Blue Ribbon Grill — Restaurant in Doraville

The old blue ribbon is dead and gone. These people should have bought a hospital cafeteria because that is what this place is like. Honestly the food is better at the hospital. We went here for lunch a week or so ago and the female owner (I think her name was Jenny) was so embarrassingly awkward. She literally harassed us and the other people eating here. She told us “we have had a lot of complaints” and “I only have one customer a day at Jenovelle (the other side of the restaurant)” and went on and on about their problems and issues. We ordered pancakes, which were just generic pancakes, nothing to complain about taste wise but nothing to brag about either. We stopped by to check out the bar the other day and after having a wonderful talk with the female manager, we had hope that she would bring some life back into that place. So we returned for dinner last night, (Thursday night). We thought maybe we could avoid Jenny and get a good drink and try the old meatloaf out. We used to LOVE the meatloaf and Triple B burger from Blue ribbon. Well, they don’t offer the triple B burger anymore. The meatloaf was cold, and the place was disgusting. The floors were dirty and the food runner was running around with plates in his hands and was miserable looking. He was unkempt and didn’t have on a hair net or gloves, coming from the kitchen. (He obviously didn’t know we could see him through that little window) Our server was named Juan, and he was very polite but not very knowledgeable of the menu. He stated that the unkempt food runner was actually THE OWNER! I wish I had a chance to speak to the manager again to tell her I wish her the best of luck trying to get that place into shape but she has a huge job ahead of her because the only thing that needs to change is EVERYTHING. This is strike number 3 and we will not be back. I think I would rather spend my time in the hospital cafeteria, because even though it looks the same, it would be more welcoming than that miserable place. After seeing both the owners, I can see why the place is so “bland” and “unwelcoming”. One of them spent time telling us all her issues and the other looked like he hadn’t had a bath in years. The “new blue ribbon grill “ is a perfect representation of its owners. IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING GOING HERE: DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY OR TIME! You will leave disappointed and...

Ordered to-go, so can't attest to dine-in experience.

The good: Service was great. We ordered two burgers about twenty minutes before close without an issue. Promptly attended to at the front by two different employees, and got our food quickly. We were out by closing time, and there were still customers sitting at tables and at the bar.

Really great price! $23 for the two of us.

The bad:

Both the burgers and fries were awful. The old Blue Ribbon burgers were fantastic, thick and juicy. I think they were 10oz. They tasted like they were made fresh, and you always got the doneness you asked for. Whatever they're serving now is tiny, maybe 4oz? And very clearly not made in house. They're extremely thin and rubbery. They taste like something you'd get in an amusement park, and frankly the burgers that we had in Universal Studios recently were better.

They asked us what doneness we wanted but I don't see why, they're so thin it's be impossible to really cook anything less then well-done and actually get them warm, and that's what we got, even though I ordered mine medium and my husband medium-well. I am fairly sure they're getting pre-made, probably frozen patties. They're definitely not making them in house. And the patties just didn't taste good. Not salted, not meaty. As I said, we recently had better amusement park food. I would much rather pay $15-18 for a burger that actually tastes good.

The fries were not cooked through. Since we ordered so close to closing time, I understand there may have been a rush. But they weren't seasoned either, and the ones we could eat also tasted terrible. Not like the big steak fries you used to get at Blue Ribbon. Overall, the food quality seems to have taken a sharp nosedive.

The atmosphere inside was very strange. Nothing at all like the old place. I couldn't tell if it wanted to be a bar/grill or a Cafe. I popped into their new sister restaurant attached and the atmosphere made way more sense for that side, although it was completely empty. The walls in the old location were covered in memorabilia that seems to have gone. It felt more like being in a store front or cafeteria then a restaurant.

I unfortunately don't see us coming back anytime soon,...

This is an update with the new location. Very nice . The new Server, Juan was very helpful. We wonder if he was trained by Tonya. We were very pleased with how we were greeted, how we were served. Will definitely come back. Please be aware, the restaurant is located in the Big Lots Shopping Center, not the Kroger Shopping Center both on Chamblee Tucker Road. So greatful Blue Ribbon is Back!

Let's we are already in the Middle of July 2022. As i mentioned below in a previous post, Tonya is the only one of the Waitstaff at Blue Ribbon, I would keep on board. The rest should be let go. Like last Saturday night, person who greeted us told us they were short of staff( if you are like me, aren't you tired of hearing this) and it would be a long wait for a table, even though you could see clearly there were so tables available and more than two Waitstaff. Tonya saw us and another couple waiting, and we were seated immediately. Tonya proceeded to make it a delightful experience. Our Spinich Salads and Prime Rib were wonderful. They were out of the Pimento and Cheese Appitiser, but Tonya suggested the Fried Green Beans, which we never had, and they were good. Hope you never leave Blue Ribbon Tonya, as you are the intangible Good Will of Blue Ribbon.

Revising Review After Tonight. Except for Tonya, who is always great, the rest of the waitstaff is so below par. The new owner has got to do something. When we asked our original server to please take our order, he would in due time, but wished us luck because it may be over an hour to get our food so what is the point of taking our order and he did not have time anyway to take it. So being a regular, I grabbed Tonya and asked her to please take over our table. Got our food in 15 minutes from the time she took our order. But, the wait staff was constantly talking by the drink station and cursing sometimes during their conversations. I imagine I am sounding like a prude, but Blue Ribbon has always been a place to have good food and drinks, good conversation and having a good time. New Owner, please listen to me. Except for Tonya, get rid of the ot her wait staff and start...