Girasoles - Watkinsville (GA)

5 /5 George Vaillant: Talk about a hidden gem, we found Girasoles Restaurant just outside of Athens, Georgia, in the town of Watkinsville. Reservations are highly recommended for seating after 5:30. The menu is full of excellent choices and the specials are endless. We started our gastronomic adventure Shrimp and Crab Soup and Roasted Tomato Soup. We both could have stopped right there and had a reorder, the soups were OUTSTANDING! Our son so enjoyed the warm Sherry & Hot Bacon Salad as a starter. The Pasta Bolognese was full of wonderful chunks of beef that melted in your mouth. We also thoroughly enjoyed the Filet Mignon and Scottish Salmon topped with large chunks of white crab meat. I can lament forever. All I know is when we visit Athens area again we will eat nowhere else but at Girasoles. 10 Stars to the Chef and Staff, your food and service is worthy of a Michelin Star.

5 /5 Josh Pagano: We went during their all you can eat brunch buffet. Holy moly, it was the best meal weve had in a long time! Definitely worth driving out of your way for this one. I ordered a savory shrimp crepe at a made to order bar. My friend got made to order chocolate chip pancakes. They can basically make you just about anything you can imagine. They also had a self service table and self serve dessert. Waitstaff are incredibly attentive. I cant wait to visit Georgia again :)

4 /5 Sheila: First time in. I got the Chappelle Chicken. It was very good! However, we ordered a cocktail when we arrived and it took over 30 minutes to get. The waitress was very nice and knowledgeable. However, I asked for pasta instead of mashed potatoes with my chicken and she said no problem. It came out with mash potatoes and she apologized and said she would bring out the pasta. Once the pasta came out on a separate plate, I was just about done with the meal. Will probably give it another try but for the price point some things do need attention.

5 /5 Erika M: Girasoles is, without question, my favorite restaurant. Every visit feels special from the moment you walk in. The service is warm and attentive, the atmosphere is inviting, and the food is consistently exceptional. Chef Jose is truly something special. You can taste the care, skill, and heart he puts into every dish. Everything is made fresh with real ingredients, no artificial flavors, no shortcuts, just thoughtful, beautifully prepared food. It is the kind of place where you trust the chef completely because he genuinely can make anything, and it will be incredible. What makes Girasoles even more meaningful is that it is a small, local restaurant with a chef who makes it a point to get to know you and your family. I am so grateful he is part of our community. The quality rivals fine dining, and every meal feels worth it. Their Sunday brunch alone is reason enough to visit, but honestly, you cannot go wrong any day of the week. If you are looking for an unforgettable meal made with care and intention, this is the place. Highly recommend.

3 /5 Steve Hilliard: Ive always believed you cant fix what you dont know about, so I feel that I have to submit this review. I hope someone on staff reads it. Weve eaten at Girasoles several times and enjoyed the experience, but our meal last week was very disappointing. The chicken dish I had was delicious (although I am done with steamed carrots and broccoli as a side), and the chefs "chocolate passion pie" dessert was amazing, but something is slipping on the management side. I was the designated driver, so I ordered a cherry sour from the mocktail menu. It was delicious, so when the food came I ordered another. The very nice server apologized, but they were out of cherry juice. No problem, Ill have an Athletic IPA. Nope, out of that too. Ok, Ill try the other Athletic on the menu...nope, out of that as well. So I settled for water. Then when we finished our entrees and started to consider dessert, I asked for a cup of decaf coffee. They were out of decaf! I was astounded--the restaurant was not full, our reservation was at 6pm, and this was on a Friday. I can understand maybe running out of one or two items at the end of a busy night, or after a busy weekend, but this was the start of Friday service! Inventory management is a basic requirement for a restaurant, and beer and coffee arent exotic items. Somebody is dropping the ball. I was also disappointed by the atmosphere--there was a couple seated at the table nearest us, and the man took a loud speakerphone call during his meal, and of course it went on and on, and the staff never asked him to mute it or step outside. Granted, the restaurant is not wholly responsible for the behavior of rude customers, but its their job to set expectations, and the fact that nobody bothered was disappointing. Not sure Ill be back.