Pull up a chair and get ready to savor the flavors of Northeast Georgia with
A Seat at the Table
—your insider’s guide to the region’s most talked-about restaurants, hidden gems, and culinary standouts. Hosted by local food enthusiasts Carly McCurry and Nora Almazan, this review series takes you beyond the menu and into the heart of what makes dining in Northeast Georgia truly special.
Each week, Carly and Nora will visit a different restaurant—from farm-to-table favorites and family-owned diners to trendy cafes and fine dining destinations—offering honest, detailed reviews that highlight food quality, service, atmosphere, and overall experience. Whether you’re looking for the perfect brunch spot or a date night destination, they’ve got you covered.
Restaurants will be rated on a signature scale of 1 to 5 Chef Hats, with 5 Chef Hats representing culinary excellence. Expect candid commentary, local insight, and maybe a few surprise finds along the way.
For our inaugural review, we visited Shirley’s Soul Food Cafe, a cherished establishment located at 124 W Currahee St. in Toccoa, Georgia. Operating from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, this cozy eatery has garnered a loyal following for its authentic Southern comfort food and warm hospitality.
The menu boasts a variety of classic dishes, including perfectly cooked southern fried chicken, pork chops, and fried cheese. Sides such as collard greens, mac ‘n’ cheese, black-eyed peas, and candied yams complement the mains, offering a true taste of Southern cuisine. Desserts like banana pudding and peach cobbler provide a sweet finish to the meal.
Shirley’s commitment to the community is evident, with the restaurant known for serving leftovers to those in need and supporting local missions . This dedication adds a layer of warmth to the dining experience, making patrons feel like part of the family.
Given the quality of the food, the welcoming atmosphere, and the community involvement, we award Shirley’s Soul Food Cafe 4.5 out of 5 Chef Hats. It’s a must-visit for anyone seeking genuine Southern comfort food in Northeast Georgia.
Introduction
Carly Says:
If I blacked out in an accident and came to in Shirley’s Soul Food Cafe, for a moment, I might have thought I was in my grandfather’s dining room. His house — a mid-century modern ranch built in the 1960s in South Atlanta — enjoys the same wooden tables, wicker chairs, and similar home accents to this soul food cafe near downtown Toccoa. On Donald Gene’s kitchen counter, there were always bunches of bananas waiting for banana-and-mayo sandwiches. In the fridge: a head of cabbage, two tomatoes, and a tub of coleslaw. The art on his walls — much like the décor at Shirley’s — was symbolic, mismatched, and full of meaning. There may be no strict cohesion in style, but every piece feels intentional. At Shirley’s, that intention is clear: a love of Christ, a deep sense of community, and good, wholesome food.
Nora Says
:
Warm and friendly, Shirley’s Soul Food Cafe offers that rare, immediate sense of belonging to anyone who steps through its doors. From the first breath inside, the air is thick with the smell of homecoming—slow-cooked greens, golden fried chicken, and sweet cornbread perfume the space like a familiar hug. It’s the kind of food only a grandmother could prepare, and Shirley’s serves it with a grace that speaks of love, tradition, and deep Southern roots.
As I sat at a table framed by oak chairs—ones that reminded me of Saturday lunches at my grandmother’s house in Dublin, Georgia—I felt a tug of memory and comfort that no upscale bistro or trend-driven café could replicate. Every bite from Shirley’s kitchen is a story: of family, of history, and of healing. The boiled cabbage paired with fried pork chop with a crackling edge and tender center, the black-eyed peas, buttery and seasoned just right, and the peach cobbler? A golden, syrupy finale that had me scraping the bowl.
Its genuine hospitality, and the unspoken promise that everyone is welcome. It’s not just a meal—it’s a memory, plated.
Aesthetic
Carly says
– 5 out of 5
Shirley’s Soul Food Café radiates old-school Southern appeal and lived-in community comfort. Its brick and white-painted façades, vintage hand-painted signage, and modest curtains instantly evoke a bygone era—somewhere between a 1960s neighborhood diner and a grandmother’s kitchen on a Sunday after church. Inside, wood-paneled walls display family photos, certificates, and Christian symbols, turning the space into a deeply personal scrapbook that celebrates faith, family, and local legacy. Checkerboard linoleum floors and a classic diner-style counter ground the room in nostalgia, making it feel like a place where everyone knows your name—or at least how you like your coleslaw. Here, community isn’t a marketing slogan; it’s the furniture, the faith, and the food. More than that, it stands as a bastion of true Southern culture in a world increasingly eager to sanitize it–replacing authenticity with sterile palettes, metal chairs, and shiplap decor.
Nora says
– 5 out of 5
Stepping into Shirley’s feels like walking into your great-grandmother’s home—where the warmth of the atmosphere mirrors the comfort of the food. It’s a place filled with heart, history, and the unmistakable feeling that you’ve arrived somewhere you’re meant to be. Shirley shares her love for Jesus with quiet pride, surrounding guests with scripture-lined walls and uplifting quotes that nourish the spirit as much as the meal. There’s nothing flashy or fussy about it—and that’s exactly what makes it so welcoming.
Service
Carly says
– 4 out of 5
Shirley, the owner, sits poised at the heart of the room—watchful, gracious, and ever-present. She observes each guest with quiet attentiveness, anticipating needs before they’re spoken and serving with a calm, steady warmth. Her presence anchors the café, not with flash but with a quiet authority shaped by years of faithful service.
I met her daughter as she cheerfully saw off a group of police officers. She greeted me with the same openness, eager to share the story of the café and her mother’s calling. She described Shirley as an evangelist—someone who not only shelters the homeless, but extends her ministry by offering leftover meals to those in need after hours. Her pride in her mother is unmistakable, and so is her belief in the mission that infuses every corner of the cafe.
While Shirley and her daughter radiate warmth and hospitality, setting the tone for the café, not every interaction reflected that same ease. The heart of the place clearly comes from the top—from Shirley’s quiet attentiveness and her daughter’s generous storytelling. It’s their presence that elevates the experience and makes it feel like more than just a meal.
Nora says: 4
out of 5
There appears to be just one server tending to the dining area—refilling sweet tea, clearing plates, and graciously offering extras like pickles or an extra piece of cornbread. Despite the busy pace, she does a remarkable job ensuring every guest feels seen and satisfied.
The ordering process, however, can be a bit confusing at first. With little signage or direction, it takes a moment to figure out where to go after picking up your plate or how to grab a drink. But with so many regulars moving confidently through the space, the rhythm of the place soon reveals itself. It may feel a bit awkward at first, but once you settle into the flow, it all begins to make sense.
Food
Carly says:
4 out of 5
I enjoyed the baked chicken with its tender, moist texture and well-balanced seasoning. The cabbage, simmered in vegetable oil, offered a harmonious blend of savory and sweet, allowing its natural flavor to shine through a subtle mix of spices. The fried okra, with its perfectly crisp exterior and soft, flavorful interior, delivered a satisfying contrast—and was, without question, the best I’ve ever tasted.
Most importantly, the unsweet tea delivered exactly what it promised—clean, crisp, and refreshingly devoid of sugar, just as proper unsweet tea should be.
Nora says:
5 out of 5
Every bite is worth it! The cabbage is tender yet crisp, bursting with flavor in every forkful. The squash casserole captures the essence of a summer garden—warm, comforting, and so good it leaves you craving seconds. Shirley personally prepares each dish, drawing from cherished family recipes passed down through generations. Her buttermilk fried chicken is a true standout—crispy, seasoned to perfection, and undeniably Southern. And don’t leave without tasting the banana pudding, a creamy, nostalgic classic that seals the meal with pure comfort.
Price
Carly says:
5 out of 5
The serving sizes are generous and the price modest. It’s a good value and funds a worthy cause.
Nora says:
5 out of 5
Great value and great prices!
Quality
Carly says:
5 out of 5
The food at Shirley’s is homecooked and made from scratch, but don’t expect artisan imported flour or fussy ingredients—that’s not what genuine Southern soul food is about. True Southern cooking draws from the local grocery store, relying on accessible, affordable staples seasoned as much by instinct as by recipe. It’s a tradition passed down over conversations with an iced Coke-a-Cola on a back deck, guided by memory and the hands of those who came before. This is real Southern cooking—unpretentious, rooted, and deeply soulful.
Nora says:
5 out of 5
The quality of the food at Shirley’s Soul Food is a testament to tradition, care, and home-cooked excellence. Every dish is thoughtfully prepared with fresh ingredients and seasoned with the kind of love you can’t fake. From the crisp, golden fried chicken to the perfectly simmered vegetables, each bite reflects Shirley’s deep roots in Southern cooking. Her recipes, passed down through generations, bring a sense of authenticity that’s increasingly rare. Nothing feels rushed or mass-produced—just honest, soulful food that tastes like it came straight from a beloved family kitchen.
Conclusion
For those craving an authentic meal that carries you back to a time before screen addictions—when evenings unfolded beneath starlit skies or in backyards bathed in the gentle glow of a porch light—Shirley’s Soul Food Cafe delivers. As I munched on my okra, I remembered for the first time in years my grandfather’s deck in South Atlanta, where I’d sit with a book, eating a banana sandwich and occasionally gazing into a kudzu-draped forest, wrapped in the quiet, unhurried magic of the South.
