Home Grown

If you're in Atlanta and are in the mood for some fresh locally sourced comfort food, let me open your eyes to Home Grown. It recently became famous for being the last restaurant that the late Paul Walker ate at. Its rumored that they will be changing the name of a menu item to honor him. Home Grown is located on a deserted section of Memorial Drive near the intersection at Moreland Avenue. It has a small parking lot located around the back side, but if you show up after about 9:30, just be ready to park about five minutes away -- it's worth the walk.




Home Grown has become a staple in my life for a few reasons. Let's start with the atmosphere of this quaint little place.

When you walk into Home Grown it feels as though you have been transported to the late 80's or so. Walking in you see an old diner bar with vintage stools surrounded by linoleum tile and wood paneled walls. It's an interesting combination, but it just makes the place feel like home. When you walk in you are greeted by a hot carafe of coffee and plenty of cups. There is also a daunting sign of the deserts and pies featured that day -- it's dangerous, but it's amazing. Their specials range from Grit Pies to Double Chocolate Cake, my personal favorite is the Derby Pie... Pecan Pie with Chocolate Chips -- DO IT!

You're seated in the crowded and cozy dining room, sometimes next to the 5 cent shop and the xylophone player, or sometimes you're seated next to the local Atlanta Police Department section. Either way, your experience is likely to be great.

Once your drinks are in and you've ordered one of the many appetizers (I highly recommend the Friend Green Tomatoes), you start looking at the Breakfast and Lunch menu that is offered all day until 4pm. Their menu contains regular breakfast staples such as GIANT pancakes and the classic Eggs, Toast, and Biscuit as well as rarities such as the French Toast BLT (add the egg, trust me) and the MAC Stack (Mac and Cheese sandwich).  My all time favorite dish so far is the Comfy Chicken Biscuit. This is the most famous item on their menu, they even have a counter for how many they have sold throughout the day -- normally averages about 50-100. The dish includes a large biscuit served open face with a LARGE piece of fried chicken and then COVERED in white country gravy. It's enough to feed two probably, but I never let that stop me.

I've only listed a few of the eclectic options offered at Home Grown, and there are many more to explore for myself and anyone who wants to give this lovely establishment a try.


Once you're done with your meal, a slip is dropped on your table for you to check out at the bar. Normally instead of heading straight out, I stop by the 5 cent store, just to see what they have in stock. There are plenty of options for Home Grown apparel, created by the owners who have even tattooed the logo somewhere on their person. There are cute antiques all over the store, even including Disney cups that Burger King used to offer in the early 90's. Walking through the small shop really helps with the digestive process, especially after eating a Comfy Chicken.

Here's my grade of HomeGrown: