Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
American
International
Delivery
Bakery
Beer
Vegetarian restaurant located in a historical building that has been restored. Menu consists of classic American food like pancakes and sandwiches plus hot bowls, salads, desserts, plus a whole cakes and pie service with 48 hours request. Brunch 10am-2pm on Sat. Reported closed October 2022.
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Last update on 09 Oct 2022 by shanisejordan
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48 Reviews
First Review by HermosaJulieJo
sophiefrenchfry
Points +1429
Golden Bowl! - Edit
The Grit is a must visit place for vegans and vegetarians who find themselves in lovely Athens, Georgia. It is an eclectic restaurant serving southern food, vegetarian style. If you can only order one thing on the menu, please consider the golden bowl. It is a lovely, simple bowl with rice, delicious cubes of tofu, veggies, and, cheese for the vegetarians out there. They have a veggie plate with some standards, and some daily specials that change seasonally. If you have a sweet tooth, it is a good idea to save room for dessert. Their selection is mouth watering, and they have lots of choices for vegans and vegetarians. If you go to the Grit on Sunday or Saturday, they have a different menu for brunch. My favorite is their regular menu, but it is a nice, chill place to enjoy a weekend morning if you are into the brunch scene. The only thing that is a negative about The Grit is that it can be a little hard to park. My recommendation is to try to park in the little parallel spots on Meigs Street behind the restaurant.
Read morePros: Amazing desserts, Reasonable prices, Tasty southern yumminess
Cons: Parking can take a little while sometimes
Guest
natalie_uzee
Points +110
An Athens staple - Edit
I've made trips from Atlanta to Athens that were centered around eating at the Grit! Brunch menu is a little more limited vegan-wise than I think it could be (maybe offering vegan cheese would help) and I've sometimes I've gotten service that is less than friendly, but everything I've ordered tastes incredible! I found that the lunch/dinner menu was more accommodating to vegans. Also, their vegan cakes and pies are a must. Get a slice for the road if you're too full!!
Read moreGuest
Hanseat
Points +77
Nice Brunch - Edit
I visited The Grit for brunch. The selection is a little bit heavy on the egg side (which I don't eat), but we were happy with the items we ordered. Portions are good and everything was tasty, especially the biscuits. Service was very good; fast and friendly.
Read morePros: nice atmoshpere, fast and friendly service, good sized portions
Cons: would like to see more vegan selection
Guest
lowcountrynhc
Points +67
Fun vibe, good food - Edit
A classic sort of hippy-vegetarian-cafe vibe, with good service and great food. Using flags to cross the street from the parking lot is a fun addition for the kiddies! It would be nice if they didn't cook so many veggies in the same pot as the noodles, because that would expand the gluten-free options considerably. The tofu cup is great!
Read morePros: Great Food, Good Service, Professional without being snooty
Guest
gf.vegan
Points +20
Virtually no options for a gluten-free vegan - Edit
I used to love eating at the Grit when I was vegetarian. It's low-key, inexpensive, and has a gritty character. Now that I'm vegan (and gluten-free), I won't be going back. The vegan options are few and far between, and virtually all of them contain gluten (with the exception of a side salad, chips & salsa, and beans & rice). I realize that the restaurant doesn't advertise itself as a vegan/gluten-free restaurant, but I was shocked by how few options there were and how unaccomodating and annoyed the server was. I ended up getting a side salad that was really just a pile of iceberg lettuce and a bowl of pinto beans with about a tablespoon of rice and some shredded carrots on top. Disappointing.
Read moreThe Grit is a classic Athens eatery, but it's not for the health conscious vegetarian.
Pros: Funky ambience, Inexpensive
Cons: Grouchy server, Insufficient vegan options
Guest
Sarah P
Points +8762
Worth a meal - Edit
We ate at The Grit for lunch one day then breakfast the next, and the food was consistently good and filling. We ordered seitan sandwiches for lunch, which were delicious but not at all healthy, along with salads topped with the most delicious sesame ginger dressing ever. The service that day was marginal.
Read moreFor breakfast the following day we had the burrito made vegan, which was big and filling, and we stayed on until lunch time to order the specials platter. All the food was delicious, and the specials were much healthier options and very filling. The service that day was superb, and spanned two servers between shifts who were each amazingly helpful and friendly. I recommend The Grit for a delicious and filling meal, though I wish there were more options in Athens, and I wish The Grit was more vegan-centered than egg-and-dairy-centered (that was a little disappointing).
Pros: Delicious ample food, Great seitan, Vegan baked treats available
Cons: Too much dairy & eggs, Service varies, Only veg option in Athens
Guest
calamaestra
Points +3408
delicious! - Edit
My friends and I had a wonderful meal here. They have plenty of vegan options. The service was great. The food was tasty. No one left disappointed. I'm not in Athens often but I will return here soon.
Read moreGuest
pandapharmd
Points +89
Golden Bowl!!! - Edit
I love the golden bowl so much! The desserts are always excellent as well. I've tried other menu items and while they're always at least tasty, most haven't been great so I just stick with the golden bowl now. Service is hit or miss depending on who's working that day; could be fantastic, could leave a lot to be desired, but if you order the golden bowl that will always be amazing!
Read morePros: Golden Bowl, Desserts, Cookbook
Cons: Russian roulette staff
Guest
hole72
Points +34
So happy to have found this place - Edit
I loved everything about my experience here
Read morePros: Great Food, Great Atmosphere
Cons: Parking
Guest
dwdrummond
Points +111
Great Service, So So Food - Edit
We stopped through Athens while traveling and found this place through Happy Cow. We had breakfast. We're vegan and used to green smoothie breakfasts. This place was more southern cooking vegan, which was fine and filling, but a bit too heavy for me. The service was great and the atmosphere was great too.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Saturday April 27, 2013
Pros: Service, Atmosphere, Portions
Cons: Not a big variety, Not good vegan ingredients, Lacking fresh flavors
Guest
2Chickens
Points +33
Tasty, good find! - Edit
We went to Athens this past weekend on a quick getaway - I love college towns and figured they must have a veggie restaurant! Thanks to Happy Cow, we found The Grit. I had the vegan bahn mi sandwich, made with seitan, which was huge! I couldn't finish it. My omnivore husband had the Mediterranean plate. The tabbouleh was a little dry, but the hummus and falafel were good. I wanted a piece of the pecan pie, but the server said it wasn't vegan. My husband had a piece of the chocolate cake and liked it. Good atmosphere and with two people, we didn't have to wait on a Friday night - we sat at the bar. I would definitely recommend the Grit!
Read morePros: Atmosphere, Vegan options, Quick service
Cons: Wish they had more vegan choices
Guest
tsap
Points +73
Fun(ky) and Tasty - Edit
Enjoyed my visit to The Grit. Had the Deluxe Quesadilla with crunchy veggies and cheese. Warning, the portion size is huge. As much as I wanted to, I could not finish it. Two people could probably share. The menu is large and varied, with something sure to please most veggies and nonveggies alike.
Read moreGuest
TRaeCH
Points +384
Good Southern Comfort Food - Edit
The Grit wants to be that trendy, casual, fun-loving downtown hangout - complete with kitschy menu - where you take friends, family and visitors to prove to them that Athens is cool. The Grit succeeds quite well on this front.
Read moreThe menu is extensive and has, without question, something for everyone - even non-vegetarians. Soups, salads, sandwiches (both hearty and light), filling main courses and more than a few re-imaginations of American staples (club sandwich, cheese dog, burgers and chili). There is also a full page of the menu devoted to international-style dishes from India, Mexico, Italy and the Middle East.
My main, the Golden Bowl, was very tasty. The mix of perfectly sautéed tofu, nutritional yeast and brown rice was great - I couldn't finish it all. My friend ordered the Tofu Reuben Sandwich which was good - a flavourful Russian dressing is used.
We were both too full to consider dessert but their 100% homemade selection was appetizing.
Other notes: it can get crowded inside. We went for an early lunch and didn't have to wait, but the place started filling up quickly after we arrived. We were lucky enough to snag a spot on their terrace out front and enjoyed the sights of college students and smell of fresh Georgian air. I remember the water being particularly good, too!
Also, be aware that they do not split up bills at The Grit. If you sit a a group, you pay one bill.
Overall this is a good restaurant in a very nice little city. It serves good food in a relaxed atmosphere but it's not on par with places like the Chicago Diner or Watercourse Foods in Denver where the food doesn't merely fill you up, it makes you forget where you are.
Pros: Atmosphere, Tasty, Extensive Menu
Cons: Can't split cost among table
Guest
vegan feral
Points +52
Great food - Edit
The first time I went here I wasn't even a vegetarian and I loved it. Now several years later I am a vegan and I still love it. There are several choices for vegans which sometimes makes deciding on a dish difficult.
Read moreI take my meat eating friends to the Grit and they love it!
I use a lot of the recipes from the cookbook and people can't even tell that a dish is vegan of vegetarian.
As for the desserts, the cakes are moist, the cookies are substantial, and the flavor is AMAZING!
As a rule you must go back at least 3 times so you can sample enough menu items to get a taste of the Grit.
Pros: Great food, All veg
Guest
hippublican
Points +286
Great lunch! - Edit
This place has delicious sandwiches and the chocolate cake is the BEST I've ever had (including cakes from my pregan days)! The outdoor seating is nice because you can bring your dog and avoid the loud music and crowdedness of the inside.
Read morePros: outdoor seating, inexpensive
Cons: loud, too many hipsters
Guest
KATHLEEN W.
Points +92
GREAT place in Georgia! - Edit
I was in Georgia for business, and decided to try the Grit's Sunday brunch. It was wonderful. The place gets very crowded, and we had to wait 25 minutes for a table, but the food was amazing. Their vegan cakes are great too ( I took a slice back to the hotel for later). I wish they had more vegan items on the menu, but this is a great place to eat!
Read morePros: good food, nice service
Cons: could use more vegan items on the menu
Guest
yourfacehxc
Points +202
yes, please - Edit
this spot came highly recommended from, well, everyone in athens. in addition, they all told me to get the same thing...the golden bowl. sounds pretty appetizing, right? well it was! truth be told it wasn't quite as bumping with flavor as i had hoped however the meal was filling and still good...i just felt it was missing something. everything on the menu sounded quite delicious and i wish i could spend more time in this restaurant trying different dishes. but alas, one night was all i got. still, the next time i'm in athens i will make it a point to eat here again.
Read morePros: friendly staff, great variety, delicious
Guest
clockkicker
Points +21
all it's cracked up to be - Edit
great southern style vegetarian place with a rotating menu and always some kind of fun specials. lots of fake-meat options for those meat lovers who want to eat veg for a change. lots of more healthy tofu/veggie oriented dishes also. fair prices. been an athens staple for years and will stay that way i imagine.
Read moreGuest
audrey
Points +40
We always hit this place when we're in Athens - Edit
This is a great place to eat. We've been here a couple times (we don't live in Athens). It's an artsy place that's well suited for the college crowd. I got the hummus and raw vegetables- I'd never thought of that before! Now I eat raw vegetables with hummus a lot. The food was great. It can get crowded sometimes. It was a little difficult to keep my two-year-old occupied and out of other people's way.
Read morePros: great food, funky, artsy feel
Cons: little crowded
Guest
chandadefoor
Points +45
Love The Grit - Edit
My hubbie and I travel to Athens a good bit, and we always eat at The Grit. We love it, and we have always had a good experience. You just have to ask if something is vegan--they even have vegan cakes.
Read morePros: Vegan Cakes, Filling Food, Large Amounts
Cons: Need more vegan
Guest
HermosaJulieJo
Points +35
The Grit -- the epitome of vegetarian food!! - Edit
Boy oh boy, do I wish that there were a "Western Grit" here in lovely southern California (hey - let me know if you want to start one...) - let me tell you - I would walk a mile to eat at The Grit! I happily learned about this place when traveling for business and ate there every night once I found it. Not only is the food BEYOND FANTASTIC (and i have been a veg for 25 years), the DESSERTS are to DIE FOR!!!! Man - give me a piece of coconut cake any day, or a delicious slice of anything they have to offer - the food is out of this world!!! And every time I went there, they were crowded with many people (some of them obviously not vegetarian) who were chomping with vigor on the delights they have to offer - from the daily specials to their standard faire, you cannot lose when you order one of their delicious delights. (And I have the cookbook, too... i have made some of the items, but nothing beats being there... the t-shirts are cute, too!!!)
Read moreThanks, GRIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! from one small grit in Athens to a BIG fan in Los Angeles!! Thanks!!
Pros: Amazing savory dishes, Outrageous Desserts, Helpful +Nice Waitstaff
Cons: Too Far from So Cal, Too Far from So Cal, Too Far from So Cal!!!
Guest
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