The National

I came to the national for my first time on a Wednesday for lunch after wanting to try it for a while. I sat at the bar and got the strawberry balsamic shrub and the bartender recommended the ham and cheese sandwich. Everything was so delicious and the bartender was extremely nice and friendly. Will definitely be coming back here to try their dinner.

Overall pretty good. Kinda on the pricey side, but you get a lot of food for what you pay for so it's worth it if you look at it from that perspective. The biggest surprise from the menu was definitely the Stuffed Medjool Dates. I didn't expect it to be as good as it was. The restaurant is advertised as having "Mediterranean-style dished created with seasonal, southern influences". However, I would argue that these dishes are far more southern then they are Mediterranean. This is by no means a bad thing if that is your desire you will not be disappointed! However, for me personally, I would have preferred a menu more on the Mediterranean side.

5 Stars all around. One of the best spots for dinner in Athens. The food is always delicious and beautiful prepared. The servers are always friends. A great place to spend an evening with friends and family. Highly recommend!

Our waiter Tom was excellent. Ready to help us select a wine we would enjoy. Our food was delicious. Prepared so we could easily share. A nice end to our day.

There are not enough superlatives for this place. Everything was incredible. The food, the staff, the atmosphere everything! The cocktails are flavourful and well crafted, the food is beautiful, delicious and incredibly well presented. The coffee smelt so good I couldn't help but get a cup, and don't even get me started on the little Portuguese custard tarts, they instantly made me think of home! If you are ever in Athens, this place is a must!!

I have been to the National several times now and each time I tell my self I am not coming back. I end up returning due to an invitation or work function, etc. The wait staff is consistently neglectful and self righteous. The atmosphere is way overcrowded. The food is decent but it is high priced and small portioned. For example we were served our appetizer before our drinks. After waiting 10 minutes i asked our waiter to check on our drinks and he basically said get over it, the bar is busy. We ate our entire meal without someone checking on us to see if we needed anything.

WOW. My fiancée and I celebrated our two year anniversary here and it exceeded our expectations. If you enjoy mediterranean style food this place is legit. Their house olives were very tasty, the stuffed dates had the perfect pop of manchego, the cheese plate was scrumptious and the patatas bravas were some of the best I have ever had. The pork chop was huge and very tasty. The Mahi was unique and tasted very fresh and vivacious. Their menu is constantly changing and updating which I love. I feel awful because I don't remember our servers name but he was a tall blonde gentleman and was wonderful. He explained their house cocktails in exquisite detail and was very knowledgeable of the whole menu. On top of that he comped our crème brûlée (which was incredible with the candied orange). We eat out a lot. This place got our attention, the service, the atmosphere, the freshness of the food and the attention to detail all lead to an incredible experience. We will be sure to visit again. 5/5

I was the first timer on Saturday to this lovely restaurant. I had the power lunch and was so pleasantly surprised. The vegetables were all cooked with care and extreme attention to detail and flavors. The desert was out of this world! I can't wait to come back.

Food was unbelievable!!! King, crab legs and steak stayed on my mind for weeks after we ate there

I dined here for lunch with my mom on Friday, and overall, we had a great experience despite a few hiccups with timing. The restaurant was fairly busy, with half the tables occupied when we were seated, and by the time we finished, they were all full. The menu is very limited, with just five entree options, which might not be for everyone, but I appreciate the focus on quality over quantity. I'd had the power bowl on my last visit, which changes seasonally and features 4-5 different items in a bowl. It was incredible then, but this time, the power bowl didn't appeal to me as it contained several high FODMAP foods that I knew would upset my stomach. The online menu had featured a winter salad with trout that sounded delicious, but when I arrived, I noticed it wasn't on the menu anymore, which was a bit of a letdown. Given my dairy allergy, I was feeling a bit limited by the remaining menu options, so I was a little bummed about the salad's absence. However, the waitress must've sensed my frustration and immediately checked with the kitchen to see what they could customize for me. The flexibility was truly a highlight--she told me I could build my own power bowl or salad, or they could recreate the winter salad without the trout. I went with the latter, and they delivered a fantastic salad with pomegranate seeds, roasted butternut squash, sweet potato, pecans, and fried capers, all dressed in a delicious homemade turmeric lemon dressing and topped with two perfectly cooked jammy eggs. I was so pleased with how accommodating the kitchen was--it really made my day! My mom ordered the French onion soup with a side salad. It came with half a loaf of fresh bread, which she loved, but the soup itself was a bit too brothy for her taste and didn't have the typical abundance of onions or the cheese broil on top. She said it was just okay. One downside was that our food took 50 minutes to arrive after we ordered, and we didn't get checked in on by the waitress during that time. That was a bit frustrating, but because the kitchen staff was so accommodating and the food was so good, I still feel they deserve a strong rating. Overall, great food and excellent customer service! I'll definitely be back, but hopefully, the timing improves next time.

Dinner while in town with a friend recently while passing through. This little eatery is busy and popular. Reservations are highly recommended even on a week night, ours were at 7:00. We were greeted walking in right at our time by the hostess, and seated in the same few minutes. The interior is open with high ceilings, and full window front. White tables cloths with traditional blue and white interior colors. Great service is the only word I can think of, our server was on point. Just made our whole meal time there flow smoothly and the time went by quickly. This is a slow leisurely dining experience. We started with a couple appetizers, the olives and the stuffed Medjool dates, both were solid choices to get going and a glass of sherry. Next we had to try the hummus with pita, again an excellent choice, fresh full flavored and the crispy flatbread pita was so delicious with the hummus. I opted for the pan seared Salmon and it was also a great choice, cooked to prefection served over a mash and topped with marinated greens. The salmon was fork tender and so succulent it was simply delicious. My friend had the fried Chicken Schnitzel and said is was also amazing. We ended our meal with the Portugese Custard tarts, a pair of tarts served with fresh cream, a light flavor filled dessert thats perfect to share with another. Excellent food on all levels from start to finish. The National is an excellent choice for dining in Athens, highly recommended and reservations are a must. 4.5 Stars rounded up for the great service 01049

I received lots of suggestions for things to do on my first trip to Athens, and I'm so happy I took the advice from a friend who said that The National is her favorite restaurant in Georgia! I see why. The atmosphere is lovely and breezy. The menu is just the right size - something for everyone but also focused and expertly crafted. The service was impeccable - helpful, not intrusive. We skipped the drinks based on the minute size of the pisco sour on the table next to us. The steak dishes were beautifully composed and paired with unpredictable sides that I found enchantingly unpredictable and tasty. The highlight of the meal was the pita and hummus. I had the gluten-free pita, and it was divine! Cravable! Don't miss this place as a near-perfect dinner for a special occasion or nice date night...especially if you are gluten free!

This place has such a cool atmosphere and unique menu. Always farm to table fresh and the servers are friendly and efficient. The menu changes often and the food is delicious.

Just great and so happy we found this gem in Athens. There are not a lot of 'nice' places to eat in the downtown area, but this was a very pleasant surprise. We had a few drinks, ate the whole left side of the menu, and had all three of the dessert options from that night and loved all of it. Seating at the bar was nice, and the service was quick, friendly, and informative. If we're ever back in the area, I'll certainly go back here.

Great vegan and vegetarian dishes, a fine dining place in Athens that will not empty your pocket but it will leave satisfied. Good wine selection, friendly staff and must try in Athens.

Vibe: 7.5/10 Service: 10/10 Value: 8/10 Flatbread with hummus: 8.5/10 Smashburger (beef): 8.5/10 Shrimp nicoise: 8.5/10 Blueberry cobbler/pie: 9/10 Overall: 8.5/10 (4.28/5)

Loved this spot! Service is mid to say the least, but quick and polite. The lamb pizzette was really flavorful and came out SO fast - would recommend! The steak is cooked really well and the leek on the side makes such a good pairing. The sauce was more or less flavorless but very rich. Overall the dish was very good but VERY salty. Really enjoyed the blackberry basque cake with pistachio gelato - im impressed with the actually pistachio flavor rather than artificial pistachio. Definitely my favorite of the night. Outdoor seating is comfortable and decently clean. Would come here again to dine indoors!

really great place for gluten free. i got the gluten free flatbread and hummus appetizer, chicken burger, and chocolate hazelnut gelato. really nice how they have a non-alcoholic drink menu, personally i try to stay away from non-alcoholic things as a general rule of thumb but good for those who like that sort of thing. i did think the chicken burger was a bit too salty but that was probably because the salt on the flatbread and the salt in the mustard was too much. overall great spot to splurge. service is wonderful as everyone who works there really cares about your experience. probably one of the most beautiful places in athens - great place to take grandma and grandpa or even the parents when they come into town.

I come to The National whenever my travels take me to Athens. Always great people around entire house! I sit at bar when I travel alone. This week, my cocktail was excellent, Mushroom soup is terrific and Duck superb. Always

I loved everything about this restaurant. It has a nice vibe where you can dress casual but feels fancy inside. The food is also made with local ingredients and are Mediterranean inspired. The portions aren't bad either, especially for lunch. The only thing I will say is that the taste may not be for everyone. The pasta was good in my opinion as well as the burger, but was told the burger was different than other places. So if you're adventurous, I'd recommend you try this place out! Here's a bonus: they have gluten-free options!!!! Plus amazing service!!

Cute place, good service, good food. The food menu is not very extensive but the choices are good. They have a nice cocktail list.

They are good and worth eating at. The food is good, not great, but im pretty picky. There are lots of mediocre restaurants but this is worth trying.

Small but cute and quaint restaurant gem! Loved the table cloth designs. We got bread and the cheese plate. Really great opportunity to sample local cheeses you might not usable try. My boyfriend and I both got the steak, and it was cooked well and tender with a nice sauce. Service was friendly overall, no complaints there. Also loved the Italian style spritz drink we got!

Food was amazing as always. Server was kind and provided top notch service. I came for my birthday and had the chocolate olive oil cake. Which was AMAZING! I could've eaten a dozen of them. Margarita was perfect! Overall, my favorite restaurant in Athens!

First time in Athens, and someone recommended we try the National, it did not disappoint. Can't wait to go back this weekend!

Had the power lunch with the lamb sausage and everything was delicious. Since I had a healthy lunch I decided to get a dessert and boy oh boy...I had the spiced semolina orange cake and it just about blew my socks off. 12/10. I'll be coming back.

Always stop here when I travel to Athens for work. Always a lovely experience and the cocktails are amazing. John our server today was especially pleasant and attentive. Until next time the National.

Best restaurant in town, wonderful atmosphere, friendly wait staff, amazing culinary experience!

Never disappointed, food and drinks are spot-on. The chef is amazing, the staff accommodating, great atmosphere-great place for date night.

This restaurant came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint. Everything was absolutely delicious. The hummus was probably the best I've ever had. The sumac spice and the salty bread - I could have licked the bowl! The cocktails were refreshing and well-crafted. I had the For the Love of Summer with my hummus, followed by the On the Beaches. The herbs were delicious on the steak. My only critique might be a tad more cooking needed on the zucchini's but the charred peppers were a lovely addition. I also would have probably chosen a different cut other than the hanger, only because I prefer a leaner cut. Still - very, very good. Lastly was the blueberry crisp with vanilla gelato. The crisp was perfect, with a warm buttery notes and the blueberries were perfectly thickened. I sat outside and enjoyed the breeze. My server was lovely, balancing letting me enjoy my solitude and carrying on friendly conversations. I would recommend this to anyone traveling through Athens.

Me and my boyfriend were disappointed here. I was very excited to try some appetizers and got the hummus and cucumber gazpacho. The hummus was just okay and for the price, the portions were just not good enough. The cucumber gazpacho was pretty acidic but still refreshing. I would not get it again though. The service was pretty good and one of our appetizers was not correct and we were completely refunded. I would definitely come back to the bar for a drink because it was an amazing cocktail and supports the Athens Farmers Market!

Excellent! Amazing gluten free options. Attentive service. Chill environment. Great date spot!

This was our 8th meal of the day so we weren't too hungry but ofc had to stop at the national. The patatas bravas could've been crispier and had more sauce. The dates had a nice long piece of manchego which is good if u like manchego. Even if your too full you have to get the flourless chocolate cake we devoured it in .5 seconds. I had a martini up with a twist and it tasted like lemoncello nice and palette refreshing

"Meh" kind of evening. Very slow service. We waited about forty five minutes for entrees even while the restaurant only appeared to have three active tables. No one acknowledged that the food was taking long or that anything was out of the ordinary. Food was average to mediocre. Undercooked and under salted potatoes in the patatas bravas starter; hangar steak was ordered medium rare and came out rare and ice cold (I.e. had clearly been sitting awhile). We were excited about the National after reading about it ahead of our visit to Athens. We really wanted to like this place and came away disappointed :(

Had lunch of shrimp and grits. Tasted a little strange so I stopped eating after a few spoonfuls. 5 hrs later had the classic symptoms of food poisoning.

Nice find once I discovered it - it looks like part of the movie theater. We didn't have reservations but were able to sit at the bar. Ordered calamari, hummus with lamb ap & pizette with apple, Gorgonzola & bacon. The hummus was definitely my favorite! Nice ambiance & cocktails

Absolutely lovely dining experience! My brother and I got a last minute reservation on a Friday night. We had the date appetizer and I had the salmon for dinner. It was the BEST salmon I've ever had. For dessert, apple cake and ice cream - delicious. They recommended a great wine to go with the food and the service was excellent. Would love to go back next time I can spend a little more money for a fancy dinner.

Amazing appetizers, definitely recommend ordering a few appetizers and sharing. The Hanger Steak was good and so was the dessert.

I brought my wife to Athens for her birthday weekend. As usual I look at Yelp for great recommendations. Looking for "Romantic Restaurants" this place came up. The reviews look really good so I made reservations on Resy. We arrived about 40 minutes early, not knowing the town or the parking situation. We were sat at the bar until our table became available. Wasn't too long of a wait. They got us in about 20 minutes early. One very positive thing I noticed was that masks are required for entry. All staff wore masks. Thanks. With omicron COVID being careful is more important than ever. The food was delicious. The wait staff was attentive and courteous. Our waiter Thomas was friendly and checked back often to make certain everything was satisfactory. He also takes good pictures. Perhaps he's a up and coming photographer. 5 stars to him alone.

Excellent food and knowledgeable and friendly service. Great option for small or large plates in the classic city.

The National is one of Athens' best medium-fine dining restaurants. The squash pizzette was so good (and they have gf flatbread). The roast chicken is really good. The veggie plate is a bit pricy for what you get--beats, sweet potato, green beans with chili flakes, red rice--but the crispy cauliflower was delicious (I'd get a whole order just of that). I liked the rich flourless chocolate cake better than the Basque cherry cake, which is more of a plain cake with a bit of cherry sauce. They have really interesting cocktails.

I will give this place a third shot ,, first time around was great food great service , second time my arugula salad was some mystery greens , and my fish and risotto unfortunately were very dry. consistency in the restaurant business especially , is A key ingredient for success, because you don't want your guests to be guessing I wonder how the food is going to be tonight , it's just has to be good all the time and every time. Three stars I am being very generous.

This Mediterranean-inspired restaurant is consistent in its wonderful quality of food, service and atmosphere. I have dined here countless times while in town for work & believe this is hands-down the best restaurant in Athens, Georgia (Seabear Oyster Bar and 5 & 10 are my other two favorites). The menu is influenced by mediterranean cuisine, has a bit of a southern flare, and the executive chef Jeremy does a great job of choosing local, sustainably sourced food for its seasonal menus. If you visit this restaurant you must request Connor to serve you--he is extremely knowledgeable, attentive to detail, personable, and most impressively remembers your name (please recognize Connor for consistently going above & beyond). Note before dining here: This restaurant serves its patrons in a European dining style meaning the courses are paced providing ample time for patrons--with that said, do not come here if you are in a rush. This is perfect for a date night. I gave 5 stars because this, in my opinion, is the only restaurant deserving 5 stars in Athens, GA.

The power lunch is not to be missed nor are the boquerones! Loved it so much that I enjoyed two meals here while on a "guest lecture" on diversity and inclusion at University of Georgia.

Pretty tasty little find in Athens GA. Stopped for a quick lunch with the family. Had a great Butternut Squash soup and a well put together salad. The food had a nice finesse to it. Good service, Good prices, full bar. Place looked pretty "hipster". Would definitely return when in Athens...

We had a good experience in this downtown restaurant which is located in a former hotel. We made a meal of salad and appetizers - Beet Salad, Hot Ocra & Chickpea Salad (huge portion and very tasty), hummus with lamb (highly recommend) and roasted Brussel sprouts (good & large portion).

Great service, awesome food I dine there every time I visit my daughter. Ambiance is open dining, but plenty of room as it didn't feel crowded. Fine star dining.

Ok, where to start.... Took my daughter and her boyfriend for her birthday (more on the two of them at the end). The GOOD: Food: Excellent. I did have to send my hangar steak back because it came out red raw, ordered medium rare. They took it back without a fuss and the other entrees were excellent. Service: Our waitress was very nice, happy, and attentive. The BAD: Hostess: Perfected the art of telling someone to go f*** themselves whilst maintaining an ear-to-ear smile. Seriously, it's a talent. Our reservation was at 8:15. At 8:45 we were still waiting for our table, despite 3 other tables being sat who had walked in after us. We were told, "Yes, sir, they also had a reservation at 8:15pm and we are waiting for a table appropriate for your party." HUGE shit eating grin. Appropriate for our party? They sat parties of 2 at tables larger than the 'appropriate' table for us, and, despite our reservation being for the patio, our table was inside. Guess where the other parties were sat? Yup.. patio. Silly additional charges: Waitress: "Would you like more pita bread to finish your hummus?" Us: "Sure! Thank you/" Waitress brings a few pieces of pita bread (it is delicious. Credit where due). Then we see a $1.50 charge for the pita. This is kinda bullshit. It's not the $1.50, it's the principle. How many restaurants say, "would you like more bread?" Do you get a bill? No... If you want to charge for something like this, set the expectation. Birthday: It was my daughter's 20th birthday. We ordered the tarts. Again, lovely. I mentioned it was her birthday and the waitress said the tarts are in 2's but she could upcharge us for an extra 1 and put a candle in it. This goes back to goodwill. Do I expect anything for free? No.. But, come on, it's a birthday, throw a tart in there with a candle. You really need a few bucks for 20 cents worth of tart that bad? So... here's where this kind of approach to customer service back fires.... The National hosted the 2021 UGA Orientation Leaders a few weeks ago. Both my daughter and her boyfriend are OL's. When I told them I was taking them there the first thing they said was, "oh, the portions are really small". Actually, they must have just short-changed the OL's when they went to give them an idea of the food. Obviously, there is only one reason why they host and it's because they know that the OL's will meet every single freshman and their families over the summer and they want to ensure when the question, "Where is the nicest place to eat in Athens?" is asked, they recommend The National. Our experience last night, and, from what I can gather from my daughter's experience when they went last, is that this place is more focused on ensuring they get every penny they can possibly get out of you, there isn't any goodwill, and a free meal for OL's with reduced portion sizes (gotta save those pennies, right?) isn't going to cut it.

Excellent cocktails, service, delicious food & great ambience! I always make good friends when I dine at the bar. The desserts are fantastic. One of Athen's very best!

Our annual National lunch: nice, tasty, but pricey ($80+/2). Very similar to last year. Good service. The gazpacho has become slightly less acidic and is improved by it. I did see that perhaps in busier months they have a shrimp garnish I very much would have liked but this simple version is also quite tasty. A little strangely, the "cup" size portion is now served in what looks like a water glass. It is a little more awkward to eat as a result, both actually and notionally. Rosalynn Carter's Cheese Ring is not exactly what I would expect from a Mediterranean-driven restaurant but it was tasty nonetheless. I think they may have mixed a bit of goat cheese with cream cheese to make the base, then they then top it with pecans and peach jam. Served with little toasts. It looked like we would be running out of toasts before we could finish the cheese so I decided to see if the server would offer more when they were gone. To my surprise, no sooner had I had the thought than the server was offering to get us some more. This is indicative of the service style throughout: understated, friendly, and anticipatory. The Impossible burger is very good. Simpler than before with just a bit of Gouda, it also includes a surprisingly substantial side salad of spring greens alongside the thin but nicely-textured fries. The shrimp niçoise is a pleasant salad but I felt that the potatoes were under-salted (and it is rare for me to write those words). I think I understand the motivation as there are other salty elements like the olives but large chunks of potatoes really need to have the salt cooked in. The Basque cake is definitely a must though I felt it was not quite up to the standard of last year's; the texture seemed a little more dry but it was still very good and topped with a great ice cream to boot.

Awesome, good food and drinks. The bar tenders know their stuff. Yum! Very shareable portions we got grilled pork chops when we went there last and they are so good. So tender and juicy. Not over cooked shoe leather like most places serve. Hope to return some day for a date night.

Went for dinner on New Year's Eve- knew we had arrived later in the evening so decided to order some appetizers as the meal for the sake of time and convenience and also as a courtesy to the wait staff. That being said- our waiter provided the worst service (we sat outside on a cold night and the heating lamps did minimal to keep us warm (not sure why they provide that option and are underprepared to accommodate for that). The food was mid, it may have had potential but the starters left a lot to be desired especially for the price. I am not opposed to paying more for high quality food but again, this was not worth it. THE WORST PART was when I was reviewing my bank statement a week later and saw that I was charged an extra $30 than what my bill had been. I left no tip for the how horrible the service was (we were cold outside, had to ask for the one refill we rcv'd, had to ask for the check four times while waiting in the cold and the waiter was no where to be found (not always a big deal but it's a slap in the face when the waiter was friends with the party of six next to us and giving exceptional white glove service plus free food and drinks to them while completely neglecting our table). Came to find out that the waiter/restaurant took the liberty to give themselves a $30 tip. Completely unacceptable. I was able to get this issue resolved but I encourage anyone who comes to this restaurant to check your bank accounts. I happened to look at my statement for something else and only noticed this because of how unsatisfied I was with the experience, I CANT IMAGINE HOW OFTEN THEY DO THIS AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DO NOT NOTICE. BEWARE.

The National is a contemporary Mediterranean-inspired restaurant located in downtown Athens. It opened in 2008 and one of its chef/owners is Hugh Acheson of Atlanta's Empire State South. I visited for a 12-person Saturday night birthday dinner and really enjoyed the food. It was nicely executed and delicious. Some of my tablemates, all Atlantans, said they preferred the food here to Empire State South. In my book, Empire State South still wins by a hair, but there's no doubt the food at both establishments is very good. The restaurant has a low-key, non-descript storefront. Just look for the small independent movie theater, Cine, and the entrance to The National is located right next door in the same old, white-painted, brick building. It was expectedly very busy during our visit. The restaurant isn't terribly big. Both the dining room and bar were packed. I guesstimate the dining room we sat in can seat about 50-60 guests. Our group of 12 was squeezed in snugly against a wall as were two other large groups (there were several groups dining this particular night). The interior of the restaurant has a rustic, homey feel to it. The space has been repurposed, evidenced by exposed ductwork and strangely placed piping and valves. I wonder what this place used to be. There's a small outdoor patio too. Overall, the atmosphere is casual and classy. The place seems to handle groups well and conversely, also looks like a nice date spot. The dinner menu featured seven tapas (small plates) priced at $5-15 each, seven appetizers at $7-12 each, and five large plates at $20-29 each. Our table ordered a whole bunch of stuff. I tried four of the tapas and two of the large plates: Tapas: * Patatas Bravas ($6) - home fries with spicy tomato sauce and aioli * Hummus with Lamb ($10) - warm flatbread, spiced ground lamb with piquillo peppers, mint and pomegranate molasses * Stuffed Medjool Dates ($7) - celery, manchego cheese, smoked paprika * Crispy Brussels Sprouts ($7) - herb crema, sumac Large Plates: * Pan Roasted Oregon Flounder ($29) - creamy rice middlins with chard and mushrooms, red pepper-fennel broth, salad of shrimp, blood orange and pea tendrils * Crispy Pork Milanesa ($27) - panko-crusted pork loin, whipped sweet potato, shaved cabbage with onion and peanut-lime vinaigrette, ground peanuts, pineapple-pickle relish All of the dishes were beautifully plated and had great presentation. In general, I thought all of the food was tasty. Of the tapas, my favorite was the stuffed dates. These looked more like mini sandwich bites than stuffed dates. This was because the size of the celery and manchego cheese were way bigger than the dates. Five bites came to an order and they were terrific. Sweet and creamy. I highly recommend this one. The patatas bravas were fine. Chopped potatoes were served in a bowl topped with a tomato sauce that had a somewhat chunky consistency plus a dollop of creamy aioli sprinkled with what I believe was paprika. Hot, hearty, and comforting. The hummus with lamb was interesting not only because the hummus had a little bit of ground lamb in it, but also pomegranate as well. These components made for both a sweet and savory (mostly savory) hummus that was rich as well. The pita bread served with was buttered/oiled, fluffy, and crispy. The National adds a twist to crispy Brussels sprouts by adding an herb cream sauce and sumac, which is a fruity, tart spice used in Middle Eastern cuisine. I thought the Brussels sprouts were a little too oily and heavy, but they were definitely flavorful and the ingredient combination worked. The roasted flounder was wonderful. This seemed like a clean and relatively healthy dish, but with several different flavors. I enjoyed its light broth. The rice middlins (rice grits or broken rice) reminded me of a smooth-textured risotto. The fish itself was the best part. It was fresh and perfectly cooked with just the right amount of caramelization. The blood orange was a nice touch. Saving the best for last - The crispy pork milanesa was excellent. The breading and seasoning were wonderful. There were two pieces of pork loin and they were moist and tender. I did have one bite that wasn't good. It tasted off, like an organ or something, but it was just one bite. The rest of the dish was fantastic and colorful. The sweet potato puree was an appropriate accompaniment. I should also mention I had a special soda from Athens-based New Creation Soda Works, a local company specializing in Southern craft "farm to bottle" soda. It was on The National's menu and was called "Nada," a strawberry and habanero flavored soda ($5). It was outstanding. Very sweet with subtle heat. If you like sweet sodas, try it. Service was A-OK. No issues. I'm not sure if The National has its own parking lot. We just street-parked on W Hancock Ave in front of the restaurant. It's metered, Monday-Saturday, at a rate of $0.25 per 15 minutes (or $1 an hour). Street parking is free on Sunday.

I'm only giving the National 2 stars instead of 1 because the food was yummy. I have lived in Athens for 4 years and have always heard rave reviews about the National. My boyfriend and I finally decided to try it for our date night dinner on Saturday. We made a reservation for 5 and showed up 10 minutes early. They sat us at a 6 top and did not even bother separating the tables even though we made a reservation in advance. When we asked for a different table they told us they were "all reserved up for the night" even though we had a reservation as well. We stuck with the 6 top table and it was so spacious and awkward for just the two of us. We asked our server about his drink recommendations and he had absolutely no idea. He asked to see our menu - looked it over - said he hadn't even tried 3/5 of them- and recommended the first one. Great. We ordered our drinks and mine was subpar- though my boyfriends was a pretty tasty twist on a classic Manhattan. Next we ordered some appetizers- one of which our server came back to tell us they were out of even though they had just opened on Saturday night. Halfway through our apps I went to the bathroom. The bathroom was littered with paper towels all over the ground and had no toilet paper. Considering they had JUST opened 30 minutes before and this wasn't after the dinner rush this is unacceptable. We felt rushed to order entrees and when we finally did we sat staring at empty dirty appetizer plates for 20 minutes while we waited on our mains. Our server simply never cleared our table of old plates and glasses. We literally had to move our own plates and drinks out of the way so there was room to put down our main dinner plates. Our server never checked on our dinner and we actually had to end up hailing down another server to help with ordering desert and end of dinner drinks. For a fine dining restaurant "The National" did NOT live up to expectations. I was so excited to try it- but I will not go back. I can get good food and terrible service as well as dirty and awkward ambiance elsewhere.

Unique menu, with a variety of ingredients; menu changes periodically, with the seasons, and with local produce availability. More classic, less casual than the usual Athens venues. Food: 4/5. Known for their quality and imaginative recipes. We like their power lunch -a mixture of seasonal vegetables, some braised, with a few fruits, and a nice very light sherry dressing and a sesame dressing. Their other salads are packed with a variety of ingredients. Try the Mediterranean dishes -Athens doesn't have many Mediterranean/Greek food locations. They use vegetables freely and in interesting combinations. The " impossible" burger, although vegetarian, has the tase and texture of hamburger. Their fries are not a favorite -thin and floppy-swap for something else if they will allow it. The hummus is flavorful, not bland. They have a good beverage menu. Nice beverage menu. Service: 5/5 consistently servers are experienced and help make your meal enjoyable by being knowledgeable and attentive(but not overbearing) Food service for lunch at 2:30 but you can get tapas and drinks in the adjacent bar area until the dinner kitchen opens at 5. Facility: 3/5 It's very clean and well kept, in a nicely remodeled old tire building. It becomes noisy, making conversations difficult, with more than half the tables occupied. Location: 4:5. Convenient to the downtown and within walking distance from the university-but parking is very limited-mainly on the street with meters. Price: 4/5 comparable with other nice restaurants in the area. More expensive than many local places but the food quality and preparation makes it a nice place for dining.

Good service. Nice folks. But weird food. If you're looking for good eating. I would not suggest this. But if you're looking for trending food pics to post to your insta story. Then this is the place for you.

The National in Athens was a great spot to enjoy a fun dinner with friends that provided dishes which were more inventive and exciting than most in the area. The menu is mediterranean biased and arranged in smaller but sharable dishes. Even with this the the restaurant strives to source local ingredients. This desire and intimate atmosphere give a local cafe feel that can easily serve as a date or relaxing night out which is very different than most in Athens. I appreciated the attention to highlighting some hard to find ingredients and overall the night was a pleasant one. If in town they are worth while seeking out a reservation!