Hours:

Monday To Thursday From 11:30 AM To 02:00 AM Friday To Saturday From 11:30 AM To 03:00 AM Sunday From 12:30 PM To 03:00 AM

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants, Bars & Pubs, Neighborhood Bars, Singles Bars, Lounges

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Smoking Permitted:

Yes

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Universal Joint

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Located in sleepy Oakhurst, this quintessential neighborhood bar features glass garage doors that open onto a spacious patio with architectural gas-station remnants. It probably won't make any "Top-10 Hot Spots" lists, but if you're looking for a friendly, low-key joint, this is your place. – – The Draw – Though it's better known as a bar, the Universal Joint sports a menu that's worth a trip on its own. Snacks, including creamy hummus, crispy onion straws and a Buffalo chicken quesadilla (served with a side of blue cheese dressing and celery), are miles…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
The veggie burger can be substituted on any of the burger plates.
The Extras:
Universal Joint has neighborhood famous annual events like the Lobster Boil and Golf Tournament. Check the web for upcoming calendar events.
When to Go:
Tuesday night, you participate in U Joint Trivia, Saturdays and Sundays have discount pitchers and on rainy days, find $2 bottles of domestic beer.
ambiance
95.0% positive
  1. “will say, great atmosphere and halfway decent pub grub.”
  2. “Laid back, good food - a place you can feel comfortable going whatever you look like.”
  3. “love the atmosphere, which had a pub feel without trying to be a pub.”
  4. “We like the laid-back atmosphere (we tend to go for lunch on Saturdays), the mixed crowd and the burgers.”
  5. “The UJ is a bit too cozy for its own good sometimes, but its invitingly dark atmosphere, no-frills vibe and great bar food make it worth adding to your late-night orbit.”
  6. “The trivia is fun too.”
  7. “Good drinks and a great atmosphere.”
  8. “eclectic, diverse down to earth atmosphere, beautiful patio-, wonderful people, what more could you possibly want?”
  9. “The atmosphere is nice, but after 3 bad expereinces, I have written off this place for good.”
  10. “The atmosphere is great and the eclectic staff and clientel are invariably interesting and friendly.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “Unlike the "chef's right" dude, I like places with character; and I find the staff engaging, not a bunch of monkey trained nimrods that give answers to the questions they are trained to answer (aka, corporate, cookie cutter, no risk bars).”
drinks
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “recommend the burgers & chicken fingers; the beer is a bit steep for a neighborhood pub but that's my only compliant so far.”
  2. “love the U Joint because it is EXACTLY what a neighborhood bar should be.”
  3. “If you can stand the catty waitstaff and management and don't mind waiting for them to finish playing the bar top video game before they serve you, you might like the place.”
  4. “great choice of potables and superior bar/pub grub (pay attention to the daily specials which are always great) all at reasonable prices.”
  5. “The UJ is a bit too cozy for its own good sometimes, but its invitingly dark atmosphere, no-frills vibe and great bar food make it worth adding to your late-night orbit.”
  6. “That's sad because this great little neighborhood bar will quickly turn into an overcrowded mess.”
  7. “Good neighborhood bar.”
  8. “Once a great neighborhood bar, now a place of lousy food and extremely bad service.”
  9. “Good drinks and a great atmosphere.”
  10. “Service can sometimes be slow, but sit back and drink a beer.”
  11. “Its got a decent beer selection, better-than-average pub grub -- the blue cheeseburger and buffalo chicken are winners -- and the servers are super friendly.”
  12. “After a hard day of work it was nice to go sit outside on their patio and chat with the odd mix of patrons, have a good beer and some good food.”
  13. “The burgers are filling and tasty, and the drinks are agreeably strong.”
  14. “Good beer selection and full bar.”
  15. “This bar is what all bars should be- Great food, cold beer, friendly, happy staff, easy-going.”
food quality
93.47999572753906% positive
  1. “recommend the burgers & chicken fingers; the beer is a bit steep for a neighborhood pub but that's my only compliant so far.”
  2. “Just like all of the places these guys own (Brake Pad, 97 Estoria, Flatiron, etc.) the food is about as interesting as any Taco Mac suburban hell hole you would find outside the city.”
  3. “We like the laid-back atmosphere (we tend to go for lunch on Saturdays), the mixed crowd and the burgers.”
  4. “The UJ is a bit too cozy for its own good sometimes, but its invitingly dark atmosphere, no-frills vibe and great bar food make it worth adding to your late-night orbit.”
  5. “Really good burgers.”
  6. “plan on returning to see how the food is, but I would reccomend this spot to anyone who just wants a spot to chill and have good conversation.”
  7. “The U Joint has my favorite lunch in town: mushroom swiss chicken sandwich with onion straws (you have to sub the burger for chicken.)”
  8. “The food is consistently good.”
  9. “Its got a decent beer selection, better-than-average pub grub -- the blue cheeseburger and buffalo chicken are winners -- and the servers are super friendly.”
  10. “love the new salmon burger and salmon salad!”
  11. “The burgers are filling and tasty, and the drinks are agreeably strong.”
  12. “The food is always good and the staff is great.”
  13. “Great food as always.”
  14. “Our burgers were perfectly cooked and the fries are really good.”
  15. “They covered a beautiful facade with stucco, hired - and continue to hire- the worst wait staff in town and don't seem to understand how to train them, and consistently produce boring, barely edible food.”
  16. “Pet- and vegetarian-friendly place with trivia nights and good cheese fries: what more could you want?”
  17. “Laid back, good food - a place you can feel comfortable going whatever you look like.”
  18. “the patio and people are still cool, but the food is not up to standard anymore and I have pretty much given up at this point.”
  19. “Good food.”
  20. “Once a great neighborhood bar, now a place of lousy food and extremely bad service.”
  21. “Food is good for pub food.”
  22. “This bar is what all bars should be- Great food, cold beer, friendly, happy staff, easy-going.”
  23. “After a hard day of work it was nice to go sit outside on their patio and chat with the odd mix of patrons, have a good beer and some good food.”
menu variety
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “Its got a decent beer selection, better-than-average pub grub -- the blue cheeseburger and buffalo chicken are winners -- and the servers are super friendly.”
  2. “eclectic, diverse down to earth atmosphere, beautiful patio-, wonderful people, what more could you possibly want?”
  3. “Good beer selection and full bar.”
overall
80.55999755859375% positive
  1. “It is a great place to cap off a night.”
  2. “great place for chatting after a successful first date or catching up with an old friend.”
  3. “The atmosphere is nice, but after 3 bad expereinces, I have written off this place for good.”
  4. “Once a great neighborhood bar, now a place of lousy food and extremely bad service.”
  5. “Laid back, good food - a place you can feel comfortable going whatever you look like.”
  6. “great place to relax and people-watch, at least during the day.”
service
71.30000114440918% positive
  1. “Unlike the "chef's right" dude, I like places with character; and I find the staff engaging, not a bunch of monkey trained nimrods that give answers to the questions they are trained to answer (aka, corporate, cookie cutter, no risk bars).”
  2. “(the least she could do) what she should do is fire this incompetent waiter and get a couple of competent waiters that understand and provide good service.”
  3. “They have had in my opinion (and I have over ten years in the industry) some of the worst service in the city.”
  4. “lucked out when I moved so close to this friendly little spot.”
  5. “The patio is great and we love that it is pet friendly.”
  6. “great place to relax and people-watch, at least during the day.”
  7. “You go into a place and expect a server up your --- ASAP and to stay there until you finish your two Stella Artouis and 6 waters, (yet I know you wait 45 mins in line at taco ria del sol then rave about how great the service is).”
  8. “Friendly service and an interesting place to people watch.”
  9. “This place is way too small and the staff is very rude.”
  10. “will say, Decatur is full of great pubs and restaurants with great service who respect their patrons.”
  11. “Dog friendly.”
  12. “You wonder if they are intentionally going for a reputation of bad service.”
  13. “Pet- and vegetarian-friendly place with trivia nights and good cheese fries: what more could you want?”
  14. “The food is always good and the staff is great.”
  15. “All this makes up for sometimes slow service that happens even when it's not crowded.”
  16. “Its got a decent beer selection, better-than-average pub grub -- the blue cheeseburger and buffalo chicken are winners -- and the servers are super friendly.”
  17. “Possibly the worst service in Atlanta.”
  18. “eclectic, diverse down to earth atmosphere, beautiful patio-, wonderful people, what more could you possibly want?”
  19. “They covered a beautiful facade with stucco, hired - and continue to hire- the worst wait staff in town and don't seem to understand how to train them, and consistently produce boring, barely edible food.”
  20. “This bar is what all bars should be- Great food, cold beer, friendly, happy staff, easy-going.”
  21. “Once a great neighborhood bar, now a place of lousy food and extremely bad service.”
  22. “As I said to the manager, Atlanta has too many good restaurants, with good service, to ever endure the Ujoint again.”
  23. “Some of the worst service in town--DON'T GO HERE!”
  24. “The atmosphere is great and the eclectic staff and clientel are invariably interesting and friendly.”
  25. “The bartenders are often more friendly and accommodating than you'd expect, as well.”
  26. “the patio and people are still cool, but the food is not up to standard anymore and I have pretty much given up at this point.”
  27. “Good staff.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “great choice of potables and superior bar/pub grub (pay attention to the daily specials which are always great) all at reasonable prices.”
  2. “The UJ is a bit too cozy for its own good sometimes, but its invitingly dark atmosphere, no-frills vibe and great bar food make it worth adding to your late-night orbit.”
wait time
25.0% positive
  1. “Service can sometimes be slow, but sit back and drink a beer.”
  2. “You go into a place and expect a server up your --- ASAP and to stay there until you finish your two Stella Artouis and 6 waters, (yet I know you wait 45 mins in line at taco ria del sol then rave about how great the service is).”
  3. “Service sometimes a little slow.”
  4. “All this makes up for sometimes slow service that happens even when it's not crowded.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/11/12

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5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/11/11

We love it!

by ScooterVixen

Me, My hubby, and our roommate live close by have been going there for 6 yrs or more!

Sometimes, they hire the occasional catty waitress or waiter but, they can't be perfect all of the time.

They have a great bar selection, cozy environment, good patio, and GREAT burgers! All reasonably priced! The burgers are so big, I have to have mine cut in half and can never eat more than half at a time.

They do get packed on trivia night though (check their website for more info) and it's hard to get food quickly when they are that busy so, we avoid that night.

Most of the time, we call in our orders to go, Swing by and our food is already done, Have a few drinks and go eat at home. Everyone there has always been really nice to us.

The only downside is when its packed, it's really cramped. This place used to be a gas station. It used to be really hard to move around but, they've literally, just added a second side room and that seems to have taken care of that problem for the most part.

2 Star Rating: Below Average

07/20/09

just for a drink

by star75

We have been a few times as we live around the corner -- I wish this place would clean up there act. I agree with the other comments regarding wait staff and food -- long wait for just OK food.

However I think it's charming that people bring dogs and kids -- very european!

  • Pros: location
  • Cons: poor service, mediocre food
1 Star Rating: Poor

03/01/09

Possibly the worst service in Atlanta.

by galacr

An hour and a half of your life to get good pub grub? Never again!

My friend that lives in Oakhurst insisted we eat at the UJoint 3/1/2009 at 6pm, it is convenient as

a neighborhood eatery. The problem with the U joint is that the only waiter in this tiny

restaurant is a surly little tatted man who takes cig breaks out front while his tables wait, and

wait, and wait, if he remembers to ever come back to your table, which in our case he did not, it is

at his leisure. You need to place your food order... tough. You need beverage refills... tough.

You actually want to get your meal after an hour and fifteen minutes... tough. You think he should

show up back at the table to check and see if the food that never came out is ok... tough.

My date did not want me to say anything after 30 min, after 45 min, after an hour, after all, this

is her neighborhood eatery, finally after an hour and fifteen minutes she spoke to the waiter, after

another 15 minutes, one (1) of the two orders came out, this was all I could take, I asked for the

manager.

It is not that the manager didn't take care of getting the order right after an hour and forty five

minutes, and she did comp the meal for us... (the least she could do) what she should do is fire this incompetent waiter and get a couple of competent waiters that understand and provide good service.

We eat out almost every night, (just doing our part to stimulate the economy) just not at the Ujoint any more. As I said to the manager, Atlanta has too many good restaurants, with good service, to ever endure the Ujoint again.

  • Pros: The food is actually good if you can get it.
  • Cons: Service so far below acceptable, never again.
4 Star Rating: Recommended

04/07/08

Nice Cozy spot..

by Decutta

This was my first visit to this spot cozy mellow and good service. Its been a while since I have visited this area but renovations and upgrades make it look good and gives you a safe feeling. Didn't get to try the food the kitchen closes at 12 am, Me and my date had a couple of drinks(pretty good). I plan on returning to see how the food is, but I would reccomend this spot to anyone who just wants a spot to chill and have good conversation..

  • Pros: Plenty of room..
  • Cons: No late night food service..

The Details on Universal Joint

Place Categories:

  • wonderful people
  • invariably interesting clientel
  • full decatur
  • decent pub grub
  • great universal joint
  • most challanging
  • great little neighborhood bar
  • friendly dog
  • love salmon salad
  • beautiful facade
  • worst service
  • like place
  • good bar food
  • great laidback atmosphere
  • great patio
  • friendly eclectic staff
  • best trivia
  • good beer
  • good neighborhood
  • worst wait staff
  • great little spot
  • really good cheese fries
  • great restaurants
  • just plain god awful management
  • recommend burgers
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