11 Georgia Meat-And-Three Cafes That Capture The Sunday Supper Vibe
Nothing says Southern hospitality like a good old-fashioned meat-and-three cafe. These homestyle eateries serve up a main meat dish with three sides, just like grandma used to make for Sunday supper. Georgia boasts some of the best spots where you can fill your plate with comfort classics and feel right at home. Get ready for a mouthwatering tour of the Peach State’s most beloved family-style dining destinations!
1. Mary Mac’s Tea Room (Atlanta, GA)
Since 1945, this Atlanta institution has been serving up Southern hospitality on a plate. The pencil-and-paper ordering system is still in use, a charming nod to simpler times.
First-timers get a complimentary cup of pot likker (the savory liquid from cooked greens) with cornbread – a tradition I never skip! Their fried chicken practically falls off the bone, and the yeast rolls are heavenly little clouds of buttery goodness.
Pro tip: Save room for the peach cobbler, which tastes like summer in Georgia, even in December.
2. Busy Bee Café (Atlanta, GA)
Operating since 1947, Busy Bee’s fried chicken recipe hasn’t changed for good reason – it’s absolutely perfect. The chicken marinates for 12 hours before being hand-battered and fried to golden perfection.
Civil rights leaders once gathered here, making this spot as rich in history as it is in flavor. I always order the oxtails with rice and gravy when available; they’re fall-off-the-bone tender and swimming in savory goodness.
The candied yams taste like dessert, striking that magical sweet-savory balance that defines Southern cooking.
3. Matthews Cafeteria (Tucker, GA)
Walking into Matthews feels like stepping into 1955, because almost nothing has changed since they opened their doors that year! The cafeteria line moves quickly as friendly servers heap generous portions onto your tray.
Family-owned for three generations, this Tucker landmark serves what might be the best country-fried steak I’ve ever put in my mouth. Their squash casserole recipe is legendary; rumor has it even former presidents have requested it.
Cash only and closed on Sundays, Matthews embodies old-school Southern traditions in all the right ways.
4. The Colonnade (Atlanta, GA)
Serving Atlanta since 1927, The Colonnade bridges generations with its unique mix of elderly regulars who’ve been coming for decades and hipsters discovering its retro charm. The sweet tea comes in goblets so large you might need two hands!
Their fried chicken livers with onion gravy are a guilty pleasure I can never resist. The dinner rolls arrive warm in a basket lined with a cloth napkin – a touch of class that’s increasingly rare.
Portions are enormous, prices are reasonable, and the servers know many customers by name.
5. Longstreet Café (Gainesville, GA)
Named after Confederate General James Longstreet, this Gainesville staple serves up history with a side of the best breakfast in North Georgia. The morning meat-and-three includes your choice of breakfast meat plus grits, eggs, and biscuits.
Lunchtime brings out their famous meatloaf: a perfectly seasoned blend topped with tangy tomato sauce that reminds me of my grandmother’s recipe. The walls are decorated with historical photos of Gainesville, giving you something to ponder while you feast.
Regulars swear by the banana pudding, layered with vanilla wafers that maintain their crunch somehow.
6. Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room (Savannah, GA)
Folks start lining up before 11am for a seat at Mrs. Wilkes’ communal tables, where strangers become friends over passed bowls of Southern goodness. Located in a historic boardinghouse, this Savannah gem serves family-style – no menu needed!
Twenty-plus dishes arrive simultaneously: fried chicken, beef stew, black-eyed peas, collard greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread that’ll make you weep with joy. I once counted 22 different dishes during my meal – a true Southern smorgasbord.
Cash only and closed weekends, this place is worth planning your entire Savannah trip around.
7. The Avenue Home Cooking Café (Cedartown, GA)
Hidden in small-town Cedartown, The Avenue might be Georgia’s best-kept secret. Housed in a converted early 1900s home, complete with creaky wooden floors and family photos on the walls.
Their smothered pork chops fall apart with just a fork – no knife needed! The butter beans simmered with ham hock transport me straight to my childhood summers spent at my great-aunt’s farm.
Owner Miss Betty still works the register most days, remembering regulars’ orders and asking about their grandkids. Come hungry; portions are country-generous and the homemade rolls are unlimited.
8. Clayton Café (Clayton, GA)
Nestled in Georgia’s gorgeous mountain country, Clayton Café serves comfort food with a side of breathtaking views. Trout fresh from nearby streams often makes the daily specials board – a mountain twist on the traditional meat-and-three format.
Blackberry cobbler here tastes of wild mountain berries, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that melts into the warm fruit. Local farmers supply much of the produce, making the vegetable sides truly seasonal and spectacular.
After a day of hiking in the North Georgia mountains, nothing satisfies like their country ham with redeye gravy and stone-ground grits.
9. Ms. Ruby’s Peach Cobbler Café (Atlanta, GA)
Ms. Ruby started with just her grandmother’s peach cobbler recipe, selling it from a food truck. Now her full-service café in Southwest Atlanta draws crowds for both the legendary dessert AND the savory offerings.
Oxtail stew falls off the bone into a rich gravy perfect for sopping up with her famous sweet potato biscuits. The collard greens have a peppery kick that cuts through richer dishes beautifully.
True to its name, everyone orders cobbler for dessert – though choosing between peach, blackberry, or the seasonal special causes serious decision anxiety. My solution? Order all three!
10. Pollard’s Bar-B-Q (Carrollton, GA)
Smoke signals rise from Pollard’s pit house from dawn ’til dusk, beckoning hungry folks from miles around. While technically a barbecue joint, their meat-and-three plates steal the show with perfectly smoked proteins and country sides.
The Brunswick stew simmers for hours, developing a complexity that’s earned it regional fame. Their cornbread comes in cast iron skillets still crackling from the oven – crispy edges, tender middle, and not a hint of sweetness.
Fourth-generation pitmaster Jimmy Pollard still tends the fires daily, using peach and hickory wood sourced from local orchards.
11. The Beautiful Restaurant (Atlanta, GA)
“Beautiful” perfectly describes both the food and the spirit at this soul food sanctuary in Southwest Atlanta. Gospel music plays softly in the background while church hats hang decoratively on the walls.
Their smothered turkey wings are fall-apart tender in a gravy so good you’ll want to drink it with a straw. The mac and cheese achieves that perfect crusty-top, creamy-middle balance that defines Southern casseroles.
Sunday after-church crowds pack the place, creating a joyful community atmosphere that feeds your soul as much as the food feeds your body.
