(404) 876-1800
224 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
(At Myrtle St, Midtown)
Atlanta,
GA
30308
33.7726
-84.3805
Neighborhoods: Midtown, Northeast, Northeast
Years in business
Established in 1942
Hours:
Daily 11-9
Price:
$
Last updated 8.16.11
Category:
Payment Methods:
Check, American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Breakfast, Lunch Spot
Cuisine:
Southern, Meat-And-Three, Traditional American
Smoking Permitted:
No
What People Are Saying About Mary Mac's Tea Room
Featured Review
Contributor
Contributor
The Scene – Long the standard for the sweet tea, meat-and-three crowd, this half-century-old tea room has played host for generations. Lately, the celebrity photos have begun to yellow, and the dining room is a little frayed around the edges. But it's still good for Ponce character sightings and a cheap, hearty meal. – – The Food – The Pot Likker was once known citywide and the fried chicken merited a special trip. Add the full bar, an offbeat West Ponce location, Krispy Kreme nearby as a dessert option, and a local legend was born. Nowadays, food is a bit more…
Editor's Tips
- Look Good:
- Each table has its own caddie for pencils and order sheets, or "dupes." Write down your order and present it to your server.
- What to Drink:
- Sip the flavor of the old South with a Mary Mac mint julep. It's not served in the traditional silver cup, but it is served every day.
- Know Before You Go:
- If it's your first Mary Mac experience, tell your server and get a free sampling of the famous Pot Likker.
| ambiance | 100.0% positive |
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|---|---|---|
| dessert | 0.0% positive |
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| drinks | 90.0% positive |
|
| food quality | 78.5699987411499% positive |
|
| menu variety | 100.0% positive |
|
| overall | 100.0% positive |
|
| return potential | 100.0% positive |
|
| service | 75.0% positive |
|
| value | 100.0% positive |
|
| wait time | 12.5% positive |
|
I wasn't a fan
by Jessicaparker125611
I was told they had some great food and I was told wrong. I had collards and I could taste dirt in them. I couldn't enjoy anything else on my plate after eating the dirty collars. I was very dissatisfied with the service and the food and I will not visit this place ever again.
Cliffs' Notes Review
by M and M Maltese
The Cliffs' Notes: Great authentic Southern food in an authentic classical Southern restaurant. One of the required eateries to become a local Atlantan.
TIPS: Park behind the Tearoom; it's not fast food so don't go if you are on a schedule; engage the waitstaff on suggestions as most have worked at MMTR for years and are devoted to customer experiences.
I ORDERED: Hoppin John (first time since I left home in rural GA), Chicken & Dumplings, Fried Green Tomatoes w/ ranch, Pot Licker (for true Southerners only), some sides dishes I can't remember.
PRICE/VALUE: The prices are a little higher than Po Folks and Cracker Barrel because the food is more authentic and tastier. The staff is devoted to the restaurant's image and seem to enjoy their unique environment.
PROS: Great historical place with accompanying atmosphere (Google its history in order to fully appreciate your meal). A wide variety including hard to find Ol' South vitals to more popular regional dishes. The wait staff is hospitable and engaging. A great experience for out of town guest and it may even surprise seasoned Atlantans/Southerners. Real Sweet tea (not sugar water, not tea with artificial sweetener, but great tea which has a strong "tea" taste with a great balance of sugar).
CONS: Don't even think about splitting a meal or sharing without paying. Don't arrive the hour before they close as the wait staff as a lot of task to complete before going home and you will not receive their best service. DON"T TAKE YOU KIDS (under 12) HERE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY OR YOU ARE LOUD! When the loyal customers complain, the staff/management will make them happy.
great food
by duetto
My family when o mary mac's and we were not dissapointed! First the rolls,the pot lickers soup, and did I mention the cinnamin rolls... all were great. My children were so filled that they did not want dessert. Great food good price and great service all at a fair price. I will reccommend his place to all, but come hungry!
Don't call this Southern food
by otphere
This place must be living off it's former glory and heyday from the 40's and 50's. Wonder if it has switched owners and how many times?
I'm from the deep south and I've never had "SOUTHERN FOOD" like this before. Please don't think this is the way southern people eat. I was with an extremely large group as part of a cultural exchange. I was humiliated and consistently apologized so that people didn't think southerners really eat this way. I didn't pick this place and never would.
I mean the chicken was dry, the corn bread dressing bland, the cinnamon rolls--I've had better out of a grocery store can. The mashed potatoes looked runny and instant, I didn't even bother, then they bring out more fried food-green tomatoes fried and then more starchy food. What happened to hearty vegetables? Does everything need to be FRIED???
And then a peach cobbler that was fattening as all daylights, but halfway decent. And YET, they had a room full of people, how? I don't know. No wonder the U.S. if full of colon, ulcer, stomach digestive problems.
Next time I want more traditional southern food I'll go to COLONNADE RESTAURANT ON CHESHIRE BRIDGE ROAD or just save a few bucks and go to Kentucky Fried Chicken.
One person said the dinner rolls were good. That was the only compliment I heard throughout the meal.
- Pros: It's a convenient in town banquet hall, but not worth it
- Cons: Greasy, dry, starchy, fattening, bland, boring, not good
A Fantastic Southern Experience
by fourthirtysix
For years I had driven by Mary Mac's Tea Room and never gone in and after all those years, I could kick myself for missing out on sucha fantastic experience. Not only is the food top-notch and affordable, but the atmospohere inside is worth the trip alone.
Everyone I know has had a similar experience, driving by but never going in, and I am telling them all that this place is superb in every way. The 3 dessert choices offered would alone make it worth the trip.
The Details on Mary Mac's Tea Room
Place Categories:
- great place
- great service
- great homeade food
- love mary macs
- best fried chicken
- not like mac n cheese
- delicious sweet tea
- fantastic experience
- best ribs
- great southern dining
- flavorful collards
- worst meal
- comfortable atmosphere
- dry chicken
- nice server
- nice staff
- unseasoned fried chicken breast
- favorite legendary restaurant
- like ol southern cooking
- reasonable price
- great fried green tomatos
- pretty good sweet potato souflee
- great throwback
- worst food
- too full room


