Frank Tarleton opened The Colonnade in 1927 in a white-columned house at the corner of Lindbergh Drive and Piedmont Road in Atlanta, serving Southern comfort food to a city that knew exactly what it wanted from a neighborhood restaurant. In 1962 the operation moved to its current location on Cheshire Bridge Road NE, where it has been ever since. The Colonnade appeared in Season 4, Episode 8 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Better Than Ever,” which aired September 22, 2008. It is Atlanta’s second-oldest restaurant, after Atkins Park Tavern. Customers who have been coming for over 70 years and employees who have stayed for over 50 are not unusual here. In September 2024, longtime owners Jodi and David Stallings sold the restaurant to Paul Donahue and Lewis Jeffries, who spent more than 30 years as loyal patrons before becoming owners. The food has not changed. A 100th anniversary book is being prepared for the 2027 centennial.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: The Colonnade
City: Atlanta, Georgia
Cuisine: Southern / American
DDD Season: 4
DDD Episode: 8
Episode Title: Better Than Ever
Original Air Date: September 22, 2008
Address: 1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
Phone: 404-874-5642
Website: https://www.thecolonnadeatlanta.com/
Status: Open
About The Colonnade
The Colonnade’s dining room is a living museum of Atlanta food history: old menus from the 1930s on the walls, movie posters from films shot on the premises (Identity Thief, A Walk in the Woods, The Mule), and a crowd that regularly includes people who have been coming since childhood. The bar is known for generous pours. Cash only is the long-standing policy, though the restaurant began accepting credit cards in December 2014 after 87 years of cash-only operation. An ATM is available on site for those who forget.
What to Eat at The Colonnade
The Fried Chicken is the signature and the reason most people drive across Atlanta or across Georgia. The crust shatters properly and the meat stays juicy, and the consistency over nearly a century is the detail that separates it from newer competitors. The Pot Roast with mashed potatoes, carrots, and English peas is the other meat-and-three centerpiece. On the sides: Collard Greens, Fried Okra, Mac and Cheese, Black-Eyed Peas, and Sweet Potatoes all carry the same old-fashioned care as the mains. The Coconut Icebox Pie and Peach Cobbler are the desserts regulars refuse to skip.
Bring Colonnade Southern energy home with Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Cluckin’ Chicken Dry Rub for your own fried chicken prep, and Guy’s Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce for the sides.
Plan Your Visit
The Colonnade is open Monday through Friday 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Saturday noon to 9:00 PM, Sunday noon to 8:00 PM. Cash preferred; ATM on site. Reservations are recommended on weekends.
Address: 1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
Phone: 404-874-5642
Website: https://www.thecolonnadeatlanta.com/
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
Atlanta’s second-oldest restaurant and one of the great Southern comfort food institutions in the country. Find an Atlanta hotel on Booking.com and stream the Better Than Ever episode on Amazon.
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The Colonnade appeared in Season 4, Episode 8 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Better Than Ever,” originally aired September 22, 2008. The restaurant was established in 1927 and is Atlanta’s second-oldest restaurant.