Ms. Ruby's Peach Cobbler Café Buckhead
Restaurant · Peachtree Park ·
Soul food classics like oxtails, ribs, and fried catfish
Soul food classics like oxtails, ribs, and fried catfish
"There’s a reason the Peach Cobbler Cafe has multiple locations in Atlanta—because you can pop in and out for a soul food plate filled with delicious homestyle classics. But are you really doing it right if you don’t order the restaurant’s namesake dish? The peaches are juicy and a touch of cinnamon adds some warm spicy flavor without overpowering the dish. The dough is heavy enough to hold the dessert together, but it’s not so dense that you’re chewing for an eternity. " - juli horsford, nina reeder, jacinta howard
"If you’re judging these room temperature, pre-sliced slabs by their extremely average appearance, don’t. The super moist, sticky-sweet bread is worth every ounce of effort it takes to unwrap it from its cellophane chamber. Just prepare for a lap full of crumbs since the delicate cornbread breaks up like a ’90s boy band." - jacinta howard, nina reeder, juli horsford
"Don’t let the name fool you—Peach Cobbler Cafe shouldn’t be dismissed as another dessert shop. Does your average bakery serve ribs, fried chicken, collards, and cobbler? Nope, didn’t think so. When hunger comes on hard and fast and a basic sandwich won’t cut it, this Buckhead soul food cafe saves the day with super satisfying, stick-to-your-bones homestyle food served quickly. The entrees, like their oxtails with dark brown gravy or tender ribs drenched with barbecue sauce, will run you a pretty penny (around $16 to $28). But you’ll be happy, and you’ll be full." - demarco williams, jacinta howard
"Don’t let the name fool you—Peach Cobbler Cafe shouldn’t be dismissed as another dessert shop. Does your average bakery serve ribs, fried chicken, and collards? Nope, didn’t think so. When hunger comes on hard and fast–and a basic sandwich won’t cut it—this Buckhead soul food cafe saves the day with super satisfying, stick-to-your-bones homestyle food served really, really quick. After you land a parking spot in The Shops of Buckhead strip mall lot on Peachtree (IFYKYK), you’ll get in line to order from a wide selection of entrees, ranging from perfectly-cooked salmon to ribs slathered in tangy bbq sauce. A big LED-screen showcases that menu, but the faithful regulars on their lunch break already know what they want, and, if you’re in line ahead of them, they will appreciate you figuring out your sh*t quickly, too. Most of the food is already prepared and scooped out cafeteria style into plastic to-go containers, which gets hungry customers out the door pretty quickly. There’s no dining space inside, so grab a seat at one of the two round patio tables outdoors, or just chow down in the parking lot where you can zen out ahead of a very painful Peachtree at rush hour. Peach Cobbler Cafe gives you all the nostalgic feels of Atlanta’s old school “Meat and Three” cafes, all the entrees come with two sides, plus a near-cake-like cornbread muffin. And just like those old soul kitchens, their sides, like collard greens, green beans, and cabbage, are seasoned well enough to eat as is, but there’s always hot sauce on tap. And the mac and cheese is just as much of a highlight as the main. By the time you dig into dessert, the peach cobbler might just be the forkful to transport you back to Old ‘90s, early 2000s Atlanta. But before we go too deep down memory lane, just note Peach Cobbler Cafe definitely hits you with the new school prices—a single platter will run you $16 to $28 and you’ll spend $8 on the peach cobbler. Food Rundown Big Al’s Oxtail Dinner They may not be fall-off-the bone tender, but these beefy oxtails in a savory brown gravy deliver on taste and give just enough meat on the bone to not feel cheated. Also, the platter portion is generous enough to share or save a little for later. Rib Dinner There is no shortage of sweet, tangy barbeque sauce on these ribs. We’re talking get a bucket and a mop for this wet ass pork. Keeping your hands clean is the only hard part here; the meat is juicy, tender, and easy to tear into. photo credit: Amy Sinclair Blackened Salmon You get a pretty hearty serving of well-seasoned blackened salmon, which is the only thing here cooked to order. photo credit: Amy Sinclair Mac and Cheese This feels like the thick, baked mac and cheese served at those special after-sermon church lunches, where it scoops out easily and stays put nicely in the corner of your styrofoam plate. It might not appear in our dreams, but it’s a solid (no pun intended) mac and cheese. The church lunch committee would approve. photo credit: Amy Sinclair Peach Cobbler You also get the feels of the church luncheon cobbler. To put it more plainly, we enjoy it. There’s a three-one ratio of peaches to crust, which we’d like to deem the Georgia golden ratio. photo credit: Amy Sinclair" - Nina Reeder
"A soul-food meat-and-three opened in a former burger shop in Buckhead as a tribute from owner Arle M. Alston to family chefs, serving classics like oxtails, rib tips, rotisserie chicken, fried catfish, smothered pork chops and hot wings with sides such as black-eyed peas, collards, and cornbread, plus daily specials and six types of cobbler for dessert (including peach, blackberry, and pear-and-apple); takeout is available and masks are highly encouraged." - Beth McKibben