Mary Mac's Tea Room Reviews

Loved the Food...we ordered Fried Chicken, Catfish, Cornbread, black-eyed peas, grits, sweet potatoes, sweet potato souffle,collard greens, Peach cobbler ala mode & apple cobbler for dessert. With 2 couples great to try everything and share! It was the best fried chicken I've ever had...fried to perfection! They give you generous portions...you definitely won't go home hungry. Everyone from the Hostesses to Waitress & Manager were just the nicest folks! Our first time to Atlanta, I've got great memories to take home of the warmth and hospitality of Atlanta!

Love this place. Its popular for celebrities. Very good foods. Plenty and relaxing atmosphere. DEFINITELY worth returning.

We came as a family, parents with two active toddlers and me as Nana. I think that predisposed the wait staff to be rather unfriendly to us. I have to eat gluten-free, so I had to ask for those options. I ordered the Roast Pork Tenderloin GF version, which meant it came without any gravy :-(, but it was tender. I also had the sweet potato souffle, which was incredibly good, and the cheese grits. I asked for extra cranberry sauce, but only got one small portion. I ordered fresh peaches and ice cream for dessert; sadly they gave me canned peaches, but I understand there's been a shortage of Georgia peaches this year due to bad weather. Our toddlers were rather loud and messy, so I'm grateful that they tolerated us. But I would have appreciated more friendliness. I don't think our waiter even introduced himself. But overall, MaryMac's is an Atlanta icon of Southern food that everyone should experience at least once! 3.5 stars.

We were in town for a conference and wanted to try southern cooking so we went to Mary Mac's for Sunday Lunch. When you are seated, you get a basket of cornbread, muffin and cinnamon roll. Delish! Being newbies, we were also offered the Pot Likker that was a few collards in broth. I loved it! I had the Turkey Breast and the Husband had the Salmon. Both were very good. The sides we had included the green beans, cornbread stuffing, fruit salad, fried green tomatoes and mac-n-cheese. All very good. Our servers were very nice as was the bartender. There are 6 or more dining rooms, some rooms are nicer than others. We were in the Atlanta Room which was a nicer room and we also had a cocktail in Bar Room which was the coolest room temperature-wise. We highly recommend for a true southern meal.

Saved the best for last! Mary Mac's Tea Room was on our list to go for Sunday brunch on our last day in Atlanta. There was a line when we got there as many others, like us, were waiting for the doors to open. Getting seated didn't take too much time. Our waiter was friendly and the food and service were great. We enjoyed our meal (fried green tomatoes, pot likker w/cracklin' cornbread, fried chicken, fried shrim, refreshing homemade lemonade and definitely save room for dessert and get the Georgia Peach Cobber!

This was our second time eating g here. The first time was 4years ago and it was wonderful. However, this visit was a bit different. We were in the room with the small bar. The bartender kept looking at us but no server came to our table. After waiting about 10 minutes, the bartender brought us water and took our orders. We appreciated that he took the time to take our order while also tending the bar. The 5 of us ordered Salmon, fried chicken wings and meatloaf. The food was ok but not nearly as good as the first time were there.

This was my third visit, but my wife's first. I absolutely love this place. My wife had blackened catfish with cabbage and tomato pie. I had fried chicken with mac and cheese and collard greens. We also had a bread basket (cornbread and rolls) and peach cobbler. Everything was stellar. Our server, Dawn, was amazing as well. It's a good thing we do not live in Georgia. I would visit way too often, and my midsection would reflect :)

Typical southern food if you are looking for something authentic. But not such a great fan cause some of the dishes has a little bit of salt. The fried okra has no flavor.

We were there on a Wednesday at 5:00,so we were seated immediately. It was our first visit so we were served pot licker. It was the best part of the meal. My husband and I ordered the “famous” fried chicken. It would seem that our chicken was fried and then kept warm in the oven. The dark meat was good, but the white meat was truly awful. It was so dry that I drank tea as I chewed, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to swallow. Our daughter had the shrimp and grits. The grits were ok, but the shrimp was overcooked and rubbery. The wait staff stopped by our table often; but when she asked how we were doing, I told her and showed her that the chicken was very dry. Her words were “Ok. Sorry about that”. She then walked away. She walked past us at least 4 times; but we had to ask for our check. The collards were very good, the mac and cheese, broccoli mix (frozen-not fresh) and baked goods were sub-standard. The rolls were also really dry. We were given one small half pat of butter on our plate. The peach cobbler was ok, but it was made from canned peaches. Why wouldn’t you use fresh peaches in July; we are the peach state!

The food was delicious and plentiful. Some o the best fried chicken I have had, coiled with all the sides we got along with the variety of bread served to the table. Highly recommend this if your looking for some down home southern comfort soul food.

Absolutely awful. We went because of all the positive reviews. One of the worst restaurants we’ve ever eaten at. Fried chicken was over fried and dried out. Pork roast was dry and stuffing super salty. Mac & cheese was bland. Waitress seemed like she wanted to be anywhere else but there. Obviously will never go back.

Mary Mac’s was a staple up til 2019-2020. I was a regular the food was homemade and delicious. New ownership in 2022 changed menu (removed items and started using CANNED black eyed peas). Today”s visit 2/10/24 was my last when customer’s purchased meal you received cornbread, homemade yeast rolls and cinnamon rolls. Well they have decided to ONLY give cornbread. I’m not willing to drive 30-45 minutes for food that has fallen from its glory days (canned I can get that closer in my area, don’t have to drive to Atlanta for subpar).

Yes. We have been there before. Somehow on our previous visits , we all but walked in the door and got served. This time, and maybe because it was a Saturday afternoon, the wait time was an hour. The hour went by quickly because there was lots of people to talk to and you could get drinks from the bar while you waited. The decor of the place is never going to blow your socks off………the floors are uneven , the tables are rickety and the chairs are often unsteady. But in today’s lexicon that’s called charming. And that is certainly true for Mary Macs TeaRoom. The menu is unashamedly southern comfort food. The food is excellently prepared and it’s a lot and it’s hot. Maybe because of the number of customers waiting, the wait staff seems to be everywhere and moving rapidly. If you’re looking for a simple, well-prepared good meal, it’s worth the wait.

I truly tried to enjoy the food and atmosphere but while the atmosphere was nice the food and service were mediocre. The macaroni and cheese that customers rave about in reviews had an odd taste. I asked others at my table and one said it tasted like the liquid used to bake the macaroni and cheese tasted like buttermilk. The corn muffins were dry and tasteless. The service was mediocre due to our server also running the bar; but that wasn’t his fault as he had to multi-task on a busy night and not be able to concentrate on one position. Unfortunately we were not impressed. I reside in metro Atlanta in a suburb just outside the perimeter and was more excited than my visiting relatives and family friends about visiting Mary Macs and I was disappointed that they were disappointed.

This was sold to us as being the highlight meal of our trip to America. Never have we been so disappointed. To be quite honest, I've had school dinners which were better. Our group was in a private dining room but we seemed to be forgotten. Our drinks order was taken but took absolutely ages to arrive. The food (buffet style) was overcooked and there was absolutely no real choice for my wife, who is Gluten Free, although the restaurant had been warned beforehand and said that Gluten Free food would be available. Although it might have been a different story if we had dined as individual couples rather than as a group, but who's to say. I can't really say it was worth the money.

First time here and thought it was interesting that you write what you want on an order slip to give to your server. Dinner rolls were amazing, cornbread was dry. We got an order of hushpuppies that were overcooked making them have a very dry, crumbly tough crust and dry inside. I got fried chicken breast which was also very dry, broccoli souffle which was salty as crap and whipped potatoes that were delicious. Hubby got chicken and dumplings which was very good, fried tomatoes which were fantastic and a squash side.

Mary Mac's is an Atlanta staple and you can enjoy a truly delicious traditional southern meal here. Chris helped us on Sunday and he was wonderful. It was our first time at Mary Mac’s Tea Room and he shared with us the history of the restaurant and offered some answers to our questions. We ordered the specialty items: six piece fried chicken, three leg fried chicken, and the catfish/shrimp plate, which came with two sides each. So, we got the fried green tomatoes, mac and cheese, Hoppin' John, and a baked potato. All were sooo good! We finished with the Georgia peach cobbler. The portions were large so we did not finish everything and left with a good box of leftovers. Everything was so flavorful with just the right amount of spices. So whenever you are in Atlanta make Mary Mac's Tea Room your priority.

Third day in Atlanta and should have went here first. Is it the best meal of my life, no but the service and atmosphere is the hospitality I have been waiting. The fried chicken was nearly perfect. Super crispy almost like cracklings but not oily at all. The Mac and cheese had that nice cheese crisp top. The yeast rolls were excellent. The sweet potato soufflé and peach cobbler were decent but nothing special. Loved the sweet tea. Great prices for the portions. Free parking in the back. I would eat here all time if I lived in Atlanta.

The food & service was EXCELLENT! This reminds me of how my grandmother used to cook. Ms. Mary was our server and she was super friendly. The portions are generous and filling. My only complaint, which is super minor but worth mentioning. We had our 2 service dogs with us. The hostess asked for "their papers". Federal law does not require Handlers to present paperwork or any form of identification, though we do have "Service Dog" vests as a courtesy. Business establishments may ask if the dog is a service dog and what service does the dog provide. I know many people are mis/uninformed and many pet owners try to pass off non trained animals so I just wanted to mention it so this situation can be negated moving forward.

This is an older place, but the history of this place makes it historic. The bathrooms could be cleaned more often. They should not stink like that in the middle of a shift. I ordered smothered chicken with rice and gravy with fried green tomatoes and collard greens. The chicken was a little dry. I needed more gravy with the rice. The fried green tomatoes and the sauce were superb. The collard greens were good as well. I added a little pepper sauce. The corn bread was good and nice. I recommend this place. The prices are very reasonable. The staff is very friendly and personable. I will return. I visited on NYE 2024.

Great as always, Mary Macs never disappoints. The service is great, The food was spot on. It’s really easy to get to and the parking is convenient. It is certainly a place you should visit if ever in Atlanta

My family stayed at an Airbnb in Ansley Park for a weekend get together in December. We wanted a traditional Christmas turkey meal for 16 (11 adults, 5 children, ages 4-71) for Saturday lunch. An Atlanta friend reminded me how much we loved going to Mary Mac's when we were Emory students back in the '70s and how Mary Mac's is still great for traditional Southern food. My cousin in charge of that meal loved the menu selection and the pricing. While we probably would have preferred delivery, we were fine with pick up. Food was just tasty as expected. The only snag was communication: some unreturned phone calls, email confusion. Thank goodness we stopped first at Mary Mac's when we arrived in ATL on Friday afternoon to inquire about our pick up for Saturday lunch. Since we hadn't received the contract by email, our order was not on schedule. But that all got resolved quite amicably. I heartily recommend Mary Mac's for offsite catering.

Loved it ! From Ca. And went to eat some real southern food, our server was Cam and she was amazing. I wish we had a spot like that out here . Food, service 💯 absolutely recommend.

Best soul food in Atlanta. Stop fooling around and try this place before you go to the other soul food place wannabe. This is the real thing. Famous people like President Carter and The Dalai Lama are here and loved it. And if those people loved it, you’re not gonna be disappointed. Unless you’re the guy who cures cancer then I’ll count your opinion.

The great southern comfort food and hospitality from the staff keeps us coming back. Atlanta is over 8 hours from our home and every time we pass through we make it a priority to visit Mary Mac's. No matter how busy they are, they still make you feel like you are the only guest. The food is delicious and you certainly will not leave hungry. Can't wait to our next trip to or through Atlanta.

We visited the Mary Mac’s Tea Room this past week. This restaurant, founded in 1945 post World War II, is the last of its kind. It purveys good “ole” down-home Southern cuisine and is a favorite place for Atlanta politicos to bring people on their first visit to the State’s capital city. They claim to have the best sweet tea which they label as the “Table Wine of the South and that their fried chicken is the crispiest and Juiciest “you’ll ever taste.” Upon our arrival, we were ushered to a table and provided with an order of hot cornbread and “Parker” style rolls while the waitress explained how to complete the paper and pencil order form. While the two breads were delicious, they were coupled with a dairy-type spread rather than butter which turned me off. Each entrée could be coupled with two sides. I ordered a four-piece chicken platter and chose tomato pie and a baked sweet potato as my side dishes. The chicken was cold and dry. I believe that it had been cooked a couple of hours earlier and was just sitting in a warming trey. While the tomato pie was tasty, the baked sweet potato was cold and shriveled. I didn’t see our waitress again until she came around to present us with our bills. I had asked where the dessert that I had ordered hadn’t been served. I had expected to have it with a cup of coffee to complete my meal. When she returned with the credit card receipts, she handed me a paper back with the peach cobbler in a plastic container to go. This had not been expected, and it soured my experience at “Atlanta’s dining room.” I will not return here nor will I ever recommend Mary Mac’s Tea Room to anyone. This restaurant is living on its “laurels” and its reputation has fallen by the wayside. While the breadbasket was up to snuff, the rest of the meal was pedestrian at best. Enough said; two thumbs down!

Last time we went it was extremely busy, crowed and got a parking ticket… but still a good meal. This time we had a late lunch, no rush, no ticket, and had an excellent meal! I had a large serving of pot roast ( took half home), collards and fried green tomatoes. My wife enjoyed chicken fried chicken and gravy ( on the side), Mac and cheese and fried okra. Everything was very good. Marion, a 30 year veteran, was our server and she was special. Friendly, but not imposing, she gave us excellent service. It was interesting to look around at the walls of pictures of noted guests and news articles. This was a good look at an Atlanta treasure!

We always have dinner at Mary Mac's when we visit Atlanta. She never disappoints. Food and Service is the best! I love the roast chicken with cornbread dressing and gravy. Yum! Best Banana Pudding in the south. They don't take reservations, so we always go around 5:30 to beat the crowds.

Ummmm..I think this is under new management. The food taste different and the servers are mediocre. I hate that because now I will not go back when I return. Shame, because I enjoy eating here when I come to Atlanta.

We ordered the chicken , Mac and cheese, sweet potato, chicken and dumplings, fruit, fried okra , green beans, pot licker soup and peach cobbler ala mode.

We’ve wanted to try this place for years! We finally got in on a recent trip to Atlanta. We are so glad we did! Don’t let the like deter you; it was out the door when we arrived but we only waited for 35 minutes. Our server, Darius, was phenomenal! We ordered the southern special for three adults and it was way more food than we were expecting! They don’t skimp on anything here! This is a Must Do in Atlanta!

Not often do you get to visit a food institution. When you’re in Atlanta, don’t miss this! Absolutely everything was so delicious. Make sure to come hungry. They started off with some great bread for the table. By that we mean, brioche bun, corn bread and cinnamon rolls… So tasty and my cinnamon rolls were my fave! I opted for the chicken fried chicken. Absolutely awesome with super crispy chicken with amazing gravy. My two sides were Mac n cheese and dumplings. We also had their shrimp and grits. Equally excellent. The highlight might be their sweet potato soufflé. Next time I think we might just order that for all of our sides. When in Georgia, we need to have peaches. Their peach cobbler was a great way to end the meal. Can’t wait to come back!

We were looking for southern cooking and hospitality and found it here!! Excellent from the Hush Puppies to the sweet tea to the complimentary “Potlikker” since we were first timers. Everything was tasty!

7 of us visited on June 2022 for dinner. We heard great things about this place and it did not disappoint. We enjoyed the fried livers , fried chicken , meatloaf , various vegetables and sweet tea and lemonade. It was a nice southern food experience

This was my first visit and sadly, there wasn't anything super special about it to make me want to drive the 45 minutes to go and eat there again. I had the fried porkchops, collards, mac n cheese and cracklin cornbread. Suffice it to say, the cracklin was almost non existent, the mac n cheese was flavorless and the greens were not seasoned. The only good thing about the meal was the fried porkchop. My friedn had the peachcobbler and she said it was nothing spectacular either.

What a great place, so happy to visit this historic Atlantic eatery. The staff was super friendly and welcoming, the menu was extensive and clear. Our table ordered typical southern fair, it was wonderful and plentiful. We arrived late in town and walked to location from hotel. Do not walk there at night, I did not feel save, not restaurants fault.

I think I first visited Mary Mac's 53 years ago. As a student, they would give you a discount and welcome you with open arms. These days the "S" I used to put on the order ticket could be replaced by an "S" signifying senior citizen but the food, service and ambience is still just as wonderful as it always has been. It had been several years since I had dined at Mary Mac's so I thought my recent lunch deserved a review. Things change, of course but the quality of the food is still there and it is served by friendly, knowledgable folks that seem genuinely happy that you are there. We were there for a late lunch so there was no waiting even though the parking lot was nearly full. As always, I got my fix of Southern cuisine that is hard to find these days. You just can't go wrong with a visit to Mary Mac's!

My wife and I came here for dinner before s show based on reviews and recommendations. Earned 3 stars based on wife's meal and cinnamon buns. I ordered fried chicken. My chicken was flavorless, dry and bland. A Southern restaurant should be judged by its fried chicken and this night they fell way flat. I've had better chicken at Publix. I don't know if it was a staff issue, but I cannot recommend this restaurant.

Most delish fried chicken and fixin's. You MUST go! You cannot go wrong. I wish I had room for dessert. Next time!

The reviews had lead us to believe that this was going to be special. The waiter was unhelpful, the portions too big, the restaurant does not allow sharing and the food was really average. We have eaten better elsewhere. We would not return.

As we were traveling through Atlanta we took the opportunity for lunch at Mary Mac's Tea Room. We enjoyed the meal and service was great.

We ate at Mary Mac's on Friday 6th, and we were on the way to a sight seeing tour. We told the waitress if she could put a hurry on the order. She was excellent and we made our tour on time. Sincerely Arnold Laurel

Not worth the trip. The food was begging for some seasoning. This chicken was not crispy and the Mac n cheese needed some cheese. Soul food should be rich and flavorful, this was not. I would have been better off cooking at home.

For starters, this is not a tea room. On vacation, I realized I was close to this reputed fabulous place and thought I would go in for afternoon tea. They don't have that. I had the peach cobbler: a small bowl of broken pie crust with specks of peach if you can find them. Tasteless. The restaurant seats 400, according to my server-- who was none too pleased I wasn't ordering a full meal. The walls are lined with photos of people who have dined there, most decades old. I don't know if Georgia wheelers and dealers still meet there, but you can skip it.

The place was beautiful. Very spacious and clean. All the food we ordered came as it was supposed be. Tasty, and big amounts.

Stay away!!!! This is not the same restaurant it use to be. Food quality is horrible. Service is horrible. New owners has truly ruined this restaurant. As far as I am concerned the new owners needs to restore this restaurant back to the great place it use to be or sell it to someone who cares enough too or just close it permanently. I am done with this farce!!!

Great food and better service. Can't make a reservation so be prepared to wait, roughly 35-40 minutes on a Saturday night. Food was served hot!!! Parking is limited. Prices are very reasonable!!! Bathrooms need attending. Overall, great experience and I'd go back for the food and service.

Ate here with a large group from work. The place is an icon and for a good reason. Traditional southern food done extremely well. Great fried chicken, and the best sweet potatoes I have ever eaten. Famous peach cobbler is awesome. Service was spot on and super friendly. Many places like this are tourist spots or live on the hype of the past, but Mary Mac's is the real deal. I can't wait to come back!

I was really happy that Mary Mac's was just a couple blocks away from where I was staying. I only knew about Mary Mac's from the tv show Designing Women...LOL! It was mentioned in one of their episodes about the "real women of Atlanta" and the ladies who lunched here. I was seated in the original building that had a small dining room and kitchen. And according to my server Carrie, they kept buying the adjacent properties and expanded. Lots of history on the walls. I started with a refreshing mint julep. I ordered the fried catfish and shrimp, with sweet potato souffle and tomato pie...I had never heard of this and it was sooooo good! Since it was my first time, Carrie brought me a sample of the "pot likker"...the broth from the collard greens and a small corn bread...very good! The catfish and shrimp were perfectly fried and since I was eating my way through Atlanta today, I didn't finish my yams or pie, but they were very tasty! Lots of tourists and regulars coming in. Some of the servers are sassy. Carrie was great! For my first meal in Atlanta, it was a great way to start my day!

Excellent service excellent food we were served by Lauren Bonds, She was extremely attentive to every needs making sure we were totally satisfied. The food was as I said excellent and totally what I expected. I love the way you fill out the ticket order from the menu. I thought that was pretty cool. Blessings Miss Bonds from your Miami connection! Thank you from Vernald and Terresa

A friend brought me here for a birthday dinner. It was very historical and charming, with photos of newspapers clippings, memories, and famous guests lining the walls. The wait staff were lovely and our waiter (I forget his name) was great. He was very helpful and able to answer our questions. He got my friend a sample of the two sides she was interested in. Our Uber driver had told us to try the fried tomatoes and they didn't disappoint! It was great southern cooking and I was stuffed. They even gave me a free peach cobbler since it was my birthday and that thing was heavenly. Very glad we went!

Great fun and nice Southern experience! Service was excellent - felt like an authentic meal! The majority of the menu is deep fried - just FYI.

in town for a short vacation. Wanted to try this restaurant because of a mention on a TV show called designing women. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. While the service was very friendly, the food was merely average.

Outstanding! The food was phenomenal. Come hungry. Order appetizers. We loved the cinnamon bread, the peach cobbler, chicken fried chicken, fried green tomatoes and the collared greens.

I had the southern soul special and everything was good. The fried chicken could have had more seasoning. Staff was very friendly and helpful with explaining the menu options.

Family restaurant. Not recommended for first dates. Noise level is high with babies crying and adult trying to carry a conversation over the noise. Southern comfort food with some vegetarian consideration. Reservations not accepted., wait can take 30mins to hour half. Longer wait on the weekend.

Food is ok, not worth the hassle you go through to be seated. Parking is terrible and you can't be seated until your entire party is in the building. If you have a large party, be prepared to wait longer. I have visited in the past and servers helped each other with dirty dishes and empty glasses. Now every server for them self. This will not be my first, second or third choice to dine. Definitely doesn't live up to the hype... Management should really reevaluate some of their policies.

My Dad used to take me to Mary Mac's back in the late 80's and early 90's. This place was amazing, the food was wonderful and the place was clean. Well I revered a room for 20 after a convention we were attending with a preset menu. First of all the room was not the cleanest as it had high traffic come in and out. Tables were not level (they wobbled and no one seemed to care, we had to change out table ourself then the security officer helped us out) after that the food did not taste fresh, it was good but seemed to be kept under a heat lamp and not freshly made. Over all very good they just don't seem to be keeping this great place up like they used too!

I am here in Atlanta and was looking for a place to eat and this wonderful place popped up. I am so glad that I decided to try this historical place. The service and food was great. I would definitely recommend that you try it, everything was fresh and hot I loved how I was able to write out my own food ticket classic.

Came here and was blowin away by the history of the place and the food. The staff was very nice and the food was great! A must stop at this Atlanta institution.

Had a fantastic time dining at Mary Mac's with a large group of friends. Our waiter was extremely kind, and was patient in addressing our dietary restrictions and menu queries. The restaurant is extremely experienced in handling large parties and many orders, so it's worth visiting regardless of group size and composition. There were a wide selection of meals, and the food was reasonably priced. In particular, the Peach Cobbler is a must-get and all fried chicken dishes were great.

This place is living off its reputation from the old days when the food was good and service top notch. No more. The owners don’t care about either. The server was inattentive, apparently inexperienced and after a long wait brought salad and entree at the same time. By the time the salad was consumed the turkey and dressing was cold and looked awful. No cranberry sauce with the turkey. Butter wouldn’t melt on the cold potato. The prices have gone up, certainly not justified by the lackluster service and awful food. This used to be a grand old place to eat. Not any more.

Wonderful! We were there on a Sunday at lunch. Our waitress, Ricketta was excellent. The fried chicken was prefect! We will definitely return!

Absolutely loved our dinner here. Traditional comfort Southern food. Fried chicken was great, likker, tomato pie, sweet potato soufflé, and sinfully delicious peach cobbler. Our waitress, Lauren, was stellar. Personable, friendly, and gave great recommendations. I highly recommend for anyone in Atlanta looking for comfort food.

Special Atlanta tradition. With excellent southern home cooking. Enjoy riding through the neighborhoods around it. Staff was rushed but did a good job considering.

I’m sorry it might be frowned upon to not give a good review of such an institution such as this, but I really can’t give a good one. It was just okay. The server was excellent and couldn’t ask for better service. The food was like a cafeteria nothing to write home about. Now the tomato pie and rolls were great. Had string beans with my meal and about gagged on them. There was more string than bean and had to go to the bathroom so I wouldn’t make a spectacle of myself gagging in the dining room. The sweet tea was spot on. I found something positive. I know it’s a traditional place to go, but somethings just might need a makeover.

So much food. My husband and I always split the meal because it's always too much food for each of us. But at Mary Mac's they don't let you split a plate. We took over half of it to the hotel (we were travelling from out of state). Had enough food for dinner and breakfast. Still didn't eat it all. We are small people and we need smaller portions. Other than that, our food was really delicious. We had the Shrimp & Grits, Fried Chicken Tenders, Greens, Mac&Cheese, Hoppin' John, Fried Green Tomatoes and a peach cobbler to go. Before our meal arrived our waiter, who was very helpful and nice, brought us some Collard Greens Juice (soup). That was delicious. The atmosphere feels very upscale, but the staff and the food feels like home cooking. We really enjoyed our food, just wish we could split a plate. Being a blue ribbon baker, I had to order the peach cobbler because it was recommended as one of the best in Atlanta. It was really delicious. We are northerners who enjoyed home cooking southern food at Mary Mac's.

Still great, after all these years. As nearly all of my old Atlanta food landmarks have not-so-slowly disappeared, it’s good that this old friend remains. Portions are too big, but I didn’t dare fail to finish. The cornbread didn’t really impress. But the cube steak, gravy, whipped potatoes, cabbage, and turnip greens were awesome. And how they can make turnip greens THAT good AND vegan!!!!?! I do wish they offered a senior menu with smaller portions.

Easy to make a group reservation for 10 via email. Week night, mostly corporate types. You write your own order ticket. Not sure its efficient, but at least the server can't be blame for your order. Others were pleased with their choices. Mostly fried chicken. One had what I ordered. Turkey and dressing. Their plate was clean. I prefer fried turkey, so it did not hit the spot. Fried green tomatoes, collards and black eyed peas were great. A few things not in stock, like sherbert. Overall a great meal.

The wait was VERY long!! About two hours in total. Very crowded! The line was up the street when we arrived. The staff really should tell the customers that you have to go in and put your name on the list regardless of waiting in line outside. My friends and I wound up parking in a lot around the corner for $20. The food was a little bland. But presentation was good. The service staff wasn't bad either. I enjoyed the fact that they served a mixture of breads as you sat down (cinnamon rolls, yeast rolls, and cornbread muffins). I had the 6 fried chicken wings, sweet potatoe (very small), and broccoli soufflé. My friends had the 4 piece fried chicken (very large portions, $16.99)! The portion size was great! But I could have had more seasoned food somewhere else.

Dined here with our young children. You get complimentary pot likker as a first time guest which was nice. Our server was very nice and shared the history with us. Thought it was strange you have to write your order down instead of them doing it. We waited only about 5 minutes at 11am. All the food was good! Fried chicken really was great. Sides such as butter beans and collards were just OK. Cornbread was dry. Glad we went to a historic spot though

The service and food was great. The food was so excellent. I had seen people on YouTube talking about it but to ask you to go there and eat great soul food restaurant for everybody. Me and my wife loves it. We're coming back. Next time we come to Atlanta I'm going to bring my mother with me. It is great. It really was what was advertised online and what word of mouth. If you come to Atlanta come to this restaurant you will not regret it. I promise you

This place is amazing! I went with some friends around 2:00pm. I know this place gets busy, so I think our timing was lucky. We were seated immediately, and our food arrived very quickly. Our server, Chantal, was fantastic - friendly, courteous, and provided great suggestions. The food was out of this world good. The fried chicken and okra were fantastic! The cheesy grits were delish. Everything came out nice and hot! I’ve lived in the South my entire life, and this place does Southern food right. I will definitely come back next time I’m in town. Thank you!

This was my first time at this historical & iconic Atlanta establishment and it did not disappoint. Did I mention they’ve been doing this since 1945!!! We went here with my family and my wife’s aunt,uncle, & their children. 1. Get here early. They do not take reservations. When we left people will easily be lined down the street to get in and not even complain about it. 2. While there is no “dress code” and I was dressed casual shorts & a polo, I soon felt underdressed. I loved seeing the older men with their wives, they were dressed up like they were going to church. 3. The food…to call it typical southern fare is a gross misrepresentation. I have lived in the south my whole life, and had the pleasure of eating southern cuisine from some of the best cooks God ever put in a church social hall and including my dear Mama’s kitchen, God rest her soul. When I tell you that I had flashbacks to my childhood and church socials I’m not exaggerating. 4. I had the Fried green tomato appetizer, followed by the 4 piece fried chicken, mash potatoes with gravy, fried okra, and peach cobbler. If you’re reading this review PLEASE go here they’re doing it right and cooking with love.

We wanted to experience something unique to Atlanta, and Mary Mac's was recommended by our trolley tour guide. Obviously popular with locals: couples, singles, families and office groups. Comfortable atmosphere, great food. Would do it again, except maybe the broccoli casserole choice as a side.

Initially wanted a table for a Friday night but arrived too late, so decided to revisit for a late Sunday lunch. Arrived around 3pm to still find long queues for both table and takeaways! Table for 2 was secured within 15mins in one of the many dining rooms. Our server (Branae) explained the menu and history of the tea room and we set about ordering. Roast Pork and Fried Chicken with Pepper Sauce were both excellent. Amazing experience and would definitely return

We were warmly welcomed, and even though we had no reservation, we were seated quickly. Shawna took really good care of us and the food was just excellent. The pot roast in particular was perfect in every way possible. You definitely should be eating here when in Atlanta.

If I can give 0⭐️ I would. The experience I had was HORRIBLE! I don’t recommend anyone going to eat here. I went with a friend because it’s a legend in Atlanta for the food. Well… the vegetable plate was not fresh and cold, the server could care less about a party of two because she had a party of 12 that is guaranteed big tip. The female manager is a joke and didn’t care at all about the service. The male manager brought the food but never came back to check on the meal. The server offered NO refills nor did anyone else so I had to share water with my friend. Completely ridiculous and yet we still had to pay for the meal because they could care less. AVOID THIS PLACE AT AL COST!!!! NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE FOR PARKING NOR FOR THE QUALITY OF FOOD.

The service was wonderful, but the food left a lot to be desired. This restaurant seems to be getting by on their history and reputation, but lumpy salty gravy, bland grits, dry bland fried chicken, dry rolls and cornbread, just plain bad peach cobbler and banana pudding. My cube steak tasted like dog food; it was mushy and dry and had an off flavor. To their credit, the collards, hoppin' John, broccoli casserole, and sweet tea were all fine. I won't eat here again and therefore can't recommend it. There are PLENTY of southern restaurants in Atlanta, there's no reason for this place to be this bad.

We were told by a friend that we had to visit Mary Mac’s and he was right. It’s a piece of Atlanta history with amazing fried chicken! Staff is wonderful… great dining experience!

After living in the Atlanta area for more than 20 years, we thought it would be nice to finally take the family to eat at what we thought would be a great southern experience at an Atlanta institution! Instead, we were extremely disappointed in the terrible service and pretty bad food. We honestly would have preferred to get a bucket of KFC because at least the atmosphere and taste of the chicken would have been better. The bread basket was literally stale - the worst possible corn bread that was super dry and inedible. It felt like we were eating in a cafeteria rather than being served with the southern hospitality you would expect from this establishment. Never again!

The Churrasco and black beans and rice were amazing. Also, the sweet potato fries were great. This is a very great restaurant.

We visited on Friday around 7 and had a very short wait, about 5 minutes. Our server was Andrea, who was very helpful and didn’t rush us at all. The restaurant has extensive offerings of southern food, including chicken, pork, beef and turkey dishes, seafood, salads and a ton of sides. Full bar and desserts as well. If you choose an entree, you also get two sides of your choice. Some dishes come with a third side as part of the dinner. I had pork roast, my wife had baked chicken breast, Both came with cornbread stuffing. We both chose the sweet potato soufflé, I had whipped potatoes and she had fruit salad. You also get muffins. It was a lot of food and we both really liked EVERYTHING. For all of this, including 4 drinks (3 alcoholic), $63, including tax. Wish they would open a restaurant where we live, in Oregon. Very unlikely, I suppose.

When flying into Atlanta, I was talking to the flight assistants and I asked where they would recommend a place to eat. Mary Mac’s Tea Room was mentioned. Also when we took our tour of Atlanta the guide also recommended it. Very sorry we made this decision. Food was mediocre at best. We had 2 fried chicken dishes, a pot roast and turkey dinner. The turkey and pot roast dishes had to be returned because they were not even warm. We also sent back the whipped potatoes and fried okra sides. Green beans seemed as if they were canned, even though the manager told me they are made fresh daily. I told him then that they are overcooked. Fried chicken was tasty but not freshly fried just before being served. Overall not as impressed as many of the previously written reviews. If this is good food, would hate to see what bad food is. Was so looking forward to good southern cooking. Need to look somewhere else.

We had time for one meal while we were in Atlanta so we did some research for what seemed best and this is what we went with. I'm so glad we did. This was southern cooking at it's finest! Between the three of us, we got: chicken and dumplings, broccoli souffle, fried green tomatoes, I don't remember the name of it but it was a dish that tasted just like Thanksgiving, potato salad, fried chicken and fries, and TOMATO PIE! We also had Georgia Peach Cobblers for dessert. I had never had tomato pie before nor had I even heard of it actually. Whenever I'm traveling to a new place and see a menu item I've never had/heard of, that's what I usually go for. Their tomato pie was absolutely incredible!! I was so surprised by how good this dish was! That is a must order in my opinion. The walls have pictures and autographs of famous people that have eaten there which is cool. Two that I remember seeing were Jimmy Carter and Gandhi which is pretty cool. The only weird thing about the experience was that you write down your own order and then hand it to the waitress. That kind of seems like it takes away from the job of the waitress, but it was an interesting enough thing to me that it added to the experience. You must eat at this place while in Atlanta!

I stopped by here due to the reputation of the restaurant and the reviews and left thoroughly disappointed. Our server, Nia, was very short with us and not attentive. She didn't really have much attention to us the entire time and mostly seemed to be rushing through waiting us (more on this later). I ordered the fried chicken tenders with green beans and fruit as sides as well as the four piece fried chicken with macaroni and cheese and apple sauce. Both the tenders and fried chicken had decently crisp batter, but were essentially tasteless; there seemed to be no seasoning on the chicken at all. The sides were also disappointing: the macaroni and cheese was bland and lukewarm, the apple sauce tasted generic and store bought. The green beans were poorly seasoned and watery. We also had a bit of a situation towards the end. We ordered a lemonade but never received it and Nia appeared to be confrontational about the situation. She then relented and gave us a new check but didn't confirm with us that the other check was refunded. Fortunately, the front of the house staff was better about the issue and cleared the air. Honestly, the mediocre food alone probably wouldn't have gotten this place a 2 bubble rating, but the lacklustre service definitely got it the ranking, what a disappointment.

We went for Mother’s Day and the wait was 45 to 1 hour. Normally we are impatient and choose to go elsewhere but we decided to wait it out because every place is probably on a wait. THE BEST DECISION EVER!! The food and the service were impeccable! The fried green tomatoes were by far the best we have ever had! For dessert I had peach cobbler and my husband had banana pudding.....both were amazing! Thank you Omarris for the best service we’ve had in a long time!

My first visit to Merry Mac's since the early 1990's. Service was good for a busy Sunday lunch time. Food was average at best. Sweet potato soufflé had too much sugar; Brunswick stew consisted of a few pieces of meat and juice; broccoli soufflé was good; cheese grits was grits with some cheese melted on top . Cube steak with gravy very good; creamed corn had corn silk. Restrooms were not clean. $55 check for three with no desserts or alcohol. Will not revisit.

Fantastic comfort food! We did the family dinner and had fried chicken, meat loaf, Turkey and stuffing, collard greens, black eyed peas and Mac and cheese. Way more than the 4 of us could eat. Service was quick. Not one bad bite!

I was there on the Wednesday early almost the only people in the restaurant. Took over 20 minutes to get our food after we ordered. Chicken was cold and dry. The beans boiled till they had no taste tomato pie tasted like canned tomato paste. Then it took over 20 minutes to pay the check. Nothing good about the experience.

Super food. Super people. Atlanta history. Short 5 minute walk from MARTA North Avenue Station/Fox Theater. Lots of Southern soul. Kids meals $10. Adults $15-25.

The food is very well made. Authentic southern. The pot liquor was incredible Marianna was our waitress and she was outstanding!! Very patient and explained menu very well. She never forgot to check on us or offer refills The devil eggs entree was a bit extreme at $7.99. They were just simple Devil eggs. Nothing special Drinks are $2.99 Average meal is about $16.99

They don't accommodate groups anymore... what is going on here? This is Terrible! What is the point of opening?

I took my husband there the first week of June when we visit Atlanta Georgia because I had went to Mary’s Mac before and the food was good. I know my husband love food ,and I never seen him ever send anything back .when we visit in June the food was so terrible it seem like they cook cooked it two weeks ago everything was cold he had the Salisbury steak . It’s was like shoe leather in and out and he sent it back and it came back worse! I have fish and the fish came terrible how can you mess up fish Please don’t waste your money and time if this is what they given out to the customer! I was wondering why everybody was coming out with a doggy bag, I thought wow the food is still good, but I figured out the reason that they was coming out with a doggy bags because they couldn’t eat the food and it cost so much that they didn’t wanna waste of money!!!! in my opinion I would even take it home to my dog!!! I’ve been mean to put in a review for a long time just got around to it I thought about how bad that food was and I cooked some Saulsberry steaks today and it was so good. I thought about Mary’s Mac ,so I decided to put in a review! And yes my husband loved it!

GREAT Sweet Tea!! You are greeted with complimentary sweet tea. This restaurant has great fried chicken, and yeast rolls at reasonable prices for a downtown hotel!!

Mary Mac's Tea Room served as the source of our first and last meals for our week-long trip through Georgia and the Carolinas. I enjoyed fried chicken in some form on both occasions. Lunch was uncrowded and relaxing after a flight of several hours. It's hard to decide which sides to have with the meal since there is an abundance from which to select.

Fantastic!! Everyone enjoyed their meal, food was delicious, pricing was family friendly, there were plenty of options, and the cinnamon rolls ARE TO DIE FOR!!!!’

Being a Southerner from birth, I’ve grown up with good Southern cooking. My friend and I visited on a Sunday for lunch. We both had fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, collard greens, corn bread, and the table wine of the South, sweet tea. It was all delicious. And, it was made even more enjoyable because of the impeccable service from Zade. Her professional and courteous demeanor were truly delightful. Next time I visit Mary Mac’s I will definitely ask for her. Finally, I would say, “Go hungry and plan to ask for a to-go box.”

Truly delicious restaurant offering southern cuisine. We tried the fried chicken, the iconic macaroni and cheese and the Georgia peach dessert. The portions are generous, it's not too expensive, the place is beautiful and the waitresses are very kind and friendly. Highly recommended!

Great place to eat for southern cuisine. Highly recommended by hotel were were staying at. Portions were adequate for the price paid and will go back. Shuttle took us there from hotel and when it came time to leave the restaurant called the shuttle for us.

This is our first time in Atlanta. This restaurant was on a recommendation list from a conference I attended and boy, it did not disappoint! Highly recommend for southern/soul cooking. My husband and I both got the chicken fried chicken with gravy, collards and hoppin John. Every bite was delicious and delightful. We also got the peach mojito and margarita, peach cobbler to die for! Our server Reggie was attentive, had great recommendations and all around friendly and awesome. Highly recommend Mary Mac's for a wonderful dining experience!

We got to the tea room right when they opened, so we didn’t have a wait. The waitress, Jackie, was very kind and helpful. We all had various types of chicken: tenders, livers, and chicken fried chicken with gravy. I love the sides the most! Butter peas, tomato pie, pot licker, yum yum! Not a five bc a few items needed a good bit of salt and the peach cobbler was not my favorite (lots of cinnamon). All in all, great fun and experience!

Having grown up in Atlanta and being familiar with Mary Mac’s Tea Room—renowned for its quality food and service—I was excited to return after relocating to Atlanta following more than twenty years away. Feeling nostalgic, I drove from Tyrone, GA, to downtown to pick up a to-go order. Before heading to the restaurant, I called to confirm the availability of baked chicken and whether I could request dark meat with dressing. I also inquired about the pot roast. The person on the phone assured me that both were available. Upon arrival, I called from outside to place my order and was advised to wait approximately 20 minutes before picking it up. However, when I went inside after the wait, my order was not ready, and I was informed they were out of pot roast. As a substitute, I requested the meatloaf dinner with mac and cheese and a baked sweet potato. Before leaving, I checked my order and noticed that I had been given a baked chicken breast that appeared unnaturally enhanced. I reminded the cashier that I had specifically requested dark meat, at which point she informed me that dark meat was not an option for baked chicken. I then opted for the turkey and dressing instead. After stepping outside, I realized the baked sweet potato was missing from my order. I returned inside, and an employee handed it to me wrapped in aluminum foil, without a bag. When I asked for brown sugar and butter, she provided the brown sugar but informed me they were out of butter. Unfortunately, this entire experience was disappointing. I had been looking forward to enjoying my meal, but the poor service overshadowed my expectations. With five employees working at the front in a chaotic environment, it was evident that no one appeared properly trained or engaged in delivering quality customer service. Driving nearly 30 minutes for a meal, only to encounter such disorganization, was deeply frustrating. As a result, I will not be returning to Mary Mac’s in the future.

Mary Mac’s was terrific. The fried green tomatoes and fried chicken were delectable; the shrimp & grits were yummy. We loved the mac n cheese and the tomato pie was delicious. Service was good and prices were decent; don’t sleep on this place, it is definitely worth the visit.

Was here about ten years ago and still as good as I remember it. Must stop in Atlanta for Southern food and an Atlanta institution. They don’t take reservations but got right in for lunch on a weekday in between Christmas and New Year’s. This is a big restaurant with lots of different rooms. Don’t know if they still fill them all with Covid staffing issues but it is hard to imagine ever having a long wait here for a table. The menu has a lot of different options with probably close to 20 different sides. They are famous for their fried chicken and I ended up having the chicken tenders. These tenders have the same coating as the fried chicken and were excellent. Chose the dumplings and macaroni and cheese as my two sides. Loved both. None of that white cheese blend you find in so many mac and cheeses today. The mac and cheese is full of yellow cheese goodness and my favorite mac and cheese at any restaurant. A pleasant surprise was the Brunswick stew appetizer we ordered. Nice bbq beef taste. Could have eaten a bowl of this for my entree. One unique thing about this restaurant is the ordering process is a little bit different. You write down what you want on an order slip after looking at the menu. Location of this restaurant is at the southern end of the midtown district. About a five block walk from the North Avenue Marta station.

We were very disappointed with our experience at Mary Mac’s. Though it was a quiet weeknight, service was extremely poor. We ordered our drinks - iced tea and lemonade - after being seated. When our waitress came to pick up our dinner orders, we reminded her we were still waiting for our drinks. After 20 minutes, we started wondering if we should help ourselves as the pitchers were in full view. We had to ask for our drinks 3 times. Dinner finally came but we still hadn’t received any tableware. I was also missing my baked potato. Once again, hard to track down our waitress. BTW - one of our forks also had a chunk of dried food on it. Our food was mediocre at best. Are people expected to bus their own tables there? Our desserts were delivered to a table full of dirty dishes! We had to push plates aside to make room. Our waitress never checked in on us, never refilled our drinks and never brought my baked potato until I asked about it when she brought our check. We definitely will not return and would give a zero rating if allowed.

We were so excited to try this historic restaurant only to be sorely disappointed. Pro: immediate seating, huge restaurant, handicapped accessible, great for large parties, interesting and pretty features rooms Con: food was inedible, chicken hard and dry, side dish hard as a rock. brought us out wrong food twice, waiter laughing and no refund or discount provided. Not rapid service. Wait staff we encountered were sarcastic and not knowledgeable about menu. Vents in wall, ceilings and bathrooms were filthy, covered in thick layers of dust. Paid $97 to leave hungry. Procedure: get seated, view menu, write your order on an individual ticket provided then hand it in to the waitstaff. Wait staff will bring starter and drinks if requested. Parking: street or lot near by. Easy to navigate popular area. Bus stop right near by Offer take out?: yes Would I revisit?: unfortunately no

This is restaurant was highly recommended to me by a police officer. ( When you are from out of town, the PD is better than a visitor center as they know where to eat!) The food selection is 100% comfort food. The tomato pie looked interesting. All I can say is it was an instant favorite at first bite. The fried chicken was perfectly cook. It had the right ratio of batter. This place is a must go to anytime I am in the Atlanta area.

Having grown up in Atlanta and knew the late Lupo family that owned Mary Mac's, I was somewhat disappointed in my lunch. My waitress was spot on, polite and welcoming. The table sat under a very cold A/C vent and needed some sort of support as it tilted into the wall. I ordered baked chicken breast with dressing, Mac & cheese and collard greens. I was disappointed that the cornbread muffin, that I long remembered, was not only cool but kinda soggy. The yeast rolls were warmer. Chicken breast is always difficult to bake properly. It was OK. Maybe it sat too long in the steam table pan? Dunno.

I think I was here about 40 years ago when I first got to town. Never again. My wife and her son went off to the Botanical Gardens on a day out. She called me while at MM’s and asked me if I wanted anything. I replied “fried chicken” because everyone thinks Mary Macs has the best fried chicken in Atlanta. Wrong. Fried cardboard is more like it. The plate she brought back ( only four minutes from our home) was more like fried cardboard. And the sides. The fried green tomatoes looked like small brown hockey pucks. I’m not sure what the round mound of cream colored stuff was. I’m sure all the hype about MM’s comes from the past. I’ll not go back.

Fried chicken. Chicken fried steak. Sides were great fried green tomatoes. Peach cobbler. Bread pudding!!!!!!!!! Great southern food

For my wife’s birthday she wanted to go to Mary Mac’s. We had never been, knew it was southern food so I expected a meat and 3 kinda place. I was so wrong. Southern food that was amazing, our server Lauren was the best! Made us feel welcome, offered great suggestions and even gave my wife a birthday card the staff signed! The restaurant was clean and loaded with Atlanta history. I have nothing but good to say.

Great experience. Waitress was very helpful to explain “write down on the ticket what you would like to order.” Good food worth the trip. Parking lot is small so be prepared .

I ordered from this restaurant via Uber Eats and let me tell you it was amazing!!! The chicken wings were crispy and delicious!! The potato salad and sweet potato souffle were out of this world. The chicken and dumplings reminded me of my grandma's recipe. The reason I didn't give the restaurant a five out of five is because I didn't care for the Mac & cheese or the dressing. The rolls they sent were very hard and there was no butter. I will definitely order from them again when I'm in the area.

Our visit to Mary Mac’s Tea Room had both positives and negatives. I agree that the atmosphere is warm and authentic, with a Southern feel, that makes it pleasant. I had the fried chicken, Mac & cheese and peach cobbler. The fried chicken was the best part of the meal, crispy and flavorful. For me, the overall flavors were basic, like another person said, lacking the special touch one would expect from a restaurant with such a long history. There was a nice violin solo in our room. I couldn’t hear what she was playing so I don’t know the selection she chose. I would suggest turning off the streaming music in the room she plays in so one can enjoy it. In conclusion, it’s a place with a nice ambiance and good fried chicken, but not the best option if you’re looking for an outstanding dining experience in Atlanta.

We love coming here occasionally even though it’s a 2hr drive for us. Unfortunately today was a miss. I think our waiter Ondrell had a lot to do with the poor experience. Both of our orders were wrong and came before our appetizers. Final the food was cold when it came out right. Hopefully we can have a better experience next time.

Good food and good service. I ordered the fried chicken with greens and it was good. And next time I will order some thing with gravy!

Was recommended this place by locals. Loads of atmosphere. Didn’t have to wait too long. Our Waiter was a young lad and not too with it 😂🤣 My wife’s starter was wrong and eventually appeared much later. My starter - Brunswick stew - came with my main course. Queried with the waiter and he just shrugged and said it is how the kitchen serves it 😳 Good fried chicken. Excellent black eye peas. Grits were awful. Was expecting a draft local brew - but was served a can - with not much date left on it - tasted very metallic - did get it swapped. Don’t bother ordering. OK, but I reckon there is better places in Atlanta.

The entire meal was DELICIOUS and the atmosphere was delightful. The tea room history is interesting, and Mary Mac’s is the only operational tea room today. I’d stand in line to eat there. (Ours was a prearranged group buffet.)

I wasn’t sure at first what my husband was thinking on our mini roadtrip vacay when he told us we’d dine at a “tea room” after visiting the aquarium and Coca Cola experience. We were tired, hangry, not dressed as nicely as other guests, and it was late. BUT, the front room greeters were friendly and offered the kids cups of freshly made sweet tea, which they all declared tasted just like their daddy’s, so I knew this was gonna be good. We had a teen, an 8yo, and a hangry 14mo baby girl ready to eat off neighboring tables. The kids thought it was neat to write our orders down, and we were pleasantly surprised by the pot likker they gave us on the house as it was our 1st visit. I’ve never been one to want to try collard greens but man, dipping fresh yeast rolls in it was delish! Even our picky 8yo enjoyed it, so did the baby! The pot roast was a generous portion I devoured but do wish had more potatoes and carrots. I tried the mac n cheese (yummy, homemade) and broccoli soufflé which is like velveeta broccoli casserole… minus the cheese. :-/ hubs and baby ate all his chicken and dumplings, teen enjoyed his chicken and gravy over rice- which another surprise, he couldn’t finish the generous portion. I wish we had room for dessert, I’d have loved to try the banana pudding! We will stop by again if we come through this way. Paid the same price today at a diner in Charlotte… much better value for our money at Mary Mac’s!

Needed an easy eatery on crunch time Saturday lunch. Our bartender Terry is clearly a legend, serving us lunch while managing a busy crowd of locals and tourists. Food is something special. Like a Southern Grandma with an endless kitchen. Glance at the menu, it is all good. Cannot wait to go back my next Atlanta visit.

We drove in from Charlotte to attend a Gypsy Kings Concert and stopped in due to the reviews. The service was bad (The host told us to follow a party of four only to give them all menus and none to us. She came back some 4 minutes later with the menus telling us that the waitress would explain the process to us. The server was nice but was slow. The server took a while to reach us and we got the food before the utensils or drinks.) The food was ok, some of the sides were good, but nothing stood out as being excellent. The ambiance was not good. The tablecloths had holes in them, the carpets needed cleaning, the chairs were loose, and many of the plates had chips in them. (As a property manager I notice these things.) The only thing that was really interesting was all of the pictures on the wall. In all honesty if I returned to Atlanta I would not go there again unless it was updated. Don't believe the hype. (I'm being generous with 3 stars.)

On 01/12/2025 my family went here for a celebration. We got there just as it opened and only found about 8 people in line. The doors opened, we were welcomed into the restaurant and almost instantly whisked to our seats. As we were getting seated, Kahlahari introduced herself and became a real ambassador for the restaurant… I loved how she explained everything to us…she was excellent! Throughout the meal, she checked on us, made sure we had no questions, wanted to make sure everything was okay. In other words, she did an excellent job and made sure we enjoyed the experience. We ordered appetizers, entrees, and desserts… I say that only to let you know that the 5 of us had a lot of food which we enjoyed and even was able to take some home. My grandson thought he had the best meatloaf he had ever had, catfish delicious, smothered chicken fantastic , Turkey and all that goes with it very good. Banana pudding …so good!The history behind the restaurant is extremely impressive and the pictures really relay a lot of Atlanta history. Highly recommend. Experience a piece of history while enjoying a very good meal!

if you can only eat one meal in Atlanta, mary mac's is the place!!! Why, you ask??? The food!!! The servce!!! The ambiance!!! The history!!! The parking!!! The food!!! With 6 (count 'em) six dining rooms and a bar... Mary Mac's has room for every group and every individual! Zach provided excellent table side service and every staff member we talked to was beyond kind, patient and knowledgeable about both the menu items and this venerable institutions history. My favorites? Fried green tomatoes Fried chicken Sweet potato soufflé Mac N Cheese Biscuits and honey Cheesy grits Sweet tea And... drumroll please... peach cobbler!!! Love it, love it, love it!!!

We came here for lunch as a family for southern comfort food. The chicken fried chicken was great! The Mac and cheese tastes like it is missing something and the fried chicken wings were bland. The restaurant was mostly empty but it was a Friday afternoon to be fair. For me I like the atmosphere of a full restaurant and it was missing that feel. The service was good and the air conditioning was low.

I suggested this place to friends new to Atlanta. One friend ordered the pork roast. When she went to cut her pork she could not even get the fork into the sliced meat, hard, dried out. The waitress took it back, brought another plate, 50% was hard, dried out. My chicken and dumplings was warm, at best. Very disappointed and an embarrassment to me for suggesting this place. We won’t hurry back, if ever.

We showed up at 5 on a Sunday - a little nervous because they don't take reservations. We did have to wait, but only for about 10 minutes. Once we got to our table, our waiter was energetic as heck and kept things moving. I don't know if every waiter is that entertaining, but we loved our waiter. Food was good - not great. Meatloaf was delicious, smothered chicken was solid (I wish "dark meat" was a thigh and leg, not three legs), chicken with pepper gravy was a bit bland, actually. Mac and cheese side was good. Sweet potato souffle might as well have been orange-colored marshmallows. We enjoyed our visit while we were in Atlanta. We took a tour beforehand, and our guide said it was a touristy place, but it was still good. That seems accurate.

We really enjoyed our meal. We had the fried chicken, cube steak, potato salad, cheese grits and collard greens. We started with corn bread, yeast rolls and cinnamon rolls which were very good. We ordered bread pudding which we enjoyed later as we were both too full to eat it right after our meal. Our server, Ah’Jae was one of the best servers we have ever had. She was there before we needed her and made us to go cups without even requesting. She also had the best personality. Recommend if you enjoy southern cooking.

After a fun walking adventure, my friend and I found this place which was recommended by our hotel staff. This was said to be true southern food. I am so very glad, I had the opportunity to try this place. We ordered what seemed like a buffet of food. This is better suited for a group of four. There was just too much food and we were happy because it was great roadtrip food. I highly recommend it and can't wait to visit again.

Great chicken and meatloaf...don't skip the peach cobbler or banana pudding. Best southern tea around and good prices

Missed the mark and not what it used to be. Our friends were excited to experience this once iconic meal when they can to town for a football game. We arrived around 4 on Saturday. The place is always busy. I'd say it was at 65%. Unfortunately everything was a little off. The service was very slow, the food was served cold in 1 case and all the baked goods were surprisingly dry from the legendary cornbread and cinnamon rolls to the coconut cake dessert. What has happened to you Mary Macs? This was a big surprise after 50 years.

The food was great. We were a party of 8 and tried just about everything on the menu between us. The tomato pie was yummy and the Georgia Peach Martini was delicious. Parking is tricky when it’s busy. Our server seemed like she was inexperienced and made several mistakes but all in all it was a good experience.

A DO NOT MISS WHILE IN ATLANTA! The story of this place, along with the delicious southern food, makes it a definite stop. When you walk in, you’re greeted by the kindest people and then the servers make it even better. Our server, Mo, took time to explain the things on the menu that we didn’t know and he also was so conscientious of our needs and showing us how to even eat certain things. At the end of the meal, he took the time to comment on a conversation that he overheard which really meant so much to us. He deserves a raise as well as the cooks in the back. Broccoli soufflé, tomato pie, sweet potato soufflé, meatloaf, pot roast, fried chicken, and the peach cobbler are all things to order FOR SURE!! https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60898-d477056-r884444954-Mary_Mac_s_Tea_Room-Atlanta_Georgia.html#

You have to go. It’s delicious. Southern comfort food with a big momma’s atmosphere. I will be going back when I visit Atlanta again.

This past week I had a delicious lunch at Mary Mac's. I was on a one day bus trip to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and lunch at Mary Mac's. A wonderful day. The gardens were spectacular and the lunch was outstanding. Our group, maybe 35 folks, were seated in a private large dining room and a buffet was set up for us. We served ourselves with Marion over-seeing us and catering to our needs. She was so nice and did a great job . The food was delicious with the fried chicken being the best I have ever had. I'm looking forward to going there again.

Always dependable for good home cooked tasty food, and great service. Popular mainstay, great place to take visitors.

We went with a large group on a Saturday night. I thing that they did a good job of managing the large party given how busy it was at the time. Mary Mac's has the most comforting of comfort foods! My fried okra and meatloaf were really good. I loved he Brunswick stew and would go back just for the banana pudding. Our group ordered a big variety and everyone was happy.

I enjoyed my food, but most of my family felt it was just okay. I got the fried chicken, and it was moist and delicious. My wife’s roast pork was just very dry pork loin. My daughter’s burger was over cooked. The options of sides were amazing. Our friendly waitress gave us a free sample of pot likker (which is broth from cooking collard greens, and most of us liked it). Everyone gets free cornbread, yeast rolls, and cinnamon rolls to start with. I enjoyed the dressing, which we call stuffing in my part of the country. In general, the ambiance was good. Our waitress disappeared for a half hour after delivering our food, which made for some very thirsty diners! We are glad we went to this iconic restaurant, but won’t need to return.

I stopped in here for lunch today and it was SO good. I have been here before and will surely go back. Fortunately I did not have a wait and there wasn't a line outside (like there sometimes is). They seated me in Ms Ellen's room and I had meatloaf, turkey and dressing and black eyed peas as well as yeast rolls and of course, sweet tea. The service was wonderful and the food came out very shortly. This place is known for having YOU to fill out your own order with a pencil which they keep at the table. The building is full of pictures of the famous folks who have dined there. It was a GREAT experience.

Disappointed overall, not sure what the hype is now but I’ve heard the best southern food in the area . An example is the fried chicken, wasn’t done , the “mashed “ potatoes tasted instant,. The collard greens were ok , the cornbread was ok. The bread pudding dessert was overly sweet, no way to taste anything else but sugar

This place was recommended by a tour guide. Has excellent southern cooking. Friendly staff. You have to get the fried green tomatoes, they were excellent. I had the blackened catfish. It was delicious. Highly recommend if you are in Atlanta.

Been going to Mary Mac’s for 35 years and since the new owners took over a few years ago, the quality and taste has slipped badly. Little things like corn bread muffins, gone, rolls taste like store bought and are not made the same folded rooks as before. Turkey was pre packaged stuff, broccoli casserole had no taste. Collards did not have the special piece of corn bread on top (if you know, you know). On top of that, the service was in different, and the folks at the front were borderline rude. I am very sad as this has been a special place for me.

I loved the feel of this place. Many photos and articles on the walls, depicting the rich history. It felt very formal and you could tell that it was frequented by regulars, as part of their Sunday routine. I wanted to love it and could not have been more excited. Unfortunately, the food was not very good. It was bland and nothing really knocked our socks off. We probably wouldn't return but I am still glad we made it in. Clearly, many are quite happy with Mary Mac's, as we had to wait a bit for a table and it was packed the entire time, with a full lobby when we left.

My family and I had some down home southern cuisine on a Sunday afternoon. The assorted breads were good, preferably the cinnamon rolls, chicken livers were nice and crispy, sweet potato soufflé was delicious, fried okra was lightly battered and crispy, chicken tenders were very meaty and juicy, fresh cooked fries were delicious, mac and cheese was cooked just right, fried shrimp was lightly battered, fried and cooked to perfection, cheese grits were good, fried green tomatoes were tasty and the peach cobbler was scrumptious! Needless to say, the food was awesome and filling! We’re looking forward to dining at this restaurant again. Shout out to Ricki for providing awesome service!

A true southern dining experience! Mary Mac's is an institution in Atlanta to say the least. The food is absolutely mouth watering with cold sweet tea, petite cinnamon rolls nestled amongst the yeast rolls in your bread basket. The service is impeccable with big smiles and sweet friendly southern hospitality. This should be a definite stop when you're in Atlanta. No disappointments when seeking true southern comfort food.

Lots of locals. They are welcoming and the food is excellent. They give you slips to write your orders on, like a sushi bar, best coconut cake ever

Good eating. Go a little early on the weekends, however the food is worth the wait. My family tried the cinnamon roll and said it was delicious

This restaurant recently changed ownership - different mindset here now. I have eaten here previously and sent them groups. Arrived at 3 pm - was busy - the hostess was very nice. I like the way the tables are spread out in the dining room. The server acts like he is on his last leg (Purcell) - not a good first impression. I ordered the vegetable plate - broccoli casserole, potato salad, sweet potato casserole, dressing with no gravy. The dressing had gravy - the food was good. The rolls are a great addition to the meal. He did one ticket - never asked about how that needed to be done. Alot of confusion for the customer - I think some staff training could address some of these basic customer service issues. He never checked back with us about how our meal was. This use to be an adventure in dining - not sure what has happened - they need to get it fixed in a hurry. The ownership may want to visit the restaurant as a customer and see what the experience is all about. Probably will not be back. Good luck moving forward.

The smothered chicken and gravy reminded me of home! I had never had tomato pie before - it was surprisingly tasty! The greens were delicious and the black-eyed peas were fresh. Looking forward to my next visit!

This little place was recommended by several locals for southern cuisine. It is popular and has been around for sometime, like going back to the 1960's. The menu offers a wide range of items and lots of traditional southern food. Our party had everything from Fried Chicken to Meatloaf. The cinnamon rolls were awesome. I was told the hushpuppies were also really good. My Chicken Fried Chicken was good but I thought my side dishes were just average. I ordered a peach cobbler which was good but nothing special. The Fried Green Tomatoes were good and I would love the recipe for the coating they use. They do have a Mary Macs cookbook for sale at the front counter so I guess if you love the food enough you can buy the cookbook. Parking is on the street I did not see any off street parking. The server was a very friendly fellow but he seemed a little overwhelmed. I would recommend stopping here if your looking for an experience of Southern food and Southern Hospitality.

Eleven of us and except for the salad, every plate of food was over salted and not edible. One piece of chicken was dried out and was the only thing we sent back. A total waste of $300. Give this place a skip with all the good restaurants in Atlanta we are sorry one of our group chose this one. The server tried but not much to work with.

I went to Mary Macs 12/8/21. There was a small wait. I ordered pork chops and it was tough to cut. The veggies were the size of a child's plate. I have been to MM"s in the past and was totally satisfied. Yesterdays visit was terrible..

We stopped here for southern dishes because the restaurant seemed to be very popular and a tried and true establishment. When we arrived, it took a couple of minutes for someone to greet us (even though there was no line and 2 staff members were at the front desk), so I went back outside to take photos. When I returned, my cousin and I were quickly greeted and seated. We were given a sheet of paper to write our order -- from starters, to soups and salads, entries, desserts, etc. While we waited, we received complimentary pot likkor (the juice from cooked greens) and a corn muffin. My cousin ordered chicken with some sides. I ordered a vegetarian platter -- greens, black-eyed peas, macaroni and cheese, and cheese grits. All were quite good, but I didn't care much for the grits. We also ordered and shared the fried green tomatoes. They were thick slices of tomatoes covered in panko bread crumbs and deep fried. They lacked seasoning and flavor, so I wouldn't recommend them. The dining atmosphere was laid back and people are friendly. It's a nice place for traditional southern food in a family restaurant.

The service was good, but the food was average, nothing to write home about. I ordered the chicken and dumplings and the portion size did not match the price. At most there was maybe a cup full. The flavor was ok. I've had better chicken and dumplings in the northern states. I guess I expected more flavor for a southern staple.

HUGE number of menu offering. If you are looking for authentic Southern cooking, look no further. It is also located close in to other attractions in Atlanta. But the food...to die for. The only negative is making a choice!

I enjoy the ambiance, the courteous service and the food is delicious! Whenever I visit ATL, Mary Mac's is my go to spot.

Looks like a popular place. The food is plenty and filling. However, it a sole food place. Plastic table cover, plastic plates, a cheap look kinda. Food is ok, no particular presentation. Lots of fried food and lije cafeteria style. I kept reminding myself I am in Atlanta maybe in some plantation there with big mama Mary cooking for us and we are to eat this food under this big oak tree and it maybe our last meal before another one for a long long time. 😂

Was looking forward to our visit! Old school in many ways, crooked building, lots of photos, was told a great deal of the history. Was nice to visit. Staff wasn't warm or cool, they were just there- some kind of going through the motions. Interesting that you're supposed to jot down your order on a card, but without enough cards or menus or silverware, we were at a disadvantage. Food was what one would expect.... southern, fried and rather plentiful and fairly reasonable. No bar service, fine, and the Sweet Tea very good, but never was offered a refill. Food tasty but seems like it sat there- for a place that says home prepared meals, unless it was deep fried, it appeared to be scooped up and but on a plate and left under the warmer for too long. So a 4* for uniqueness and history and ambience and such- less for service, which like I said was not bad but not good- and somewhat less overall for food. We'd return, but with less anticipation based upon other rave reviews.

Yeah sure, it's an Atlanta icon. But one visit and you'll understand why. I live in an Atlanta suburb, so had heard of it and was glad I followed friends' recommendations to check out Mary Mac's. It all began with free and easy parking out back... uncommon in Atlanta, especially for a Friday late lunch. A short wait for a table was followed by the smiling face of our server... I wish I could remember his name. He was attentive, answered our questions and went above and beyond to make our lunch perfect. The most difficult part of a meal here is choosing what to eat! We finally settled on the fried chicken wings, turkey and dressing (the best I've ever tasted outside of my Mama's suppertable), fried okra, creamed corn, black-eyed peas, macaroni and cheese and coconut cake. The food is obviously homemade and delicious. My mouth is watering just writing that for y'all. Servings were large, costs were reasonable and... did I say delicious? Every item was tasty. I will admit, neither my daughter nor I cared for all the silks left in the creamed corn, but as long as I didn't look at it on the spoon, it tasted great! Maybe I'm a bit obsessive about minimal silks in my creamed corn? But seriously, everything tasted above "good", did I say it was delicious? We both left with plates of leftovers, just like when leaving my Mama's house. I'm already wanting to go back. Go to Mary Mac's. You won't be disappointed!

Mary Mac's did not disappoint! Everyone was friendly and the food was delicious. They gave us potlicker with a cracklin corn muffin. This was amazing! The fried chicken and cinnamon buns were as good as advertised. I had my first mint julep, which I liked. The shrimp and grits were good too.

Saw this place on A. Zimmer's show about Southern food in Atlanta. Am no expert on Southern cooking but the collard greens were too salty, fried green tomatoes were soggy, tomato pie was like stewed tomato with bread crumbs on top, fried chicken was not crispy though moist, shrimp and grits was OK. The banana pudding was a bit gummy. The best part about the meal was the bread basket which had small corn muffins, cinnamon rolls, and white dinner rolls (like Hawaiian King's bread).

The classic since 1945. Haven’t been in many, many years but it has free onsite parking (with a security company vehicle in the lot), which is a plus for midtown/downtown ATL restaurants after dark. This evening, just before the recent snow storm, was not super crowded so no wait. The decor is dated but nostalgic with plenty of framed pics & articles on the walls. Service was prompt & friendly. I forgot you’re supposed to fill out your order on the pads at table but server cut me slack & took the order verbally (that did result in me getting hoppin’ Johns instead of straight black-eyed peas - my bad. The pot roast was very savory with ample meat, if not the most beautiful presentation. The broccoli casserole was passable. The nice basket of rolls & cornbread that comes out ahead really hit the spot & may have been the overall highlight! Good iced tea too. This is the last of Atlanta’s many mid-century “tea rooms” & a nice place for old fashioned food & service. Give it a try while you can.

The food and the customer service were excellent. This is one of my favorite restaurants and I have eaten at many restaurants across the country.

Good food overall. I had blackened salmon and Brunswick stew that was absolutely delicious. My husband had the turkey and dressing that was very tasty but not very hot- the gravy was congealed by the time he got it. The server was good, but the time to get the food was a little slow, and we began to worry since we had an event to attend. The $8 coconut cake that we got to go was super dry. Prices are reasonable, except that cake, and we would go back.

Such an amazing place to visit! Restaurant was busy, I walked in and it was 30 min wait for a table at it was worth it!! Portions are big, food is tasty and did remind me of homemade meal. Very cozy atmosphere.