bar snacks and appetizers are $5-$10, while burgers, sandwiches, and entrees are $8-$12. Other: Universal Joint hosts trivia on Tuesday evenings at 8:30PM, which I'd consider more intellectually pressing than others I've been to in Atlanta. Parking can be problematic on the weekends - your best bet is street parking on either Oakview or Fayeteville. read more

Best patio to hang out. Best dog-friendly place Best bloody marys. service? well..eh. read more

Great wings, amazing ranch, and fast service. We sat outdoors on the huge patio on a lovely Spring night. Would highly recommend this place as a place for those who enjoy a great gastropub in a cute neighborhood! read more

Things that may or may not happen at Universal Joint: 1) Drunkenness 2) Children ordering up dessert at the bar 3) Strangers kissing 4) Mechanical bull riding 5) Full belly 6) Corn Hole 7) Arm wrestling 8) Fish tales 9) Laughing 10) Photo bombing Universal Joint is a fun hang-out bar in Oakhurst. The servers have always been able to keep track of my rowdy friends, and service is fairly quick even though the place gets packed inside and out. I definitely recommend the patio in the summer. read more

One of the best beer-drinkin', people watchin' patios in town. Nice beer selection always includes excellent craft beers as well as a good PBR for just the right moment. Food is quite good...particularly for a "bar". The atmosphere is really great. It has a very relaxed and slightly funky vibe. On a-completely-nother note, UJoint just added a new section to their building to the left if you're looking at it from the patio. What? What is that space for? It seems like it was a HUGE waste of somebody's money. Just sayin'. But any way.... A favorite place on a beautiful day. Go sit on the patio under their cool, oversized outdoor fan and enjoy a beer. read more

I just had dinner there tonight. The setting is super casual but not at all trashy, it's casual in the way that it's relaxing and informal. I didn't see the inside because we ate outside. The tables/chairs outside are patio-style. They have a smoking and non-smoking section. I would say the noise level outside is average-loud, fairly typical when you're in an outdoor restaurant at night. The service was good - the waitress was quick to bring our drinks and food, both of which were really good! I had a full meal (chicken sandwich and fries) along with 2 alcoholic drinks for like $13. All in all, no complaints, I will definitely be coming back. read more

They didn't have anything good there food Isn't good at all shit worse meal I have had better

The fish tacos were GREAT!!! The "Soft pretzel" definitely seemed store bought.. Loved the ambiance of the place though. Didnt stay, my order was to-go, but it's nice and open. Great for a breezy night. Boisterous outside crowds. Cool neighborhood. Bartender maybe needs a lil help... cheerful but a lil slow to simply cash me out and send me on my way. Guess the lady talking to him could have helped ‍ read more

A definite stop every time we're in town! Best burgers around! I have loved the food and atmosphere ever since my first visit many years ago! Very friendly service, incredibly delicious food and quick service! I was just in Decatur the week of Irma and had no power for a few days. Even with half of the neighborhood at the U Joint we still had good service and amazing good! Definitely recommend the burgers!!! read more

Universal Joint - American Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

It was a beautiful, warm, sunshine-y Friday night, and we had a brilliant and unique idea: Let's find a patio somewhere! He suggested U Joint and I'm always up for somewhere new to Yelp, so we headed off in the direction of Oakhurst. The patio was packed, not surprisingly, but there was one chair at the communal table outside, so we ordered a drink and waited for a table to open up. One right near us did as our drinks arrived, so I let our waitress know that we'd be moving. I'm not sure if that's where the confusion happened, but we somehow had two waitresses, neither of which was very quick or effective. It wasn't the worst service I've ever had, by any means, but it was definitely one of those times we were constantly keeping an eye out for someone who could help us. We ordered waters halfway through our visit and they never came. The patio was also teeming with little children running amok, which is fine I guess, as long as they're not screaming and bumping into our chairs with incredible frequency. Which some of them were, really. Bar patios are not babysitters, my friends. The chicken fingers apparently hit the spot and I can attest that the french fries and dipping sauce that accompanied them were yummy. I'm sure we'll be back here sometime. read more

Love the UJ! Great staff, great neighbors and great food. They have the best burgers around and you'll love the homemade spicy egg rolls. Can't say enough good things about the staff. I'm always greeted with a smile and even sometimes a hug. In reference to SG's post... Actually, I couldn't disagree more. Bruce is by far one of the best and most attentive bartenders. Sorry, you felt like you had a bad experience. Please come back again and give it another chance. I've been coming to the UJ for 16 years and I adore the management staff and patrons. They are my friends and neighbors. Just remember you are always welcome and the staff and friend of the UJ welcome you back any time. Hope to see you soon! read more

I went with a group of friends for a 27th birthday outing and it made for a nice relaxed evening. Our waiter was cool and let us hog his tables for the evening and played along grabbing the "mystery shot" recipes from a friend's iphone for the bartender. The edamame works well as an appetizer for a group and with 10 people, we picked at 3 bowls ($5 each) of it through the night along with our orders. It's a small place with more outside seating than inside. It looks to be an old gas station that was converted well. There is definately character here. While I wouldn't make a trip all the way out from my home in Duluth, if I was in the area, I might consider giving it another try. (After all, don't they say professional reviewers usually check a place out twice, just be be sure?) read more

Came here after work with my girlfriends to unwind with food and beer. Cool little spot even though finding parking can be tricky. I had the blue cheese bacon burger with tater tots. Really good burger and tots. Only thing is I had a meh waiter. Its a bar so I can't expect much lol read more

Quite possibly the best 'neighborhood bar' in Atlanta. If I'm honest, it's not even in my neighborhood...and I still make the trek to hang out here. Nancy and the staff are superb and groovy...beers are fresh and rotate frequently. Food is good (with a couple of exceptions). Parking is pretty easy. Just my $.02. read more

This is a great pub. Came here for trivia on a Tuesday night, and thought I'd get some beer and shitty food. BUT. The food wasn't shitty. It was great. The sliders were good, the wings were tasty and huge, the fries were good. The outdoor seating is nice. This is a great place to hang out with friends. read more

I just recently moved within walking distance to the U Joint and have been there four times now. I like the U because it doesn't try to be anything other than what it is. A neighborhood bar with pretty good food for the price. The service does seem a little aloof but I think that's just part of the vibe here. Don't be snippy or in a rush and you will be treated nicely by the staff, who all seem pretty laid back. It's just warming up and when the weather is nice, the patio fills up with people and their cigarettes and dogs. I like it. read more

Oh what it could have been, what it might have been... In brief: Great patio, great beer, passable food and often mediocre service (Corey is good). Apparently they no longer allow dogs on the patio which is why I will never go back. How about banning all of the screaming, over indulged little brats that are allowed to run about because their "modern" parents think it is inhibiting their children's freedom to show some good old fashioned discipline and actually make them sit in a seat and behave. I weep for the future. Sorry, got off track. If you just want to hang on a balmy night and have a burger and beer you could do worse. But you could do better. read more

They recently added onto the inside, which used to be a little cramped. Their mainstay is the large patio and bar outside, which are crowded during lunch and dinner in the spring and fall. Given that, not much goes on here in bad weather due to the space limitations inside. I bet it's a pet peeve for the servers who can pretty much expect a crappy night if it's raining or cold. The food is normal bar fare with some exceptions. The egg rolls are yummy! and the wings are great. They have some healthier items on the menu as well that I like as well. It's a definite Oakhurst landmark. read more

I lived in Oakhurst for a couple of years and I was literally right down the street from the Universal Joint. I've had some great times there and I've had some not so great times there. This is a neighborhood landmark for Oakhurst, and it would be hard to not eat here at one time or the other if you lived anywhere near here. It's actually a pretty small restaurant with a big patio. The patio is really popular during nice weather, and in Georgia, that a lot of days. When it's raining, 90+ degrees, or cold, your going to be stuck inside this former gas station turned bar. Service can be varied, as staff come and go, so be prepared for anything. Bartenders are usually really solid. They've got a pretty safe beer list for Decatur, with only a handful of crafts and some Belgians. Full bar. Food is run of the mill bar food for the most part. Chicken spring rolls and wings aren't bad. Decent burger and from time to time, some creative specials. This is a great place for getting a group together to sit outside on the patio of this quaint little neighborhood of Decatur and do some people watching. It's also not a bad late night spot if you live in the area. Would love to see some more creative offerings from the kitchen and some more craft beers. Also, this place crawls with kids and dogs on the weekend some weeknights. Lots of toddlers and youngsters running around while the parents catch a buzz and socialize. If that doesn't bother you, it's a great place to bring your dog and kids while you have a beer and some wings. read more

You kidding?? It's the U Joint! Legendary Oakhurst food beer-booze-food-booze did i mention beer? joint, with a heaping helping of locals. Yes you will find great burgers, wings, pub fare and specials like a T-Bone steak that will shock you for its goodness. You also will find some very cool East Siders from the neighborhoods surrounding. If you are live here already or are adventuring to the more authentic establishments in the Greater ATL, the UJ is a gem. It's all good here in the 'hood. read more

See all

I always have a great experience at Universal Joint. The staff is very laid back and polite. The food is delicious, with huge portions and good prices. Bruce is especially nice, and always goes out of his way to be kind. There's also a server with long dreads who is possibly the nicest person on the planet. read more