Rathbun's

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mea1085

Joined 5 years ago

Good food didn't make up for horrible service. We arrive about 10 minutes before our reservation and were told our table wasn't ready yet so we could have a seat at the bar. Ha! It was literally impossible to walk or stand without touching someone, let alone sit and have a drink. Well we are finally seated, 20 minutes after our reservation. A manager or somebody comes by and tells us we'll be getting free eggplant chips for our wait. I was impressed with that and it did soothe my frazzled mood a little. Enter the snooty, early twenty-something waitress. She did not introduce herself, didn't welcome us, didn't discuss specials with us, and generally seemed irritated that we were there. We had several questions about the menu, but she didn't seem to eager to check on us so after a few minutes we flagged down another waiter who looked like a deer in the headlights so we let it go. Finally our darling waitress returns and we place our order. My boyfriend asked a question about the side dish of one of the menu items and her response was "to me, the meal is really about the fish, not the side dish." We thought that was a laughably unprofessional response for a restaurant of that caliber but let it go. So cut to the food: the appetizer (beef tartare) was pretty good, my boyfriend's fish wasn't very impressive, and my duck was absolutely delicious. So it wasn't a horrible experience or anything but certainly didn't live up to our expectations. I liked the atmosphere and the food was good (or mine was anyway), but they have really got to get it together as far as honoring reservations and hiring a professional and competent staff. I can't imagine that anyone who had our waitress would want to return.

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zahnk23

Joined 5 years ago

Dark and Crowded, but Delicious. We went here for our 9th anniversary and we amazed at the delicious food and the great service. The menu is very creative.

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sexyfood

Joined 5 years ago

I've been to a good amount of restaurants in Atlanta and..... this was the best one!! It may be the best restaurant I've ever been to, in fact. Not only was the service impeccable, my medium rare cooked steak was the most wonderful thing I've ever tasted. All the dishes were seasoned well, no salt or pepper shakers necessary. Moreover, we were the only table outside, on a Tuesday. Often times servers neglect those tables but someone constantly had their eye on us, just in case we needed anything. The bone marrow was one of a kind, and amazing - as was the peanut butter banana cream pie. and to top it all off, the valet was complimentary.

Over all, if you want to try something truly special, go to Rathbuns. and save room for dessert!!

yumm!!

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jimfromkaty

Joined 5 years ago

Exceptional Food and Service. Our foursome went there to celebrate a graduation and had a wonderful time. The service was without exception professional, but still friendly and interactive. Our server's suggestions turned out to be outstanding, but of course so was everything else. Two of the small plates were exceptional - the softshell crab and the roasted marrow bones. All four of the entrees were quite good, but I recommend the elk chops. One of the steak dishes had the best side of the four - creamed roasted corn. We were pretty full, but the dessert sampler was shared by us and gave everyone just enough to cap off a perfect meal. The peanut butter banana pie and ginger cream brulee were our favorites.

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Doodface

Joined 5 years ago

Weird Location, but AMAZING food. Everything about this place is what I look for in a great restaurant. While the food is fine dining, it is not stuffy at all. The prices are very reasonable for the quality. The waiter we had was extremely helpful, and everything he suggested was great. Definitely dont miss the raw beef with smoked salt, and the cabbage carbonara. But you really cant go wrong here. Dinner for two, 3 small plates, 2 main courses, 2 deserts, with a $44 bottle of wine was $180 with tip (and yes we had leftovers).

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Party4foodies

Joined 5 years ago

Terrific appetizers, small plates savory and sensational, but save room for Kirks picks deeelish deserts!. It is always the highlight of an Atlanta adventure to get to go to Rathbun's. There is an electricity about this place that makes for an awesome dining experience. Whether you desire a light fare, or are famished and in the mood for a mega meal, Kevin's got your taste buds bubbling! The corn may be a side dish, but I plan my meal around this delicous concoction, creamy and roasted and deliciously delectable every time! And whatever your entree, fresh fish, lamb or beef, be prepared to be gastrinomically glorified! Yummm, yummmmmmm, yummmmm! But don't stop there. My husband craves the banana peanut butter pie, but I taste the foursome platter of deserts and am not disappointed. Not only is the food divine, but the service is decidedly the best in the city. They are pleasant, helpful, and timely.

We ventured out on Valentines, and again, were blown away by the delicious dishes and delightful service. Be sure to check out Kevin Rathbun Steaks as well, if you are in the mood for a macho meal with a nice selection of sauces. Rathbun's rocks!!! Thanks, Kevin and Melissa for such a magnificent endeavor.

Doesn't Recommend

jadams159753

Joined 5 years ago

Poor experience overall. This is the first time I've been motivated enough to actually leave a review on this site or any other. My girlfriend and I visited Rathbun's last Saterday night after making reservations four days in advance. The first available time was at 10pm and we arrived 10 mins early. The hostess seemed annoyed at our presence when we first arrived, and despite the four empty tables we saw from the time we arrived, it took almost thirty minutes after our reservation time for us to be reluctantly seated. The small plates were good, but not great. We ordered the calamari and a raw plate of mozerella and sundried tomatoes. The kitchen lost our order and it took over an hour to recieve our meals. I ordered the braised brisket which was so tough and bland i actually sent it back.(Which is the first time I've ever done so) My date ordered the scallops which weren't bad but certainly not something to talk about. The manager came over afterwards and personally apologized and even comped the check which I do admire, but I will not be going back. I hate when a place gets some buzz around town and feels as if they no longer need to focus on service or quality, and that is my perception of Rathbun's.

Doesn't Recommend

l1ttles1ar

Joined 8 years ago

It may be OK, if you can eat there!!!. Ok, special occasion, called a week ahead to get a reservation for sat night, 9:30 PM. Birthday party of 4. We ran 10 mins late and called at 9:20 to say we were within 5-10 mins, they said no problem. Got there at 9:40, they said well, we gave you table away since you were late so now there's going to be a bit of a wait. OK fine, we went to Krog bar (overrated) to have a drink. I checked back 30 mins later, nothing avail. Another 30 mins, nothing. At 10:45 I asked if we were going to be seated. The manager explained that we lost our table since we were 10 MINS LATE. I explained that its ridiculous to "lose" a reservation when we were only a few mins late and should have been seated next. Evidentatly, if you are late you can forget it. We dine out at nice places weekly and Ihave never encountered this nonsense exept for here. Even after explaining the special occasion, I got a blank stare in return. Thanks for the great service Rathbuns-we'll take our $200 a weekend dining business elsewhere!

Doesn't Recommend

nicodemus1

Joined 6 years ago

Disappointing. We returned to Rathbun's for our 8th time over the course of the last several years the restaurant has been open. The bread was stale, the food below mediocre. The scallop special was served fried with jicama slaw. You couldn't taste anything but that it was fried. The oyster special was also fried, same lack of flavor. Delicious fresh crabmeat was served in an ovebearing cream sauce, in a tart. Again, could barely taste the fresh crabmeat. We've never been impressed by Rathbun's, but keep going back, thinking we're missing something due to all of the publicity. Once again, we were disappointed. Go to Wisteria or Repast, trust me...

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14atl

Joined 6 years ago

One of Atlanta's Top Ten. I certainly enjoyed dining at Rathbun's. The atmosphere is upscale casual and service was outstanding. At that point, I thought my filet was the best in Atlanta but Rathbun Steak has since opened.