I actually really dig this place. Â The people are that work there are always super nice and they have lots of great shows. Â This is quickly becoming my favorite place to see a show. Â It's old school, dingy, smokey vibe reminds me of the old school rock clubs. Â The only reason I rated this 4 stars is because there are so many damn hipsters that overrun the place that it makes me kinda nauseous. Â It's like the goddamn hipster apocalypse in that place. Â If you can get past their obnoxiousness, their PBR tall boys and horrible tattoos, you'll have a great time.
Review Source:One of the two bars that I frequent. Awesome music, fantastic food and always awesome staff and service. Morgan, one of the many incredible bartenders, will be your life-coach and is one of the nicest people you will ever meet...
Probably the only place in Atlanta where there is no shame in staying for last call, rolling out of a bottle of vodka, returning for brunch in your PJs and staying till it's dark out.
...god I need a life
We were in the area searching for a great burger and decided to try this out. Went around mid-day. We sat inside and WOW is smoking still allowed inside.....naive me. Â No problem, we asked the waitress and we went outside where there was actually no one was smoking. From that point on service got a little slower. After my friend went to search for our server, I ordered a guacamole burger and sweet potato fries. Â The food was great, absolutely great, not worth second hand smoke great, but certainly worth a try.
Review Source:Where else can you see both blue collar middle-aged men and hipsters in the same place? Where else can you see fairly big bands on their way as well as your neighbor's hobby quartet? Where else can you hobnob with both the band's lead as well as your local state senator after the show? The Earl, of course!
Great beers on tap, even a self-serve water cooler in the live stage area (very key) and a cool vibe all around.
The Earl is one of my favorite places to see shows. I've seen some awesome bands here (Beach House, Here We Go Magic, etc.), and it's always amazing to see beloved artists so up-close and personal. The drinks are strong, the crowd is fun, and if you're hungry, the food is tasty.
Speaking of food, they have a great vegetarian selection. Two thumbs up for that!
Good stuff :)
A word of warning - they DO allow smoking inside (for the most part). The occasional artist will request a no-smoking show, but usually there is smoking both in the bar and in the venue section. If you're sensitive to this, be prepared. It doesn't bother me at all, but it's worth noting for others.
An East Atlanta Village staple. The Earl is a smoky dive with dining in the front and live music in the back. It's busy, crowded, and loud. The way it should be. Food is pretty good, service is good depending on who you get (our last visit we had a great server). Only one bathroom each for guys and gals, forms a line quickly and often. Good people watching.
Review Source:Whether you're seeing a concert, wanting to grab some good grub, or a beer while people watching in a dark corner so no one notices, the Earl is the perfect place. A wide variety of people come here, and everyone seems satisfied. I always forgot how good the food is, and that they serve their whole menu late night, which is rad when you're a night owl. You can usually find a table pretty easily, and the service is good once you get the attention of a waitress. This night we had gotten the hummus, but the Earl dog and Earl burger are my favorite on the menu. It's hard to mess up hummus, but I appreciated that here they portioned everything properly (so you don't run out of hummus before you run out of pita). The music is played by a jukebox, but I haven't heard a bad mix of music (which just means there's no terrible crap available for people to choose). The only thing I hate is that you reek of smoke leaving the Earl. The waitress checked on us frequently, but only seemed to take too long when we wanted to get our check. Then again, this is East Atlanta.
I'm taking away one star just because the Earl isn't purple anymore. That's the worst.
Have been here for several shows over the years. Â It's a good pretty straight forward rock club. Â Very loud with little (if any) Â seating and good views of stage everywhere. Â Can be very smoky if that's not your thing. Neighborhood parking can be a challenge, so pick your spot well.
Review Source:The Earl appeals to a wide range of people. Some come for the awesome shows in a small venue. Others for the strong drinks in a dive atmosphere to relax with friends. Others for dinner with a group to enjoy the rare instance of delicious food in a bar. Whatever you come for, you will most likely have a good time.
The Early was one I my favorite places to meet up with friends in East Atlanta. I really clicked with the laid back crowd and appreciation for good food and music.
It can get super busy at the bar, but be patient and polite and you'll get your delicious drink  in no time.
They have a great grilled cheese sandwich, and the beer is reasonably priced. Yeah, you will leave the place smelling like smoke, if that's a concern for you, but that's a small price to pay to be as "hip" and "cool" as being seen at, or telling people you were at, the Earl will make you. The only thing is the place is a bit short on seating. Also, the music venue in back is pretty nice.
Review Source:When here while visiting my brother in Atlanta. It was my husbands birthday and he thought it sounded good.
Food was good. Beer was good. Not in the best neighborhood. The fried okra was great! My husbands burger was way better than my patty melt. The onions were still crunchy and the meat was overcooked.
The burger was pretty freaking good. Good meat, done perfectly to my liking (Medium Rare), good quality toppings that are plentiful enough that they are falling off the bun. The beer selection was nice, and I had some really tasty brews there. Let's be honest though. None of that has anything to do with why you came here. You came here for the Fried Okra... perfectly crisped morsels of joy. Yes, that is why you came.
Review Source:I've seen several concerts at The Earl.
I really enjoy the atmosphere of The Earl. Â It is cozy and provides a feel which allows you to really connect to the band. Â Also, the crowd is always wacky and hipster, so if you're into that, you are welcome here.
I've never had food here, but the mixed drinks are always strong. Â I mean, strong you can smell what the person standing 2 people down from you is drinking strong. Â Always a plus for a heavy drinker.
They also get great smaller acts which I always find to be delightful.
Keep up the great work.
So we had tickets to go see an amazing artist, William Elliott Whitmore, at The Earl. It has been damn near 10 years since I had been to this bar/venue, but damn, I missed it.
We got there a little early due to hunger. The serving staff was quick, attentive, and very helpful. My gf and I both got the burgers, cooked at different doneness, both of which THEY FREAKING NAILED IT, HOLY SHIT A PLACE THAT CAN COOK BURGERS AT DIFFERENT DONENESSAFIAF)(*!@#*&!@#*&%#.
So after I cleaned my burgergasm out of my pants, the tater tots and all of the other sides were got were spot on as well. The drinks are cheap, the service is great, and I still have a big ole throbber from the burgers.
The venue in the back is just as awesome. Its kinda small for Atlanta, but perfectly intimate for the show we were there to see. The back bartender was fast and didn't over or under pour his drinks. I guess the only possibly negative thing I could find was that they allowed smoking, but after awhile, I got used to it, and believe it or not, it seemed to add to the whiskey bluegrass blues that Whitmore was puttin down up there on stage.
If you're looking for some damn good bar food, great service, and a great venue, look no further. All of the complaints I heard about The Earl were 'blah blah hipster blah blah hipster douches' but I've never seen any of that. Just because has a fedora on, doesn't mean he is a hipster douche, you haters!
Anyways, we're going back. To drink heavily. And make merry!
I've had a couple of experiences at EARL so far. The first was shortly after we moved into the house last August and sought out late night grub after unpacking boxes. We were surprised at the late night full menu offered. It was great food, good service and huge portions. We were happy with everything except the smoking allowed inside the place.
More recently I headed over there for a quick dinner on my own. I ordered a BBQ sandwich and it came with a side. I got a baked potato and when asked. I got a couple toppings to round out the spud.
Fast forward to my check when I was surprised by the total being $2 more than stated on the menu. So I asked to see a menu and when I questioned the charge the waitress (I wish I remembered that ungrateful chick's name) replied the extra charge was because of the toppings. I'm fine with that if it was on the menu, but it wasn't. When I write that she begrudgingly removed the extra $2 I mean she walked off in a huff like I was the cheapest jerk on the planet.
Now, I pay pretty well for good service. But when I handed her $7 for a $6.50 check and had the gall to WAIT for my change she stomped off. I was done with her and she's lucky she got 48¢ more than she deserved as a tip for my table.
I haven't been back since, but I would hope that that was a one time thing.
great venue for small shows. they brought in "He's my Brother, She's My Sister" twice in 2012, and both were AMAZING shows. The beer selection is legit, but crowded by domestics. Affordable, legit chicken nachos that I will eat every time, and the occasional drop-in for tater tots is acceptable.
I'm not yet acquainted with Atlanta, so I struggle with the indoor smoking that I'm not a part of anymore, so the smokiness isn't desirable, but fits in with the Earl-esque life.
Dear *The* Earl,
Thank you for being one of a handful of places open AND serving food at 10:30 at night on a rainy Monday night.
Thank you for having a nice and helpful, but not cloying, server.
Thank you for cooking my burger medium. Â Not rare, not medium-well, but medium. Â I appreciate that.
Thanks for allowing graffitti in your bathroom. Â It makes a jaunt on the toilet so much more entertaining.
Thanks for having delicious tater tots and delicious onion rings, and from the looks of other reviews, thanks for having really really delicious sweet potato fries which I really wanted to get last night, but because I was in a mood for onions, got the onion rings and extra onions on my burger. Â I will try them next time I'm roving around with the BF looking for somewhere to eat late at night during the week.
Thanks for having moosehead on the wall and a bicycle hanging from the ceiling. Â I don't get that at all.
I will BBL for sweet potato fries and more burger.
Signed,
Lindsey
Where a waiter looks like a hipster Captain Jack/Johnny Depp
Where you can watch the air sex championships or burlesque vaudeville type shows and everything in between! I've been here twice for shows now, the venue area is in the back of the bar and is standing room only ( so wear comfy shoes...if you're under 5'6 wear heels to try to see above the crowd) Plenty of parking next door as well. I haven't had a chance to try the food as of yet...the beer is always beckoning me.
If The Earl were a non-smoking establishment, I would give it five stars. The sound is great; the lighting, muted and warm; the bar service, fast; and the bathrooms, ne'er crowded and consistently clean. I most recently caught Noot d' Noot headline at this East Atlanta dive, excitement built with performances by The Selmanaires and one of Mathis Hunter's jam band side projects. During the three performances, I moved to different spots in the room, all offering quality sight and sound. Surprisingly, I got a little cold beneath the fervently spinning fans.
I always leave The Earl with ringing ears and a smoky stench.
The Earl. I love you. I hate you.
I love the Earl because they provide a cool venue for great music like my fave local band, Lloyd's Rocksteady Revue and a wacky, new discovery, The Movits from Sweden. And they don't rip you off-reasonable cover, drink specials, no $14 martinis.
Hate them because I go home with cinders in my hair and smell like a bar for a week. Time for an air purification upgrade. Also, they have a bad sound system in the front room. It makes my ears feel like someone shoved tinsel into them.
OH, and what is it with people throwing cans and cups on the floor? Makes it hard to dance, it's slobby and lazy. There is a trash can right near the bar. You need to stay home If you are that drunk or trashy.
Cheers~
Ok, I have now had the Earl Burger and must say that it is excellent. Â The bacon cheddar burger I had is definitely one of my favorite burgers in the A. Â The bun, bacon, and cheddar are great and the lettuce and tomato are fresh. Â The patty itself is thick enough and was cooked medium-rare like I requested. Â I think not overcooking the patty is crucial to the overall burger experience. Â
This will be blasphemous to some, but I have to say that I like it more than the Ghetto Burger at Ann's. Â 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. Â Good, but not amazing. Â I think the Earl Burger is just a higher quality burger that's actually cooked properly. Â 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. Â For me it would knock the Ghetto Burger out of the park. Â 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. Â Such a good burger needs good fries to match. Â Â
Earl Ghetto Burger ftw? *fingers crossed*
5
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 is pretty much what you would get if you took the 40 Watt from Athens and threw it into the middle of Atlanta. Â 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. Â 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! Â It is a great way to spend your hungover Sunday afternoons.
The Earl is a great neighborhood bar. Â Really diverse clientele, cool atmosphere, nice variety of beer on tap and damn good burgers! Â 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. Â I have yet to locate a decent dry cleaner. Â My savings account is dwindling.
But I don't care. Â
Because of this place.
Atlanta is a new place for my shenanigans and general malfeasance and the Earl is a great fit for my antics. Â I came for a show, but the laid back attitude of the crowd, good food, and friendly service gave me a reason to stay. Â 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.
You will probably have an interesting experience at the Earl. Â Mine came in the form of me pounding beer, and picking up a fan. Â He provided interesting conversation and an additional PBR, as if it was needed.
Way to go Atlanta. Â We just met, but you know how to keep it real.
Mmmmm the burgers were awesome!!! I had the Blue Bacon Burger and it was yummy. I thought me friend (who claims she is vegetarian) was going to have a hard time finding something fer herself on the menu BUT they had several veggie choices for her the choose from.  The service was great,  I felt like  our waiter was a long lost friend
It was a great day as we sat on the outside patio with good food and the inviting East Atlanta Village street traffic. Â I will have to come back some time one evening to experience the bar action.
Out of the detritus upon which the Metropolis stands, the denizens of the Stein Club flocked to the The Earl. Â 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. Â 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. Â 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. Â What's the secret to their longevity? They smartly offer something for everyone. Â It's a smoky bar. Â It's a place to see up-and-coming bands. Â It's got good food. Â It's even a brunch destination. Â The Earl is all of the above and as I've aged, I've gone through each permutation. Â Right now, it's the food that concerns me. Â The Earl burger remains one of the best in Atlanta while the side of red beans and rice is a favorite. Â Their alligator bites, though, could use some work. Â 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. Â 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. Â What she ended up getting was a man pretending to be enslaved by a group of robots who plays loud thrash metal. Â 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. Â 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. Â For better or for worse, I owe the past two and a half years of my life to you. Â May you, and them robots, live long and prosper.
So I have this bad habit of almost fainting in really crowded, smoky places. Â It's not something that I'm proud of, but it seems that my body has developed a finely tuned sense of the most inappropriate and embarrassing possibly places to faint, and decided to enact some bizarre form of revenge on me by causing me to faint in all said places.
930 Club in DC? Â Check. Â Fainted during a Smashing Pumpkins show (what was I even doing at a Smashing Pumpkins show is a discussion for a later time). Â Random venue in Manayunk, PA. Â Check. Â During horseback riding camp while carrying the largest horse saddle in the entire universe. Â Check. Â And now. Â Nearly in the Earl. Â Because OF ALL THE DAMN SMOKE. Â Aghhhhh.
Anyway that's totally beside the point. Â The Earl is great - good place to see a show if you can stand your lungs literally turning black inside of you while you stand there. Â I recommend either not breathing or wearing some sort of gas mask contraption while inside. Â
Oh and tonight I saw my co-workers band play there and the lead singer had a glass thrown at him, his arm cut vertically open, and he had to be basically carried off the stage to an ambulance where he was taken to the hospital to get stitches.
So yeah, it's always a good time at the Earl. Â And I really don't mean that sarcastically, however the rest of this review made it sound.
Heh.
Well for what this place lacked in red wine selection, it definitely made up for in cute guy candy selection!
So this is where the cuties are hiding :) I was kinda starting to wonder, actually, but alas Hotlanta has hotties. Hotties who appeared at our table within a minute of sitting down, hotties who make cakes and just won a Food Network competition last week and hotties who are just damn cool. Yes, I'm talkin bout Joshua, so go in here and let him geek out with his camera over the cake he made that won him the prize, it's worth it, it's a cool cake.
Now onto the joint. I really liked this place and it reminded me of some of the dive bars I love in SF. The walls, had ratty and pealing paint jobs, the bathroom walls were artfully covered in graffiti and it was nice and dark and filled with cool looking locals who in another lifetime would have all been named Norm.
The burger was also quite solid, but really how can you go wrong with a thick, juicy burger, blue cheese and bacon? You cant. Ooooh, we also tried their boiled peanuts since hey, I'm in the South dangit, and I wanna experience all things local. They are interesting, definitely try a boiled peanut at least once in your life.
I guess they also have bands that play here which is cool, so if you are looking to catch a show, grab a beer and maybe even a burger, then have at it. Now I just wish I could get a doggie bag for that Joshua character, hehe :)
This is my favorite place to see a show. Â They always have a fantastic line-up. Â I usually go to eat at the Earl before shows and I've loved everything I've gotten. Â It's also one of the few places that I usually can't finish my meal. Â The portions are huge.
The venue itself is a bit smoky, but not too bad. Â It's a trade-off since if it wasn't 21+ and smoking allowed, there would be quite a few hipster high-school kids there. Â A la the Tabernacle and the Variety Playhouse.
I went to the Earl to see a show, and after reading all of the reviews about how great the food was, I really wanted to try some. Â I guess I didn't get there early enough though, because the place was packed, and the (vaguely rude) waitress snappily told me when I asked about any place to sit that it was "first come, first served." Â So we had to go to the Blue Frog Cantina instead, and my husband missed out on trying an Earl's burger. Â A bit disappointing.
However, the scene at the Earl did seem really laid back and fun. Â The show was excellent local bands, and the crowd had a lot of energy. Â For the ticket price, I think it is definitely worth going back sometime. Â Since I don't live in Atlanta, (and am a relative newcomer to the south) I know literally NOTHING about the Atlanta scene, but I enjoyed my night at the Earl.
If I still lived in Atlanta, I would probably still be here way too much.  I always appreciated that the front bar was separated from the stage area in the back.  For nights when you are really into the band, it's great to be able to listen without all the chatter.  And for those nights that you feel like chatting, well you can do that too.  Or  just mix it up and hang out in both areas on the same night.  All venues should be set up as such.
The real beauty of the EARL is in their selection of bands. Â I have seen some really (!) good shows here. Â And the cover price was always reasonable.
Now that I live in San Francisco, when I return here the smoke is a bit much, but I find that is true of most places in Atlanta. Â I always manage to forget that smoking is allowed and I always hate how I smell after leaving.
Okay, I could go on and on about the great shows that happen here, and the celebrities that frequent this joint, but I think I will go on about the food!
Despite the fact that this joint is mostly for bands to showcase their talents, they do have great food and drink!
Dunch is my favorite thing about this place- it's lunch/dinner and it is amazing. Â they have all the greasy food you could want- omelette's, hash browns, bagels and lox, vegan tofu scrambler!, etc. Â But beware, good food can come with a price- they usually have some terrible and loud band playing right in front of you while you eat, and it is not fun when you are seriously hung over.
But they have a great lunch/dinner menu if you get there before a show, or if you just want to eat there and leave. Â But the bands they have every night are enough to make you want to stay and see what occurs!
It's smoky, loud, and the food isn't exactly going to bowl you over. But when you put it all together on a night with a good band, the sum of The Earl rises above its mediocre pieces.
The food is typical pub fare: nothing unexpected or out of the ordinary. Definitely give the fried okra a shot, it's a close winner over the onion rings in my opinion. Brunch on Sundays is great for recovering from last night's trip out. Grab a spot outside or at the bar that looks out onto Flat Shoals and relax. And be prepared for your server to be just as hung over as you are.
The Earl definitely isn't for everybody. Nothing about the place will stand out under close inspection, especially if you go into it expecting something special. However, the PBR will be cold, you'll see an interesting crowd, and the food will provide the right level of grease and comfort to offset the alcohol.
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