Fenders Diner — Restaurant in Cornelia

I gave them a 4.5 rating out of 5. We were in Cornelia & decided to stop in Fenders Diner; having never been there before. We wanted casual. The ambiance was what you might expect from a diner dating back to the 80's. Decorated with Fender guitars on the walls, posters & album covers from Bowie to Fogelberg. Given our ages, we relate to that era quite well. Booths & tables were available, with " leatherette" type coverings on the seating & lots of red & white. Waitress was very pleasant and efficient, given how busy Fenders was, with a steady flow suggesting to me that it was a popular place with the locals. We began with the fried mushrooms appetizer ( $8.00), served with a ranch dressing. Came out hot, tasty enough & plentiful enough for 2 people; served with a ranch dressing. We ordered unsweetened ice tea with extra ice & lemon. You have to ask for artificial sweeteners, as not at the table. It was strong, not watered down, which we liked. ( Many places, because most order sweetened in the South, allow unsweetened to become watered down.) They didn't & its one of the things I often anticipate the meal going forward by, as it suggests they pay some attention to the details. We ordered different items from the menu. I, the Southwest Cobb salad which was $10, plus I added grilled chicken breast, which was an additional $4.00. The salad was a mixture of field greens ( I would have liked just a bit more) tasty bacon bits, large chunks of hard boiled eggs & Avocado, a mixture of black beans & a corn type relish. The grilled chicken came seared, in large chunks. Very tasty & very tender. Worth the additional $4.00. The salad overall was very satisfying & tasty ( my clean plate vouched for that) ; though I opted for ranch dressing vs. the Chipotle ranch. My husband ordered the two patty smash burgers ( on a pretzel style bun) with lettuce, tomato, onions & the addition of bacon & only mustard; leaving behind the special sauce or mayo & catsup. ( He's a mustard only kind of guy on burgers or hotdogs.) It came with seasoned fries. He said all of it was quite tasty & plentiful enough for him &. For dessert he ordered deep fried oreos with an ok dollop of soft serve vanilla ice cream. He's not a big guy & struggled to finish it, given he was full. But he thought it was worth the full belly. We both agreed we'd go back, as it has the friendly atmosphere of a hometown diner. Plentiful seating & pleasant enough, helpful staff. A decent number of choices for breakfast & lunch, from Mexican to breakfast keto bowls, tasty sounding pancakes & frenchtoast. Eclectic choices of usual & unusual diner fare. Did I mention they also appear to periodically offer musical entertainment & outdoor seating as well. AND don't forget to tip your servers at least 20%. Yes prices all over are up, but they have to make a living as well. It's how you retain good staff in one of your favorite restaurant stops....

I really wanted to enjoy this place. From everything I read online and the menu it looked great. We got there at 11:45 am. There was 4 other tables sat already and one being sat. There were 2 waitresses. Our waitress comes over and took our drink order. It took a while to get our drinks but we weren't in a hurry. When she dropped off our drinks she didn't ask us if we wanted to order, just left. It took another while before she returned to get our order. My husband ordered a Brunch smash burger. I ordered Tender Benders fries instead of mashed potatoes. Food took awhile to get there but if their cooking it right it's going to take some time. My order was missing my fries. My husband's Smash burger that was supposed to have an egg and bacon. It didn't. My Tenders were very tasty and juicy. My husband's burger was delicious. The waitress seemed to disappear. I was done with my tenders and my husband done with his burger before she returned to the dining area. She was very sweet and took responsibility for the burger mess up and said she would get my fries. She left and proceeded to go take another table's order and get someone else a to go box, before she went back to the kitchen to order my fries. My fries came pretty quick. They were good. But, compared to others orders I got half an order. My easy mood started to go down hill. We waited another 20 minutes for her to come back and ask if we needed anything. Yes, please a to go box and the bill. She never returned. A guy come by 15 minutes later. To get our box and Bill. The food was all very tasty. The staff is nice. But, very in attentive. To all the tables. We were there long enough to watch. I even thought maybe they were filling take out orders but never seen anyone picking up. We probably will not be back. 1 3/4 hours for a...

Fender’s Diner in Cornelia, GA, has been on my radar for years, and I’m glad I finally made it! I arrived right when they opened to avoid the typical evening crowds, and I had an amazing experience.

Let’s start with the appetizers, which were phenomenal. The Fried Mac & Cheese Bites were crispy on the outside and perfectly creamy on the inside—a must for any mac and cheese lover. They came with a side of ranch, which added a nice touch. Then there were the Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls, which were a total surprise. Their unique shape and bold flavor made them an instant favorite. And lastly, the Fried Deviled Eggs—topped with thick bacon and fried to perfection—were unforgettable. Fried deviled eggs might just ruin the traditional version for me.

For my main dish, I went with the Breakfast Burger, and I’m so glad I did. It featured a smashed patty topped with cheese, bacon, lettuce, a fried egg, and a tasty sauce. The burger was juicy and flavorful, though a little messy (but that’s how you know it’s good). The bun held everything together well. And let’s talk about those onion rings—the crunch is unmatched. If you’re an onion ring fan, Fender’s is the place to be.

To end the meal, the waitress surprised me with a green apple cotton candy. I hadn’t had cotton candy in years, and it was such a fun and nostalgic treat.

Beyond the food, the retro diner ambiance is worth mentioning. The vibe feels like stepping back in time, and the staff are incredibly welcoming and attentive.

If you’re near Cornelia, Fender’s Diner is a must-visit for great food, friendly service, and a nostalgic atmosphere. Whether it’s a burger, a snack, or even dessert, you’ll leave satisfied and probably planning your next visit.

⭐ Rating: 5/5 – Incredible food, stellar service, and an unforgettable...