Piccadilly Restaurant in Atlanta: What to Know Before You Go

If you’re searching for “Piccadilly Restaurant Atlanta”, you’re most likely looking for a classic Southern cafeteria-style meal—the kind with carved meats, hot sides, yeast rolls, and a slice of pie at the end. While the traditional Piccadilly Cafeteria model has changed over the years, the concept of a Piccadilly-style restaurant in Atlanta is still very much alive in how locals eat, where families gather, and where you can get a quick plate of comfort food.

This guide walks you through what “Piccadilly Restaurant” typically means in the Atlanta, Georgia area, how to find similar spots, what to expect on your visit, and how to navigate locations, prices, and parking like a local.

Is There Still a Piccadilly Restaurant in Atlanta?

Piccadilly has historically operated in multiple Southern cities, including metro Atlanta, often in mall food courts or standalone cafeteria locations. Because restaurant openings and closures change over time, the exact number and location of Piccadilly-branded restaurants in Atlanta may vary.

To get the most accurate, current information, Atlanta diners usually:

• Check recent search results for “Piccadilly Cafeteria near me” while in Atlanta
• Look up Google Maps or Apple Maps for nearby Piccadilly or cafeteria-style restaurants
• Call ahead to confirm a location’s hours and menu before driving over

If a Piccadilly-branded restaurant is not currently operating near your part of Atlanta, you can still find very similar Southern cafeteria or “meat-and-three” experiences across the city.

What to Expect at a Piccadilly-Style Restaurant in Atlanta

Whether you land at an actual Piccadilly location or a comparable Atlanta cafeteria, the experience is usually similar.

Cafeteria Line Setup

You’ll typically:

1. Grab a tray at the start of the line
2. Move down a cafeteria-style counter with glass displays
3. Choose:
   • A main entrée (often baked or fried chicken, roast beef, fish, or meatloaf)
   • Two or three sides (mac and cheese, collard greens, green beans, mashed potatoes, etc.)
   • Bread (yeast roll or cornbread)
   • Optional dessert (pies, cobblers, cakes, puddings)
4. Pay at the register at the end of the line
5. Seat yourself in a dining area with simple tables and booths

This style is popular with families, seniors, and workers on lunch break in Atlanta because it’s typically:

• Faster than a full-service restaurant
• Slower and more relaxed than fast food
• Predictable in terms of menu and pricing structure

Typical Menu at a Piccadilly-Type Restaurant in Atlanta

Dishes vary by location, but Atlanta diners can usually expect a Southern comfort food focus.

Common Entrées

• Fried or baked chicken
• Fish (fried, baked, or grilled – often white fish or catfish)
• Roast beef or turkey with gravy
• Meatloaf
• Pork chops or ham (availability can vary)

Popular Sides

• Macaroni and cheese
• Mashed potatoes and gravy
• Collard greens or turnip greens
• Green beans
• Corn or creamed corn
• Candied yams
• Rice and gravy
• Coleslaw or side salad

Breads and Desserts

• Yeast rolls
• Cornbread
• Cobbler (peach or apple is often common in Georgia)
• Layer cakes or sheet cakes
• Pies (chess, lemon meringue, chocolate, and others depending on the day)

Many Atlanta cafeteria-style restaurants also offer kid-sized portions and smaller plates for lighter appetites.

Price Range and How Ordering Works

While exact prices change over time and by location, cafeteria-style restaurants around Atlanta often follow a similar structure:

• Entrée + 2 sides: Priced as a combo plate
• Entrée only: A bit less, useful if you’re pairing with a salad or bread already
• Each side à la carte: Usually available for mix-and-match
• Desserts and drinks: Added separately

To avoid surprises:

• Ask staff what’s included in a “plate” or “combo.”
• Confirm if rolls or cornbread come with the meal or are a separate charge.
• Look for daily specials or “meat-and-two”/“meat-and-three” boards, which are common in the South.

When Atlanta Locals Choose a Piccadilly-Style Restaurant

Even if someone doesn’t specifically say “Let’s go to Piccadilly,” they might be looking for a similar cafeteria experience. In Atlanta, these restaurants are often chosen for:

1. Family Gatherings

• Easy for larger families or church groups
• Everyone can see the food before ordering
• Plenty of table space and usually a casual environment

2. Senior-Friendly Dining

• Many seniors like the predictable menu and slower pace
• Cafeteria-style lines allow portion choice and visual selection
• Some locations in metro Atlanta may offer weekday midday crowds that skew older

3. Workday Lunches

For Atlanta workers around:

• Downtown
• Midtown
• Perimeter Center
• Airport area (Hartsfield-Jackson)

Cafeteria-style restaurants are useful when you need:

• A hot, sit-down meal
• Relatively quick service
• The ability to control portion size and see what you’re getting

How to Find a Piccadilly or Similar Restaurant in Atlanta

Because operations can change, Atlanta residents usually use a few methods to find a Piccadilly or similar spot.

1. Use Map Apps with Local Filters

When you’re in or near Atlanta, search in map apps for:

• “Piccadilly Cafeteria”
• “Cafeteria restaurant”
• “Meat and three Atlanta”
• “Southern cafeteria-style restaurant”

Then check:

• Distance from your location
• Hours (many close earlier than standard dinner spots)
• Recent reviews for current operations and menu notes

2. Check Around Key Atlanta Areas

Historically, cafeteria-style and Piccadilly-like restaurants have been more common near:

• Large shopping centers or older malls
• Busy suburban corridors in areas like South DeKalb, Cobb, Clayton, or Gwinnett
• Near churches and office complexes, where Sunday and weekday lunch traffic is strong

If you’re driving around South Atlanta, Decatur, College Park, or Forest Park, you may find more traditional cafeterias and meat-and-three-style restaurants than in some trendier in-town neighborhoods.

Parking, Access, and Getting There

Atlanta is a car-heavy city, and most Piccadilly-style restaurants are located in strip centers or standalone buildings with surface lots.

Here’s what to know:

• Parking: Usually free surface parking; lots can be busiest around Sunday lunch or weekday lunch rush.
• Transit access:
  • Some locations within the Perimeter may be reachable by MARTA bus.
  • If you’re staying near a MARTA rail station (e.g., Five Points, Peachtree Center, North Avenue, College Park), check bus connections to nearby commercial areas.
• Accessibility: Many long-running cafeterias tend to have relatively flat entries and wide aisles, but it’s wise to call ahead if you have specific accessibility needs.

Eating Piccadilly-Style on a Budget in Atlanta

For many Atlanta residents, cafeteria-style restaurants offer a way to get hot, filling meals without full-service restaurant prices. A few tips commonly used by locals:

• Go at lunch: Midday prices and specials can sometimes be better than evening.
• Share sides: Two people can sometimes share several sides if they only want one entrée each.
• Skip the drink: Ordering water and focusing on the plate can reduce the total bill.
• Ask about senior or weekday specials: Some similar restaurants in the Atlanta area offer discounts or smaller senior plates on certain days.

Takeout, To-Go, and Catering Style Options

Many Piccadilly-type restaurants in Atlanta understand that people are on the move or feeding groups.

Typical options you might find:

• To-go plates: Packaged in foam or compostable containers, similar to what you’d eat in-house.
• By-the-pan orders: Larger quantities of mac and cheese, greens, dressing, or meats for family gatherings, especially around holidays.
• Call-ahead orders: Helpful if you’re picking up food for a church event, office lunch, or family reunion.

If you’re planning for a holiday meal in Atlanta—like Thanksgiving or Christmas—cafeteria-style restaurants sometimes offer whole-turkey plates, pans of sides, and desserts. Ordering in advance is usually expected.

Tips for Visitors to Atlanta Looking for Piccadilly

If you’re visiting Atlanta and hoping for a Piccadilly-style experience:

• Stay flexible on the exact brand name. You may find cafeterias or meat-and-three spots that offer a nearly identical experience under a different name.
• Ask hotel staff or local hosts. Many Atlantans have a favorite place for “vegetable plate” or “Southern buffet” and can point you to a convenient option.
• Check hours carefully. In Atlanta, these restaurants often close earlier in the evening, sometimes before typical dinner peak hours.

A quick phone call can confirm:

• Today’s closing time
• Whether they’re currently dine-in, takeout, or both
• If they’re especially busy on Sundays after church, which is common throughout the metro area

Key Takeaways for “Piccadilly Restaurant Atlanta”

Here’s a quick summary that Atlanta diners and visitors can use:

If you’re in or around Atlanta, Georgia and searching for “Piccadilly Restaurant Atlanta,” you’re really looking for a down-to-earth, cafeteria-style Southern meal: a tray line, plenty of choices, and a plate that feels like home cooking. By using the tips above—checking current locations, exploring similar Atlanta cafeterias, and planning around hours and traffic—you can get very close to that classic Piccadilly experience, whether under the original name or a local variant.