Thoughts

The name does not sound like much, but the restaurant was pleasant. I went with a group of people who had been there for drinks, but never dinner. It was, in a sense, a first for us all.

The entrance, between two stone pillars, is to the outdoor seating. There are tables and chairs in a courtyard set up for dinner, but also to socialize near a garden and stage. The stage features live music performed by local artists. Beyond some of the outdoor tables is the door inside. It was a beautiful night to sit outside and have dinner, though we opted to sit inside. I do not think one option is necessarily better than the other.

The inside was very open. The lighting was enough, but subtle. Even as the meal progressed the lights came down and candles were brought to the tables. The staff was well informed and friendly.

The menu was not very extensive, but was arranged well. It consisted of three sections that essentially boiled down to appetizers, entrees and dessert. Though each had but a few options, they were diverse enough to cover wide-ranging tastes. I believe I remember there being vegetarian dishes as well.

Their mojitos and mint juleps came very highly recommended by my dining partners. I had never tried either drink, but figured I should sample the local flavor. I opted for the mojito and found that it tasted like nothing more than crushed mint leaves. The others at the table who ordered the same drink raved about it, but it did nothing for me.

We started with the sweet potato chips which came with ranch as a dipping sauce. Sorry dieters, they are fried and not baked. They were good, though for $5 (I think) I was VERY disappointed at the size of the order.

When I was having trouble deciding on my entree I consulted our server. I asked if she would suggest the cheeseburger (boring, I know) or the shrimp and grits (spicy). She told me that their shrimp and grits is usually fantastic; they use Georgia shrimp and Red Mule grits (which apparently come from about an hour south of Athens). Her hesitation, however, was that the boat had not come in and they were using Florida shrimp instead (that night), which she did not feel were as good. I opted for the burger.

The cheeseburger comes with a chunk of a type of blue cheese and is served with fries and a side of greens. My burger (ordered: Medium) mooed a little when it came to the table, but the sage advice to "eat around it" served me well as always.

Purely in the interest of science, I ordered their molten chocolate cake dessert. This dish was essentially a chocolate souffle served with sweet cream and strawberry preserves. Aside from my company at the table (in case any of them read this), the dessert was the highlight. It was very good.

The restaurant was a fun place to go with friends. I think we all had a great time together at Farm 255. I also think it would be a good date spot. Some people were dressed nicely, others less so. The prices were not outrageous.

I really enjoyed our dinner at Farm 255. The atmosphere was comfortable, the people were friendly, and the food was good. If I lived in or around Athens, Farm 255 would get more of my business. See the website.

Farm 255 is located at 255 W. Washington Street in Athens, GA. The phone number is 706-549-4660.