Eats
American restaurant · Atlanta
600 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
Highlights
Cafeteria-style eatery serving hearty, affordable American comfort food.
Cafeteria-style eatery serving hearty, affordable American comfort food.
"For a real wallet win, the down-home Southern meals at Eats on Ponce will run you less than most city parking decks. You can snag a meat (get the spicy jerk chicken) and two sides (like rice and tender collards) for under $12. Their free parking lot stretches from the side of the building all the way to the back. It’s a one-way that’s pretty tight, so you actually need to pay attention to ensure your mirrors don’t accidentally side-swipe a parked car." - juli horsford, jacinta howard
"Eats has been a go-to for a quick and affordable dinner on Ponce since it was still acceptable to refer to the city as “Hotlanta” (any users of the nickname are hereby prohibited from going anywhere else in the city but The Varsity). When you walk up to the counter, you’ll be hit with a host of meat-and-two options, but the best deal is the jerk chicken with rice and beans. Though the pasta counter was a pandemic casualty, you can still order chicken lasagna any day of the week and chicken ziti alfredo on Thursdays and Saturdays. Your meal will likely be less than $12 and ready before you’re even done paying, so grab your tray and find a booth by a window." - demarco williams, nina reeder, juli horsford, jacinta howard
"A 30-year time lapse video of Ponce would show Eats standing as a fixture in the rapidly developing area. That’s because this cafeteria-esque institution has remained a go-to for quick, affordable comfort foods. At the order counter, you’ll be hit with several meat and side options (our favorite is the semi-spicy jerk chicken with rice and beans that always fills us up and sends us back to the counter to order another to-go). Your meal will be around $12 and ready before you’re even done paying, so find a booth by a window and look out at all the new builds between bites." - demarco williams, nina reeder, juli horsford, jacinta howard
"Do a word association game with any Atlantan. When you say Eats, the first thing that comes to mind will be an affordable down-home American meal. This Ponce institution is where you turn to get heaping portions of tasty meats like spicy jerk chicken (our favorite), lemon pepper chicken, and a smoky turkey meatloaf for just $6.50. Add in a few dependable sides (around $3 each), and your meat-and-two plate clocks in around $12 or less. The prices have barely risen since Outkast apologized to Ms. Jackson. And the casual dining room and speedy service has stayed consistent, too. It’s so quick that you might not have time to snag a booth before the counter has your red plastic tray piled with hearty rice and beans, creamy mashed potatoes, collard greens, and juicy chicken. Food Rundown Jerk Chicken This is our favorite protein because they are generous with the seasoning, so it’s got a little kick. photo credit: Amy Sinclair Lemon Pepper Chicken Our second favorite protein, the chicken is moist and has plenty of ATL’s favorite spice. Cornbread You get a square of this with every order. It’s usually a little dry, so lather it up with butter and order some collards for your own pot likker. Mashed Potatoes You get a dollop of creamy mashed potatoes, but make sure to get it topped with the gravy, which makes this side really sing. It’s dark brown, a little meaty, and gives the carbs a nice, rich flavor. Mac And Cheese We'll give this mac a participation trophy— it’s a little bland and not nearly cheesy enough. Put two other sides in your starting lineup, and just keep it on the bench unless you’re really hungry. Collard Greens They do these pretty well. Plus, it really does make the cornbread better, so order them. Black-Eyed Peas Their little bowl of black-eyed peas is nothing special, but it’s decent, and we usually order it when we’re in full Southern feast mode. photo credit: Amy Sinclair photo credit: Amy Sinclair photo credit: Amy Sinclair Pause Unmute" - Juli Horsford
"It’s hard to pass up this Atlanta landmark restaurant for a hearty yet super-affordable meal, especially when a meat-and-three combo costs $10. In addition to lemon pepper, barbecue, and jerk chicken on the menu, Eats also serves turkey meatloaf and tilapia. The priciest meal here is the chicken alfredo with garlic bread offered on Thursdays and Saturdays for $12." - Eater Staff
