The Little Hippo

Great place for a quick meal and some adult drinks. This is a small quirky restaurant with only outdoor seating under a roof or under numerous umbrellas. Nice lighting, staff and music. Now the food…. A very unique selection of sandwiches and Delicious!! We had the Chicken Caesar Pita with chips and Korean Cheesesteak and potato salad. I think this would be a fun place to meet after work. Trivia is offered on Mondays.

I came here looking for a good sandwich and received a very, very good sandwich instead. The sandwich was freshly made and very flavorful. They came with very good rolls and delicious toppings. Customer service was excellent and the seating are was very clean. I definitely recommend giving this place a try.

Previously went for cocktails and today went for breakfast, love this place! We had the breakfast bowl and the chicken breakfast sandwich. Honestly so nice! And dog friendly. We will be back. I want to try the lamb burger! Service was great, they were super sweet, and music was great.

My boyfriend and I just came here for the first time. We had the Korean cheesesteak, sweet potato hummus, and spiced carrot soup. Every thing was delicious and the atmosphere was laid back. It was really wonderful vibes on the patio with the sun shining and really great music!

Friendly staff and delicious sandwich. I tried the lamb burger with coleslaw. I liked the chew and density of the lamb patty and how they thinly sliced the tomato, pickle and lettuce so it doesn’t slid off when eating. Very tasty. I’ll be back to try more. The covered patio has heaters to keep you warm and cozy and the open patio gets full sun.

Great addition to that neighborhood! From the same people who own Poor Hendrix, a favorite of mine. The menu isn't extensive but it still feels diverse. That fish sandwich was raved about as well as the beet. It's new and they are still getting their bearings so it wasn't perfect but it's a great concept and I will be back!

There’s a new high-end sandwich spot in town, and it’s something special. Everyone at The Velvet Hippo was super warm and friendly. It was a lovely experience. On top of the friendly service, the food was incredible too. I highly recommend the lamb burger. It’s easily one of the best burgers in ATL. Don’t miss the brownie either. It looks somewhat unassuming, but it’s easily the best brownie I’ve had at a restaurant.

I was so excited to try this place, and it did not disappoint. Immediately, when you turn into the parking lot, the place looks so cute and inviting. I got the Mediterranean beet sandwich and the sweet potato hummus to share. These were their two vegan options on the menu. We grabbed a seat, and our order was put shortly. Everything was delicious especially the hummus and fried pita. Yum yum yum! I would definitely return here. I would love to come later in the day and try out their cocktails. My only criticism would be that I wish they had a side item that was vegan other than chips. The woman who took our order said both the potato salad and coleslaw have egg in them (presumably from mayo).

When you name your restaurant "Little Hippo" you're basically daring people to give you a bad review. After all, who in their right mind would poorly review upon such a cute little establishment? Certainly not me. After trying their lamb burger and enjoying their little turf patio, I am a bonafide Little Hippo enthusiast. Unfortunately, on the Wednesday night I dined there I was its only enthusiast, but one can hope that more Little Hippo lovers will come along as Avondale continues to transform from a sleepy suburb to a... not-so-sleepy suburb? My only critique of Little Hippo is that its brand suggests a more casual spot, which Little Hippo is in many respects, but its average entree price is pushing $20 (Not so little!). They offer cheaper snack options, which I'd lean into if I were them since a $17 fish sandwich may insult folks that are ordering at a window and eating on a turf patio.

My husband and I checked out The Little Hippo for the first time today and really enjoyed it! We placed a to-go order, and the service was fast and super friendly. Ordering is walk-up style at a window, and there's a nice covered patio with plenty of outdoor seating--it's also dog-friendly, which is a big plus. I had the Korean Cheesesteak, which was just ok, but the real standout was my husband's Vietnamese-Style Fried Fish Sandwich--so flavorful and crispy! I snagged a bite and definitely had food envy. The potato salad was just okay for me--kind of dry--but everything else made up for it. Parking is free, though limited (about 20 spaces shared with two other spots), so just be aware of that. Overall, great spot with tasty, unique flavors and a chill vibe. We'll be back!

This place is small and super cute with a cozy outdoor seating area that makes it great for a casual or quick bite. You order at the front of the shack through a sliding window. There is a small outdoor space to sit which seemed dog and kid friendly. Each sandwich order comes with a choice of potato salad, slaw, Mac salad, or chips. I ordered the chicken caesar pita and it was delicious. I do want to come back between 9am and 11am to try their breakfast menu!

Cute little spot. You order at the window. And they bring your food to you on a nice sized patio. I got the yummy Moroccan lamb burger with a delicious side salad. Service was good.

Another time when I wish we could vote half stars because they really deserve more than a four but I'm not ready to commit to a 5 after just one visit. My buddy chose the place because he knows I love a great sandwich. We went on Meatball Monday and instantly faced a difficult decision - go with the aforementioned Meatball sub or one of the other delicious sandwiches on the menu. I was a little thrown by the fact it was a chicken meatball sub, but after consulting with the woman taking our order, of course I had to go with the Meatball sub. I chose the potato salad as my side and a diet coke. I would always prefer a fountain drink over a canned soft drink, but was happy to see they had cups and ice. The food came out pretty quickly and the same woman we placed the order with recommended the hot sauce on the potato salad. That was a solid piece of advice. The potato salad on its own was decent. I would have preferred a bit more sweetness, but when combined with the hot sauce, it helped accentuate the mild sweetness in the potato salad and added a bite of acid that made it really enjoyable. The subs were on approx 8" hoagies and had 4 generously sized meatballs. Any hesitation I had about the sub disappeared the second I took my first bite. The flavor was really good and the texture of the meatball was fantastic! The balance of meatball, sauce, cheese, and bread was great. I have to admit, I added hot sauce to the last 3/4 of my sandwich but the bites without were still very flavorful. I just like the mild heat and added acid. My buddy also ordered some chicken nuggets for us to try. They reminded me of the nuggets I often make at home, which are themselves designed to mimic a less-processed and over-salted Chic-fil-A nugget (which I also consume regularly). They were small chunks of chicken , lightly breaded, and seasoned well. Really nice dipped in the honey mustard. Service was friendly and fast and food was really good. Excited to try it again at some point, although they may be hard when I live 2,500 miles away. Good news is my buddy lives a couple miles down the road so there's actually a strong chance I'll be back. If you're lucky enough to have this place in your neighborhood, you should def check them out! Last note, while there are a few parking spots in front, there is apparently a small lot behind the restaurant also.

There's a new high-end sandwich spot in town, and it's something special. Everyone at The Velvet Hippo was super warm and friendly. It was a lovely experience. On top of the friendly service, the food was incredible too. I highly recommend the lamb burger. It's easily one of the best burgers in ATL. Don't miss the brownie either. It looks somewhat unassuming, but it's easily the best brownie I've had at a restaurant.

Stopped by tonight to pick up dinner. You have to ring a doorbell for service. Pressed the doorbell and saw the kitchen staff look up from the kitchen and then ignore me. He did this two more times. Finally a young lady came to the window and asks if she can help me (she may have been in the restroom). I asked why the guy in the kitchen looked up and ignored me three times. He then spoke up and said our protocol is, we don't answer the window. I asked to speak to a manager about the issue and he stated he was the manager. How can a "manager" not have authority to serve customers. We were eating here weekly and will NEVER return. Would be a great place for a restaurant that actually cared about service.

The price!!! Good sandwich, but pushing $20, at a place with outdoor steering and counter service... If it was reasonably priced, I'd come more often but this is just ludicrous.

Decided to give my dog a day out of the house so I searched for a dog friendly place and this was recommended. It is small in parking lot space, restaurant, and seating area. I ordered the Vietnamese style fried fish sandwich, chicken nuggets, and the potato salad. The fried fish was massive and overall taste was delicious. Although fried, it did not feel heavy and it was well complemented with the pickling and fresh toppings. It made for a perfect bite. The nuggets could be improved upon because it was thick in coating and lacked seasoning. Service although short with you, were nice enough to bring my dog a water bowl.

The Little (Velvet) Hippo didn't disappoint! I really enjoy Poor Hendrix (their sister restaurant in East Lake) so i had to stop by. It's a casually elevated sandwich shop and cocktail bar with counter service only. The staff is kind, the food is delicious and the drinks were great. i enjoyed the mezcal and tequila cocktail "the love of the larry" and would come back again and again for their chicken caesar sandwich. Such a great spot for elevated but casual dining. i shared a full review on my TikTok (bswankk) and Instagram ( bswank_)

I am blessed to be able to walk to "The Little Hippo". Both the daily fare and breakfast menu are amazing. I want to give a shameless plug to the Meatball Sandwich, which is by far the best sandwich I've had in all of ATL!

Came here for lunch with my husband on the weekday. Very cute place with outdoor seating that's covered and uncovered. Plenty of parking as well. We ordered the chicken caesar wrap and the turkey sub. Both items came out fresh and hot. Both were flavorful and filling. Service was great and the staff were sweet.

Food was really good. Fresh ingredients, made to order. Highly recommend 10/10. Meatball sub was hella good

Delicious sandwiches, cozy heated patio seating (that was dog friendly!), great music playing, and friendly staff. We sat and grooved and had a lovely early lunch.

First off, this restaurant is adorable. It offers great shade, fans, and excellent food. I had the chicken Caesar sandwich and my friend had the chickpea sandwich. Both were extremely delicious. I can easily envision this a great place for families.

I was disappointed. I saw online they had a fish sandwich so we stopped for lunch on way to YDFM. Unfortunately, the fish was way overcooked, breading very hard, fish dried out. The size was good though, but at $14 for just a sandwich, no sides, it should be big. My husband had checked the online menu before we went and wanted the Caesar Chicken Wrap, but they said they not making it anymore. He got the Buffalo chicken and said it was fine. Again, portion size was good. For the price, I will be visiting other sandwich options instead.

I have had lunch here twice and loved the food. The hummus is good, made with different spices. I had the cauliflower sandwich which was wonderful. The only thing I would suggest for such an expensive sandwich though would be to use better bread. The bread they used was similar to a hot dog bun you'd buy at a grocery store. That's why I'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars.

Immmm sorrryyyyyyy buttt whattt even is this place!? I went an hr after they opened for 2 sandwiches to already be sold out (the cashier let me know instantly so that was nice.) Depression on! So I had to settle. Howeverrrr we did not settle at all!! That damn PITA is LIFEEEEE!! Never had anything like it and wanted a second!! My order came out pretty fast about 15mins and the outdoor seating area is nice with high tops as an option. I will be returning but next time right when they open!!!

Fantastic fish sandwich and slaw! The outdoor seating was super cute. It hot, y'all, but they have mega fans and umbrellas. My mama and I had a great little lunch together at the Hippo!

I think this place has so much potential. I love the space and layout. However, I wish they had more veggie options. I got the vegan beets pita. While it had flavor, I felt it was a bit tart and needed something more-- like protein of some sort, or vegan cheese or something. It just didn't quite hit the spot for me. Would love to come back if they spruce up their vegetarian options.

I was not impressed. The sandwich which was not cheap, was no more than cheap packaged lunch meat on a bun. Service was ok. Ambiance is great bc it's outside and who doesn't like that on spring summer days.

What a gem!! Everything was so flavorful and refreshing! One word...Umami! The service and ambiance truly made this a top ten lunch. Please patronize this business it will not disappoint you whatever your taste.

A truly welcome addition to the Avondale neighborhood. We tried the carrot soup, sweet potato hummus, and Mediterranean beet pita and they were all insanely good!!! Hip ambiance, excellent service, probably your new go to.

The Catfish sandwich and the roasted garlic potatoes were fire. Omg, I will be back here again. Great ambiance, outdoor seating. A hidden gem!!!

Good food. Nice spin on what would otherwise be ordinary tastes. Had the fish sandwich. Really liked it. Girlfriend LOVED it. Neat little area to eat outside. Quaint little spot with unique and savory dishes.

Eclectic, great vibes and delicious food and drinks. Nice location in avondale estates

We have been patiently awaiting the opening of The velvet hippo as big fans of poor Hendrix, and it has more than exceeded our expectations! The food is incredible, the patio vibes are so nice, and even in the cold the heaters on the patio keep you nice and toasty. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful as well. Can't wait to go back!

My husband and 2 friends went to The Velvet Hippo today and loved it! The food was great; we had the Chicken Caesar sandwich, turkey wrap and beet pita. We left full and happy! The service is the same friendly and efficient service you get from Poor Hendrix. We loved the outdoor seating and can't wait to go back!

Feels very Portland with a walk up counter and outdoor seating. I even rode my bike. Best sandwich I have had in a long time. Fish was perfect, toppings were spot on and it was just the right amount of messy. Will be back soon.

This place had a lot of hype so I was expecting a lot. But I wasn't super impressed. Yes, the food was well prepared and very fresh. That's big for me. I got the beet sandwich/pita wrap and a side of hummus. But the price was kind of high. I think the clincher was a $13 tiny glass (plastic cup) of wine. Bad on me that I didn't ask, because it wasn't even on the menu. Very casual, outdoor seating. Summary: Pretty good, just underwhelmed and a little ticked about the wine and high price.

Wow! What a little gem of a place in Avondale. You place order at window, this place is not a secret so there was a wait but not bad. Staff was friendly and helpful. You can sit in a lovely lit outdoor dining area or take food to go. Food was cooked to order so the fish sandwich I got was hot, the condiments were fresh and cold. Hoo boy, that was a delicious fish sandwich. It was also huge! My lunch buddy finished it off! He had the Turkey and stated was excellent. Will be returning!

So went there three times in three days. Three times I got the same sandwich because I just couldn't stop thinking about it. The catfish Banh Mi. Holy crap. Like it's perfection. No offense to the other sandwiches there but I only have eyes for it. I hear the lamb burger is good. And I hear every other sandwich is good too. But those sandwiches aren't the catfish Banh Mi. So those sandwiches can bite me. The drinks are pretty great too. And the vibe. And the wait staff. And the location. But aside from that. this place is meh.

The fish sandwich was delicious, and the margarita was quite satisfying. I will definitely go back and try some additional menu items.