Athens — Restaurant in Franklin

I give good reviews because they’re very objective. Giving critical information is the easiest as it informs the reader of what they may experience that would be negative in nature and it relieves some of my anxiety about my visit. The bad thing about writing an objective review for Athens is that it might be more difficult to get seated on my future visits. On my 1st visit, Beth was my server and is Athens’ newest server. She did a great job. She’s worked here 9 years. The original owner has passed away but his wife and son run the place of 50 years. The menu reflects what can happen to Greek receipts after melding with USA taste… soup and salad bar has 3 soups … the best bean soup I’ve had…all the salads are homemade…the Greek dressing’s one of a kind. The menu’s very fairly priced and full of good ideas…check it out on line. As a former restaurant employee, manager and owner, it’s great to be in a restaurant of this caliber. There are around 40 4-top tables and it was about 1/3 full on my visit. I ate alone and all the tables within distance of my ease-dropping ears were also having a great...

The service was questionable. The menu although vast in options was not anything close to expected. Maybe 2 authentic Greek dishes. I had shish kabob which was $15.99. It came one skewer on some plain white rice and spaghetti sauce on top of rice. It tasted like bland rice with spaghetti sauce. The kabob was not bad but not the best of meat. We had gristle, and chewy pieces. The skewer was on the smaller side. Anytime I have experienced shish kabob anywhere it is served with flavorful rice. Normally coming with minimum of 2 skewers. Not spaghetti sauce. Priced too high for the quality. The servers were going around and around but not checking in on us or anything. We had to ask for refills. We also had to ask for our bill. The salad bar was a joke. There was very limited options. Very outdated decor and atmosphere. Bathrooms were very small and disgusting. It felt like using a roadside gas station that had the bathroom outside the building. Not welcoming at all. I do believe a lot of "regular" customers continuing to come back but not anywhere my husband or myself...

Went there to give it a try. Server lady was nice and the only reason why this place deserves any ⭐. The bathroom was nasty and stunk. Have to say the worst bathroom I have EVER stepped in. On way back to the table I looked in the kitchen and literally about vomited. Spoke to the wife and she said let's give it a try... I said ok... Ordered the lobster tail. It was overcooked and and had ZERO flavor. The mixed vegetables had ZERO flavor as well and had better food in Jail to be honest.. There was a older guy cooking and his shirt appread dirty and not talking about cooking all day dirty but homeless and straight nasty ... The tables floors walls and everything thing in this restaurant was way outdated or just plain nasty and needs replaced. After sitting for a while I noticed the clients was regular clients and thought maybe it's a soup kitchen on on the side or something. Regardless I have to restaurant's in third world countries that is cleaner than this place. Johnson County Health Department you should be ashamed of yourself for letting a place like this...