Pamela B
Stopped for breakfast while passing through Ila and was quite impressed!! It was a seat-yourself-and-we’ll-be right-with-you type atmosphere with very friendly and talkative servers. Our food was made to order, so it did take a minute, but it was good and cooked just right. Not to mention very reasonably priced. My hubby fell in love with the biscuits, which are made from scratch every morning!! They also have buffet lunch which starts at 10 am. They are open Monday-Friday, 5:30am until 2pm. Also met some nice locals!
… moreJay Williams
First, NOT a buffet! It’s cafeteria style, with a Meat N’ Three setup. Had 3 meat options, 5 side options, and 2 bread options. Mac N’ Cheese was excellent! But fried chicken was tough and overcooked, which is a big problem in the south. Fried okra was also undercooked, no crunch and some of the breading was still wet. Cornbread was good, Okra and Tomatoes were just ok. Altogether was just fair overall, although it was only $12.99 with drink.
… moreJosh McMickle
The Ila Restaurant is a loving homage to the true art of the old-time country buffet, a place where the phrase “Southern comfort” is taken literally and deliciously. From the moment you approach the spread, it is clear the stars of the show are the expertly prepared fried staples: golden-brown fried chicken, perfectly seasoned fried pork chops, and a delightful seafood lineup including crisp fried catfish and tender fried shrimp. The welcome presence of perfectly cooked salmon patties and crisp fried okra offers a unique depth and variety to the protein selection. This is a buffet dedicated to hearty, satisfying portions that taste like they were prepared in a Southern grandmother’s kitchen.
To complement the rich main dishes, they provide a foundational array of classic sides that are just as crucial to the experience. The creamy, rich mac and cheese is a must-have, and guests can easily balance their plates with an assortment of different country vegetables, which taste authentic and seasonal. The Ila Restaurant is not about pretense; it’s about tradition, flavor, and leaving absolutely full. It delivers a deeply satisfying, no-frills Southern feast that is the very definition of comfort eating.
… moreCaroline Wise
Employees & owner always go out of their way to make sure you are fully satisfied and taken care of. They make you feel welcome and are always friendly. Good Southern Food cooked with allot of love ! The atmosphere gives the welcome of meeting an ole’ friend & catching up, to lunch with the whole bowling team, to bringing a good golf buddy after the last holes done, bring the whole family out for lunch, or time with that special someone for brunch, on the run take it to go. You can fix your own off the buffet or call for a to go order & they will fix it for you if your in a big rush.
… moreGilbert Nichols
My wife and I stopped in this restaurant just minutes before they closed for the day and they allowed us to enjoy the food. We were traveling back to Florida from North Carolina that day and we wanted to bypass Atlanta’s screwed up traffic issues. Ila is a little town but Jackie, the restaurant owner, was very friendly and gracious.
They didn’t have wheelchair accommodations or handicap assistance bars in the bathroom for men, unfortunately.
… moreMelissa NeSmith
I had the pleasure of enjoying breakfast at Ila Restaurant, and it was absolutely fantastic! I ordered the two egg breakfast, and everything was cooked to perfection. But the real star of the plate? That huge cat head biscuit! Fluffy on the inside, golden and just the right amount of crisp on the outside — it was pure Southern comfort. The atmosphere was cozy, the service was warm and welcoming, and I left full and happy. If you’re anywhere near Ila, do yourself a favor and stop in. You won’t be disappointed!
… moreRobin Ingram
Good, casual place to eat. They mainly serve food buffet style, but you can grab a menu, have a seat, and place an order as well. On the buffet they always serve fried chicken and another main dish on rotation, such as chicken and dumplings, meatloaf, or pork tenderloin. The sides and dessert vary each time. The food is great and the employees seem to care about the customer’s experience being great.
… moreJ. M.
Don’t get me wrong, the food is decent enough. If you’re old and don’t like seasoning, this place is perfectly fine and reasonably priced.
Veggies (I had the green beans and the corn) were bland. Canned and boiled in unsalted water is my assessment. The potato salad was actually pretty good.
The fried chicken wasn’t terrible… A little dry, but probably because it was towards the last hour of the lunch rush. But again, pretty bland.
The catfish was standard-issue cafeteria-style catfish. Nothing terribly special, but not bad.
Service was great, friendly folks, and lots of seating even though they were pretty busy.
To be fair, I’m comparing the food to what I’ve had in Athens (Food for the Soul) and Watkinsville (Rachel’s,). If your choices are limited and you live in Ila, Ila Restaurant is probably perfectly fine. But I wouldn’t recommend the 20-30 minute drive from Athens over the other options.
… moreThe Fishing Hole
Delicious food, super sweet service and great atmosphere. Just a perfect little place 🙂
… moreDianne Montgomery Hocut
Great little restaurant in small town USA. Was passing through and saw this place was packed for lunch, so I had to stop. Glad I did. Motivated servers and super duper cook in the kitchen. Everything was delicious for a meat and three!
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