Buttermilk Kitchen Review: Atlanta’s Most Beloved Brunch Spot — Is It Worth the Wait?
Nestled in a modest house-like building on Roswell Road, Buttermilk Kitchen has earned its reputation as one of Atlanta’s most beloved brunch havens. I have been plenty of times. Here is the real, unfiltered truth.
The full spread — pimento omelet with biscuit, French toast, maple cured bacon, and the grits bowl. This is what a proper Buttermilk Kitchen table looks like. Photo: The Foodies Haven.
First Impressions: What to Expect When You Walk In
From the outside, Buttermilk Kitchen looks like a cozy little house on Roswell Road — modest, unassuming, and easy to drive right past if you are not looking for it. But do not let the size fool you. The moment you walk in (or join the line outside), you immediately understand why this place has the following it does.
The building is small with limited seating, but they offer both indoor and outdoor options. The atmosphere is charming and warm — think intimate breakfast alcove with just enough buzz to remind you you are in one of Atlanta’s most beloved spots.
Buttermilk Kitchen looks like a cozy little house from the outside. Inside, it eats like Atlanta’s best-kept brunch secret — except it is not a secret at all.
Plan ahead: Arrive at least an hour early to add your name to the waitlist. Reservations are not always available on weekends — I have waited over an hour before. It is worth it, but go in with eyes open.
Left: the warm interior. Right: the modest Roswell Road exterior that hides one of Atlanta’s best brunch experiences. Photo: The Foodies Haven.
The Food: Let’s Get Into It
Everything on the menu is a la carte — meaning your bill can climb quickly — but the quality and satisfaction make it worth every single penny. This kitchen has a clear point of view: Southern comfort food done with care, creativity, and ridiculously good ingredients.
The food arrives surprisingly fast considering how busy they always are. Every dish I have had here has been amazing and fresh. Portions are generous. Flavors are bold. And the menu hits that perfect sweet spot between down-home classics and elevated brunch dishes that feel special without trying too hard.
Dishes We Ordered
The Must-Orders
Served with powdered sugar and maple syrup — we subbed in the rye whiskey syrup and I am so glad we did. Rich, thick-cut, perfectly golden, and that rye whiskey syrup adds a depth of flavor that makes you rethink every French toast you have ever had before.
The French toast — thick cut, golden, dusted with powdered sugar, with that rye whiskey syrup on the side. Photo: The Foodies Haven.
Crispy baby potatoes, melted cheddar, peppers and onions, topped with cilantro, crumbled bacon, and 2 eggs your way. This is the dish I always come back for. The potatoes are perfectly crispy, the egg ties everything together, and the cheddar gets all melty and golden into the crevices.
The grits bowl in all its glory — scrambled eggs, chicken sausage, sautéed spinach, charred lemon. Maple cured bacon in the back, naturally. Photo: The Foodies Haven.
Benton’s bacon, signature house-made pimento cheese, house red pepper jelly, buttermilk biscuit and a side. This omelet hits every note — salty, creamy, a little smoky from the Benton’s bacon, with just a touch of sweetness from the red pepper jelly. The biscuit alongside is mandatory.
The Pimento Omelet — silky and golden, with a crispy hash brown and that legendary buttermilk biscuit alongside. Photo: The Foodies Haven.
Classic done right. Fluffy, slightly tangy from the buttermilk, with just the right amount of golden-brown crust on the edges. Simple and perfect — the kind of pancake that reminds you why you ever loved pancakes in the first place.
Thick, sweet, and smoky. Order this as a side no matter what else you get. At $5.50 it is one of the best deals on the entire menu and it elevates everything else on your plate. Non-negotiable.
The dish that built the reputation. Perfectly fried chicken inside a house-made buttermilk biscuit that is the platonic ideal of what a biscuit should be. If you have never been before, start here. If you have been before, you are probably already planning to order it again.
Ordering tip: Get the rye whiskey syrup sub on the French toast — do not think twice. And always add the maple cured bacon as a side regardless of what you order. It is $5.50 and it makes everything better.
The Vibe and Service
Atmosphere
Buttermilk Kitchen has the energy of a neighborhood spot that blew up — in the best way possible. It is charming without trying, warm without being overly curated. The indoor space is intimate and cozy; the outdoor seating is perfect for sunlit mornings. It is casual, lively, and always full of regulars who clearly keep coming back for a reason.
Service
The staff consistently hit the sweet spot: warm, friendly, and efficient. Whether explaining menu items, managing the line with grace, or turning around dishes surprisingly fast for how packed it is — the service has been genuinely good every single time.
- Food is consistently amazing every single visit
- Hash Bowl and French Toast are non-negotiable must-orders
- Staff are warm, friendly, and impressively efficient
- Cozy charming atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating
- Dishes arrive surprisingly fast for how busy it gets
- Maple cured bacon at $5.50 is the best deal on the menu
- Long waits — arrive at least an hour early on weekends
- Parking lot is tiny and fills up immediately
- A la carte pricing means the bill climbs fast
- Limited reservations — walk-in waitlist is the move
Is It Worth the Price?
Everything is a la carte, so yes — the bill can add up fast. But the quality and flavor make it worth every penny, full stop. You are getting top-tier Southern brunch in generous portions, made fresh, served fast, in an atmosphere that actually feels special. Would I come back on my own dime? I already have. Multiple times.
The Breakdown
Left to right: French toast, grits bowl, pimento omelet. All real. All yours. All worth the wait. Photo: The Foodies Haven.
Need to Know Before You Go
| Address | 4225 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30342 |
| Phone | (678) 732-3274 |
| Website | buttermilkkitchen.com |
| Hours | Brunch only — check website for current times |
| Reservations | Limited — walk-in waitlist recommended; arrive at least 1 hour early on weekends |
| Parking | Small lot front and back — fills fast. Free street parking nearby. See their website for alternate lots. |
| Dress Code | Casual — come as you are |
| Best For | Date brunch · Friends catch-up · Solo morning · Weekend treat |
Parking tip: Their website has a map showing alternate nearby lots. Or just rideshare and skip the stress entirely — honestly, the best move.
Final Thoughts
Buttermilk Kitchen is brunch perfection — unpretentious, flavorful, and reliably excellent. This is the kind of place that earns its reputation one perfect Hash Bowl at a time. Yes, you might wait. Yes, you might circle the parking lot twice. But those golden biscuits, savory omelets, and warm vibes are absolutely worth every minute of it.
If anyone asks me for an Atlanta brunch recommendation, this is always at the top of my list. It has earned every bit of the love it gets, and it will keep earning it every single weekend.
Thank you for spending time here on The Foodies Haven. This is exactly why I started this blog — to share the spots that are doing it right and make sure you know about them before you spend another Sunday wondering where to go for brunch. Buttermilk Kitchen is reliably, consistently, genuinely excellent, and I hope it becomes your go-to the way it has become mine.
If you go, I want to know everything. Did you get the Hash Bowl? Did the rye whiskey syrup convert you? How long did you wait and was it worth it? Drop it all in the comments below — I read every single one.
Have You Been to Buttermilk Kitchen?
I need to know your order. Did you get the Hash Bowl? The Fried Chicken Biscuit? How long did you wait and was it worth it? Drop everything in the comments — I am here for all of it.
Hash Bowl or Fried Chicken Biscuit — which team are you on? 👇 Let’s settle this in the comments.
More Atlanta Eats You’ll Love
- Fishmonger — Michelin Bib Gourmand seafood on North Highland. The tuna melt will ruin every other tuna melt for you.
- Poor Calvin’s — Bold Asian-Southern fusion and the lobster fried rice that put it on Food Network.
- Yebo Beach Haus — South African coastal flavors and beach-chic vibes in Buckhead.
- Atlanta Fish Market — Buckhead’s most reliable fresh seafood institution.
I’m Chrystal — Southern raised, Hawaii made, and forever in love with food. I started The Foodies Haven to share my passion for flavors, culture, and the joy that comes with every bite.
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