Majestic Diner

"While a late-night Waffle House visit is a worthy slot on your Atlanta checklist, there’s no better place to get a taste of Southern diner culture than at this retro Poncey-Highland classic that’s been serving shortstacks since 1929. The smell and sounds of sizzling bacon greet you on arrival and regulars are usually hunched on red stools at the open kitchen counter as cooks crack egg after egg into well-worn pans. Plan to go early if you want a taste of their incredibly fluffy biscuits slathered with gravy and chopped up sausage bits—they sell out fast. If you miss out on the biscuits, grab a juicy, cheesy patty melt instead." - nina reeder, juli horsford, jacinta howard

"Open since 1929, the Majestic dining room has retained its retro feel. And the kitchen still churns out breakfast staples that will us to rise out of bed. The incredibly pillowy biscuits slathered with gravy and chopped up sausage bits sell out regularly—so go early if you want a taste. Even if you sleep late, plop on the signature red stools at the open kitchen counter and dive into a juicy, cheesy patty melt while a symphony of sizzling bacon soundtracks your meal." - jacinta howard, juli horsford, nina reeder

"This 1929-built diner is aptly named. Because one bite of this Poncey Highland spot’s fluffy biscuits slathered with gravy and chopped-up sausage bits has us feeling majestic as f*ck. The biscuits sell out regularly, so get here early to grab a booth or hunker down on one of their red stools at the open-kitchen counter. The Majestic is no longer the late-night haven it used to be, but we’re happy to keep it on our breakfast and lunch rotation." - demarco williams, nina reeder, juli horsford, jacinta howard

"The Majestic on Ponce de Leon has been soaking up Atlanta’s booze 24/7 since 1929. Some nights or weekend mornings simply call for comfort food. The restaurant serves up strong coffee with diner classics like steak and eggs, biscuits and gravy, grilled cheese and fries, and the Ponce dog piled high with chili, cheese, and onions." - Missy Frederick, Beth McKibben

"While the neighborhood has undergone changes, the retro feels and stellar food of this 1920s-era Ponce diner remain in place. The smell and sounds of sizzling bacon are the first things that greet you after walking through the Majestic’s glass door entrance. Regulars hunch on red stools at the open kitchen counter as cooks crack egg after egg into well-worn pans. It’s no longer the late-night haven it used to be pre-pandemic, but the breakfast- and lunch-only spot still sells their juicy, cheesy patty melt, which is good anytime of day. But plan to go early if you want a taste of their incredibly fluffy biscuits slathered with gravy and chopped up sausage bits—yes, it's that good, and yes, they sell out fast. Food Rundown photo credit: Sarah Newman Classic Breakfast You get a little bit of everything with this order: two eggs, grits, toast, and your choice of bacon or sausage. It’s a good order that’ll leave you feeling satisfied. French Toast You get three slices of dense brioche lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Drown it in syrup, and it’s a very good meal. Chicken Tenders Somehow they get the chicken (encased in a not-too-thick breading) to be as flaky as cod, and we love it. You get a decent house salad, a mound of fries, and buttery texas toast, too, so it’s a proper feast. Patty Melt For those times when breakfast foods are a hard pass, this is our favorite order. Rye bread encloses a medium rare patty smothered in american cheese and grilled onions—it's a good enough order at 7am as it is at 1pm. Small Hash Browns These aren’t as good as the Waffle House version, but if you get them with cheese and onions it’s still a very solid side selection. photo credit: Sarah Newman photo credit: Sarah Newman photo credit: Sarah Newman" - Juli Horsford