Columbus, Ga. - Twin-Peaks on Adams Farm Drive leads Columbus' 15 most-reviewed restaurants with 8,446 Google reviews, followed by Cracker Barrel96 and Texas Roadhouse100. Together, the 15 locations have collected 60,536 Google reviews, with an average rating of 4.39 stars.

But popular restaurants do not always have the highest health inspection scores. While 13 of the 15 locations received an A on their latest inspections, two received B grades, including the restaurant with the highest Google star rating in the group.

The Columbus Times compared Google Maps ratings and review counts collected Oct. 10-17, 2026, with the latest Georgia Department of Public Health inspection records for Muscogee County.

The results show how restaurants compare in customer reviews and official food safety inspections, two different measurements that can tell different stories.

Columbus' 15 Most-Reviewed Restaurants

The ranking below is based strictly on total Google review count, not star ratings or health inspection scores.

Google review counts change daily, and inspection scores reflect the latest records available in the supplied data.

Twin-Peaks Has a Big Lead in Customer Reviews

Twin-Peaks, at 3116 Adams Farm Drive, holds the No. 1 position with 8,446 Google reviews and a 4.7-star rating. Its latest health inspection resulted in a 98, an A, on Sept. 30.

Cracker Barrel #523, at 1500 Bradley Park Drive, ranks second with 5,148 reviews and a 4.0-star rating. That puts Twin-Peaks 3,298 reviews ahead of its nearest competitor.

Texas Roadhouse, at 2970 N Lake Parkway, takes third with 4,845 reviews. Its latest inspection earned a perfect 100, while its Google rating stands at 4.2 stars.

Metro Diner follows with 4,348 reviews, ahead of Stars & Strikes with 4,268. Stars & Strikes is an entertainment center that also serves food, so readers should consider that distinction when comparing its Google reviews with restaurant-only locations.

Highest Google Stars Don't Always Mean Highest Inspection Scores

Charred Oak Kitchen & Bar, at 3501 Massee Lane, Suite G, has the highest Google rating in the ranking at 4.8 stars. Its 3,339 reviews place it 10th by review count, while its latest inspection score was 87, a B.

Twin-Peaks and King Claw share the next-highest star rating at 4.7. Their latest inspection scores differ, however, with Twin-Peaks receiving 98 and King Claw receiving 90.

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen has the lowest Google rating among the 15 at 3.9 stars. Even so, its latest inspection at 5555 Whittlesey Boulevard, Building 2, earned a 90, which qualifies as an A.

These differences matter because a Google rating reflects customer reviews, while a health inspection score comes from an official inspection. A higher number in one category does not automatically mean a higher number in the other.

Four Restaurants Earned Perfect 100s

Four of the 15 locations received a perfect 100 on their latest inspections.

• Texas Roadhouse: 2970 N Lake Parkway, inspected Sept. 23.
• Chick-fil-A FSU #3796: 2730 Manchester Expressway, inspected Feb. 17.
• Country's Barbecue: 6298 Veterans Parkway, Suite 4D, inspected Oct. 8.
• Chick-fil-A: 2421 Wynnton Road, inspected June 26.

The Manchester Expressway Chick-fil-A stands out for consistency. Its inspection history shows five consecutive scores of 100 since 2024.

The Wynnton Road Chick-fil-A also has a strong record, with four listed inspections, all scoring 100.

Country's Barbecue has recorded scores of 100, 100, 99, 90 and 100 in its supplied inspection history. Its latest perfect score came Oct. 8.

Two Restaurants Received B Grades

Only two restaurants in the top 15 had B grades on their latest inspections.

Charred Oak Kitchen & Bar received an 87 on Aug. 3, while Ole Times Buffet, at 1900 Manchester Expressway, received an 85 on Oct. 20.

Georgia's restaurant inspection grading system uses these ranges:

Neither restaurant received a C or U on its latest inspection. Both B scores are also below the overall Columbus restaurant inspection average of 96.8 reported in The Columbus Times database.

What Earlier Inspections Show

A restaurant's latest inspection provides one snapshot, but earlier results can help readers see whether scores have remained consistent.

The supplied inspection histories, covering records since 2024, show several different patterns.

The histories show that scores can rise or fall between inspections. Charred Oak previously recorded a perfect 100 before its latest 87, while King Claw's listed scores range from 81 to 96.

Ole Times Buffet has recorded both A and B grades. Its latest score of 85 follows a previous score of 80.

For readers, looking at multiple inspections offers more context than relying on one grade alone.

What the Rankings Mean for Columbus Diners

Chains take most of the top spots by review count, including Cracker Barrel, Texas Roadhouse and Outback Steakhouse.

Local names also appear, including The Black Cow, Charred Oak Kitchen & Bar and Country's Barbecue. Each competes in the same ranking against locations with thousands of Google reviews.

Two separate Chick-fil-A addresses appear among the 15, and each has its own Google rating, review count and inspection history.

The broader Columbus restaurant database also provides perspective. Across 2,367 inspections conducted since Jan. 1, 2025, restaurants averaged 96.8 points.

Readers should remember that the top-15 ranking measures the number of reviews, not restaurant quality or inspection performance.

How to Check Your Favorite Restaurant

Residents can search restaurant inspection records for free through The Columbus Times restaurant database.

The database gives readers another way to compare restaurants beyond Google star ratings. Checking both sources can provide a more complete picture before choosing where to eat.

How we did this

The Columbus Times ranked 15 Columbus locations by Google Maps review counts collected Oct. 10-17, 2026. Google star ratings and review totals can change daily.

Health inspection scores and dates came from Georgia Department of Public Health records for Muscogee County, accessed through The Columbus Times restaurant score database.

Each listed address was treated as a separate location. Rankings were determined by review count alone, without weighting Google stars or inspection grades.