South Cobb Diner — Restaurant in Austell

South Cobb Diner, New Management, New Experience!

I usually don’t leave reviews, but I felt compelled to share my experience at South Cobb Diner, especially after what I witnessed during a recent lunch yesterday with my family.

First, let me say – the food here has gotten so much better under the new management. I’ve been coming back regularly over the past few months, and every visit has been a treat. The flavors are fresh, the portions are generous, and the staff is consistently friendly and attentive. It truly feels like a new chapter for this restaurant.

However, during our last visit, something unfortunate caught my attention. While we were enjoying our meal (we stayed for about two hours), there was a woman there celebrating what seemed to be a 65th birthday for a family member. Instead of enjoying the occasion, she was incredibly rude and disrespectful toward the server. She complained about the amount of salad served (too much), even though it matched exactly what she ordered, and refused to pay for the full meal because some of her guests didn’t show up.

To make matters worse, she packed up all the leftovers into her car and still tried to convince the manager not to charge her the full amount. It was disappointing to witness someone try to take advantage of a hardworking restaurant staff like that.

Restaurants are here to serve us, yes—but they’re also running a business. They can’t afford to give food away just because someone over-ordered or had no-shows. That kind of behavior is just plain wrong.

Despite that scene, I want to give credit to the team at South Cobb Diner. They handled the situation professionally and kept their focus on taking care of the other customers. It’s one more reason I’ll keep coming back. The food is great, the place feels inviting, and the staff knows how to treat people right—even when others don’t show the same courtesy.

Keep up the great work,...

The food portions are far too small for the price compared to what I’m used to in Florida. The black-eyed peas and collard greens were disappointing—peas should be seasoned well, thicker, and definitely not taste like apple cider vinegar. The greens lacked balance; a little vinegar with the right seasoning would bring out the true Southern flavor.

For to-go orders, leave the bag open and untied so customers can check their food. No one should have to drive 20–30 minutes home, then turn around because the order wasn’t properly read or packed. That’s careless. Some of us still tip on takeout, but mistakes like this make it difficult. Tipping is earned through service—it’s not an entitlement.

Overall, I thought this place had potential, but right now I'm writing this on the toilet due to FOOD POISONING as I woke up with stomach cramps and vomiting! its overpriced, under-seasoned, and careless with service! I will not be returning!

*UPDATE IN REGARDS TO REPLY BELOW

I did come back to the restaurant after your team’s request to call. Unfortunately, the owner himself was nonchalant, smug, and condescending. He openly stated that he pays people to respond to reviews and that one complaint is not worth his time. That’s not how you treat paying customers.

I was raised on the principle ‘don’t forget where you came from,’ and I also know that pride comes before a fall. A single complaint may not matter to you now, but dismissing customers instead of addressing real concerns will eventually catch up with any business.

Food and service are only half the experience — respect for your customers is the other half. That was missing entirely...

South Cobb Diner – A Disappointing Turn After a Promising Start

We held our HOA meeting at South Cobb Diner recently, and while things started off smoothly—despite the heat—the evening quickly took a turn for the worse.

During the meeting, my girlfriend won a gift card from the diner, which we thought was a nice gesture. Afterward, we decided to sit at the bar for drinks. The bartenders were great—friendly, welcoming, and made excellent drinks. We were enjoying ourselves until my girlfriend asked if she could use her gift card.

At first, the bartender said yes, no problem. But about five minutes later, the manager came over and told us that our HOA didn’t meet some minimum spending requirement and that the card couldn’t be used. We explained that we weren’t on the HOA board, had no knowledge of any spending policies, and that she simply won the card fair and square.

Instead of understanding, he continued to complain about the group not meeting the minimum purchase amount and said he was voiding the card. It felt unprofessional and unfair—his issue was with the HOA organizers, not with paying customers who were just trying to enjoy their evening.

To make matters worse, he lingered at the bar afterward, trying to make small talk as if nothing had happened. But the energy was already off. The moment was ruined, and we ended up leaving—disappointed and disgustedat the gest of it all.

Unfortunately, the manager’s approach overshadowed the good service from the bartenders and left a bad taste in our mouths. We won’t...