7 Georgia Restaurants Locals Skip And 7 Worth Your Time
Georgia’s food scene is as diverse as its landscape, from bustling Atlanta eateries to charming Savannah haunts.
But not all restaurants are created equal in the Peach State. Locals know which spots to avoid and which deserve your hard-earned dollars.
Here’s the inside scoop on where to eat and where to skip on your next Georgia adventure.
1. Skip: Benihana (Atlanta)
Chain hibachi might impress out-of-towners, but Atlanta locals know better. The theatrical knife-flipping and onion volcanoes come with a hefty price tag that doesn’t match the quality.
Sure, watching your food prepared tableside has novelty appeal, but Atlanta’s authentic Japanese restaurants deliver superior flavors without the tourist-trap performance.
2. Skip: Applebee’s Grill + Bar (Atlanta area)
Microwaved mediocrity awaits at this ubiquitous chain. Georgia natives steer clear of Applebee’s when the state offers so many better options for similar prices.
The frozen-then-reheated appetizers and saccharine cocktails might satisfy when you’re desperate, but why bother?
The Peach State brims with family-owned restaurants serving genuine Southern hospitality alongside fresh, locally-sourced meals that put this corporate kitchen to shame.
3. Skip: Wendy’s (Atlanta)
Fast food is fast food anywhere, but Atlanta’s Wendy’s locations particularly struggle with consistency. Cold fries, wilted lettuce, and drive-thru orders that bear little resemblance to menu photos are standard fare.
Georgia’s burgeoning burger scene features dozens of local joints serving hand-formed patties with locally-sourced toppings.
Even other fast-food chains maintain better quality control. Your taste buds and stomach will thank you for driving past these disappointing red-haired establishments.
4. Skip: Taco Mac (Alpharetta)
Once a beloved sports bar, Taco Mac has sadly lost its charm. Despite boasting hundreds of beers, the Alpharetta location serves lukewarm wings and nachos drowning in congealed cheese product.
Service often crawls during game days when you’d expect them to shine brightest. The beer selection remains impressive, but that hardly compensates for overpriced, underwhelming bar food.
Georgia’s authentic pubs deliver tastier options with more attentive service and equally impressive craft beer selections.
5. Skip: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (Alpharetta)
That famous chicken sandwich? Not worth the hype at Alpharetta’s perpetually chaotic Popeyes. Long lines snake through the parking lot while understaffed kitchens struggle to keep pace.
When you finally receive your order—often incorrect—the chicken frequently arrives lukewarm and greasy. Georgia’s authentic soul food restaurants serve fried chicken that puts this chain to shame.
6. Skip: Roma’s Pizza (Augusta)
Augusta deserves better pizza than Roma’s rubbery cheese and cardboard-adjacent crust. The sauce lacks any distinctive flavor beyond vague tomato hints, and toppings appear suspiciously pre-packaged.
Families might appreciate the budget-friendly prices, but your taste buds will file complaints. Georgia’s pizza scene has evolved dramatically in recent years with artisanal options available even in smaller towns.
7. Skip: Joe’s Underground Cafe (Augusta)
The dingy basement ambiance might seem charmingly dive-bar-esque until you taste the food.
Joe’s Underground serves mediocre bar snacks alongside watered-down drinks at surprisingly steep prices for Augusta.
Live music occasionally salvages the experience, but cramped seating and spotty service make even that questionable.
1. Worth It: The Olde Pink House (Savannah)
Housed in an 18th-century mansion, this Savannah gem serves Southern classics with sophisticated twists. The crispy scored flounder practically melts in your mouth while the building itself offers a history lesson with your meal. Reservations are essential but completely worthwhile.
Ghost stories accompany dinner if you’re lucky enough to chat with longtime servers. The basement tavern provides a more casual alternative with equally impressive cocktails and the same unforgettable shrimp and grits.
2. Worth It: The Busy Bee Café (Atlanta)
Soul food royalty since 1947, The Busy Bee remains Atlanta’s gold standard for authentic Southern cooking. Their fried chicken – brined for 12 hours before frying – achieves the perfect crispy-juicy balance that chains can only dream about.
Politicians, celebrities, and everyday Atlantans rub elbows at communal tables, united by spectacular comfort food. Don’t skip the candied yams or cornbread muffins.
3. Worth It: Sconyers Bar-B-Que (Augusta)
Presidential-approved barbecue isn’t hyperbole – Sconyers’ hash and rice once flew Air Force One to the White House during Carter’s administration.
This Augusta institution has smoked perfect pork since 1956 in a converted dairy barn. The hash – a South Carolina-style barbecue stew served over rice – remains their signature, though tender ribs deserve equal praise.
Thursday through Saturday opening hours create inevitable lines, but patient patrons receive generous portions of Southern barbecue paradise worth every minute waited.
4. Worth It: The Deer and the Dove (Decatur)
Farm-to-table dining reaches artistic heights at this Decatur standout where seasonal ingredients transform into culinary masterpieces.
The wood-fired hearth infuses everything from fresh-baked bread to heritage pork chops with subtle smokiness.
Chef Terry Koval’s commitment to local sourcing means menus change frequently, keeping return visits exciting. The space fills quickly with locals who appreciate thoughtful wine pairings and inventive vegetable preparations.
5. Worth It: Mary Mac’s Tea Room (Atlanta)
Atlanta’s dining scene would be incomplete without this 75-year-old institution serving quintessential meat-and-three plates.
First-timers receive complimentary pot likker (collard green broth) with cornbread – a traditional Southern welcome that sets the tone.
The fried chicken rivals any in Georgia, while vegetable sides like tomato pie showcase seasonal Southern bounty.
6. Worth It: Antico Pizza Napoletana (Atlanta)
Naples-certified pizza perfection exists in Georgia thanks to Antico’s fanatical dedication to authenticity.
Imported Italian ingredients meet 900-degree wood-fired ovens to create blistered, chewy-crisp crusts that would make Italian grandmothers weep with joy.
The San Gennaro with sausage and sweet peppers remains their signature pie, though purists swear by the Margherita’s simple perfection.
Multiple locations maintain identical quality standards – a rarity in restaurant expansion.
7. Worth It: Home Grown Georgia (Atlanta)
Breakfast nirvana awaits at this unassuming East Atlanta spot where the legendary Comfy Bowl – fried chicken smothered in peppery white gravy over biscuits – causes weekend lines around the block.
Local art covers every wall surface while mismatched vintage furniture adds authentic charm no designer could replicate.
The vegetable plate featuring seasonal local produce proves they’re more than one-hit wonders.
