Thumbs-up for new diner: Atlanta restaurant chain plans downtown Augusta opening

One of Atlanta's first independent restaurants to serve all-day breakfast wants to open in downtown Augusta this year.

Thumbs Up Diner hopes to establish a location at the former Huddle House restaurant at the corner of Ellis and 13th streets, according to Thumbs Up CEO Lou Locricchio.

Thumbs Up runs eight locations in Atlanta, Austell, Douglasville, East Point, Fayetteville, Marietta and Roswell.

The Augusta location will be the company's first restaurant outside metro Atlanta. The first Thumbs Up opened in 1984 on West Ponce de Leon Avenue in Decatur.

The retro-inspired diner "combines an urban ambience and friendly service for a relaxing breakfast and lunch experience," according to its website.

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Thumbs Up features breakfast, burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and other entrees whose prices appear to stay competitive with the South's iconic Waffle House.

Thumbs Up's signature menu items include the Skillet Heap − freshly sliced potatoes grilled with onions, green peppers and special seasonings, then topped with cheddar jack cheese and two eggs cooked any style. You can add grilled veggies, chopped bacon, chopped country sausage, chopped veggie sausage, diced and smoked chicken; chopped chicken sausage; diced ham; and chopped, smoked turkey.

Locricchio first announced the Augusta location in the online trade publication Business Debut.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Thumbs-up for new diner: Atlanta restaurant chain plans downtown Augusta opening