The National is a fine dining restaurant in Athens, Georgia, offering Mediterranean-style dishes shaped by seasonal Southern influences. Located at 232 W Hancock Ave, GA 30601, the restaurant brings together thoughtful food, an extensive wine list, and a polished setting suited to a wide range of occasions.
Whether you are joining friends for brunch, meeting someone for lunch, planning a romantic dinner, or enjoying a meal on your own, The National offers a dining experience that feels both distinctive and welcoming.
Guests can choose from outdoor seating, dine-in service, takeaway, and delivery. The menu includes healthy options, organic dishes, small plates, desserts, and local specialties, while the beverage selection features alcohol, beer, cocktails, coffee, tea, and an extensive wine list.
With a bar on site, private dining room, table service, and catering available, The National can accommodate relaxed visits as well as more thoughtfully planned gatherings. Its cozy, romantic, trendy, and upmarket atmosphere adds to the appeal, while Wi-Fi and free Wi-Fi provide added convenience.
Dinner reservations are recommended, and reservations are accepted. Customers consistently rate The National 4.60 out of 5 based on 563 reviews, reflecting its strong reputation among diners. Accessibility features include a wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance, seating, and toilet. The restaurant accepts cheques, credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments.
To plan your visit, call +1 706-549-3450 or find The National at 232 W Hancock Ave, Athens, GA 30601, United States.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at The National
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Enjoy takeout with your cold beer! Add this option to your check and when your order is ready we will deliver a bag labeled with your name and order to the takeout pick-up table at the front door of Creature Comforts. You will receive a text notification alerting you that it is there
Tired of paper takeout bags? Add this item to your order to let us know you' re bringing your own bag. We'll have a sanitary station away from the takeout check-in where you will receive your meal boxes and load into your bags
manchego cheese, celery, smoked paprika, five per order
home fries with spicy-tomato sauce and aioli (gluten free-fish, fried in a mixed-use fryer)
our housemade hummus with flatbread
our housemade hummus with gluten-free flatbread
hummus with spiced ground lamb, piquillo peppers, pomegranate molasses and mint (available with gluten-free flatbread)
order extra flatbread, one round cut to 8 triangles per order
our gluten-free flatbread is made with brown rice flour, tapioca flour, dry milk, xanthan gum, gelatin and yeast
8 oz. - served chilled and garnished with chopped GA shrimp
local tomatoes, GA peaches, compressed watermelon, burrata mozzarella, arugula, basil, GA olive oil, balsamic
spanish-style chorizo, GA peaches, fontina and San Simon cheeses, arugula, honey (available on gluten-free flatbread)
summer squash, shishito peppers, scallion, fontina & ricotta salata cheese, arugula, balsamic (available on gluten-free flatbread)
seared chickpeas & okra with spiced ground lamb, yogurt, harissa, almonds, cilantro
orecchiette, tomato, summer squash, corn di toro peppers, leeks, parmesan
creamy rice middling, saute of corn, bacon and scallions, brown butter, marinated onions
Roman-style sweet and sour glaze, green beans agrodolce with guanciale, red rice, roasted peppers and grilled onions
roasted local potatoes in duck fat, braised local cabbage with tomato, horseradish crema, almonds, herbs
zucchini-chickpea pancake, charred Vidalia-eggplant yogurt, frisee, Moroccan-spiced cherry tomatoes
crispy cauliflower with harissa; seared bok choy with fairytale eggplant and sesame; Carolina rice with sweet potato; green bean & summer squash salad with cilantro and chives; beet salad with cucumbers, marinated onions and pecans; lightly dressed arugula
roasted peaches, whipped cream, almonds
hazelnut-chocolate gelato with toasted hazelnuts and Condor chocolate sauce
vanilla ice cream topped with blackberry granita
it's spicy!
1/2 pint, our go-to dressing for all things: olive oil and sherry vinegar infused with thyme, lemon, garlic and shallot
1/2 pint, a great addition to any dish or salad for a burst of acid (contains sugar)
a mix of casteveltrano, cerignola, kalamata and manzanilla olives marinated with fennel, orange, sherry vinegar, chili flake, garlic and onion
a mix of casteveltrano, cerignola, kalamata and manzanilla olives marinated with fennel, orange, sherry vinegar, chili flake, garlic and onion
finishing sugar with cane sugar, Condor Chocolates cocoa, cinnamon, sea salt, dried satsuma: use with ice cream, popcorn, french toast, yogurt, strawberries, cookies, coffee, white russians (8 oz)
century-old house making traditional, textured bubbles
amazing pink version of Baga & Pinot Noir
perfectly balanced off-dry hand-hewn refreshment
Bone dry. Basically Cava unbubbled. House favorite!
the deliciously fresh and mineral driven side of Vinho Verde
we love this wine! bottled summer refreshment, done a little differently, blend of Tocai Friulano, Riesling, Verdelho, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer
Medium weight and aromatic white blend from Willamette. Wine maker André Hueston Mack suggests
from one of Spain's greatest, Raul Perez, master of Mencia
Perfect old-vine Gamay for summertime porch swings and sunsets
such purity for the money, Vive le '15! Merlot / Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon
Italian grapes grown in California. This red blend of Dolcetto, Barbera, and Nebbiolo is light on the palette, yet sturdy enough to pair with holiday surf' n' turf!
Willamette Valley's Raj & Sashi's Evening Land junior, this wine shows bright red fruit and minerality specific to the Eola-Amity Hills terroir with stark clarity
classic pepper & meat from a Saint Joseph specialist
Bottled Cocktail for Two: cynar, dry vermouth, verdelho madiera, angostura. Serve chilled or over ice - it's the dark side of a Manhattan
Bottled Cocktail for Two: aperol, salers, sweet vermouth, caperberry to garnish, serve over ice - It's Cosa Nostra!
Bottled Cocktail for Two: fino sherry, amontillado sherry, lemon, red wine. Simply pour over ice and enjoy!
Bottled Sangria for Two: peach-infused vermouth and Le Morette rosé - serve over ice with peaches to garnish
8 oz bottle of our housemade tonic syrup with cinchona, citrus, orange peel, lemongrass Add 2oz. gin or vodka and 1 oz. small batch tonic to a glass over ice, top with soda
fizzy and refreshing with a kick! enjoy on its own (non-alcoholic) or as a Mule by adding vodka or bourbon
Pomegranate-Ginger Cooler: Serve over ice and topped with soda, adding your favorite liquor if you like - we recommend vodka or whiskey!
serves 4-6, infused with mint, rosemary & vanilla bean
blackberry-cardamom-limeade refresher; simply add your liquor of choice over ice or enjoy on its own
blackberry-cardamom-limeade refresher; simply add your liquor of choice over ice or enjoy on its own
The National's house Bloody Mary Mix and assorted pickles. Perfect for your holiday brunch! Just add vodka. Makes 3-4 drinks.
The National's house Bloody Mary Mix and assorted pickles. Perfect for your holiday brunch! Just add vodka. Makes 6-8 drinks
(1.5 oz shrub syrup per drink, top with soda) tart, fruity and refreshing! serve over ice topped with soda, or add your favorite liquor if you' re feeling like happy hour
(1.5 oz shrub syrup per drink, top with soda) tart, fruity and refreshing! serve over ice topped with soda, or add your favorite liquor if you' re feeling like happy hour
serve over ice with a fresh crack of black pepper
"Promotes a calm, grounding energy when life feels overwhelming" - UGArden's Tranquil Tea is a soothing, caffeine-free blend of holy basil, peppermint and blue vervain (1 oz.) grown, harvest and dried at UGA's student-run organic farm
Choose from Bibo, Classic City Lager and Tropicalia -- let us know which ones you' d like!
this beer might as well be the mascot of Athens
cold and crisp, just like you like it, but local
perfect pilsner, if you ask us. great with food
375mL of true Spanish cider, drink quickly and be refreshed
from Marietta, Georgia, this dry-style cider is a crowdpleaser
Peppery gem from indie wine hero, Pax. Ideal chillable summer red
Willamette Valley's Raj & Sashi's Evening Land junior, this wine shows bright red fruit and minerality specific to the Eola-Amity Hills terroir with stark clarit
a tiny OG Kermit Lynch house; all the charm of old-style Savigny-les-Beaune pinot noir
spicy Touriga, presented unoaked & with the most glorious wild fruit
from one of Spain's greatest, Raul Perez, master of Mencia
declassified Barolo, youthful cherry and roses
crushable, food flexible French red, "way over-delivers" - Robert Parker
Rioja! basically our 'house red' goes with all-things-National
Cahors brought the world their first (and greatest) malbec
nutty figs and smooth tannins
classic pepper & meat from a Saint Joseph specialist
Such purity for the money, Vive le '15! Merlot / Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon
spice party of 70% Grenache 30% Syrah
Lake County brings full luscious life to the bottle
Italian grapes grown in California. This red blend of Dolcetto, Barbera, and Nebbiolo is light on the palette, yet sturdy enough to pair with holiday surf' n' turf!
beautiful dry rosé from Lugana
amazing pink version of Baga & Pinot Noir
century-old house making traditional, textured bubbles
Bone dry. Basically Cava unbubbled. House favorite!
the deliciously fresh and mineral driven side of Vinho Verde
Verdicchio might be Italy's best bianco
1 liter! Crisp and crushable, plays well at the table
similar style and terroir as Sancerre, dissimilar price
salinity and fresh exotic fruit, Albarino at its peak
awesome white flowers and crisp sea salt
beautiful dry Riesling harvested with care by Dr. Stein on his steep, slate vineyards in the Mosel
perfectly balanced off-dry hand-hewn refreshment
Friuli does PG right
we love this wine! bottled summer refreshment, done a little differently, blend of Tocai Friulano, Riesling, Verdelho, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer
Medium weight and aromatic white blend from Willamette. Wine maker André Hueston Mack suggests that you go "Bottoms Up" with this fun, artfully executed summer white
your friend for seafood, poultry and pasta, a clean French chardonnay
amazing deal in family-made white burgundy
sunny, textured Chardonnay from the pristine Central Coast
Let us know what you' re looking for - we' d love to talk wine with you! Our new Wines by the Bottle list priced to be competitive with retail and selected with the same taste as you've come to expect from The National
Bonne Bastille: Tart with shredded duck confit, caramelized onion & mornay sauce; White Beans with leeks; Ratatouille; Panisse; Peaches and Cream Crepe
Bonne Bastille! Served Family Style: Tart with shredded duck confit, caramelized onion & mornay sauce; White Beans with leeks; Ratatouille; Panisse; Peaches and Cream Crepe
Sparkling Wine, Dolin Blanc, Genepy, Lemon, Apricot: blend with pint of ice and serve frozen
similar style and terroir as Sancerre, dissimilar price
spice party of 70% Grenache 30% Syrah
Perfect old-vine Gamay for summertime porch swings and sunsets
such purity for the money, Vive le '15! Merlot / Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon
Choose from Bibo, Classic City Lager and Tropicalia -- let us know which ones you' d like!
8 oz bottle of our house favorite extra virgin olive oil from Chile
stock up with a jug of our house favorite extra virgin olive oil from Chile (5 liter)
8 oz bottle of our housemade tonic syrup with cinchona, citrus, orange peel, lemongrass Add 2oz. gin or vodka and 1 oz. small batch tonic to a glass over ice, top with soda.
it's spicy!
Show your love with a comfy navy blue tee with The National on the pocket side and the building illustration on the back. Illustration by former employee Sam Davidson.
This is the bag for your takeout, grocery trip, outdoor adventure, whatever you like. Sturdy royal blue tote with cloth handles and a broad base to carry more
finishing sugar with cane sugar, Condor Chocolates cocoa, cinnamon, sea salt, dried satsuma: use with ice cream, popcorn, french toast, yogurt, strawberries, cookies, coffee, white russians (8 oz)
Hear from our valued guests
Such an amazing experience! The menu has such variety, the food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere felt like a European cafe. We had several tapas/starters and loved everything!
Our first visit, but definitely not our last! All the food was delicious. Prepared perfectly. This is the vegetable plate consisting of beets, green beans, risotto, sweet potatoes and fried cauliflower. The portion size was perfect. Great wine list by the glass or bottle. Well known and liked in Athens. Parking was $5 just a few feet away on a Wednesday evening. Looking forward to returning and trying more dishes!
We don't eat gluten and enjoyed our meal here! There was thoughtful exchanges to make our meal safe for us to enjoy and it was really delicious! They even have gluten-free flatbread for the hummus plate and to replace their baguettes. Thanks The National!!
WOW. My fiancée and I celebrated our two year anniversary here and it exceeded our expectations. If you enjoy mediterranean style food this place is legit. Their house olives were very tasty, the stuffed dates had the perfect pop of manchego, the cheese plate was scrumptious and the patatas bravas were some of the best I have ever had. The pork chop was huge and very tasty. The Mahi was unique and tasted very fresh and vivacious. Their menu is constantly changing and updating which I love. I feel awful because I don't remember our servers name but he was a tall blonde gentleman and was wonderful. He explained their house cocktails in exquisite detail and was very knowledgeable of the whole menu. On top of that he comped our crème brûlée (which was incredible with the candied orange). We eat out a lot. This place got our attention, the service, the atmosphere, the freshness of the food and the attention to detail all lead to an incredible experience. We will be sure to visit again. 5/5
I came to the national for my first time on a Wednesday for lunch after wanting to try it for a while. I sat at the bar and got the strawberry balsamic shrub and the bartender recommended the ham and cheese sandwich. Everything was so delicious and the bartender was extremely nice and friendly. Will definitely be coming back here to try their dinner.
The atmosphere was lovely and the service was delightful. Our server made helpful suggestions and recommendations as well. We were able to enjoy a lovely evening for our anniversary. The food was delicious and they were very attentive to my food allergies. I made the reservation through Resy and it was so easy and they were ready for us as soon as we arrived. The staff consistently wished us a happy anniversary and it was so sweet. We will definitely be coming back for a future date night!
This was a beautiful and chill place. Tip: Look for the blue and white building. The restaurant sign was hard to read from the street. The menu was small but had enough options for our guests. Everything we tried was delicious and did not disappoint. The staff was friendly and attentive. I recommend this place for a special occasion, meet up with family or friends, and if you are visiting the area.
The National is one of those restaurants that truly elevates the Athens dining scene. The menu is thoughtful and creative, with Mediterranean-inspired flavors that feel both refined and comforting. Every dish we tried was beautifully presented and packed with balanced, well-developed flavors. The atmosphere is stylish without feeling pretentious, making it perfect for a date night or a special dinner with friends. Service was professional, knowledgeable, and attentive throughout the meal. The National consistently delivers a top-tier experience and is easily one of the best restaurants in Athens.
It was Father/Daughter weekend at UGA and I had to treat my daughter to a nice dinner! The National did just the thing and more! Connor was our server and he did an outstanding job. He was super friendly and gave me good advice about the Athens area. Marnie was one of the bartenders that ran our desserts to us but was confused because we ordered 3 desserts at a 2-top! It was hilarious and she was super sweet. Glad we ordered all three desserts, which included the Citrus Basque Cake, Flourless Chocolate Cake (gluten free) and the Portuguese Custard Tarts. All three were amazing. For apps we ordered the Albondigas (think meatballs but gourmet and delicious), and Stuffed Mejdool Dates (the mix of flavors - yum!). And for entrees we split the Vegetable Plate and Chicken Schnitzel - both off the charts. I want to thank the staff at The National for such a wonderful dining experience with my daughter! I will most certainly be back!
We had dinner here on the patio with a group of friends. It was a lovely meal. Friendly service. We shared a bunch of tapas and then split a steak. It was so yummy!! And the cocktails were delicious!
Common questions about The National
The National is located at 232 W Hancock Ave, Athens, Athens, GA, United States.
You can reach The National by calling +1 706-549-3450.
The National has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 based on 563 customer reviews.
The National features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
The National features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Takeaway, Dine-in, Delivery.
The National features the following highlights: Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Great coffee, Great dessert, Great tea selection, Great wine list, Serves local specialty.
The National features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
The National features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Healthy options, Organic dishes, Private dining room, Small plates, Spirits, Vegetarian options, Wine.
The National features the following dining options: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Dessert, Table service.
The National features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom, Wi-Fi, Free Wi-Fi.
The National features the following atmosphere: Cozy, Romantic, Trendy, Upmarket.
The National features the following crowd: Family friendly, Groups, Tourists.
The National features the following planning: Dinner reservations recommended, Accepts reservations.
The National features the following payments: Cheques, Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
The National features the following children: High chairs.
The National features the following parking: Paid parking lot, Paid street parking.
The National features the following pets: Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
Request a table and we'll confirm your booking shortly.
