The Place

The Place sits directly across from the Arch on E Broad Street, which gives it one of the best locations in downtown Athens. But it is the food and the family behind it that make the restaurant worth knowing. Owned and operated by UGA graduates Alan and Ryan Pope, The Place serves refined Southern comfort cuisine built on a collection of family recipes that have been passed down and reworked with a modern touch. The menu covers the full range of Southern comfort. Buttermilk Chicken and Shrimp and Grits are standouts at dinner, while lunch features hand pressed burgers and traditional meat and three platters that feel like a weekday meal at your best friend's parents' house. Dinner entrees run $12 to $25, and lunch stays in the $8 to $10 range, making this one of the better values in downtown Athens dining. The building has the kind of character that cannot be manufactured. Old lights, wood floors, exposed brick walls, and seating that makes the space feel like it has been around for generations. Upstairs, an intimate dining area with a full bar stays open late and gives the restaurant a second personality after dark. The downstairs is family friendly and relaxed during the day, while the upstairs draws a crowd looking for drinks and a more social atmosphere in the evening. The Place is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, with Sunday brunch from 10 AM to 2 PM and dinner from 4 PM to 9 PM. No reservations are needed for most visits, but the restaurant fills up quickly on game days and weekend evenings.