Folk Art Restaurant Inman Park — Restaurant in Atlanta

Cool Brunch Spot with Strong Food

Very good brunch spot in amazing area with good service.

Food -- have been wanting to come here for quite some time, as I've had a listed as one of the best breakfast/brunch spots and ATL. Finally had a chance to try it, back in my old stomping grounds when I first moved to ATL. Started out with the grits fritters. They were pretty good overall. The peach glaze was a little on the sweet side, but a decent starter.

Got the shrimp and grits and overall very good. Came with red gravy and vegetables. Definitely on the tasty side for sure, but not necessarily creamy as some other southern shrimp and grits are. Bread that came with it was a nice compliment, but a touch just a touch on the dry side. Of course I had to get the folk southern fried chicken, as I had penciled that in a long time ago and it's one of my favorite dishes at multiple places.

As is common throughout, very very solid. The sausage gravy was very tasty, and there was a good portion of it, as sometimes these dishes don't come with enough gravy and it gets dried out. Got the eggs sunny side up, which added a very nice element to it and added some moisture. The biscuits were not some of the best I've had in the world, but overall good enough. The chicken was delightful, fried to perfection. It's likely an unfair bias towards this dish, as it was very solid and tasty, but simply didn't measure up to some of the best I've had around (Homegrown & Brunch Apothecary).

Drink -- got the cobbler martini and it was very good. Definitely sweet (as you'd expect) and strong, but a good taster and not necessary something that's easy to finish in one sitting. Definitely the risk you take when you get a martini that is named after dessert. Definitely tasty.

Service -- very friendly, prompt, and nice. We were seated right when we got there. We got there on a Sunday shortly after opening at 9:00 a.m. Even though it had not gotten as crazy by the time we left, I could definitely see this place getting insane with a wait on weekend or other. Server was very nice as was the hostess. A little bit of a bizarre interaction, as one of the servers came to take plates a couple times and didn't speak and instead pointed to dishes, so I really didn't know what the heck was happening with that.

Atmosphere -- beautiful area in the Highlands, next to North highland pub in wisteria among others. Actually a huge parking lot considering how highly dense that area is. Inside was really cool as it was decked out in vintage signs throughout the restaurant.

Value -- this is where it definitely trips a bit. To be fair, we did order a cocktail, an appetizer, and two entrees, but still..... we came out of with over $70 including tip. We certainly understand it's ATL, the Highlands, etc, but goodness it was high. And that ties in to the "very good, but not great" undercurrent. The taste, at least for the entrees, did not match the price. That may sound silly, but when the bar is super high at other spots (Homegrown, Brunch Apothecary, Biscuit Head, & Biscuit B**ch), it lands on very good, not great, status.

Overall -- very good brunch spot in beautiful area, but definitely pricey for...

Best affordable brunch spot in Inman Park - hands down!!! Every time I go, I'm blown away by the depth of flavor. Staff are really cool, too. Anytime I've asked for accommodations for my meal (sending things back cause they got cold, etc.) They've done their job - no questions asked! Great group of folks. Love it here.

Review edit 1/14/24: Since the initial posting of this review, I have not been back to Folk Art @ Inman Park, and here is why...... i frequented this establishment many times. Usually, when i arrived, there was a double-sided sign as soon as i walked in that either said "seat yourself" or "please wait to be seated." Most days, the female waitress would yell across the restaurant and tell me I could seat myself when the sign was turned to "please wait to be seated." Essentially telling me to ignore the sign. Right?! Cool, we're on the same page.

After several visits of her instructing me from across the restaurant to seat myself, despite the sign's instructions (that was always on "please wait to be seated" no matter how many people were in the restaurant), I grew accustomed to the routine. I was wearing heels that day, so i opted to seat myself after standing at the door for 5-10+ minutes while she handled other customers.... As I always did when she was on the floor. The only variable is that she did not instruct me to sit this time.

Tell me why this woman served and went to every table but my own for the next 30 minutes after I seated myself? I ended up not eating for lunch that day because of the time i wasted waiting for her to take my order. Now, at the time, all this happened, Folk Art was not using paper menus. The menu was barcode. So no menu delivery was necessary to choose my meal. All she needed to do was take my order and bring my food, utensils, and drink out. She avoided making eye contact with me from the moment I walked in the door until the moment i walked out of there. She's weird.

To note - during the time of day, I would patronize, the restaurant MIGHT have 4-5 tables with patrons, including my own. And the day all this transpired was no different. There was no excuse for a 30+ minute wait to have my order taken. None at all. Except the possibility that she felt a way about me seating myself. I left without saying a word and vowed to never go back unless she wasn't there.

She is a black girl waitress who wears her hair in a ponytail and stands about 5'6. Her demeanor is distant, and she rarely ever smiles. The food is good, but her attitude tainted the...

So make sure to ask a lot of questions if placing an order over the phone for pickup!

Before I start this is not a bad rating for the food because it has always been great but I will say the food is not as good with a bad taste in your mouth from the experience. This morning I was craving their fried chicken so decided to order a couple of biscuits for pickup. Called and ordered a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit and a Chicken, Egg and Cheese Biscuit. The only two questions asked was what type of eggs and did I want the chicken fried or grilled. Was told about 10mins so left my house over in East Atlanta and headed that way.

When I got there my order was ready. I looked at the receipt stapled to the bag and it said total was $35 and change! I made the statement $35 for two biscuits thinking that it was the wrong order. The cashier replied there is 18% gratuity added on to to-go orders (I will get back to that in a minute). I then commented again still $35 for two biscuits because that’s what I order. She then replied we are not doing biscuits anymore which would have been nice to know when I placed my order! I paid and left.

For starters if I would have been told on the phone they didn’t do biscuits anymore (because it is still on their menu) I probably would have been fine with that and would have ordered something different but to be completely surprised by this after driving to pick up my order was not a good experience.

Lastly I also had to pay 18% gratuity for this experience! I understand this is a horrible time for restaurants but with that being said if there was any time to make sure a customer has a good experience that time is now! Gratuity is meant for the service you are provide while at the establishment not for you food being cooked and you driving from your home to pick it up! I have tipped almost every time I have ordered takeout because I do understand the strain being put on the industry but that should be my choice! And if even if you do happened on have a bad experience as I did you still are required to pay for your horrible experience!

Like I mentioned above the food is not as good when you have a bad taste in your mouth and I was taken this time but it will not...