The Food Network’s portly specter of 80s Satanic glam rock had what I assume to be a tour of Nashville’s own “Drive-in, diners, and dives” a couple of weeks ago. And if what I saw at Athen’s Family Restaurant this past Sunday is indicative of all that he hath defiled, then he’s also left his crude face-print all over Nashville’s hole-in-the-wall scene. But I have hope. We survived the floods last month; I believe we can survive Fieri. I’ll just have to muffle my instinctive screams every time I see his face spray-painted on the walls and ceilings of the establishments he visited.
Athens Family Restaurant, according to my buddy, is the “self-proclaimed best brunch in Nashville.” On this particularly sweltering May morning, it sure looked like the real deal. Each table was filled to the brim with patrons digging into Greek-American brunch plates. I think I was here years ago in a drunk, munchie-starved state. Can’t really remember what it was like, so this visit was a brand new start for me. Perusing through the menu, it was easy to discern which breakfast dishes were clearly “Greek-inspired”: they came with pita bread instead of toast, feta cheese instead of cheddar. To say the least, the breakfast really isn’t Greek, more American/Southern. Treat the breakfast like typical diner fare, and it won’t disappoint. I ordered the Western Omelet. No big deal; 3 eggs, ham, cheese, onion, and peppers. It was a solid meal, definitely a step up from Waffle House, but probably similar in caliber to many other hole-in-wall joints scattered around Nashville. I can see this place as a go-to neighborhood eatery. Unfortunately, I live further away, and my brunch go-to is probably Amerigo’s, Noshville, or Fido’s. Then again, brunch is always a win-win situation because weekends and eggs are awesome.
Athens Family Restaurant 8th Ave Nashville, TN
Good Fatty, Bad Fatty 
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