The Place

The Place is one of those restaurants that immediately feels welcoming the moment you walk in. The atmosphere is relaxed but polished, making it great for both a casual meal or a nicer night out. The menu has a solid variety, and everything we tried was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. Portions were generous without being over the top. Service really stood out — friendly, attentive, and never rushed. It’s the kind of spot where staff genuinely want you to enjoy your experience. Overall, The Place lives up to its name and is absolutely worth a visit if you’re in Athens. I’ll definitely be back.

My family and I really enjoyed our experience at The Place. We sat upstairs and all ordered different dishes. Chicken and Waffles, Shrimp and Grits, Bourbon glazed Salmon, and the Burger. Everyone enjoyed their food and I must say the bacon on the chicken and waffles really made the experience. To top it all off the Cheesecake was dense and delicious! Our server Sam had helpful suggestions, was attentive with good conversation. Before we were done we all knew we’d be back.

The Place exceeded my expectations. Let's be real, most American cuisine restaurants are pretty formulaic. I expected the same here, but i was met with a $10 hefty portion of a delicious, tangy, buttery sandwich with perfect mashed potatoes. The workers are so nice and attentive, and it's definitely being added to my list of places with good tuna melts. Can't wait to be back for dinner!

*Delayed post from April ‘25 I was pleasantly impressed with The Place! It was recommended by a few friends and I’m glad we stopped in for Saturday night dinner, though I’ve also heard brunch is delicious, albeit busy. The service includes typical southern hospitality and is mostly run by college age students as expected. I loved our window seats that looked out at north campus with the Arch in view. Perfect for alumni in town looking to reminisce over a meal. Food wise, I was concerned with what appeared to be stereotypical southern style food like fried chicken and shrimp and grits, but boy was I wrong!! The modern take on these meals satisfied my craving for familiar comfort foods, while elevating the quality and presentation to something I was proud to share with someone “not from ‘round these parts.” I highly recommend the Southern Bruschetta because the Pimento Cheese is ON POINT. Also the Shrimp and Grits, which has unbelievably delicious flavor and texture. If you’re not hungry enough for an appetizer, a good combo would be the Fried Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich because it also comes with the Pimento Cheese. The chicken was beautifully fried and seasoned well. Can’t go wrong here!

Stopped by to check out this place for potential upcoming party reservation. Our bartender/server, Carleigh, was very attentive, informative, and personable. On the other hand, food needs little more TLC for my taste.

All I can say is DELICIOUS! Best fried chicken sandwich in town and it’s all fresh and hand breaded, the sauces are from scratch. 100/10!

Excellent southern food. The fried veggies were very good. I love the fried whole okra. It pairs with a perfect ranch source. It looks runny but it tastes just right, not too heavy and still yummy. I like the shrimp and grits too. Although I think it can be a little more creamy, it is not as salty as South City Kitchen.

Table of four. I got the chicken and waffle with smoked Gouda grits. Everything was amazing. Our waiter, Trey, was great. Highly recommend this place. Go Dawgs.