The Grit

About

The Grit is an independently owned vegetarian restaurant near the fringes of downtown Athens. For over 30 years we've focused on serving our community both wholesome local fare and decadent southern classics.

Story

Early on at The Grit you might have said that things were somewhat lean. When the restaurant was young in the early nineties many people didn’t want to give it a try for fear that vegetarian food would prove to be freaky health food or something less than palatable. And there was the building itself - old brick with peeling paint and not really near anything else - in a part of our hometown of Athens, Georgia that was a red-light district at night. Yeesh!

But now people know just how good vegetarian food can be! And now The Grit is surrounded by thriving local businesses serving all walks of life. It’s filled with throngs of happy customers who know they’ll get a big delicious meal that is made from scratch and, more often now, from locally sourced businesses and farms.

Continually surprising people with how good vegetarian food and desserts can be keeps things fun but often the surprise is ours. The level of customers’ devotion, the reach of The Grit’s reputation, the degree to which travelers and Athens expatriates tell us they yearn for Grit food, and the constant requests for our cookbook all continually surprise us. The Grit is small and never much for blowing its own horn but people keep showing their love and it makes us proud.

Of course, horn blowing takes a back seat to guitar slinging around here. The Grit owes much of its personality to its association with the local music scene. From the ninety-five percent-plus staff who have been or are in bands to the man who owns the building, musically talented and/or obsessed people have helped shape The Grit since its beginning. For better or worse that’s who we are and our friends and fans in the music world have been very generous with their support and accolades for Grit food. That’s Athens for you.

But let’s talk about food. Our food is not timidly seasoned. We love garlic, onions, peppers, vinegar, and lots of other ingredients that give food a kick. That’s also what our customers love. But it only works because it’s balanced. To make vegans and those with gluten sensitivities lives a little easier we note all of our dairy-free and gluten-free items on our daily Veggieboard and dessert case. Please note though that we are primarily a vegetarian restaurant and not all items can be made vegan nor do we carry an extensive selection of gluten-free options at this time. Also note that we are NOT gluten-free certified so please exercise care if you have severe allergies!

Speaking of dessert, all of our sweets - from the cookies to the cakes to the ice creams to the pies to the bread pudding - are made right on premise by our small but dedicated bakery team. We're currently trying to offer more gluten-free options to the public as well! And don't forget that all of our desserts can be purchased in bulk with at least 48 hours notice.

Please note that we do not have a parking lot for our customers. Like 99% of downtown businesses, all parking is public street parking, is first-come-first-served and in no way maintained/owned/etc by The Grit. We suggest you carpool if possible or be prepared to take a stroll to get to us. As you can imagine, parking near both a university and a bustling downtown is on high demand.

We do serve beer and wine. Many beers are local (Athens has got some GREAT breweries) or regional. Our wines change seasonally.

While we do try to offer some gluten-free and vegan selections we are first and foremost a vegetarian restaurant with a splash of classic southern cuisine and a splash of diner throwback. Please keep in mind that we use lots of soy, tofu, eggs, cheese and high gluten products in our restaurant. We are not gluten-free certified. We will do our best to work with those of you with allergies but we cannot guarantee that there is no cross-contamination of products. We do offer great food that almost everyone will enjoy!

So come share in the spirit that resides in this old building at 199 Prince Avenue and let good food bring you joy!