Eat Athens: This longtime westside restaurant is an ideal option for family dining

When it comes to family-friendly dining in Athens, a kind of perfect combination of elements must be present in order for the experience to be one that's worth a return visit. The place should be clean and well-lit with lots of extra space for the little ones. The food options need to be healthy and tasty, and it's always a plus if the business is locally- or family-owned.

Brett's Restaurant is all of those things, and the casual American eatery has been serving great burgers, salads and sandwiches for more than a decade and a half. Located in the West Athens Shopping Center at 3190 Atlanta Hwy., Brett's is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and continues to be a favorite lunch and dinner destination for patrons of all ages.

Eat Athens: New downtown Vietnamese option is a blast of flavor and variety

What does 'shop local' really mean? We asked Athens business owners, vendors and experts

The owner-operator team of Brett and Leslie McCullough opened Brett's in 2007, but the couple's history in the food service industry began decades earlier in Texas. Brett was a teenage dishwasher for a Steak and Ale location before moving on to Chili's, where he met and married coworker Leslie. After a stint at the Texas Land & Cattle steakhouse chain, the couple moved to Athens and started Brett's.

Leslie told the Banner-Herald that Brett's Restaurant was designed with families in mind, and as a mother of four, she understood that Athens was in need of such a place. With high ceilings and several TVs, Brett's has the feel of a sports bar but is equipped to handle single patrons who drop in for a quick bite or large groups that include folks of varying ages. There's also covered-patio seating.

From rainbow trout and shrimp tacos to baked potatoes and loaded nachos, the menu at Brett's is varied enough to suit a wide array of tastes and dietary needs, which makes it a good option if some of the folks in your party don't exactly know what they're in the mood for. In addition to sides like French fries and onion rings, Brett's offers steamed broccoli, fresh fruit, black beans, creamed corn and more.

When the Banner-Herald visited Brett's, we ordered at the front counter, got our own drinks and received our meal within 10 minutes. The $10.49 pimento cheese and bacon burger came with a side of fruit which contained a mixture of green and red grapes and green apples. Everything was of solid quality, and the burger was well done by request but still packed with flavor. Leslie chatted with regulars and new faces as she made the rounds, which completed the hometown restaurant experience.

For a look at the complete menu at Brett's, visit brettscasualamerican.com/athens-athens-westside-brett-s-casual-american-food-menu.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Eat Athens: Brett's restaurant is ideal for family dining