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Categories: Dive Bars, American (New), Music Venues [Edit]
Neighborhood: East Atlanta VillageMon-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 a.m.
Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
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I now find myself here at least twice a week. Everything I've had is outstanding. Their Greeny Meenie, blackened chicken sandwich with pablanos and salsa verde sans bun, paired with a salad,. Is my new calorie counting obsession's best bet for low fat and super yum.
On the other end of the caloric spectrum the cheese steak is really good.
But my favorite pairing is by far the Bloody Mary and the boiled p-nuts.
Every one loves big salty juicy nuts, right? I know I sure do. These are the best in town if not ever.
And remember if you see me there, smoke em if ya got em'!
i haven't eaten food from this place in years. usually I am the one bummin the rest of you out by… Read more »
Ok, I have now had the Earl Burger and must say that it is excellent. The bacon cheddar burger I had is definitely one of my favorite burgers in the A. The bun, bacon, and cheddar are great and the lettuce and tomato are fresh. The patty itself is thick enough and was cooked medium-rare like I requested. I think not overcooking the patty is crucial to the overall burger experience.
This will be blasphemous to some, but I have to say that I like it more than the Ghetto Burger at Ann's. To me, the Ghetto Burger is pretty tasty, but it's also kinda a novelty/monstrosity burger and I feel that when you break it down it's really just a couple big hunks of low grade, well-done beef, some weak bacon, average/subpar ingredients for the rest, and some decent chili on top. Good, but not amazing. I think the Earl Burger is just a higher quality burger that's actually cooked properly. If the Earl was smart, they'd offer a double stack bacon cheddar burger with chili - it'd be a Ghetto Burger slayer I think. For me it would knock the Ghetto Burger out of the park. Apparently they already have awesome chili at the Earl - why are they not doing this already???
Anyway, I was a big fan of the burger, but unfortunately the shoestring-style fries that came with totally sucked - thin, flavorless, boring. Such a good burger needs good fries to match.
Earl Ghetto Burger ftw? *fingers crossed*
5
I still haven't had the hyped Earl burgers or any of the food there yet so I can't comment on the… Read more »
These three stars go only to the stage area in the back; the food and service here have been lackluster for me one too many times to truly enjoy, so the two empty stars go to the restaurant half. Seriously, how many times can I go and be told the black bean burger is "supposed to off the menu because we don't serve that anymore!" Yet I find out later that isn't true? Lying to patrons isn't the best way to get them to come back, and quite frankly I've given up on ever getting to try this supposedly good black bean creature. Elusive menus aren't my style... guess I'm not hip enough to get the joke, or maybe I simply can't read the fine print through all the smoke. Either way, those two blank stars are for you, restaurant!
As for the stage area in the back, it's nice. I enjoy standing around listening to bands and comedians alike, and it's a big enough space to hold a decent crowd yet intimate enough that you feel like it's a private show. It can be a little loud and drinks a little costly, but loud music comes with the word "concert" like the words "mother" and "mary" go together. It's just how it works. I'll probably continue to see shows here (assuming a band I want to hear passes through), but otherwise I won't be returning anytime soon.
One note: Not good for groups either! A waitress sneered at me - and later lied about that black bean burger - when I asked about a group of 12 or so. Guess she didn't want the tip.
I have been to The Earl many times and every time I love it! The food is great and the drinks are definitely affordable and the shows that come through there are always bands I want to see. The only reason I gave it 4 out of 5 is the venue in the back needs some more seating. I really hate standing for hours after I've been drinking. Outside of that I love it there and I make sure I stop in whenever I'm in the area.
Awesome burgers, often unbearably loud music, mediocre service, and smoking, but I keep going back for the burgers. Chili is not bad. Also, like the nachos as an app and the sweet potato fries as a side. I've never seen a show here - not really my scene in terms of music.
My wife and I have gone to a few concerts at The Earl, and while they manage to get some amazing acts both of us just can't go there. To put it bluntly the room is too small to contain the amount of cigarette smoke that tends to be produced during a regular event. The last time I saw a performance there I was sick for two days.
Elvis Perkins will be there soon, and while I really want to go I'm just not sure I can handle the choking cloud that seems to settle hours before the main act even starts.
So while I want to give this little venue more stars, I simply can't over look the fact that The Earl has smoked me out of some damn good shows.
I love the Earl for the burgers, arguably some of the best in Atlanta. If you go do yourself a favor and sit at the bar. The roving waitstaff have some pretty shitty attitudes but the bartenders are actually pretty friendly.
I went to the Earl last night for a show. It's mostly standing room only, but there are a few seats, and I was fortunate enough to snag one. Since it's a small space, there really isn't any such thing as a bad spot unless you happen to be 5'1" standing behind someone who's 6'5".
I had a bit of a problem with the bathrooms. I know I shouldn't be expecting miracles from a dive in EAV, but I would at least like a door on my stall. Really. Is that too much to ask? If I wanted a curtain for privacy, I'd get in the shower.
Though I didn't drink, they seemed to have a decent selection of inexpensive options. They also were allowing smoking up until the bands started playing, so if you're not a fan of smoke, consider yourself warned. Even after they announced twice for people to quit, a few still refused to give it up.
Overall, it's a good little venue and a quintessential dive. What more can you really ask for?
Ye Olde Earl... How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...
Thine drinks are affordable, which is a blessing in this shit economy.
Thine staff is skilled, bringing my potables and edibles with impressive speed.
Thine dunch is surely the nectar of (hungover) gods.
For serious, let me describe why the Earl is my favorite bar. Last year I had my birthday get-together here. There were at least 8-10 people, and not only did our server NOT add a gratuity to the table, the next time I sat in her section, she remembered the shot I was ordering all that night, and gave me a free one.
The Earl is like that bar from Cheers where "everybody knows your name", except Kirstie Alley isn't there inhaling all your tater tots.
If people say they hate "bar food", I take them to the Earl and they immediately recant. The prices are fair for the portions you receive, and the food is consistently good. What I also love is their menu accommodates meat-eaters and vegetarians easily. The hamburger and black bean burger are both equally good; nobody gets the short end of the stick.
Now I just wish they'd bring back the PBR-battered gator fingers... Nommm...
Sunday "dunch" (not quite dinner, not quite lunch) at the Earl is also a treat. The menu is small, but people always seem to have a hard time choosing something. I'm a big fan of the tofu scramble and the shrimp hash, myself. All accompanied by live music to nurse your hangover by.
Oh yeah, it's also a great place to see a show. Especially when you're under 5'5" and can stand right next to the stage.
In short, get thee to the Earl, post-haste!
Over the years I've been here quite a few times. Mostly to see shows but I've been here maybe 5 times or so to eat. Normally I get the Earl Burger but this time I had the pulled pork bbq sandwich with the Brunswick stew. Plenty of bbq on the sandwich and I always enjoy their stew. I think my sandwich was like $6 or something like that. I was just looking on their menu again and didnt realize they had a $14 10 oz ribeye. I think I'll try that next time.
Every time I've been in there the bartenders are right on top of things getting drinks and taking orders.
Now as far as the bar area goes...there is a small patio out front facing Flat Shoals and the windows open up so you can sit inside along a counter and you almost feel like you're outside. The bar itself can seat about I dont know maybe 15 people. If there is a big show in the back it cant get pretty packed in the bar. I also like to keep up with the latest graffitti in the bathroom as far as who is doing whose mom and the such. Its pretty easy to strike up a conversation at the bar as well....probably some of the most friendly people I've experienced at a bar in Atlanta. And I've been to A LOT of bars believe me. Once in a while you run into a few characters like the chick that decided to bring her parrot to the bar etc but thats what makes this place fun.
I've had some good times here mainly from seeing some pretty good shows. But you cant forget about the food here either...its good bar food and cheap. If you are in the area I'd definitely recommend dropping by.
I really think The Earl has some of the best and definitely most consistent bar food in Atlanta. The bar/restaurant part is great if you get there early, but after 10pm on most nights, plan on standing. My only complaint, which has actually kept me from going there anywhere near as often as I used to is that it's so freaking loud. The music they're playing is always at a conversation stopping volume.
Great room for music in the back.
good burger
good beer
cool atmosphere.
that rhymed.
The story is... my wife and I are in the mood for a good burger. We start doing our usual Blackberry search for "Atlanta's Best Burger" and we are reminded about The Earl.
I hadn't been in at least 8 months so hell ya. I order the Earl Burger with provolone cheese and bacon with a side of tots and as I remember it, absolutely awesome. THE BEST burger in Atlanta hands down. The service was good and as long as I can order a 420.. it's perfect.
I am in town 2x a year for 1 week each time. We always stay downtown and never have a car, so tonight when friend I met online who lives here offered to take me to "where the locals go" I was very happy and excited.
We arrived at The Earl around 7 and had no problem getting booth seating. They pour the drinks stiff! They had tons of salads and entree dinners. Tonight's special was Chicken Fried Steak. My local pal suggested that we get burgers and proclaimed them to be among the best in ATL. Well, she was spot on! I had The Earl with Cheddar Cheese and Wasabi Mayo along with a side of Island Salad (onions, tomatoes and cucumber) and all was delicious.
3 Captains, 1 Sweet Tea and 2 Earl Burgers later our bill was $36.32 before tip.
This place was good enough, I might just have to fit a rental car into our budget on the next trip!
Oh and being that I am a smoker I LOVED the SMOKERS WELCOME attitude of the joint.
Moody and brooding... I like it!
Nobody had ever mentioned East Atlanta to me before, so you can imagine my surprise when we stumbled into this Seattlesk (yeah, so... I make up words) bar/music venue!
After we hit that Satanic strip of fast food restaurants between the city and East Atlanta, I was sure civilization had all but ended! Thank God I was wrong!
I felt right at home!
We weren't there to see a show, but I can't wait until I do!
The Earl has the best chilli ever.
The end.
We got to hang out at The Earl last week with a group from work for the Air Guitar Championships of Atlanta. I am a fan of this type of bar... unpretentious, lots of locals hanging out, not overly loud. The championships took place in the back room, which was much darker and louder. I have to agree with another reviewer who commented that a big flaw for them was the smoke factor. I may be spoiled from New York, but having to deal with smoke in your face is really annoying, not to mention smelly. I thought I left the days behind that I had to shower and put my clothes in the laundry immediately when I got home from a bar.
The food at the Earl was surprisingly good. My friend had one of the famous burgers, and reported it being above average, especially for a bar. The sweet potato fries here were excellent as well. I had the portobello sandwich. It was outstanding: moist and flavorful, not drowned in sauces. It was also nice to have the option of sitting outside. The bartender was a smartass, and her personality fit with that of the bar. The Earl seems to be a good choice for this neighborhood. I'd like to go back on a night when there's a more interesting music choice.
First of all, GO TO Sunday Dunch! It runs from 12noon til I think 3:30pm and has it's own special menu. When you get there for Dunch, eat the Shrimp Hash. You may have to wait for a table but grab a drink or some coffee and enjoy the live music. It's awesome 100%.
I've lived down the street from the Earl for a little over 6 years and I eat there often. The regular menu has lots of good options and the specials all great. I do wish they would bring back Paulander or Hoegarrden (tap or bottle) or any good white beer for that matter. Coors Brewing's attempt @ a white beer ala Blue Moon is far from enriching to the soul...it needs to go.
A couple things you should know if you have never been:
- It's smokey...it is a dive ya know.
- Service can go either way, so just be cool. You'll get everything you want and it'll be good.
- It can very loud at times...there seems to be no set pattern. If that bugs you thou get a drink and order take out.
- If you need a drink quick sit at the bar. I've never stood or sat @ the bar longer than 5 minutes without having a drink in front of me.
One of the best Alt/Indi Music Venues in Atlanta. Not sure I have or would eat here.
I just go for the music. Which is delicious.
The EARL is pretty much what you would get if you took the 40 Watt from Athens and threw it into the middle of Atlanta. A great bar with cheap drinks, a nice venue tucked away in the back, food that is pretty damn good for bar food, and staff that will take care of you. If you are looking for some great shows you might not be aware of be sure to check out The EARL's upcoming schedule!
Also, Sunday afternoons are pretty awesome at this place... Live acoustic bands in the front of the Earl while you chow down on "Dunch"... which is the pretty limited brunch menu but everything on it is pretty amazing! It is a great way to spend your hungover Sunday afternoons.
I love this place... some of the best times in my recent years have been had here, the music's great, the food's great, the staff's great, I just love the place.
Doesn't hurt that the first time I ever opened for a band was in this venue way back in the day, but I think it gives me a nice perspective on what the employees are really like, and I gotta say, they are all great!
Its a dive, make no mistake, but its a dive with MAD character and great sound!
Really good bar food....so good, you almost can't call it bar food.
Sunday brunch (AKA Dunch) is not to be missed. Seriously, this is one of my two all-time favorite brunch spots in the ATL. Only one other place does steak and eggs better (Highland Tap) and that place is a top notch Va-Hi steak house.
Great place to take a one-night-stand if you want to impress him/her with your coolness enough to get a 2nd date. Bloody Marys or Guinness, along with the live music conducive to brunch dining, are the perfect accompaniments to the top-notch brunch grub.
The Earl has always been one of my favorite music venues. The sound is usually pretty good here. Plenty loud. I would advise signing up for their mailing list. If you see a band announced just buy tickets online because the better shows do sell out pretty quick here.
There is a lot of hype surrounding The Earl's burgers. I've only had one burger there and it was nothing special. Same for their BBQ sandwich--it's "okay". If you really want something tasty, try the Earl Nachos.
One of the best burgers and "fried everything" that I've had. YUM. The place has a great vibe. Service has always been super cool and helpful too.
I don't smoke and "prepare" myself to be ready to go home to take a shower before crawling into bed-but hey some things are worth it though right?
The Earl is a great neighborhood bar. Really diverse clientele, cool atmosphere, nice variety of beer on tap and damn good burgers! Melissa was bartending the night I was there and she is very friendly and fun to talk to.
I haven't been there for the live music for which this place is known for so can't comment on that.
Great place to chill with some beers (5 stars), if you don't mind smokers (-1 star).
I've only been living in Atlanta just over a month and I've already been to the Earl three times for their live music acts.
I haven't finished unpacking. My shower curtain still isn't up. I have yet to locate a decent dry cleaner. My savings account is dwindling.
But I don't care.
Because of this place.
I don't hang out here often enough. The chili is amazing. Some of my fav bands/musicians play(ed) here: Michelle Malone, Rachel Sage, Laura Veirs. It's got lots of tables. I've never had to wait for much of anything - food, a table, a beer.
The prices are just right. The servers/bartenders are great. And I always feel super stellar sharing a bar with bikers. Why? Because bikers rock.
Oh and I've never had a burger here that I didn't love. And when you say medium rare, you get medium rare.
Man, I need to go back soon!
Good ole EARL, always there when I need you. This is by far my most frequented bar in Atlanta and no matter what the occasion (and it's good for just about everything, except maybe the elderly), I have always experienced maximum pleasure. Hats off to the staff for keeping things real! Should you be on the foolish side, as I sometimes am, and choose to dine/drink while nursing a cold, a hot toddy and a bowl of brunswick stew may be just what you need on a gray afternoon. When the weather is mild, the windows are open and the mood swings up, although I can't recall it ever being down.
Sunday Dunch is one of my favorite past-times (when I don't have to work afterwards... errr), and yes, it will be crowded. Every meal I've had here has been scrumptious, whether it be a giant salad or a giant burger. The sweet potato fries are the bomb diggity.
In addition to being my favorite bar, this is also probably my favorite venue. Even when the space is packed it is still possible to slither your way along the wall and up to the bar. They book most of the best shows in Atlanta and the sound guy makes it happen. Sometimes the lights go on and it's "everybody out!" (to the main bar), but I live for the post-show bliss where a dj takes it to 11 with some James Brown.
All in all, the EARL's got mad clout and has me hooked.
Atlanta is a new place for my shenanigans and general malfeasance and the Earl is a great fit for my antics. I came for a show, but the laid back attitude of the crowd, good food, and friendly service gave me a reason to stay. The earl is cool to the touch and has good tunes, but you don't feel like to need to meet a tattoo requirement to get in the door like some of the places in little 5.
The $10 cover to see the bands is a little high. I support artists and independently owned businesses, but after dropping precious cash monies (grad loans) on food and beer, at least you could let me listen to the music for 5 or under.
You will probably have an interesting experience at the Earl. Mine came in the form of me pounding beer, and picking up a fan. He provided interesting conversation and an additional PBR, as if it was needed.
Way to go Atlanta. We just met, but you know how to keep it real.
Yummy salad with tofu and red pepper dressing. Cool atmosphere, nice venue too. Good sound and generally pretty easy to see.
It gets reallly reallllllly crowded so I only actually went on weeknights.
Not much to do in East Atlanta, so come here!
The EARL does most everything really well. It's a terrific bar with a decent beer selection and colorful, amiable crowd. The food is really, really good. I assume. Okay, I've only ever had the veggie tofu pita. There are so many other things on the menu that sound so, so tasty...but I can't ever bring myself to bypass an opportunity to eat that delicious tofu pita. It's just that it's so, so amazing.
There are a bunch of other veggie options, though. And they make it really clear on the menu what has meat in it and what doesn't (the rice and beans, for example, do). That's always appreciated, even if I'm never going to order anything but that pita anyway. Which I'm not.
The service can be kinda slow and kinda disinterested, but you'll survive, although the one time we stopped in for Dunch I wasn't sure I was going to (my first meal of the day really, really needs to be in front of me sooner than an hour and a half after I sit down).
The EARL is, of course, also a great little music venue, probably my favorite in the city. It can get smoky, yes, but that pretty much comes with the territory, and it's nowhere near the choking fog that fills Lenny's. All in all, I'm always happy to go to the EARL (and it's a good thing, too, since I'm there at least twice a month).
Having just moved down from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, this place is a dive-y haven. "Dunch" rocks and the black bean burger (now that it's back from a 6 week hiatus due to some kind of buyout and restructuring at the Kellogg's/Morningstar Farms plant), I'm a happy girl. It's a big bonus that it's in walking distance from the house. Yay!
The music's great here too - intimate room, good sound, and yes it does get WAY too smokey in there. I admit I really miss the smoking ban in NYC - makes going out much more pleasurable. I highly recommend this local institution.
This place is sooooo awesome! they have GREAT concerts on a regular basis, and smashing food every day. the small back room/concert hall is the perfect environment for live bands; not enormous, so you don't get swallowed by a crowd, but cool enough for you to really feel like you're interacting with the band. the drinks back there are off the chain, and have put several of my friends out of commission on a good night.
aside from the great concerts, though, the restaurant in front serves awesome burgers and other cookout-style food (i'm sure there's a better word for it, i'm just not up on all my food lingo), like hotdogs, chicken sandwiches, and great salads too
I'm not sold on the burgers and I'm thinking people say they are better than the Vortex only to be different and go against the grain. This review may have been tainted by the incredibly long wait to get the food (on a Monday night!). I will have to say that the sweet potato fries, dusted with cinnamon, served with a side of cranberry dijon sauce, was incredibly delicious. They also serve Strongbow on draft, which is always a plus in my book.
Great dive bar.
good food, good shows, good times...
The earl is what you wish for any local dive. They have amazing shows (i.e. David Bazan, Liam Finn, John Vanderslice, Buck65 etc.) The only pitfall is the ventilation of the back area where the bands play. There is no way to move the air back there, so the smoke builds up and it gets ultra hot. The bands they book though make it worth the minor inconvenience. I have yet to have food there, but from the reviews I've read, and friends who vouch for it, I can only imagine that all of them couldn't be wrong.
Restaurant/Bar--three stars here. Decent burger, good fries, excellent fried okra. Ok service. Sometimes the crowd is overly East Atlanta Hipster, but there is usually a good mix.
Concert Venue--Five stars. Excellent place for live music. Good sound in an intimate setting. The only draw back is that there is one bar which can be tricky when things get crowded and it is really smokey but hell, it is a concert hall. Definitely worth going to see a show here.
Out of the detritus upon which the Metropolis stands, the denizens of the Stein Club flocked to the The Earl. Along with The Fountainhead and the Echo Lounge, The Earl was one of a triumvirate of cool--edgy folks with heady 'tude. At the time, East Atlanta Village was the epicenter of hip, with more slackers and MFAs than a dozen Apple stores. I remember those days, when people would spill out onto Flat Shoals for no apparent reason and the best place to go to the bathroom was the secret bathroom in The Fountainhead that people only used to snort coke. Unless you're me and you just used it to go to the bathroom.
But alas, only The Earl remains as one of the originals. What's the secret to their longevity? They smartly offer something for everyone. It's a smoky bar. It's a place to see up-and-coming bands. It's got good food. It's even a brunch destination. The Earl is all of the above and as I've aged, I've gone through each permutation. Right now, it's the food that concerns me. The Earl burger remains one of the best in Atlanta while the side of red beans and rice is a favorite. Their alligator bites, though, could use some work. Brunch (or in Earl parlance, "Dunch") has most of the breakfast basics set to live musical accompaniment.
Beyond the food, The Earl did one thing a few years ago that cemented a place in my heart. In a poorly thought out date choice, I asked my girlfriend to see "Captured by Robots" play in the backroom, a concert to which she foolishly agreed. What she ended up getting was a man pretending to be enslaved by a group of robots who plays loud thrash metal. Who. Plays. Thrash. Metal. As a bonus, the robots were dressed as the crew of Star Trek: The Next Generation since this was their "Tribute to Star Trek: The Next Generation" Tour. And did I mention the thrash metal?
The fact that my now girlfriend agreed to a third date demonstrates 1) my girlfriend truly loves me 2) she has infinite patience 3) The Earl has wonderful, magical powers and 4) chicks (apparently) dig thrash metal.
So thank you for that, Earl. For better or for worse, I owe the past two and a half years of my life to you. May you, and them robots, live long and prosper.
I have lived in GP now for 3 years, and finally tonight made it to the Earl...which strangely enough reminds me of the crab shack on the show "My name is Earl"..hmm.
I have seen many reviews for them, but have always been a little taken aback by the smokey atmosphere... not really for me these days. However, our experience was great and almost entirely smoke-free. (the incredulous reader now calls "BS, there is no way you were at the EARL if you were calling your experience, in any way, smoke-free").
How did we manage it? Well, it appears that if you sit in the round table all the way to the left as you walk in the door, there is a beneficial AC blast coming from somewhere that I could not identify... maybe it was the ketchup bottle. Anyway, this somewhat frigid blast of ketchup air seemed to keep the nearby smokers' funk away, leaving us to enjoy our burgers and beer in peace.
- My beer was the Red Brick blonde... a good summer brew by any standard :)
- The burgers, I would say were pretty good, but they just weren't that great. For the place that is supposed to have the best burgers in town, I was sorely disappointed (this alone may be my reason for only 3 stars) I had the bluebacon burger (blue cheese). It was tasty, but just a little overcooked for my taste.
- My fried okra were however, mighty fine! There is something about the fried-salty-sliminess that is southern fried okra which makes me crave it so.
I will be back again... and will try the burgers again, and will update if there is a significant change in my experience. I must have hit them on a less than stellar burger night.
Live Shows! Fried Okra! Fried Okra! Fried Okra!
(and the place is pretty cool, too. on my last 3 trips to East Atlanta, I've come here. this place makes me very happy.)
Great beer! Fried Okra! Friend Okra! Fried Okra!
(sorry.)
ONEday - Enjoy a $25 3 course…
Neighborhood: Morningside / Lenox…
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Neighborhood: Midtown
Atlanta, GA
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: Little Five Points
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: East Atlanta Village
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Little Five Points
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: East Atlanta Village
Category: Lounges
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