Outdoor seating
Yes
The National in Athens
Categories
Location on the map
Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, US
Service options
Kerbside pickup
Yes
Takeaway
Yes
Dine-in
Yes
Delivery
No
Health and safety
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Highlights
Great cocktails
Yes
Great coffee
Yes
Great dessert
Yes
Great tea selection
Yes
Popular for
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Solo dining
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Offerings
Alcohol
Yes
Beer
Yes
Cocktails
Yes
Coffee
Yes
Healthy options
Yes
Organic dishes
Yes
Small plates
Yes
Spirits
Yes
Vegetarian options
Yes
Wine
Yes
Dining options
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Dessert
Yes
Amenities
Bar on site
Yes
High chairs
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
Atmosphere
Cosy
Yes
Romantic
Yes
Upmarket
Yes
Crowd
Family friendly
Yes
Groups
Yes
Tourists
Yes
Planning
Dinner reservations recommended
Yes
Accepts reservations
Yes
Payments
Cheques
Yes
Debit cards
Yes
Credit cards
Yes
Phone: +1 706-549-3450
Site: http://www.thenationalrestaurant...
Site: http://www.thenationalrestaurant...
Opening hours
- Monday:5–9PM
- Tuesday:5–9PM
- Wednesday:11AM–2PM
- Thursday:11AM–2PM
- Friday:11AM–2PM
- Saturday:11AM–2PM
- Sunday:Closed
The National in other cities:
Comments (199)
Loved the food, ambience, and service! We had the hummus, trout, and I had the Portuguese tarts. My colleague had the flourless choc cake and loved it as well!
Really fantastic food, good cocktails and friendly service. We eat here any time we come over to Athens from Atlanta! Our top spot in Athens.
Came for lunch on a Thursday. We had a reservation and were glad we did, as we were a party of 6. I had the chicken salad which I highly recommend. The flavors are wonderful and the thinly sliced chicken moist. The red pepper bisque was also a very nice blend of flavors. Others in the party enjoyed the catfish sandwich and the club sandwich, and all agreed that theyre French fries get an A rating. Our waiter was attentive and not intrusive. And the atmosphere is wonderful. My only downside would be the noise level, but not really sure what could be done for that. I think we will request a table up against a wall or window next time.
Must eat for any resident or foodie visiting Athens.From the moment I walked in the door, the subtle modern design elements mixed with the industrial facets of the building displayed the spaces features beautifully.I started out with a cheese plate and it was worth the price of admission! Sweetgrass was the best IMOThe patatas fratas was just ok, would be great in a group where many people could enjoy it.Red pepper Hummus With Lamb was🔥🔥🔥- a must try!!I deliberated over the braised rabbit and hanger steak and went with the rabbit. I didnt regret my choice as it was so tasty and tender and the pasta cooked to perfection.Had Mango Sorbet with lime zest for dessert, the lime zest is something Im going to use to spice up ice cream at home from now on!!If you like good food, this is a definite must go to for anyone living in Athens or just visiting for a day.I went a little overboard, 3 tapas, 4 drinks, 1 entree 1 dessert, and my bill was still under 100$**Second Time I went in right at closing, something i had never done, but the staff was so nice and served us like we were the first people there. My grandmother had just passed and it was first meal out post that event and the staff at the National couldnt of been more accommodating to our family. Will be coming back again and again
This place is phenomenal. We started with a bottle of wine, that our waitress kindly let us sample first, and the mezze sampler plate. The olives were fresh and the lil moo cheese was SO GOOD - very creamy and rich. I got a salad that had fresh (and I really mean fresh) vidalia onions and balls of goat cheese covered in poppy seeds. Easily the very best salad Ive ever had. Tim got steak that was cooked to perfection on top of some sort of mashed sweet potatoes. We shared orange sorbet, a macchiato and limoncello for dessert. Every bite of this meal was amazing. Great atmosphere, friendly staff. One of the most expensive restaurants in Athens, but absolutely worth the splurge.
My friend & I had an incredible experience last night at the National. We sat at a side table in the bar and Thomas was our server. He made great recommendations and provided fantastic service. We started with the dates and okra dishes and they were both unique and mouth watering. Since there were only two of us we decided to share an entree the scallops, it was amazing. The wine selection was impressive and so was my aperol spritz. Highly recommend this spot for an elevated casual meal with superb service. Two thumbs up!!!
Excellent food with amazing flavor. The wait staff was very attentive and friendly. I recommend this restaurant highly.
Hanger steak and dates were delicious. My date had a salad and a nice glass of Riesling - enjoyed both. Definitely a nicer spot for fine dining in AthensUpdate: came back for lunch on a business trip. Highly recommend the steak fries - smaller steak than the dinner entry, but quite tasty.
We had 5 in our group for Saturday brunch. The service was very friendly and attentive, the menu selections were interesting and varied. The food was delicious. Three of our group got the same selection and the other two had a different selection. Everyone enjoyed their meal. It was a good choice and I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice brunch location to share a good meal with family or friends.
As I student, I was only able to come here for special occasions or after I’d saved up for a month or too. But still, The National is my favorite restaurant in Athens or anywhere for that matter. Lunch is affordable, easy, and delicious. Dinner is beautiful, luxurious, but never too fancy or stiff. The staff is always great and kind. I can’t say enough good things!
Wonderful dinning experience. You can really tell this restaurant has a beyond transactional relationship with produce. Also, really loved the timing of the meal, the food came in a very intentional pace.
Above average food, except for the Portugese Tarts which are nothing like the real thing and quite disappointing. Service was good if not outstanding and, finally, our wine was served way too warm. If you call youself fine dining learn something about proper temperatures for wine service.
Great eating experience wonderful food. And service Pictured is the crispy pork over polenta hangar steak in second photo
Some of the finest cuisine in Athens and as good as youll find anywhere in cities 10 times the size. Exceptional service and outstanding coctails. One of my go-to restaurants whenever Im in town!
We were in town for a wedding. There were four of us. The space is amazing. Its an old 1950s Plymouth dealership with big bay doors that open up. The weather was beautiful and the bay doors were all open. The atmosphere is really cool.But...the food was not good at all. Three of us had soup and salad. Both were flavorless. The tomato soup was watery and the salad barely had any dressing. Very disappointing.The service was really good. The server was attentive and very nice. The thing though that made us mad more than the food is you had to wear a mask while ordering at the table. I understand a mask while being taken to your seat, but to have to wear a mask while ordering your main entrée is insane. You didnt have to wear one while ordering drinks or appetizers. How does that make sense??We are in Athens all the time for GA games, but will not be back due to the ridiculous mask rules!
Top 3 worst dining experiences I’ve ever had. Will not be going back and certainly do not recommend, not sure I understand the hype. Waited 1 and 15 mins for our entrees that were subpar at best, no one in my party was satisfied. Our waitress disappeared in that time so I asked another waiter to check in which I got a awkward stare and a rude “Bye!” in response. Started so promising with appetizers minus a small wait, but alas, was horrid otherwise. Horrible experience.
Excellent food and the best service!! We had a killer time! The waitress recognized on one of our IDs that there was a birthday in our group so when we ordered ice cream there was a candle with it.
While the meals remain very good, do not order bread! Not only is it extremely overpriced, it tastes as it has been kept in a freezer. To make matters worst, it appears they add salt to the butter that accompanies it. Too bad, prior to the pandemic, their bread was excellent.
Hot damn this is the best pork chop Ive ever had in my life!
Great food and service. We went there twice for lunch and had the chicken salad which was delicious and the salmon toast. They do a creative take on the chicken salad which works. The peach dessert was also great. It was extremely hot but the waitress still managed to have a socially distanced conversation for a bit which we appreciated.
The chef really knows how to combine various flavors into one amazing dish after another. I had the tumeric tonic to drink, which was very tasty and unique. Then I had the Rosalyn Carter cheese ring, and it was fantastic! The sweet, sharp, nutty, and onion flavors just came together so well. Then I had the power lunch and it was such a wonderful combination of flavors, textures, and temperatures. I dont normally get dessert but everything was so good, I decided to give it a try. GET THE PEACH BASQUE CAKE!!! The texture of the cake was fabulous. Not too light, not to dry. Just the right crust and taste. The flavors of the peaches, vanilla gelato, and almonds were fantastic together. Very enjoyable and memorable experience!
I moved out of Athens years ago, but Im lucky enough to come back to the National twice a year or so. This place is an institution. Beautiful, inspired, responsibly sourced food prepped by passionate, brilliant folks. Erin and her team are hospitality pros. Its hard to find a place that I feel so at home away from home
We went early at 5 pm and ordered 3 appetizers and dessert. Even when we left and the place was filling up it was still easy to carry on conversation with low volume music and muted conversations. Very pleasant atmosphere. Now for the food! Amazing is only word. Mushroom soup is fresh and very rich. Thick bacon was delicious and we put slices on our pizza (small flat bread!).
We reserved for a party of 6. Staff were so accommodating when we showed up early; service was amazing; food was phenomenal good and we had a wonderful experience. Highly recommend!
The pork chop was excellent. The service was also excellent.
Delicious food in a delightful atmosphere. I ordered the chicken dinner, boring fare anywhere else but here it was a pleasant mix of bright and colorful flavors; citrus, carrots ,cilantro and a chickpea pancake complimented the moist chicken very nicely. Windows were open, fans and heaters were on, masks were worn.
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 toexpectations. 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.
What a fantastic meal! From apps, to main course, to dessert, and even cocktails, no part of this meal was anything less than perfection. The combinations of flavors were sublime to the point that experiencing them is a form of escapism.As amazing as the entire experience was, it was actually the appetizers that brought me here to take time out of my day to write a review. The apps that we tried were the shishito peppers and the salchichón pizzette. The peppers were prepared simply, almost like chiles toreados, but were the most flavorful and delicious preparation of a pepper that I have ever had, and that’s saying a lot, coming from me, as I am a major chili-head, and grow, cook, and eat peppers on a regular, almost daily basis.The pizzette was so good it basically made me question everything I had ever done in my life that *wasn’t* eating it. The combination of salchichón, peach, honey, and the most beautiful arugula ever to exist, was almost indescribably good. Each bite made me feel like I was going to become ethereal and either float through the ceiling or the floor. Main courses that we tried were pork shoulder & hanger steak — both delicious — and for dessert we shared flourless chocolate cake and had dessert cocktails— all perfection, but it was the two appetizers that stole the show. Probably one of the best meals I’ve ever had.
The National is one of the nicest places you can go in Athens, and one of the most delicious as well. They know exactly how to cook their meat, and the veggies are also great. While definitely one of the more expensive places to eat, the only real downside is the sometimes sluggish service. However, since they’ve reopened, this isn’t an issue mostly due to limited capacity. They are handling COVID seating really well!
Trout prepared to perfection!
Really enjoy this small, quaint restaurant. Most recently I loved their California Chardonnay and extremely yummy patatas bravas. Everything was great.
I brought the family here while looking for apartments for my son. Everyone just loved their meals. Everything and I mean everything was delicious. Our server, I think her name was Casey or something close to that, was incredibly nice and on top of things. I had one of their specialty drinks and it was so good. Were going to come back whenever were in town. This place is now a family tradition.EDIT: We went back a few days ago and had the house made bacon appetizer and that was the BEST BACON I have ever put in my mouth. We fought over the last bite and ended up ordering another one. The hummus was great too the warm fresh pita chips really made it.
Hey honey, do you want to go to the National? Honey? Honey, where are you? Im in the car, lets GO!!!!! Ah, The National. If you are looking for delectable treats on a plate or in a glass, then this is the place to go. Best food in Athens, professional service, and a lovely atmosphere that I enjoy almost every week! Cheers and enjoy.
Excellent tapas and wine selection. Attention was good and polite. Very enjoyable adult experience in a college town where you don’t get good service often.
Theyre open for take out and patio dining and we opted for the latter. It was a SAFE and delightful dinner with the same impeccable service and food preparation weve always experienced. The shrimp/scallops saffron rice with garlic aioli was scrumptious as was my wifes steelhead dinner. Dont hesitate to dine there now!!!
I had the veggie plate, and it was great. The others in our party enjoyed their food as well. We ate outdoors and had very good service.
The goat cheese appetizer was delicious, and the service was excellent!
My wife and I as well as my sister-in-law and nephew were celebrating my wifes birthday. We have eaten here a number of times and so we were familiar with the menu. Although the food is good. Its not exceptional. If anything, the offerings are a bit to complicated. It think the food would be better if the menu was simpler. I had there vegetable plate and I found it less palatable then the last time I ordered it. The service is adequate, but the tables are a bit too close. So close in fact, that the server at the next table stood inches from our table while taking the order.
Ive been to the National several times and it does not disappoint. The staff is very friendly and always willing to explain items on the menu. The lunch menu is reasonably priced though on the higher end ($10-$15). The portion sizes are smaller than chain restaurants, but you can taste the difference with the quality of the ingredients. I recommend calling in a reservation for dinner, especially if its a special occasion.The best drink they have is their ginger turmeric tonic. Its fresh squeezed each day and incredibly refreshing.
Loved the food. The flavors were there and the presentation was great. We had the hanger steak, warm chickpea and ocra salad and anchovies bruchettas. I was impressed by the combinations of spices. A perfect crossover between southern and Mediterranean food. As dessert we had the cheese plate which was also very good. I especially enjoyed the smoked cheese. Very very good.
Very trendy farm-to-table dining in a relaxed atmosphere. Dinner for 4 with appetizers, salads, main course, and desserts was over $110... and worth it. Food was excellent and the flavors were exciting. We were there for about 3 hours and never felt pressured to do anything but thoroughly enjoy ourselves... and so we did.A spacious and clean area with the very BEST wait staff.Not the price range meal I eat every week, but for very special occasions or people, where taste and time matter, you really cant do any better.
Wow, great food and excellent atmosphere. My husband and I split the chicken special and it was the perfect size. The portions are healthy. They have a wonderful selection of appetizers. This place gets busy but it is delicious.
Great environment, food and service for a fine dining date night!
Everyone I spoke to said The National was considered one of the best restaurants on the southeast, I disagree. The last resort/ provisions family are far better at what they do. The hanger steak I had at The national was presented in a way that made me feel I was at a wedding reception. Blah. The service was just fine , the stuffed dates ,rushed and sloppy looking on the plate. Really it comes down to institutional presentation. Pretty damn disappointing for a birthday dinner but you have to try them all to find the hidden gems!
We always enjoy eating at The National! The food is a delicious adventure with spices and veggies that Im not always familiar with but am delighted to try. And the wait staff is consistently friendly and attentive. It can get a bit noisy in the dining room, but I guess thats what happens when lots of people are enjoying themselves in a not very large space.
I loved this resturaunt. The scene and atmosphere was not for me. It almost turned me away but once I tasted the food I was blown away. Everything from our appetizers, main course, and desserts was just amazing all the flavors were so good and just well balanced out. The portions were very small for the price but it definitely made up for that in flavors.
Everyone I spoke to said The National was considered one of the best restaurants on the southeast, I disagree. The last resort/ provisions family are far better at what they do. The hanger steak I had at The national was presented in a way that made me feel I was at a wedding reception. Blah. The service was just fine , the stuffed dates ,rushed and sloppy looking on the plate. Really it comes down to institutional presentation. Pretty damn disappointing for a birthday dinner but you have to try them all to find the hidden gems!
Lovely European atmosphere. My daughter had the Summer Salad and I had the Warm Okra and Chickpea Salad. Both were excellent. The balance of harissa and yogurt in my salad was perfect. Service was fine, though the server visibly lost interest in us when she realized we were only planning to eat salads. Nevertheless, well worth a visit.
The. Best. In. Athens. Hands. Down!I was smart enough to take a visiting friend to The National to give him a taste of the world-class,yet unassuming talent that makes Athens the quiet cultural power center that it is. Peter and his team did not disappoint and went above and beyond to ensure we both left feeling delightfully spoiled rotten. A special thank you to Ally, Claudia and the rest of the bar service team for a very special experience.And the food was off-the-charts delicious, natch. :-)
I’ve been a regular at the National for a few years now (mostly for lunch...as it is the most affordable then) but also for special occasions. Hasn’t ever disappointed! I’m a fan of the power lunch that changes depending on what is in season—also they have gluten free flatbread that is super tasty. Overall I Would highly recommend!We visit our girl at UGA several times a year, and while we try different restaurants, we never skip The National. Great food and service. Just go.
Went here a year or two ago for an anniversary dinner. Had a pork chop special, got food poisoning. But please dont let that deter you, I would still very much reccomend this place. Wonderful place with a great atmosphere. The food was very delicious when I had it, my girlfriends meal was great as well.
Best dinner and impeccable service. I had the seafood special, halibut and marinated olives as an appetizers. The server was so sweet and gave us delicious wine recommendations. I will visit again.
I quite enjoyed the atmosphere but more importantly the food! My husband and I both had the hanger steak and it was delicious. The staff was very pleasant and my house gin and tonic was refreshing and crisp. Lovely evening out :)
The olives were fresh and the lil moo cheese was SO GOOD - very creamy and rich.Overall, salad was good t enjoy.
The National is our favorite restaurant in Athens, GA, and actually a favorite anywhere. Food is consistently delicious with fabulous favorites on the menu and ALWAYS fun specials. The staff is professional, friendly and supremely competent. The atmosphere is a perfect and somehow comes off as both cozy neighborhood and chic cosmopolitan.
The National is our favorite restaurant in Athens, GA, and actually a favorite anywhere. Food is consistently delicious with fabulous favorites on the menu and ALWAYS fun specials. The staff is professional, friendly and supremely competent. The atmosphere is a perfect and somehow comes off as both cozy neighborhood and chic cosmopolitan.
Loved The National! Athens has some great restaurants, The National is one of them, reservations recommended for this small venue. The vegetable plate abd beef duo were wonderful and truly everything on the menu looked scrumptious. The wait staff were attentive but not annoying trying to turn the table too quickly.
Second time there and even better than the first! Atmosphere was nice again. Ride balls and a summer salad with watermelon, grilled peach, mozzarella and balsamic to start. The salad was especially good. Pork chop and the Atlantic Cod were also killer. Just a good time with good food. So worth it.
The house gin and tonics were unusual and excellent but the main courses were a problem. The pork chop was full of fat and gristle and when they replaced it with hangar steak, it was also extremely fatty. I understand that hangar steak is a fattier cut but this was chewy and unpalatable. The vegetable plate was uninspired and I have had much better vegetarian choices at other fine restaurants. The turnips were barely cooked. Gelato was excellent. Excellent service.
Noted for being one of Athens best restaurants, and always busy. the foods a bit esoteric and not typically what youd find on in the area but give it a try and see if its what youre interested in. The fish is always good and very fresh and the service couldnt be more delightful. Make sure you go early to get a seat.
We dove thirty five miles to eat at the National last night. As always, we had a wonderful time enjoying the atmosphere and fabulous meal. Even our drinks were a real joy. The National is always on hand for community fundraisers, contributing great food and they support local, organic farmers by buying their produce. The National is a truly a local treasure. I cant say enough about Peter Dale and his team. Thank you all.
The best meal in Athens can be found here. Each dish is expertly prepared and delicious. Never had a dish that didn’t blow my mind. In addition to the fanatic fare, The National boasts a truly charming atmosphere and friendly staff. Order a cocktail or wine from the extensive list, have a wonderful meal, then take a walk through downtown Athens or catch a movie at Ciné.
There was nothing that did not amaze me about my meal. Even if you’re not a mushroom fan, I recommend getting the mushroom soup as a starter. I would have made that a meal because it was just that good. Service is wonderful, people are friendly, the food is made with a completely unexpected attention to detail; wonderful. (My meal was veggie friendly and they clearly care about their veggie crowd.)
This restaurant is one of the best places that I have ever had the privilege of going. The atmosphere is intimate and comfortable. The servers were incredible (I have rarely witnessed this level of service) and the food was absolutely divine. Everything just melts in your mouth including the handcrafted drinks.
Amazing! Had a great time with my wife at The National after a long day at the Classic City Brew Fest. We just decided to end the day with a couple of great salads and a generously poured glass of whiskey. The bartender made the experience an unforgettable one with his humor and good conversation. Would highly recommend this place. I would go back for the incredibly poignant 70s retro feel of the place alone.
They call it a fine dining restaurant - and they ain’t lyin’.
Our ABSOLUTE #1 favorite restaurant in Athens. Consistently spectacular and flawless service and food. Not to mention they maintain as much local and seasonal sourcing for their menu as possible to achieve all of this. Hats off to Peter and his crew!
The barrimundi was excellent as well as the monkfish. The fish was cooked just right. The texture was smooth, the firmness was just right, and it wasnt dry in the least. The accompanying sauce fit the dish quite well and complemented the creamy smoothness of the fish. The homemade ginger beers were aptly crisp and had lemony notes. Overall, I would highly recommend this place.
Everything was perfect. we ordered the steak frittes, shrimp polenta, super food salads with lamb sausage, and Cuban. My advice: avoid the Cuban. Its delicious, but a Cuban is a Cuban in my opinion. Favorite was the shrimp polenta. Bring friends who like to share.
We chose the restaurant due to it being labeled Mediterranean food. The Menu had a chicken pork beef vegetable option for that night I picked the special a fish dish. I eat a lot of raw and rare fresh fish and love it.I asked our waitress if the fish was fresh enough for the chef to cook rare?She went and asked the chef who said it was. The dish had nice presentation how ever you could smell the fish before taking a bite. I could have forced the fish down but a 30 dollar dish it should be enjoyable. The waitress asked how everything was I told her it was ok. She asked if there was what the problem was. I told her the fish wasnt fresh. I had eaten two small bits of one slice of fish my wife who also eats fish often said she couldnt eat it. The waitress asked if there was anything else she could bring me I told her no. After my wife was done with the vegetable plate the waitress cleared the table asking if we would like dessert. I asked for the check. When the check arrived I was shocked to see the fish was still on the check.I asked the waitress to box the fish up for me to take to my dogs if i was going to pay for it. She said it was no longer available the chef had eaten it.After talking with the chef again the fish was removed from the bill. The waitress was now very rude.I never spoke to the chef.We regularly eat at and love finding nice restaurants and Suport small business owners rather than a chain. I have never had an experience this bad. We wont be back and hope those who go have much better experience .
Had the scallop special. Very nice. My wife had the barramundi - excellent. Great restaurant to eat before a movie at Cine. Not a lot of variety in the menu. The desserts are all fantastic.
Great setting, broad choice and fantastic food with multiple seafood/vegetarian options. The acoustic of the main dining room is terrible though so choose your time wisely if you plan a romantic dinner.
Overpriced, slow service, terrible acoustics, and food that is so ordinary. The so called Portuguese Custard Pie is made of puff pastry and is nothing like the delicious pasteis de nata found in Lisbon. Not a good dining experience at all.
The food is fantastic, the servers and bartenders top notch. I had a question about a type of drink and they not only answered my questions, but also let me try the drink, which I ended up not liking and they made another recommendation for me. I have been at least a dozen times and it is my go to restaurant for out of town guests. Love it!
It was very disappointing... from the limited menu and the food quality to our server. Firstly, our server read the description of the special entrée of the day while I watched another server closeby easily describe the special which sounded much better than what we heard. The hanger steak I ordered was very tough & definitely not worth the $28 charged for it. The hummus appetizer was not very good either & the strange-tasting pita served with it was oily and unedible. I will not go back !!
I visited Athens this weekend and went to The National for lunch. Sat at the bar and was treated to to nicest bartender/server. The ham and cheese sandwich was super. Really nice place and I totally enjoyed.
Inspired, well executed great food! Loved the Rosalyn Carters cheese ring appetizer and Tumeric Tonic drink! Great sandwiches! We finished off lunch with dessert-an amazing peach basque cake with almond gelato! Worth the hour plus drive from ATL!
Every time I have come here the service has been terrible. Long waits just to be seated and once you are seated an even longer wait just to get your order in.
Yummy drinks, tapas, mussels were delicious, dessert was amazing. Service was great even through a busy saturday night dinner crowd. Loved it!
It is a nice place, visually, but I was served a $15 burger that was extremely undercooked in the center, red not pink, and stale chips. I cant imagine what the other dishes are like if a burger cannot be cooked properly.
This is my favorite restaurant in Athens. My favorites are the gluten free flatbread, patatas bravas and I usually get the steak, which they serve with seasonal veggies. I had an incredible soft shell crab here once. What a gem.
Eaten here a few times and always impressed with the quality of the ingredients. They adjust the menu to whats in season locally, so something as simple as a slice of tomato can blow your mind.
One of the best restaurants in Georgia as far as I can tell. Bar / beverage program, food, staff -- all great. Best lunch in Athens. I hear their softball team is pretty rad too.
Our first date and now on 8 yr anniversary Great service. The beet pizzas was world class.Sat outside had a fantastic experience. The new Paris!
One of the best dining experiences weve had around the area. Food was prepared to perfection and wait staff was very pleasant.Will be returning!
Every time Im dinning in the food is exceptional! Best place for lunch and dinner in Athens, GA.
Amazing mediterranean dishes, inmaculate taste, great service. Must try the Risotto with Scallops and Monkfish.
Unanimously one of the best restaurants in Athens. I think the menu can be hit or miss, which is more personal taste, but the food is always exceptional.
I am a big Athens foodie, but I recently ordered takeout and was extremely disappointed. The meal was cold and soaked in an inch of olive oil.
Great food, thanks to Peter Dale and associates. Good value for money, especially at lunch and at special events. Friendly wait staff. Looking for to lunch there tomorrow!
Great wine list! Tasty food with decent portions. Nice calm atmosphere. They also take reservations!
The kitchen prepares fantastic meals, the bartenders are great, and the servers are attentive and friendly. A great option in Athens for lunch or dinner.
The dinner my girlfriend bought me for my birthday here was one of the top three I have ever had in my life. Its that good (and so is she)
Expensive but the food is great. I would have given 5 stars if the dining area wasnt so crowded... Its like they modeled it after airlines---If we can cram one more table then thats that much more profit.
Very pricey, my husbands food was great, mine not so much. We were in and out in less than an hour which was great. Went on a Thursday night
This restaurant has every positive experience we all want when we eat out: FABULOUS food, great service and a wide variety of choices.
Awesome impossible burger and the salads were delicious!!! Great cocktails too.
Our favorite upscale restaurant in Athens. Always a great dining experience. Intimate, relaxed atmosphere with fantastic food and service.
It is a very nice place, BUT it is a very small space with too many tables (in my opinion). Also, my boyfriend had the pork and while it tasted good, he did get food poisoning.
Awesome experience, sat at the bar and the bartender was a really cool guy. Had the chicken and the fall salad and they were unbelievable. Will probably be back before I leave!
Pricey and crowded, sometimes deafening because of the high ceilings. This is the place the Athens cognoscenti go to hang out. Still, the food is memorable and well-prepared.
Wonderful service and delicious food. Perfect anniversary dinner.
Healthy lunch specials, nice atmosphere. Great service.
Delicious food and great atmosphere. Our server was friendly and everything was perfect. Such a charming find!
OMG!!! I was there yesterday and had the pork milanesa I love it!!!! I have to go back next time I visit Athens
One of my favorites. Great every single time. I love the hangar steak and the vegetarian platter and Im a card carrying carnivore.
Some of the best food in Athens. Veggie plate to die for! Not cheap - but worth the price. Our family makes this a monthly visit.
Solid restaurant. Great service. Cocktails are uniquely thought out and appropriately priced. Food is well put together and tasty.
Good food! Service a little slow, but overall nice experience
Great tapas style restaurant
Nice little restaurant located right next to Athens Ciné. The food is delicious, very fresh and actually comes in regular size portion.
Loved this restaurant!!!Good Energy, Bartender was knowledgeable & attentive.
Overpriced food in an an elegant setting. We went for a celebration of graduation but would not go back. The food was not exceptionally good and was expensive. A limited menu.
Good food, Im a big fan of the rustic 1960s vibe (I think I have the right ¯_(ツ)_/¯). Not a bad place if you dont mind paying the big bucks.
I absolutely like their food and service, good location nearby to where I live. The workers are always very kind. Will visit here again.
My top favorite place to eat in Athens! Always delicious!
Great food. Top notch service by our waiter Owen. Our go to spot when in Athens after visiting Creator Comforts.
This is one of the best, if not the best restaurant in Athens. The food is spectacularly delicious; to the point of intoxication sans alcohol.
Hugh Achesons restaurant lived up to the hype; delicious food at reasonable prices. If for whatever reason you are in Athens, GA, put this on your short list.
I wasnt expecting much based on the exterior, but dont judge a book by the cover!The food was here was as delicious as the staff courteous and efficient. I would be delighted to return here again.
Food is top notch.. Wine is reasonably priced and waiting staff is very attentive. Definitely recommended.
Makes a nice meal. Like if its friends with farmers. can have nice dishes for my granddaugther, shes so many allergies
The chicken salad was delicious. Perfect for a pregame bite. Should have photographed it like one of those people.
Best for a date. And the veggie plate was the best.
Love this place. The bar side definitely feels European. Someone did their homework. The wine selection is pretty great.
Loved the impossible burger. Salad with it seemed a bit redundant. Hummus was good, pita was not.
Unique and great food. Not very large portions for the price, but the atmosphere is great
Food was great, awesome desserts. But very crowded and very loud. Not a quiet place for dinner.
Always my favorite place.
Great food, excellent wine list, attwntive warm staff and always great energy in the room.
Great food and great atmosphere. Servers are always polite and knowledgeable and the food is creative and delicious.
In town for a game, saw this place and man am I glad we did! Excellent food, would be a hit in San Fran, LA, Or NYC. Must try.
My favorite place around. Quality peeps and quality treats. The food and service are always top notch.
Had lamb and the meatballs were like rocks. The chops were very very small very disappointing and certainly not worth the 29 dollar price.
One of my favorite restaurants in Athens, the food and atmosphere are always great.
Lovely food and cocktails but very busy. Make sure you get a reservation.
Healthy and tasty menu.
The food and service are exceptional, and it welcomes dogs on its porch. A wonderful experience.
Great food made from scratch. very satisfied :)
Exceptional, with a deep menu, fair prices, good atmosphere and friendly service. A total winner.
One of the best restaurants in Athens. Creative and delicious food that I would highly suggest.
Plain and simple, my experience at The National can be summed up in one sentence. For what youre getting, the price is outrageous. Would not suggest it.
Delicious tapas and small plates. Gimlet was the perfect birthday dessert.
Food was excellent, atmosphere was inviting couldn’t say anything bad about my experience here!
Probably one of the top 3 best restaurants in athens. Worth the price.
I travel a lot and eat at a number of restaurants. This place was top notch. I highly recommend.
Great food and friendly atmosphere! One of our favorite places in Athens.
Food was very delicious and employees were very welcoming and gracious hosts.
I like this location and they have exceptional craft cocktails with fast professional service
Fun bar for a quick meal. Limited off hours menu, so difficult to truly rate
As always, we had outstanding food and wonderful service. Love this place.
Delicious food and a wonderful wine selection!
My husband and I love this place. Still great when busy but I prefer slower times.
Very friendly and responsive staff. We all enjoyed our meals.
Wonderful food and service! A landmark in Athens! Bravo!
Cons: base if the meal was cold (monk fish was hot). A little snobby and overpriced.
Just the right amount of delicious food! Nice place to take Mom too!
Elegant restaurant in a casual college town. Great food, even by big city standards
Amazing food. Great ambiance. Excellent staff.
Great food and great delivery to Creature Comforts!
Very tasty food in a nice spot. A little noisy and very crowded.
Great food, place and customer service! definitely recommend this place though it is a bit pricey.
Great menus, great staff, very friendly and enjoyable experience.
Delicious food and wonderful place to eat in. Very romantic place.
Loved everything about it. Great wine selection
Meh
Quality food and service! I would definitely recommend this place.
Swell drinks. Dont order dinner without seeing the dessert menu
Good value, pleasant outdoor seating available
Delicious! Everything is! Try something new here, 5 stars!
Always great. Been coming here since they opened and never get tired of the place.
Excellent food and atmosphere. Very busy place
Vegetable plate. Chocolate olive oil cake. Supportive colleagues.
OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE, delicious food, convenient, ask for Causey- shes the best!
Incredible entrees, tasty desserts, make reservations ...
Great people, delectable food, refreshing cocktails. Perfection.
Excellent service and staff, amazing food and ambiance.
Great food, amazing atmosphere. Love it
Delicious food! Try the Snowbird Cocktail!
Fantastic food and top notch service. As always!
They have a great selection of mouthwatering meals!
Limited menu kinda expensive but good eatings.
Food is very good particularly if you like healthy
Awesome Environment only topped by flavors and service.
This is without a doubt the best restaurant Athens has to offer.
Needs more options
Upscale (for Athens) atmosphere and creative dishes.
Fantastic service...brussell sprouts are fabulous
Amazing food but pricey.
Total reviews rating 4.6
199 Reviews for The National 2023:
Review №1
2022-01-21The atmosphere was lovely and the service was delightful. Our server made helpful suggestions and recommendations as well. We were able to enjoy a lovely evening for our anniversary. The food was delicious and they were very attentive to my food allergies. I made the reservation through Resy and it was so easy and they were ready for us as soon as we arrived. The staff consistently wished us a happy anniversary and it was so sweet. We will definitely be coming back for a future date night!
Review №2
2022-04-29Such an amazing experience! The menu has such variety, the food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere felt like a European cafe. We had several tapas/starters and loved everything!
Review №3
2022-02-18We had a belated Valentines dinner at The National and had an excellent time. The restaurant at twilight is beautiful with twinkling candles and fresh flowers on the table. Its small enough that it feels cozy but still has a lively atmosphere. We ordered the manchego stuffed dates and fresh baguette which were both awesome. We then had the pork chop and hanger steak which were both cooked to perfection and the perfect amount of food for an entree. We finished our meal with the cherry Basque cake which was tart and sweet...a perfect way to end your meal. The service was great and with a reservation, we were seated immediately. We sat inside but on a nice night, sitting outside would be lovely as well.
Review №4
2022-02-28Very impressed with dinner Saturday night. The crispy potatoes are even better than mashed potatoes. Great attention to detail to all of our orders and excellent service. I was told Chicks Fish was the best restaurant in Athens but would very much disagree. The National is prides themselves on the ingredients they used and will definitely come back. Not inexpensive but worth it. They do have a small menu that changes but that is understandable.
Review №5
2022-02-18This was our first experience dining inside since the Delta and Omicron surges and not only did the National go out of their way to make us feel safe (open windows and masked patrons/staff 😊), the food was outstanding! This is THE place to come for locally sourced fare prepared perfectly, creatively, and off the charts yummy! The service was spot on. We will definitely be back and will highly recommend this location to everyone we know visiting Athens. Thank you!
Review №6
2022-01-16TLDR: fine dining worth the price tag, save for a special occasion so you can splurge or grab drinks, appetizers, and dessert to make it a bit more affordableI had been eyeing this spot for over 6 months before I felt like I had an reason special enough to eat here. I came here to celebrate getting a job in Athens and it was worth the wait.My partner and I sat at the bar so we could see the entire restaurant and be close and personal with the staff, all who were friendly, personable, and excellent.Patatas bravas were a favorite of mine when traveling in Spain and The National’s spin on this traditional appetizer is spectacular.It paired nicely with this pomegranate vodka drink the bartender made for me, an off menu option if you ask nicely.We had a delightful desert of pistachio ice cream, vanilla cake, and strawberry glaze.Several items on the menu change with the seasons so check online before you venture here. Everything they make is high quality and delicious, but you might not be able to order the same items we got when we went.I look forward to returning for my next big life celebration!I came back with my sister in November of 2021 for drinks, apps, and dessert and we had a great time! We were able to sit outside socially distanced and stay warm with the heaters they have. The staff were all super kind and quick with everything. The cocktails were incredible, the appetizers delightful, and the ice cream was the perfect finish to a great day.
Review №7
2022-05-26Food was great and I had a great time dining.Their lunch menu is relatively small so I would like see what dinner is like.Overall quality food and great vibe.Servers were excellent and very courteous.There are outdoor areas but it was a bit windy so we decided to stay indoors.They have a bar area as well.
Review №8
2022-04-08I used to love The National and in fact, this was my go-to place to bring out-of-town guests. The food is exceptional. In my last visit, I gave a 27% tip on an $159 bill (pre tax). Well apparently that was not enough. The waiter forged my numbers and added another $5 on top what I had already given. What is an extra $5 when you are already at $202? Not much, but it certainly left a bad taste in my mouth and I dont plan to return there anytime soon.
Review №9
2022-04-02You do need a reservation for this restaurant. The space outside was a bit small but I didnt mind. The food was delicious, the service was very good. The portion sizes were good and I didnt over eat. It was a very good evening and I enjoyed spending my time there.
Review №10
2022-04-15The Power Lunch was AWESOME today!!! Its always great, but something about those new peas made it extra special today. Everything was so fresh and delish!