Which Milledgeville restaurants rank highest in the composite rankings?

Christian McKearney
February 2, 2024

EDITOR’S NOTE: A link to an article explaining our “points system” is at the bottom. Keep in mind that “total points” isn’t a grade or a restauranrt review. All of the restaurants on this list are highly-recommended on the different review sites.

Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville was just sort of floating in the breeze in the early 1990s, basically a “commuter college.”

In 1996, however, the Board of Regents decided to give GCSU a turbo boost and designated it as “Georgia’s Public Liberal Arts University.” Fairly quickly, the student population became less transient and more academically accomplished.

Nowadays, GCSU has the third highest average SAT scores out of Georgia’s public universities. It’s basically a mini UGA, and roughly half of the GCSU student body hails from either Fayette County, north Fulton County or Cobb County, which is code for “plenty of disposable income.”

This has led to vast improvements in Milledgeville’s food scene, especially downtown Milledgeville, which sits only one block away from front campus. Where there are college students from Fayette, Cobb and north Fulton, there are good restaurants and plenty to eat. These are the ones that rank highest in our composite rankings:

1. Aubri Lanes at The Club

TOTAL POINTS: 92
OFT USED DESCRIPTIONS: the first of two white cloth restaurant in Milledgeville; feels like Lake Oconee; southern roots; popular steaks; award-winning shrimp & grits; solid golf course and lake views
LOCATION: 3700 Sinclair Dam Road NE, Milledgeville, Ga., 31061
DOWNTOWN? No
LUNCH? Yes
DAYS CLOSED: Sunday
Menu and More
RANDOM: Aubri Lane’s originally opened downtown before moving out to the Milledgeville Country Club. Non-members are welcome, but reservations are encouraged.
STRAIGHT FROM THE RESTAURANT’S MOUTH: “Aubri Lane’s serves classic southern cuisine with a contemporary twist. Our talented culinary team uses only the freshest ingredients for our chef-inspired dishes. Whether you are looking to celebrate an anniversary, birthday or have a night out with friends and family, Aubri Lane’s is the perfect destination for a relaxed atmosphere and excellent customer service.”

2. Reel Grill

TOTAL POINTS: 91
OFT USED DESCRIPTIONS: the second of two white cloth restaurants in Milledgeville; really stunning building (originally was a bank in town); about half the menu is seafood
LOCATION: 114 South Wayne St., Milledgeville, Ga. 31061
DOWNTOWN? Yes
LUNCH? Yes
DAYS CLOSED: Sunday
RANDOM: Reel Grill opened in 2019 and was the first Milledgeville restaurant for Michael Taylor, a Macon native who previously opened Michael’s on Mulberry and Between The Bread restaurants in Macon.
STRAIGHT FROM THE RESTAURANT’S MOUTH: “The Reel Grill of Milledgeville is located in historic downtown. We are excited to serve everyone delicious steak and seafood. Offering upscale food with a casual feel. Hope to see you soon!

2. The Brick

TOTAL POINTS: 91
OFT USED DESCRIPTIONS: next to Georgia College and in the middle of downtown; pizza, pasta, wings and sandwiches, primarily; plenty of space and legroom; good place to have a drink; was front-and-center in downtown Milledgevile’s revitalization
LOCATION: 136 West Hancock Street, Milledgeville, Ga. 31061
DOWNTOWN? Yes
LUNCH? Yes
DAYS CLOSED: None
Menu and More
RANDOM: Owner Frank Pendergast bet on downtown Milledgeville back in 1992, when the area was five-and-a-half feet under and growing cobwebs. It eventually paid off, and Pendergast later opened several more businesses and also began developing the upstairs of old buildings into lofe apartments.
STRAIGHT FROM THE RESTAURANT’S MOUTH: “It is our constant goal to keep our customers bellies full and their hearts happy by providing the best food possible, as well as the most vibrant and amiable staff around.”

4. BiBa's Italian Restaurant

TOTAL POINTS: 86
OFT USED DESCRIPTIONS: located in a strip mall, but still really good; corporate Italian restaurant feel (plays “That’s Amore” through the speakers a lot and keeps parmesan on the table); good customer service; welcoming; everybody seems to love the pizza
LOCATION: 2803 North Columbia Street, Milledgeville, Ga. 31061
DOWNTOWN? No
LUNCH? No
DAYS CLOSED: None
Menu and More
RANDOM: Located in the Kroger strip mall on US 441 North
STRAIGHT FROM THE RESTAURANT’S MOUTH: “Furthermore, we serve different appetizers, calzones, Italian subs, pasta, seafood, desserts, and others. We suggest you mix and match until you’ve created your perfect meal. Oh, and we also provide an awesome kid’s menu for our youngest customers. It’s never been easier to get a fast and delicious pizza to meet your hunger. And our welcoming environment that keeps customers coming back for more offers character and charm to complement your meal.”

5. KaI Thai

TOTAL POINTS: 86
OFT USED DESCRIPTIONS: really popular with both college students and locals; large dining room; has a sushi station; in the mall parking lot; owner is a first generation Thai-American
LOCATION: 2470 N Columbia St. Ste. C35
DOWNTOWN? No
LUNCH? Yes
DAYS CLOSED: Sunday
Menu and More
RANDOM: People couldn’t seem to get enough of Kai Thai, so much so that the restaurant outgrew its old location and moved a half-mile further south on US 441 and into a much larger parcel. The menu
STRAIGHT FROM THE RESTAURANT’S MOUTH: “We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to your home to great tasting Thai dishes. We serve only the freshest and finest ingredients. Here at Kai Thai Kitchen, you will experience the liveliness and excitement of our exhibition kitchen. Our extraordinary fast and friendly wait staff wishes to make your visit to us an unforgettable event. You could view our menu and online order ahead – no hassle.”

6. The Local Yolkal Cafe

TOTAL POINTS: 69
OFT USED DESCRIPTIONS: the only real brunch place in town; right on the main downtown drag; opens at the crack of dawn for breakfast and closes early in the afternoon after lunch
LOCATION:
DOWNTOWN? Yes
LUNCH? Yes
DAYS CLOSED: None
Menu and More
RANDOM: Downtown Milledgeville had been lacking a true brunch place downtown for a while, which is when The Local Yolkal slid in. The restaurant has all of your favorite breakfast and brunch items, and it also dabbles in country cooking, such as meatloaf Mondays and fried chicken steak Tuesdays.

7. Metropolis Cafe

TOTAL POINTS: 64
OFT USED DESCRIPTIONS: menu is 90 percent Greek/Mediterranean; popular with college students and locals; plenty of vegetarian options
LOCATION: 138 North Wayne Street, Milledgeville, Ga., 31061
DOWNTOWN? Yes
LUNCH? Yes
DAYS CLOSED: None
Menu and More
RANDOM: At the time that this article was posted, Metropolis was in the process of moving into a much larger location, one that will have expansive outdoor and patio seating, which will be a first for downtown Milledgeville.

8. Pickle Barrel Cafe

TOTAL POINTS: 61
OFT USED DESCRIPTIONS: really popular; located in the middle of the commercial business district; restaurant/bar; has good fried food but also has good salads
LOCATION: 1892 North Columbia Street, Milledgeville, Ga. 31061
DOWNTOWN? No
LUNCH? Yes
DAYS CLOSED: No
Menu and More
RANDOM: Pickle Barrel is an old favorite for many Milledgevillains and has been around seemingly forever.
STRAIGHT FROM THE RESTAURANT’S MOUTH: “After years of searching for the right combination of food, service, and atmosphere, the Pickle Barrel Café & Sports Pub is the culmination of 20 years of hard work. If you are looking for a clean friendly atmosphere to bring the family, or just to meet new people, the PBC is the place to be.”

9. Bollywood Tacos

TOTAL POINTS: 57
OFT USED DESCRIPTIONS: on the main drag downtown; popular with college kids; chef-inspired tacos; good margaritas; also has Indian-inspired tacos
LOCATION: 107 West Hancock St. Milledgeville, Georgia, 31061
DOWNTOWN? Yes
LUNCH? Yes
DAYS CLOSED: None
Menu and More
RANDOM: Bollywood is a relatively eclectic restaurant with a relatively large and loyal following.
STRAIGHT FROM THE RESTAURANT’S MOUTH: “Bollywood Tacos brings together original Nachos, Fajitas, Tacos to our assorted Chef Specials in our contemporary cuisine. Our kitchen offers you an exciting mix of cosmopolitan café-style cuisine.”

10. Buffington's

TOTAL POINTS: 55
OFT USED DESCRIPTIONS: live music; big burgers; good place to have a drink; always open late; steak night on Fridays is popular
LOCATION: 120 West Hancock Street, Milledgeville, Ga., 31061
DOWNTOWN? Yes
LUNCH? Yes
DAYS CLOSED: None
Menu and More
RANDOM: Buffington’s was one of the original restaurants from the early 1990s that helped lead downtown’s turnaround.

11. Country Buffet

TOTAL POINTS: 53
OFT USED DESCRIPTIONS: real soul food/country cooking; off the beaten path; plenty of seating
LOCATION: 1465 South Jefferson Street Milledgeville, Ga., 31061
DOWNTOWN? No
LUNCH? open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.
DAYS CLOSED: Sunday and Monday
RANDOM: Country Buffet has been a mainstay on the southside for more than 30 years. Soul food/country cooking quickly is fading away from Milledgeville, unfortunately, but Country Buffet is one of the last bastions.

12. Pho Little Saigon

TOTAL POINTS: 39
OFT USED DESCRIPTIONS: 2601 North Columbia Street, Milledgeville, Ga., 31061
LOCATION: in a strip mall; one of the newer restaurants in town; definitely Pho-centric
DOWNTOWN? No
LUNCH? Yes
DAYS CLOSED: Monday
Menu and More
RANDOM: The restaurant opened several years ago and during the middle of the Pho/boba tea boom around America. Since then, it’s developed a loyal following.

13. Ms. Stella's

TOTAL POINTS: 37
OFT USED DESCRIPTIONS: off the beaten path; real soul food/country cooking; primarily takeout (limited seating)
LOCATION: 960 N Wilkinson St, Milledgeville, GA 31061
DOWNTOWN? No
LUNCH? Yes (and open for dinner during the week)
DAYS CLOSED: Monday and Tuesday
RANDOM: Miss Stella’s is the other meat-and-three restaurant in Milledgeville and also is very popular.
STRAIGHT FROM THE RESTAURANT’S MOUTH: “Ms. Stella’s LLC. is a family owned restaurant. The original restaurant opened in September 2012 in Milledgeville and the second location opened in Eatonton in October 2017.”

14. Amici Italian Cafe

TOTAL POINTS: 35
OFT USED DESCRIPTIONS: about half Italian and half “American”; award-winning wings; really attractive interior; live music; good place to grab a beer
LOCATION: 101 West Hancock Street, Milledgeville, Ga. 31061
DOWNTOWN? Yes
LUNCH? Yes
DAYS CLOSED: None
Menu and More
RANDOM: Amici’s Milledgeville location was one of its very first, and it’s now a franchise with 12 locations around Georgia.
STRAIGHT FROM THE RESTAURANT’S MOUTH: “30 years of serving up our famous, award-winning wings and pizza, ice cold brews, and memories with you, your friends, and family.”

15. Velvet Elvis

TOTAL POINTS: 25
OFT USED DESCRIPTIONS: Friday steak night very popular with locals; otherwise primarily a college kid hangout; more affordable than its downtown competitors; can get lively after the kitchen closes
LOCATION: 113 West Hancock Street, Milledegeville, Ga., 31061 DOWNTOWN? Yes
LUNCH? Yes
DAYS CLOSED: Sunday and Monday
Menu and More
RANDOM: Velvet Elvis is popular with the fraternity/sorority crowd and a standard college town restaurant/bar.
STRAIGHT FROM THE RESTAURANT’S MOUTH: “Welcome to The Velvet Elvis, Milledgeville’s most popular grille and tap. Our menu features an assortment of classic American favorites, including steaks, ribs and seafood. We also offer a wide selection of appetizers and salads, as well as our own desserts.”

WONK ALERT: If you’re wondering what “points” means and how we narrowed down our list, HERE IS A LINK to a relatively comprehensive article about our methodology. Also, feel free to get to know more about our three super-talented and knowledgeable restaurant rankers – Google, Trip Advisor and Yelp!