Turning out the classics, a laid-back American diner with vintage styling & 24/7 hours.
George
A take on the classic diner, the Grill is an Athens staple known for its burgers, fries, and cherry soda made the old fashioned way.
Upon entry, I could tell the dated vibe the grill aims to achieve. A Friday night at dinner time was not too busy, albeit it is the holiday season. Our hostess was friendly but took a good amount of time to seat us. Our waitress was very friendly and very attentive.
The meal I got was the Cajun burger. A patty seasoned with Cajun and topped with the basics, the burger itself was a decent size, but enough to feel full. The burger was relatively dry with a little too much seasoning. The fries were pretty delicious and had a good salt finish to them. I paired the fries with their feta dip which was very good. Overall the meal was satisfactory, but not the best.
I see why this place is a staple, but given other reviews it seems like they need a start over to assess their food and ambience.
… morejessica austin
I’ve been dining at the grill for over 20 years and Eva was the best server I’ve ever had here. She went out of her way to make sure we had a great experience. She was attentive but gave appropriate space. She went to great lengths to make sure we were comfortable including adding to the decor to give us the perfect dining experience. The food is always great but I must say I do miss the old fries. Milkshakes are always a must! If you dine here, be sure to ask for Eva as your server!!!!
… moreSusan Thompson
Loved the vintage vibe, and I was surprised by the exceptional quality of the food at what looks like a typical diner…my Super Bird sandwich was made with real sliced turkey breast, not cold cuts, and you really do have to try their feta dressing with your house made fries!
… moreBrian Riccardi
Stopped into The Grill in Athens late at night for fries and milkshakes, and Eva truly made the experience. She was warm, attentive, and made us feel genuinely welcome from the moment we sat down. Even though it was a quieter time of night, she went out of her way to make sure everything was perfect and that we had a great experience.
And the milkshakes were absolutely divine — the perfect late-night treat.
Great service like that really stands out. Thanks, Eva, for making our night better. We’ll definitely be back!
… moreMountain Man
Grew up in Athens. Went to the Grill in the early to mid 80’s often! Love the place; not giving a 5-star when not deserved. Place sucked in several important areas. Waitress didn’t want to be there, clearly. Someone in my party commented restaurant sure wasn’t busy. Small talk. It wasn’t, we were the only ones there. She responded with that’s the way she likes it. Odd. Ordered a hotdog. WORST HOT DOG EVER. Really, it was the rock hard bread…so disgusting…to which she said “owner knows their is an issue…working on it…thinks it’s the vendor…not sure.” Odd. Anyhow, wasn’t looking for a freebie but man what a horrible response. Had to beg her for tea refill for my father. Asked for a second cup of coffee; never got one. Food otherwise great. But, man, this waitress – unfortunately, she is representing the restaurant – was so unkept, slobbish, and self-centered…she and that crappy hot dog ruined my Grill reunion. Hope you get it right for the next patron…judging by this experience, you probably won’t. I really hate to say that. Harsh I know. You earned it. Otherwise, food was great from what I hear from my party. Inconsistent or crappy in all other ways. So many great memories there to be ruined by incredibly poor attentiveness and concern – both back and front of the house.
… moreElizabeth Regan
This place was a treat!! Cute dinner atmosphere, great staff, and really good food. Being Christmas Eve, they were short on staff. But you didn’t really feel it at all. Definitely coming back next time we’re in the area! Also, definitely try the feta dip with your fries. Similar to a blue cheese dressing taste.
… moreClaudeZ
The food was predictable. Good place for a quick munch-on-the-run. Home cut fries were the best part of the meal. I would have given this place 3-4 stars until I discovered an 8-10″ strand of red hair in my arnold palmer! GROSS!!!
… moreAlysia Jarrette
The burgers were not seasoned well. I didn’t consider them to be flarvorful at all. The toppings were fresh. The onion rings were pretty good. I enjoyed my side salad, but I was very disappointed to be charged $1.95 for extra ranch for my salad. That’s way too much in my opinon.
… moreAshley Wilson
Classic dining spot for the Classic City. Good eats and an old, historic atmosphere. You can tell the establishment is old and hasn’t changed much since its inaugural years, but that’s part of the allure of eating at this Athens downtown staple. Many college memories spent here with comfort food to boot. Lots of options, and don’t skip out on the feta!
… moreKrystalB Jones
We stopped in here because it was open late… The food was fresh and delicious!!! The waitresses were nice but didn’t come by to ask for a refill on our drinks til we were done eating. But it was later in the evening and they may have had a rush earlier, so I understand that… it was no big deal. We did wait a few minutes for the food which was fine because it was late and like I said it was fresh and delicious! I got the patty melt which was awesome. The fries were good and seasoned… My daughter got a grilled cheese sandwich and fries and she ate all of it!
Note on the area:
We did have to park on the street parking where there were bars and such so it was popin! We paid for parking using a meter which wasn’t much at all. Lots of people out and about. There were a few homeless individuals on the Main Street while we walked asking for money and some holding signs, which I suppose is everywhere in bigger cities. We are from a lil town where we do not see this quite as much.( )
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