Last Resort Grill

We were visiting from out of town and the concierge at the hotel recommended Last Resort Grill. I can honestly say I can't think of a negative thing to say. Our waiter, Aaron, was beyond fabulous, we are pretty sure he was reading our minds. There wasn't a bite of food on the table we didn't enjoy. My partner ordered the hanger steak and it was spot on cooked to order. The desserts were off the chain! They don't take reservations because they are worth the wait. Just enjoy a cocktail while you are waiting, they have an indoor and outdoor bar. If we are back in the area we will definitely return!

Great service and a great meal. Grabbing a drink and sitting outside before the meal was nice. The food was excellent, but make sure to save room for dessert. The fried green tomatoes was delicious. Stuffed pork tenderloin was unbelievable flavor and unique dish.

Walked in as a solo diner (traveling for work) and was immediately greeted by a kind and attentive host and shown to a nice table by the windows. Within just a moment or two my server greeted me and I was set up with water and an introduction to the menu. That set the tone for consistent, quality service without it being overbearing. The food was delicious. I got the hanger steak and would absolutely recommend it. Perfect portion size for a hearty meal that you don't have to box up and carry around for the rest of the night. Loved that they also had NA beer options!

Service was great, we sat outside on the covered patio and had Jackson who was very wonderful. Food was good, the special soup of the day roasted pepper tomato bisque was wonderful. Biggest issue was the 3.5% surprise service charge on the bill. Not sure if this is an Athens thing? Would still recommend just be prepared for it.

Lovely intimate restaurant with excellent Food choices with Wines to match. Highly Recommended when visiting Athens Georgia. Marty The Local Lens Traveler

Jeff was our waiter and he is a gem to this restaurant! He was quick with his deliveries, never left a dry cup, and made phenomenal food recommendation . The food was good but honestly nothing out of the Athens norm. This was a great stop for my wife’s Birthday and we even had a candle in our cheese cake as a suprise! Overall I would recommend this place without a thought and ask for Jeff!

Highly recommend, prices are fair for what you get. Interesting and excellent flavor pairings in dishes I tried. Great service too.

Enjoyed Sunday Brunch! The Hangover Hash was delicious and perfect for a Sunday morning in Athens. The carrot cake was also very good. Highly recommend for brunch!

Came here this week and got seated right away because it was UGA's spring break and we opted for greenhouse seating outside. For appetizers we had crab cakes and it's the best crab cakes I've ever had. Not much bread filling probably all crab meat! For my entree, I had the trout and corn grits. It's the best grits I've ever had and I normally do not like grits!! It also came with okra. Everything was cooked to perfection. For dessert I had the peach cake. I had a bite and took the rest home. I finally got around to finishing it two days later (stored in the fridge of course) and it was even more delicious!! I want to come back here! It was recommended by my co worker and I will now recommend it to anyone going to Athens!! *chefs kiss* Also The greenhouse was comfortable to sit in this was about 7pm at night, second week of March and weather was 60s. A small heater was provided but not needed. There is a similar concept in downtown Atlanta but instead of a greenhouse it's an igloo and honestly this greenhouse was wayyyy better. I was more comfortable because there was better airflow and sound acoustics was not annoying.

This is likely the restaurant with the best tasting food in Athens, GA, but you will wait in line, pay $$$ for it, and may be slightly uncomfortable the whole time. Indoor dining is cramped with very old chairs. Outdoors is nice if the weather is agreeable. The large staff provides friendly and efficient service. The fish specials have been sublimely delicious on two separate occasions. The veggie stack is unique and tasty.

I had been here in 2018 and have not been back until last Tuesday. It was great! I am sorry it took so long to return. The cocktails were great, the shrimp quesadilla was delicious and the entrees were ordered were full of flavor and nicely plated. Deserts did not disappoint either. Will go back!

Delicious Saturday brunch today. I had the Lumberjack burrito and my wife had the pulled pork burrito (? not the right name, but you'll find it). Both excellent flavors and presentation. Only thing that could have been better was that it wasn't "hot". Just luke warm and we were part of the first wave ar brunch, so it's not like it sat in the kitchen a long time. It came out fast. Odd. Tasted great. Fried green tomatoes are a good treat, too. They were hot, so go figure. We'll come back...actually this was not our first time, but it'd been years since we've eaten here. Excellent service!

Very nice outdoor and indoor atmosphere! This place is seen as the upscale, 'place where you take your parents' restaurant in Athens, the home of UGA. The menu looks great! Lots of options that looked awesome, but I was very underwhelmed with my pasta choice - the struggleville which is a classic carbonara but with peas and shrimp added. It was bland and a waste of carbs. My salad was drenched in dressing. The crusted trout was good, their swordfish special was also very tasty.

The BEST meal in Athens! We lucked out and got a table outside on a beautiful evening, and had a delicious meal at Last Resort. The outdoor patio area had several picnic-style tables, a big bar, and a cozy/casual vibe. Our waitress, Kirsten, was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. She knew the menu and specials like the back of her hand, offered perfect suggestions, and accommodated changes and questions expertly. We started with the. Fried green tomatoes. Cut thin, fried to perfection without being too oily, and served with a yummy vadalia bacon dressing - I highly recommend! Every entree plate was licked clean. From the hanger steak, to the new struggleville pasta, caramelized sea scallops, and even the fish special, everyone devoured their meals. It's clear the food is fresh, well put together, and worth every penny. We finished the night with red velvet layer cake and white chocolate cheesecake. The cheesecake was so good we had to order another. The red velvet layer cake was moist and fresh! Overall, I would definitely recommend bringing your parents here if they're visiting UGA. The food was amazing and the ambiance is relaxed enough to suit any crowd.

My friend and I decided to go here for brunch on a Saturday morning. I'm glad we arrived early because a line had already formed outside! I wasn't really surprised because a lot of people talk about Last Resort in Athens, and it was graduation weekend. We ordered the Carolina Crab Cakes as an appetizer and both got the Rockville Pasta as our entree. I want to say that we both ordered the Georgia Beach cocktail too. Everything had a great taste! The only reason I am not giving this restaurant a 'great' review is because it is slightly overrated in my opinion. I definitely think it's a staple in the Athens community that should be given a try, but I know of many better places to eat in this town.

LOVED THIS PLACE! Looking forward to going back again when I am back in Athens. I got the eggs Benedict and it was delicious! It was super unique but still with the classic runny poached egg. The bread they used was similar to fluffy French toast bread which added a pleasant twist. My friend got the shrimp and grits and that was delicious too! The flavors were fantastic!

Food is great as is the service. Fast and efficient. Clean as well. A great place to go in Athens.

The crab cakes, shrimp quesadilla, and chicken in parchment were decent. The Bucco was a major disappointment. I ordered it because it was a "staff favorite", but if that's true I'm skeptical of their taste. Most of the flavors are very understated but I would say the Bucco was completely bland. Not stellar and considering the price point, I would save my money.

This place was amazing !! Flavorful eclectic southern food cooked to perfection. Old style southern chairs and table made us think we were eating at our grandmothers house!! Servers were courteous and timely and the braised beef and trout were impeccably prepared! Loved the mason jars for drinks. Felt like an upscale mary Mac's! Order the fried green tomatoes !!! Awesome !

The BEST restaurant in Athens. Service, ambiance, food this restaurant hits it all! We started out with a salad in their homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing (SO good), and salmon bisque. We love to get the soup of the day each time--today salmon bisque. It was very flavorful and something a little different compared to a lot of their other soups. We've ordered chicken praline as our entree for the past year and there's a reason for that. It's so good that the servers have made jokes about us licking our plates before... I mean chicken stuffed with cheeses topped with a walnut-hazel drizzle served over grits it's a sweet and savory paradise and best dish that could ever be ordered at any restaurant. It's a similar story with desert. You cannot come to last resort without trying a cake!! After trying every cheesecake and layered cake they have, we've settled on a few favorites. Tonight we got the white chocolate cheesecake--a consistent top 3 in our last resort cake rankings. I'm conclusion this place is worth the hour wait!! The service is always amazing and makes for the perfect date night spot!

The potato pancakes are amazing--creamy, crunchy, tangy, and rich. The maple tofu is a very respectable vegan entree. They make a good steak, too. Their homemade pasta is outstanding. The decor is really cozy, but it gets extremely loud with the noise bouncing off the exposed brick. If it's nice out, you're better off sitting outside where it isn't cacaphonous. They don't take reservations, so get there early on the weekends.

Sitting at the bar, great service and enjoyed the talk Horseradish encrusted salmon over kale and sweet potatoe mashed, YUM Anyone reading this review, you should be in the car right now heading over

Last Resort Grill in downtown Athens is my favorite restaurant in Athens. I have visited several times and always had a delicious and positive experience. I love their art decor and ambiance. This time I was happy to see they have expanded their restaurant with a modern and pleasant garden sitting area. The Last Resort menu always gives a hint of gourmet Mexican food fusion; I highly enjoy the attention to detail they put in all their dishes. It is the little details that count. Additionally, their servers are always courteous. The main entree does seem to take some time to come out, but I have always gotten an appetizer and drinks ahead of time and had a lovely time. Every time I have been here, it was off school time, so I have not experienced the high tempo and long wait time others complained about. There is garage parking nearby and street parking immediately outside the restaurant. Bring quarters for the parking meter.

Our server was nice and thorough. He gave us the specials without us asking which I love. He upsold us on an appetizer, fried green tomatoes, they were good, a bit greasy, but I suppose they should've been. My husband got the daily ravioli, it was exactly as described and done well. The sweet potato sauce was yummy! I got the herb crusted chicken Caesar which is my go to here. It comes with a roasted tomatoes and they accompany the pan fried chicken perfectly. Always a safe choice when coming here!

Found this gift card/certificate when I moved out of state and decided to give it to my daughter so she can enjoy a meal out with friends while she was in Athens this week. She was told they couldn't honor it because they don't have the card scanner anymore and the best they could do is 50% off her meal. This is bad business all day long. There's clearly no expiration date on the card or certificate and didn't have any problem selling it to my mother in law when she purchased it as a gift to me. They should be ashamed.

Great restaurant in the midst of bars and dives (which I also like). The food is really good and the pasta is fresh. For starters I'd recommend the crab cake, very delicious and not a lot of filler. And the fried green tomatoes, they have a great crunch. As stated above, anything pasta is great because the pasta is fresh and Al dente to the bite. The shirt was super tender and flavorful. The scallops were also cooked well and tasted great. They have a large selection of wine as well. Definitely recommend

It's been four year since I returned. First time when I took my girl as a student and now as an alumni. I ordered the hanger steak, crab cakes, and salmon with grits. They were all very good. Wished the steak was a big larger than what we were presented. Parking is $1.50 a hour and there is a mandatory 3.5% house service fee added outside of a tip. Wayne was our server and while it was busy when we ate here we received great customer services! Don't think we come back was in town to check out the record store next door.

Fantastic dining experience in Athens, "home of the back to back National Champion University of Georgia Bulldawgz. The service, ambiance, and most importantly the quality of food was amazing. We sat on the patio which was a lively experience. Waiter was prompt to get our drink order and let us know the specials . I ordered the blackened salmon grits. The salmon was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Very moist and each bite was a flavor explosion. My side was a salad.

So good as always! New south tostada is my go to and the Paloma was light and refreshing!

When in town several times each year, we always visit Last Resort. The food and service here is always excellent in my opinion. The atmosphere is great. This trip I was disappointed in the new pay system that adds hidden fees to your bill. There is an extra 3.5% house service fee PLUS an additional "check out" fee. It felt deceptive. While not a large amount of money, I would rather see the cost transparent on the menu prices instead of hidden until I get my bill.

Great food! Great service! I had the praline chicken, my daughter had the parchment chicken with homemade pasta that was delicious.

From our drinks in the outdoor garden while we waited for a table, to the delicious dinner which our friendly server helped us choose, we loved Last Resort Grill. The stuffed potato pancake was outrageous, especially the tomato jam and our entrees were also very good. Unfortunately we had to leave early and weren't able to try any of the wonderful looking desserts...next time for sure!

Had to re-write this one as Yelp would not let me post two reviews back-to-back. This was from Friday evening 8-25-23. Trip to Athens for a wedding we uncovered this neighborhood gem next to our hotel. They do not take reservations, so get there early. We arrived at 5 due to time constraints. We were the first ones in and out. We asked Eric to stack our courses so we could get through quickly, and he got us out in 30 minutes. We ordered the friend green tomoatoes, and they were very tasty, as was the diping sauce. We both got a house salad, and the dressing was very flavorful and a tasty salad. For our entrees, I ordered the short rib with mashed potato and green beans and fried onion on top, and she ordered the salmon and grits. My dish was perfect and tasted great. Her salmon was a bit overcooked but tasty. We had to skip dessert but are going back for brunch in the morning before heading back to Atlanta. The service here was awesome, first rate. Watching them work the floor was a thing of beauty helping each other and not missing a beat. Water on the table is always a plus for me. Looking forward to brunch.

It was the best food I've had since I've been in Athens. The chicken dish is my go to and I couldn't recommend it more.

One of the few remaining locally owned restaurants in downtown Athens and always delicious! Eat local!

Food is amazing, service is excellent, and ambiance very nice. Had to wait a bit but well worth it. Highly recommend!!

I love Last Resort for their tasty entrees and desserts! You are given bread and butter to start, and most entree dishes come with a salad. I got the onion bacon dressing and man I wish I could buy a bottle of it!! For the main course, I ordered the pasta dish with shrimp and onion and cream sauce. It was DELICIOUS. I scraped my bowl clean! For dessert I had the Spanish lemon cake and it was the perfect way to end. Things to know: 1) We went at 6:30 on a Monday and waited 45 minutes, so plan ahead. They won't seat you unless the whole party is present. 2) They have an outdoor area with a bar and cookout style seating so it makes the wait easier 3) This is not the place where college kids go on the reg. This is the place where they ask their parents to take them when they come to visit. (Could also be a great date night spot or special occasion meal that's elevated not too fancy)

Great food great service. Pretty darn good for being in the middle of a college town. A bit pricey.

We arrived here on a Wednesday evening around 6ish and were seated right away. Our server was outstanding. He informed us of the specials and gave us time to decide on drinks. The drinks were tasty and worth what we paid. We also had fried green tomatoes for an appetizer. Our meals were excellent. We had a pasta with shrimp which they split for us in the kitchen which is always a nice touch. We also had soup that came with it ( southwest corn chowder) which was incredibly delicious. And lastly we had the pork belly. That also was very good. Finished off with a Jittery Joe's coffee and I must say that our dining experience could. It have been any better. 5 star for sure!!

This food is delicious and we love last resort. 10/10 would recommend you get food there. The service was great and the waitress was very nice. The vibe of the place was nice as well.

Highly recommended to me by a colleague when I was in town on business Let me say the scallops was one of the best dishes I've ever had! It had a light crust and the taste was as smooth as butter. It was served over some delicious and creamy grits and the sauce had just the right amount of spice. I sat at the bar and chatted it up with two women who were loyal regulars. One ordered her all time favorite the salmon and grits. I'm looking forward to going back the next time I'm in town.

Such a lovely dining experience. We were treated like royalty. The outdoor seating has a lovely ambiance. I ordered the Echo Martini (Not on the menu anymore but you can still order it - and you should!) and the Salmon and Grits with a side salad. It was quite possibly my favorite dining experience in Athens. If you can spend a few extra dollars, splurge on a night here! So lovely!

Chris was the best server! Had the best time, had a table of 14 and she did a FANTASTIC job serving all of us!!! Food was great.

This is only the "last resort" if you're a college kid. This is definitely a restaurant you have your parents take you to when they visit you in Athens. I went here three different times and each visit was good. The Carolina crab cakes were perfection, as was the steak I had. More so a personal taste matter, the salad is made out of those nasty garden leaves - not sure who enjoys those, but it's not me. Service can be either really good or really bad, no in between. Restaurant can be noisy, but the wait is worth it.

Went there for the first time. Was greeted, enjoyed a drink at the outside bar while we waited on our table. There were 4 of us. We ordered the crispy pork belly as an appetizer, $9.50, tasted good but hard to split 3 SMALL pieces between 4 adults. Then we ordered our meals, and desserts. Food was good "ish". We enjoyed our evening overall. Then it came time to pay. Did I mention it was our first time and that we went because we had a gift card? Well when we tried to use the gift card ($50), we were informed that they no longer honored that gift card. How do you not honor a gift card with no expiration date??? Someone paid you $50 for a gift card, so you owe someone $50 of service! Sounds like a scam to me after reading other reviews. That's a pretty good business plan to change your gift cards every couple of years so you don't have to honor any that you previously sold. However the manager was so nice to come over and explain it to us.........oh wait that's what should have happened. Instead she sent the waitress back to tell us but said she was sorry for the inconvenience so she would waive one of the $10 desserts. So who gets the other $40 that was paid for the gift card?? Oh yeah, the restaurant!! Go somewhere else, where you can support good honest businesses.

Overheard the staff yelling expletives when a patron spilled orange juice. See below the photo of French toast that had very soggy bread and fermented strawberries. The hangover hash was delicious and worthy of the 2 stars this review offers.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Athens! Such a treat. During our recent trip there, we decided to make this our dinner spot of choice. We came in just around 5:15. They open at 5. We wanted to get there early to avoid a wait which i always suggest because it can get crowded! We sat in one of their outdoor greenhouses! They are so cute. They have little heaters and blankets inside to keep you cozy on cold evenings too. Our waiter was great. Very attentive and friendly. We started with some drinks. I got the pomegranate margarita. My husband got a glass of wine. For food, we got our favorite dishes - the last resort praline chicken and the chicken in parchment. Entrees come with bread and a salad! For the salad, I highly recommend the vidalia bacon dressing! Our food came out quickly and was spectacular as always. We got some slices of cake to go. Don't pass up the cake from Cecilia's! We got the salted caramel and the espresso martini. Both are fabulous. The salted caramel is a more dense cake. The espresso martini is a moister cake. So good! We love last resort! It's a must if your a first timer to Athens!

I was in Athens for a night so I asked a friend who graduated from UGA where to go. Without hesitation, he said Last Resort. I didn't know what kind of food they had on the menu when I showed up. Even at 5pm (right when they were opening) there was a line out the door. That was a good sign. The food was terrific. Starting with the appetizers (we ordered fried green tomatoes and pork belly), through the entrees, and finally with dessert, everything was on point. My wife ordered the pork tenderloin because the server recommended it. I ordered some kind of steak with roasted corn (the corn cobs were smaller than I thought they would be), but the flavor was spot-on. My son also liked his beef short ribs. For dessert, we got a piece of cheese cake that was delicious. If you're in Athens, maybe The Last Resort should be your first resort!

Best Restaurant Ever, The Food Is Amazing and the service was very good everything about is amazing the food the service Ambiance everything! My Favorite Thing On the Menu Is the Peanut Butter Bacon Burger

The place is a definite eat at location if you're in Athens. It's five star food and service however and no fault of the place for being busy, it's noisy. Not loud but noisy. Still I'd come, if you can sit outside do it and enjoy the ambiance food and service . No reservations just sign in and wait - both our times we waited about 15-20. The food is worth it.

Absolutely amazing! Traveling from Colorado and went off the reviews. Great service, great food!

Recently came in late august for a date night. We had their complementary bread with butter spread, the New Struggleville pasta, and the Maple Smoked Tofu. Both of the foods had a great flavor to it and came out super hot and ready to eat. We also had a lovely server that came to check on us often. Definitely recommend this place for a nice dine-in restaurant feeling in the Downtown area!

Great food, great service. 10/10 would come back. Apparently there's always a wait, but it's for a good reason!

The food here is amazing. I have not had a bad experience dining here and it's absolutely my favorite place in Athens. Great for date night.

This is my new favorite restaurant in Athens! It has a great atmosphere and our server, Susan, was amazing. The appetizers, entrees, and cocktails were all incredible.

I'm going to classify this review into 3 steps: 1. Vibe and Ambience - It's got a semi casual vibe and honestly it's a great place to be at for any meal of the day. 2. Food - The Rockville was the best of the two that we had there. The pasta had a good balance of the different meat flavors and the sharpness of the cheese and creaminess of the sauce gave it a good edge. The Shrimp and grits were okay. Not the best, but it was definitely way above average. One thing I was not ecstatic about was that the number of shrimp pieces were very less. A suggestion to the business would be to add a few more pieces. Because when I reached 50% of the meal, I finished my shrimp and the hero of the dish was just not there anymore. For a shrimp and grits lover, this dish does not disappoint. The mimosas had a good flavor but I found the alcohol a bit less. Dessert - The chocolate chip cheese cake is to die for. It felt more homemade and you could tell that there was a lot of love with which the cheesecake was made This was definitely the highlight of the meal. Cost - For the quality of food we had, I think it was a bit overpriced.

The bone-crushing noise in this place is enough to keep me from ever wanting to go back. The food is fussy, not that great in general and burdened by puzzlingly overcomplicated preparation to no good effect.

THE place to go! Date night? Last Resort. Parents weekend? Last Resort. Work group night out? Last Resort. Can't decide where to go? Last Resort!! Such a cool vibe inside. Lots of woodwork. Not pretentious in the least! Sat at the bar instead of waiting for a table and it was perfect. Bartenders are super available and helpful which is always appreciated around here! She made a Really good standard Angels old fashioned but I want to try the smoked old fashioned. I ordered a special of Blackened Rockfish served over polenta and it was cooked perfectly keeping the fish moist and loaded with flavor. I'm sure anyone who's heard of it can attest to the quality of experience you'll find here. And if you meet someone who hasn't heard, steer them towards it.