Shrimp and grits might be the most Georgia thing you can order at a table. It shows up on the coast, in the mountains, in college towns, and in big-city diners, and every kitchen makes it a little differently.
Some go creamy and mild, some load it with cheese, and a few throw in tasso ham or catfish to shake things up. This list rounds up nine spots across the state where that classic plate is the reason to point your car in their direction.
Whether you want a candlelit river view, a beachy fish shack, or a breakfast joint that stays busy from open to close, there is a version here for you. Grab a napkin and start mapping your route.
1. Vic’s On the River, Savannah, GA
Set inside a 19th-century warehouse just off Savannah’s riverfront, this spot leans into refined Southern cooking with a candlelit, upscale feel.
The shrimp and grits here come with cheddar grits, and the kitchen also plays with smoked cheesy grits and cheese grits across the menu. Regulars pair the dish with starters like the award-winning crawfish beignets or Chef Kerry’s she crab soup.
Beyond the signature plate, you will find crab cakes, pecan crusted flounder, braised beef short rib with Cheerwine sauce, and fried green tomatoes. There is a full vegetarian and vegan menu too, which is not always a given at a fine-dining Southern kitchen.
Hours run daily from 11 AM to 4 PM and again from 5 to 10 PM, with reservations recommended for both lunch and dinner. Expect a wait during peak times, especially Saturday afternoon into the evening.
Parking is paid lot or paid street, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating. If you want the river view with your grits, this is the one to book ahead.
2. Bubba Gumbo’s, Tybee Island, GA
Right at the edge of Tybee Island, this waterfront fish shack keeps things homey and nautical while turning out the day’s catch and fried shellfish.
The shrimp and grits are a standout, with fresh shrimp served grilled, fried, or blackened over stone ground grits, often alongside veggies and corn on the cob. Hush puppies and Bubba’s seafood gumbo round out the coastal comfort food.
Other menu picks include the low country boil, local fried shrimp or oysters, baked scallops, a crab cake sandwich, and key lime pie to finish.
Prices land in the $20 to $30 range per person, which keeps it approachable for a beach day meal. The kitchen does not take reservations, so plan around the busy stretches on weekend afternoons and evenings.
Parking is usually easy here, with free lot and street options plus some paid street spots. Hours are noon to 9 PM Monday through Saturday and 11 AM to 9 PM on Sunday.
3. Georgia Sea Grill, St Simons Island, GA
Date night on St Simons has a reliable anchor in this casually refined restaurant that builds its menu around local seafood and seasonal American dishes.
Shrimp and grits sit near the top of the order list, joined by seared scallops, bacon poached salmon, and crab stuffed hushpuppies. The escargot has its fans as a starter, and the coconut chocolate chip pie and creme brulee close things out.
Dinner only here, running 5 to 9:30 PM Monday through Thursday and 5 to 10 PM on Friday and Saturday, with Sunday closed. Reservations are recommended, and the dining room carries an upscale, romantic tone.
Per person prices reach $30 to $80, so this is a treat-yourself stop rather than a quick bite. Happy hour dishes and a solid wine list give you options if you want to graze before the main event.
Parking includes free lot and street spaces, though finding a spot on Mallery Street can take patience.
4. Chester Brunnenmeyer’s Bar & Grill, Blue Ridge, GA
Way up in the north Georgia mountains, Blue Ridge gives you a shrimp and grits option that comes with a little kick of spice and a side of truffle fries.
The setting is contemporary, with wood and brick accents, and the menu mixes seasonal American plates with regional beers. Alongside the shrimp and grits, the smoked trout dip earns repeat orders as an appetizer.
Other choices include the shaved prime rib sandwich, beer cheese, deep fried sticky ribs, a pimento cheese chicken sandwich, and a black bean burger for the plant-based crowd.
Hours are 11 AM to 9 PM Monday through Saturday and noon to 9 PM on Sunday, and there is often a wait during weekend dinner. At $20 to $30 per person, it is an easy fit after a day of hiking or shopping downtown.
Parking is free in the lot or on the street, so you can leave the meters out of your mountain plans.
5. Atlanta Breakfast Club, Atlanta, GA
Downtown Atlanta’s brunch line frequently forms outside this modern diner with retro seating, and the shrimp and grits are a big reason why.
The kitchen keeps the grits creamy, smooth, and cheesy, with well-seasoned shrimp on top. Some versions come with fried lobster tails and shrimp gravy, which pushes the plate well past a standard breakfast.
The rest of the menu reads like a Southern comfort hit list: peach cobbler French toast, the Southern breakfast, fried green tomatoes, salmon croquettes, and a cinnamon roll with white icing that people talk about for days.
Hours start early at 6:30 AM daily, closing at 5 PM most days and stretching to 10 PM on Friday and Saturday. Reservations are accepted, brunch reservations are recommended, and a wait is common on weekend mornings.
Parking runs the full range of free and paid, lot and street. Come hungry and plan around the Sunday and Saturday morning rush.
6. The Breakfast Boys, College Park, GA
Over in College Park, this laid-back brunch spot does something a little different by piling crispy catfish and shrimp over its grits.
The grits come creamy and flavorful, sometimes with cheese and lobster sauce, and the catfish and shrimp are seasoned to match. The crispy catfish shrimp and grits is the plate to beat here.
The menu goes big elsewhere too, with jerk chicken and sweet potato waffles, salmon hash, salmon eggrolls, and fried lobster crowning lobster mac and cheese. There is a full vegan and vegetarian menu as well.
Hours are 8 AM to 4 PM every day, and brunch reservations are recommended since it stays busy on weekend mornings and afternoons. Curbside pickup, delivery, and outdoor seating are all on the table.
Parking can be a bit tricky, with free street spots plus paid lot and street options. If your idea of shrimp and grits includes a crispy catfish upgrade, this stop earns the detour.
7. The Place, Athens, GA
Athens has a brick-lined comfort food standby where the shrimp and grits arrive generous and creamy without weighing you down.
Housed in a historic building downtown, the kitchen leans Southern with clever twists like Black Eyed Pea cakes and Collard Green spring rolls sitting near the classics. The grits come creamy, the shrimp cooked just right, and a bit of sausage adds a nice edge.
Beyond the star dish, look for chicken and waffles, Southern bruschetta, bourbon salmon, chicken fried steak, and stuffed French toast on weekends.
Pricing is friendly at $10 to $20 per person, which is rare for a plate this satisfying. Hours run 11 AM to 9 PM Monday through Thursday, later on Friday and Saturday, with a split Sunday schedule.
Street parking can be somewhat tight downtown, so give yourself a few extra minutes. With college crowds and a cozy vibe, it is an easy stop before or after a game day walk around campus.
8. Kudzu Seafood Company, Macon, GA
Macon’s downtown seafood scene has a high-ceilinged, casual favorite that treats grits like a canvas for bold flavors.
The BBQ shrimp and grits here comes with tasso ham, and the cheese grits also anchor Cajun scallops with tasso cheese grits. It is the kind of plate that lands on serious best-of lists for people who order shrimp and grits everywhere they travel.
The wider menu covers grilled grouper, fried crab claws, the taco trifecta with shrimp and grouper options, lobster bisque, the captain’s file gumbo, and red snapper royale. Po’ boys and burgers round it out.
Note the schedule before you go: closed Monday and Sunday, open 11 AM to 9 PM Tuesday through Thursday and until 10 PM on Friday and Saturday. Friday evening and Saturday afternoon into evening get busiest.
Parking is easy with free and paid lot and street options. Live music adds to the casual, friendly atmosphere.
9. The Black Cow, Columbus, GA
Columbus rounds out the list with a homey comfort food destination where the shrimp and grits portions run big and the flavor runs bigger.
The shrimp arrive tender over cheese grits, and the plate holds its own against versions people have tried across the country and along the bayou. Fried green tomatoes and pork chops sit nearby as Southern staples.
The menu also features meatloaf, chicken and waffles, chicken and grits, crab cakes, a salmon BLT, and a lineup of burgers including a bacon pimento cheeseburger. Fried green beans give the vegan crowd something too.
Hours are 11 AM to 9 PM Monday through Thursday, until 10 PM Friday and Saturday, and closed Sunday. Reservations are accepted, which helps during the busy Thursday through Saturday dinner stretch.
Parking includes free lot and street spaces, though downtown spots can fill up. At $20 to $30 per person, it is a strong finish for a shrimp and grits road trip.
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