Last Resort Grill

Last Resort Grill has been the anchor of downtown Athens dining since 1992. The restaurant occupies a space on W Clayton Street with real history. The original Last Resort opened as a music venue in 1966, hosting acts like Jimmy Buffett and Steve Martin before the kitchen took over. Three decades later, the food is the show, and it has earned its reputation as one of the best restaurants in Athens, GA. The cooking is southwestern inspired Southern cuisine, a combination that sounds unusual on paper but makes perfect sense on the plate. The menu changes with the seasons and leans into the quality of local ingredients. Expect bold flavors, generous portions, and a wine list that holds up against restaurants in much larger cities. Dinner service runs seven nights a week starting at 5 PM, with brunch and lunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM. Kelly and Tom Call took over ownership in January 2023, and the transition has been seamless. The kitchen still delivers the standard that regulars expect, and the dining room still fills up on weekends without fail. The space itself is warm and inviting, with local artwork on the walls that rotates regularly and adds to the creative energy of the room. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially on UGA game weekends and during graduation. The restaurant sits right in the heart of downtown Athens, within walking distance of everything on Clayton Street and the surrounding blocks. Parking is available on the street and in nearby lots. At the $$$ price point, it sits at the upper end of Athens dining but delivers value that justifies every dollar.