The prices were a little high but once I saw the food I totally understood why :-) fresh, locally sourced food, that was prepared at a truly elevated, gourmet level. Loved everything I ate :-)
Marshall Williams
I love Heirloom Cafe! They are always so accommodating when I bring my dog, and are so sweet to him. Their food is also very fresh and great. The overall environment is very welcoming, and I always recommend this place to others.
Bagoni Bietou
I was there for a high school cheerleader awards dinner on a rainy, wet night. The food was very good, served for us buffet stile. I had the salad with ham and mashed potatoes (although I did try some of the mac&cheese ) all was very good. The service I can't comment on however, the employees were friendly and helpful
Georgia B.
This review is for a recent weekday lunch. While we arrived about 45 minutes before their closing time and Heirloom was 90% occupied, we were served promptly. ++. Ambiance is breezy, refined hippy? F2T resto. There are two patios and one converted garage? open indoor DR. There is a small bar inside as well. Laid back urban vibe. +++. Food is updated Southern. Apparently their menu changes often as they use local and seasonal ingredients. Beyond typical options, they offer proteins like tofu for salads, side dishes like roasted veggies for their burgers and interesting dressings and sauces. We had their Autumn Salad and Grass-fed burger. Both dishes were well executed and delicious! The gf burger was perfect temp and probably the best burger I've had in several years. The chef definitely knows what he/she is doing here! +. Price is reasonable. +. Service is prompt. Our waitress wasn't very knowledgeable but friendly. Their hours are staggered: brunch on weekends, lunch on Tuesdays to Fridays and dinners on Wednesdays to Saturdays. +. Parking is limited small private lot and is free. MY RATINGS - - - Inhumane - - Disgusted - Don't bother = Missed the Mark + Good ++ Better +++ EDIBLE...WHERE have you been all my LiFe!
Jon H.
Was recommended to this place by a friend. Very disappointed in the food, server and the overall experience. I have checked some of the other bad reviews and they pretty much hit the mark. Overpriced and some of the people act like they are doing you a favor by being in their presence. I worked in the restaurant industry for over 30 years and have never seen people so nonchalant about customers and customer service.
Athens F.
I have given this place multiple opportunities until this past Sunday. I was with a party of 4 and had to wait 20-30 minutes. No problem on waiting. It was a little busy. We went and got a drink from the bartender which was really gracious. We get called for our table and the hostess tries to seat us inside after we had asked for a table outside. This is where the attitude starts with the hostess. After 10 minutes of being sat, there is still no one has greeted us yet. We noticed that a couple of tables around us that were sat after us was already getting food. I brought this up to the hostess and again with attitude and with a condescending voice telling me "I will be ok". F****** really? You hear a complaint about not having service and you tell me "I will be ok". Are you a therapist? I think not! For all of you that want to jump in about people being short staffed, they were not short staffed. This was just the topping on the cake. Prior encounters at this restaurant have been rude or laxidasical service, paying $4 extra on a salad for maybe an ounce of chicken and quasi ok food. I will make sure to direct everyone I know going forward to not eat here.
Bruce B.
Food is eclectic and great. Bit of a wait but worth it if you have the time. Funky atmosphere is a plus
Jackie Payne
Food was okay, nothing special. Waiter screwed up my order twice last time I didn't say anything because my dining partner was almost finished with his meal.
Aaron G.
I ordered a Summer Salad for takeout, sounded good to me. Added the Chicken for an extra $4 - protein is important for energy so I splurge. Tomato Vinaigrette....I'll give it a whirl, I'm intrigued. With eyes wide and stomach empty I lifted the jet-white flaps of the box and peered in with excitement. Almost as fast as I could feel the dopamine surging through my veins it was replaced by a rush of regret, sadness, and sorrow. "Where is the chicken?" I pondered. Surely, it must be hiding UNDER the lettuce. I begin to dig with the ferocity of a coal miner on his first day, eager to prove to my body that the dopamine floodgates should yet again open. I uncovered only more disappointment. Past the crisp lettuce was brown, rotting lettuce, intermingling with 3 cucumber slices. Deeper I dug for the bird flesh, yet I was destined to find only a few large Feta crumbles partying with a handful of average pecans...their "smoked" flavor was undoubtely with my chicken - missing. My high hopes for a locally-sourced feast ended with a box of partially rotting produce and an gaping absence what should have been filled with chicken. Perhaps spare yourself this endeavor and move onward to a more reliable eatery.
Tim Moy
Whether you like this place or not is really based on preference. They do everything well here and the bohemian feel really fits in with the neighborhood. Staff are attentive and the portions are satisfying. Bit of a wait and there's no shade to sit in during that time, so be prepared to get a tan on those sunny days.They limit their offerings, likely by design, and nothing was really eye catching. We struggled with the menu a bit and the preference thing really comes up in the food. The food is very wholesome and you can tell they use fresh ingredients, which can lack some sweetness especially in the syrup and cinnamon roll glaze. My personal taste buds like a bit more hints of sugar, but I'm not taking any stars away for the preference aspect.We did order one dish with biscuits which a few minutes later we were told they were out of, so that was a disappointing aspect. Also the rasberry pancakes were more rasberry than pancake.All in all though, a decent enough experience.
Two friends and I had dinner at Heirloom on Saturday night. I came up from Atlanta, and if this place represents Athens dining, the scene there must be amazing. Everything about the experience was wonderful. The waitress is my new favorite waitress in the whole world; she was funny, candid, cheerful and knowledgeable (I wish I remembered her name). The patio dining was comfortable on a July evening. It wasn't very crowded at all (I hope they're doing decent business because they deserve a crowd). I had a hibiscus/raspberry margarita, which was also a really, really good bittersweet invention of their bartender. For an appetizer, we shared fried green tomatoes, which were perfectly breaded and cooked, and were served atop a wonderful spicy sauce. Chicken mull soup (an Athens specialty) was out-of-this-world tasty. As a main dish, I had the forager's pie - kind of like a shepherd's pie except with mushrooms and veggies ... but better. I mean scrape-the-bowl better! My friends both had grass-fed burgers, which they both said were good. One of them had a side of mac and cheese with crawfish and jalapeno, which he said was excellent. We got out of there with a $98 bill plus tip -- very reasonable considering the quality of the food, service and comfortable atmosphere.
S7533SBmichaelp
Good day today at the Heirloom. UGA classes are out, no waiting line, weather was pleasant. Had a Love on a Biscuit and The Omelet. Everything cooked fresh. Food tasted great but the coffee refills a little hard to get. Had to ask for scones to get them and this used to be an automatic thing. Overall a good visit, however.
Goliveit
I used to love Heirloom, and the folks who run it are great--real contributors to Athens. But....When Heirloom opened in 2011 and for a few years it was my favorite restaurant in Athens. I went there frequently. But it has suffered over the years, with deteriorating service, and, for the money, a menu that really doesn't change much and frequently overcrowded and noisy atmosphere inside. The wait staff often seemed immature, inexperienced, overwhelmed and the service is slow. Maybe that's a result of Athens being a college town. Sadly, I won't be going there anymore after my last experience. I suggest Homemade or the National for a pricey place to eat.
Chris H.
Wow. This is normally our place to go for a nice meal. I am not sure what is going on, but the wait time is too much. 40 minutes and still no food. Then tried to wait until the food magically appeared to give us our receipt. Will not be going back. Spring was awesome, but summer sucks!
Kevin Mitchell
My first visit to Athens was topped off with a delightful and tasty breakfast/brunch with family! Excellent service, and great experience....tip, if you're from out of town don't expect mimosa or bloody mary with your coffee unless you come after 11:00.
The prices were a little high but once I saw the food I totally understood why :-) fresh, locally sourced food, that was prepared at a truly elevated, gourmet level. Loved everything I ate :-)
I love Heirloom Cafe! They are always so accommodating when I bring my dog, and are so sweet to him. Their food is also very fresh and great. The overall environment is very welcoming, and I always recommend this place to others.
I was there for a high school cheerleader awards dinner on a rainy, wet night. The food was very good, served for us buffet stile. I had the salad with ham and mashed potatoes (although I did try some of the mac&cheese ) all was very good. The service I can't comment on however, the employees were friendly and helpful
This review is for a recent weekday lunch. While we arrived about 45 minutes before their closing time and Heirloom was 90% occupied, we were served promptly. ++. Ambiance is breezy, refined hippy? F2T resto. There are two patios and one converted garage? open indoor DR. There is a small bar inside as well. Laid back urban vibe. +++. Food is updated Southern. Apparently their menu changes often as they use local and seasonal ingredients. Beyond typical options, they offer proteins like tofu for salads, side dishes like roasted veggies for their burgers and interesting dressings and sauces. We had their Autumn Salad and Grass-fed burger. Both dishes were well executed and delicious! The gf burger was perfect temp and probably the best burger I've had in several years. The chef definitely knows what he/she is doing here! +. Price is reasonable. +. Service is prompt. Our waitress wasn't very knowledgeable but friendly. Their hours are staggered: brunch on weekends, lunch on Tuesdays to Fridays and dinners on Wednesdays to Saturdays. +. Parking is limited small private lot and is free. MY RATINGS - - - Inhumane - - Disgusted - Don't bother = Missed the Mark + Good ++ Better +++ EDIBLE...WHERE have you been all my LiFe!
Was recommended to this place by a friend. Very disappointed in the food, server and the overall experience. I have checked some of the other bad reviews and they pretty much hit the mark. Overpriced and some of the people act like they are doing you a favor by being in their presence. I worked in the restaurant industry for over 30 years and have never seen people so nonchalant about customers and customer service.
I have given this place multiple opportunities until this past Sunday. I was with a party of 4 and had to wait 20-30 minutes. No problem on waiting. It was a little busy. We went and got a drink from the bartender which was really gracious. We get called for our table and the hostess tries to seat us inside after we had asked for a table outside. This is where the attitude starts with the hostess. After 10 minutes of being sat, there is still no one has greeted us yet. We noticed that a couple of tables around us that were sat after us was already getting food. I brought this up to the hostess and again with attitude and with a condescending voice telling me "I will be ok". F****** really? You hear a complaint about not having service and you tell me "I will be ok". Are you a therapist? I think not! For all of you that want to jump in about people being short staffed, they were not short staffed. This was just the topping on the cake. Prior encounters at this restaurant have been rude or laxidasical service, paying $4 extra on a salad for maybe an ounce of chicken and quasi ok food. I will make sure to direct everyone I know going forward to not eat here.
Food is eclectic and great. Bit of a wait but worth it if you have the time. Funky atmosphere is a plus
Food was okay, nothing special. Waiter screwed up my order twice last time I didn't say anything because my dining partner was almost finished with his meal.
I ordered a Summer Salad for takeout, sounded good to me. Added the Chicken for an extra $4 - protein is important for energy so I splurge. Tomato Vinaigrette....I'll give it a whirl, I'm intrigued. With eyes wide and stomach empty I lifted the jet-white flaps of the box and peered in with excitement. Almost as fast as I could feel the dopamine surging through my veins it was replaced by a rush of regret, sadness, and sorrow. "Where is the chicken?" I pondered. Surely, it must be hiding UNDER the lettuce. I begin to dig with the ferocity of a coal miner on his first day, eager to prove to my body that the dopamine floodgates should yet again open. I uncovered only more disappointment. Past the crisp lettuce was brown, rotting lettuce, intermingling with 3 cucumber slices. Deeper I dug for the bird flesh, yet I was destined to find only a few large Feta crumbles partying with a handful of average pecans...their "smoked" flavor was undoubtely with my chicken - missing. My high hopes for a locally-sourced feast ended with a box of partially rotting produce and an gaping absence what should have been filled with chicken. Perhaps spare yourself this endeavor and move onward to a more reliable eatery.
Whether you like this place or not is really based on preference. They do everything well here and the bohemian feel really fits in with the neighborhood. Staff are attentive and the portions are satisfying. Bit of a wait and there's no shade to sit in during that time, so be prepared to get a tan on those sunny days.They limit their offerings, likely by design, and nothing was really eye catching. We struggled with the menu a bit and the preference thing really comes up in the food. The food is very wholesome and you can tell they use fresh ingredients, which can lack some sweetness especially in the syrup and cinnamon roll glaze. My personal taste buds like a bit more hints of sugar, but I'm not taking any stars away for the preference aspect.We did order one dish with biscuits which a few minutes later we were told they were out of, so that was a disappointing aspect. Also the rasberry pancakes were more rasberry than pancake.All in all though, a decent enough experience.
Restaurantji Recommends
Two friends and I had dinner at Heirloom on Saturday night. I came up from Atlanta, and if this place represents Athens dining, the scene there must be amazing. Everything about the experience was wonderful. The waitress is my new favorite waitress in the whole world; she was funny, candid, cheerful and knowledgeable (I wish I remembered her name). The patio dining was comfortable on a July evening. It wasn't very crowded at all (I hope they're doing decent business because they deserve a crowd). I had a hibiscus/raspberry margarita, which was also a really, really good bittersweet invention of their bartender. For an appetizer, we shared fried green tomatoes, which were perfectly breaded and cooked, and were served atop a wonderful spicy sauce. Chicken mull soup (an Athens specialty) was out-of-this-world tasty. As a main dish, I had the forager's pie - kind of like a shepherd's pie except with mushrooms and veggies ... but better. I mean scrape-the-bowl better! My friends both had grass-fed burgers, which they both said were good. One of them had a side of mac and cheese with crawfish and jalapeno, which he said was excellent. We got out of there with a $98 bill plus tip -- very reasonable considering the quality of the food, service and comfortable atmosphere.
Good day today at the Heirloom. UGA classes are out, no waiting line, weather was pleasant. Had a Love on a Biscuit and The Omelet. Everything cooked fresh. Food tasted great but the coffee refills a little hard to get. Had to ask for scones to get them and this used to be an automatic thing. Overall a good visit, however.
I used to love Heirloom, and the folks who run it are great--real contributors to Athens. But....When Heirloom opened in 2011 and for a few years it was my favorite restaurant in Athens. I went there frequently. But it has suffered over the years, with deteriorating service, and, for the money, a menu that really doesn't change much and frequently overcrowded and noisy atmosphere inside. The wait staff often seemed immature, inexperienced, overwhelmed and the service is slow. Maybe that's a result of Athens being a college town. Sadly, I won't be going there anymore after my last experience. I suggest Homemade or the National for a pricey place to eat.
Wow. This is normally our place to go for a nice meal. I am not sure what is going on, but the wait time is too much. 40 minutes and still no food. Then tried to wait until the food magically appeared to give us our receipt. Will not be going back. Spring was awesome, but summer sucks!
My first visit to Athens was topped off with a delightful and tasty breakfast/brunch with family! Excellent service, and great experience....tip, if you're from out of town don't expect mimosa or bloody mary with your coffee unless you come after 11:00.