the royal peasant (athens, ga)

So what do pharmacy students do on their when they have free time? When we're not taking 3 tests in one week on top of random side projects the school throws at us, free time usually involves friends, food and alcohol in some way or form. I've been wanting to try the Royal Peasant for awhile now - it's a small restaurant located in 5 Points next to Earth Fare. They specialize in British pub food and their extensive variety of European ales is quite impressive.

There's something really captivating about simple pub food. No fancy sauces, micro greens or French words most college kids in town have never heard of. Just tasty, honest and good eats at reasonable prices. Instead of the Cheesecake Factory-thick menus around campus trying to please everyone (only to serve mediocre food in the end) the menu is short, sweet and straight to the point. The Royal Peasant knows what it does best and stays within that realm. However, I would like to see the addition of one more item on the menu: some sort of "pie" whether it'd be a shepherd's, cottage, fish, etc.

A group of us came to grab a drink, eat some food and relax after a long, hell-week of school. We all grabbed different varieties of ales and I had the Wells Bombardier on tap. A crisp, sweet beer that was much needed after a tough week. As for our food, the table got fish&chips and cheese burgers. The fish was crisp on the outside, flaky, tender and soft on the inside - a perfectly fried fish. I thought the batter could've used a little more seasoning but with the lemon dill mayo served on the side, it was easily overlooked. The fries you ask? A crispy, textural delight. Ryne seemed to enjoy his cheeseburger and from what I saw, it was cooked to his liking and well made. Overall, the food was sublime and worth every penny.

(The newspaper-print waxpaper adds a really nice touch)

I really like this place. It's a great hangout and it really does feel like a local, classic pub. To top it off, a great, friendly waitstaff makes the dining experience that much more enjoyable (we played musical chairs for awhile, sorry again Tanya!). If the rugby, Premier League or rustic bar setting doesn't do it for you, grab a seat outside and enjoy the cool, refreshing autumn breeze. I'll be back again to try out the rest of the menu and I truly hope this restaurant remains a part of Athens for years to come.