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The 2023-2024 Flagpole Guide To Athens, GA

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  • Add Drug Store

    add-drugstore.com/lunch-counter

    Price: $☆ Expanded Listing!

     

    Locations

    • 1695 S. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30606. 706-548-2239 View Map

    File Under: American. Hours: Breakfast and lunch. Features: Counter service. • Opened in 1961, this soda fountain and lunch counter inside a Five Points pharmacy hasn’t changed much since then. Grab a stool and watch the cooks make your fries and bitty burgers. Real cherry and vanilla sodas, plus malts, milkshakes and floats. A serious bargain.

  • Agua Linda Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

    agualindarestaurant.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 2080 Timothy Road Athens, GA 30606. 706-543-0154 View Map

    • 1376 Prince Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-543-5711 View Map

    File Under: Mexican and Latin American. Features: Full bar, catering, outside seating, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • A mix of Americanized Mexican and more authentic stuff in a family atmosphere. Normaltown location has a gorgeous rooftop bar with a mural and nice views. The restaurant's food truck (La Carreta) pops up around town, including at breweries, and has great birria tacos that are occasionally available at the brick-and-mortar locations.

  • Barnes and Noble Café

    barnesandnoble.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    File Under: Coffee Houses and Bakeries. Features: Wi-Fi.

  • Big City Bread Cafe

    bigcitybreadcafe.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 393 N. Finley Street Athens, GA 30601. 706-353-0029 View Map

    File Under: Bakeries, Something Different, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, catering, counter service, outside seating, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Breakfast, lunch, Friday dinner • Longtime Athens favorite has a great patio popular with dogs and kids. Biscuits, French toast, continental breakfast, omelets, great sandwiches, quiche, soups, burgers (veggie and non), small but good selection of beer and wine. Baked goods galore, including for special order. Friday night dinners are a chance for the kitchen to play around with more elaborate offerings.

  • Biscuit Basket

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 723 Boulevard Athens, GA 30601. 706-548-3412 View Map

    File Under: Downhome. Hours: Breakfast and lunch. • Southern lunch counter inside a neighborhood convenience store is well known for its fat biscuits with sausage, ham, eggs, tenderloin, cheese, gravy and more. Grits, eggs or hashbrowns on the side. Lunch items rotate and include corn dogs, chicken fingers, pork chops and fish on Fridays.

  • Blazer's-N-Hull

    blazers-n-hull.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 1462 Glenn Carrie Road Hull, GA 30646. 706-208-0705 View Map

    File Under: Sandwiches, Burgers and Chicken. Features: Take-out, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Wings and chicken fingers to go, with 17(!) different sauces. Also: burgers, corn dogs, meaty salads, onion rings, fries and fried apple pies on the side. Other locations are in Statham, Lexington, Commerce, Elberton, Hartwell and Royston. Online ordering.

  • China Star Super Buffet

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 3567 Atlanta Hwy. Athens, GA 30606. 706-316-3382 View Map

    File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Buffet, catering, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Large AYCE buffet with many Chinese, American and Japanese dishes, including crab legs sometimes. You can also order off the menu of mostly Americanized Chinese standards or get take-out priced by the pound.

  • Clocked!

    clockeddiner.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 259 W. Washington St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-548-9175 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Sandwiches, Burgers and Chicken, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer, curbside pick-up, delivery, outside seating, take-out, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Local favorite balances beef burgers (made with all-natural, humanely raised, antibiotic-free beef and creative toppings: bacon jam, peanut butter, gouda, etc.) with vegetarian and vegan offerings, both burgers and otherwise. Also: grilled cheese, tater tots and milkshakes (including boozy ones). Gluten-free options and a big patio.

  • Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

    crackerbarrel.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1913 Epps Bridge Pkwy. Athens, GA 30606. 706-208-0304 View Map

    File Under: American. Hours: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days.

  • Donderos' Kitchen

    donderoskitchen.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 590 N. Milledge Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-354-8688 View Map

    File Under: Something Different, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, counter service, outside seating, delivery. Hours: Breakfast and lunch. • Something for everyone: brunchy-lunchy hot food made to order until 2 p.m., with lots of veggies; stuff in the fridge and freezer any other time, plus delivery meals and lots of weekly specials, ranging all over the world in influences. Holiday special orders. Walkers, bikers and bus riders get a 5% discount. Great with dietary restrictions.

  • Earth Fare Café

    earthfare.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1689 S. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30606. 706-353-2170 View Map

    File Under: Something Different, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Buffet, counter service, outside seating, Wi-Fi. • Hot bar inside grocery store includes veggie and vegan stuff, plus chicken, fish, soup and salad.

  • Emmy Squared Pizza

    emmysquaredpizza.com/location/athens-ga

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 199 Prince Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 762-315-4005 View Map

    File Under: Pizza. Features: Beer and wine, catering, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Fancy Detroit-style pizza franchise can make you a gluten-free pie. Also serves burgers, salads, mozzarella sticks, soy and sesame marinated cucumbers, family-style banana or chocolate pudding for dessert, all in the former location of The Grit.

  • Girasoles

    girasolescuisine.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 24 Greensboro Hwy. Watkinsville, GA 30677. 706-310-0410 View Map

    File Under: Something Different. Features: Take-out. Hours: Dinner and Sunday brunch. • Mexican-accented fusion restaurant does a not inexpensive but very popular all-you-can-eat brunch (with waffle and omelet station), plus dinner with steaks, seafood, pasta, jambalaya, shrimp and grits, escargot, chicken in a roasted garlic mushroom cheese sauce and more along the same lines. Specials change weekly.

  • Hodgson's Pharmacy

    hodgsonsrx.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 1260 S. Milledge Ave. Athens, GA 30605. 706-543-7386 View Map

    File Under: Ice Cream. • Old-fashioned drug store with soda fountain counter. Dollar scoops of Edy’s ice cream in a cup or cone. Malts, shakes and floats, too. Sit on the hill outside for the best experience.

  • HoneyBaked Ham Co. & Café

    honeybaked.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 3690 Atlanta Hwy. Athens, GA 30606. 706-613-8800 View Map

    File Under: Sandwiches. Features: Delivery, catering, curbside pick-up, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner.

  • Jittery Joe's Coffee

    jitteryjoes.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 27 Greensboro Hwy. Watkinsville, GA 30677. 706-769-4280 View Map

    • 1860 Barnett Shoals Road Athens, GA 30605. 706-354-8000 View Map

    • 1480 Baxter St. Athens, GA 30606. 706-548-1099 View Map

    • 1230 S. Milledge Ave. Athens, GA 30605. 706-208-1979 View Map

    • 297 E. Broad St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-613-7449 View Map

    • 1880 Epps Bridge Pkwy. Athens, GA 30606. 706-354-8900 View Map

    • 150 Fritz Mar Ln. Athens, GA 30607. 706-227-2161

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Coffee/Tea Houses and Bakeries. Features: Drive-thru (Baxter, Greensboro and Epps Bridge), outside seating, art, Wi-Fi. Hours: Vary by location. • The local coffee roaster now extends quite a bit beyond Athens, but the beans are still roasted in town. Lots of specialty roasts benefit different causes. Hot and cold drinks, premium teas and locally baked goodies. Stop by the Tasting Room on Fritz Mar Lane for fresh-roasted beans by the pound—whole or ground; cups of coffee, teas and shots of espresso.

  • Kelly's Jamaican Food

    kellysjerk.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1583 S. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30605. 706-208-0000 View Map

    File Under: Something Different, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer, catering, counter service, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Hefty portions of jerk chicken, oxtail, curry goat, barbecue ribs, salmon, spicy cabbage, spicy squash, rice and peas, fried plantains, mac and cheese, patties, super-sweet tea and cornbread, served with good cheer.

  • Krimson Kafe

    krimsonkafe.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 40 Greensboro Hwy. Watkinsville, GA 30677. 706-310-0888 View Map

    File Under: Sandwiches, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, counter service, outside seating, art, take-out. Hours: Lunch, Mon–Thur. • Sweet little cafe in Watkinsville does deli sandwiches (including pimento cheese, egg salad and hummus) and salads, both lettuce-based and mayo-based. Order ahead online if you like.

  • Last Resort Grill

    lastresortgrill.com

    Price: $$$

    Locations

    • 184 W. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-549-0810 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Outside seating, art, full bar, vegetarian friendly. Hours: Dinner and weekend brunch. • Crowd-pleasing restaurant mixes Southern and Southwestern cuisine; veggie and vegan choices, plus fish and seafood are highlights. Large dessert case. Plan ahead for lines at brunch. Well-stocked bar, with American vodkas, gins and vermouths, as well as Armagnac, ice wine, Madeira, sherry and a long list of wines. Large outdoor dining area.

  • Lay-Z-Shopper

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 361 E. Clayton St. Athens, GA 30601. No # specified.

    File Under: Sandwiches. Features: Take-out, counter service. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night, seven days. • Yes, it's a convenience store with a variety of vapes, but it also has a good sandwich counter that slices Boar's Head meats and cheeses to order. Good both after the bars close and in the middle of the day.

  • Mama Sid's Pizza

    mamasidspizza.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 2240 Barnett Shoals Road Athens, GA 30605. 706-549-6100 View Map

    File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Buffet, delivery, beer. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Casual, family-run pizzeria of long standing with budget prices, salads, subs, pasta, hot wings, calzones and more.

  • Marti's at Midday

    martisatmidday.com

    Price: $$☆ Expanded Listing!

     

    Locations

    • 1280 Prince Ave. Athens, GA 30606. 706-543-3541 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Sandwiches, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, counter service, delivery, outside seating, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch. • Longtime Athens lunch spot guided by the spirit of its late founder is popular for catering, too, as well as for take-home entrees and casseroles that are great for new parents or anyone who doesn't want to cook. Big salads, scoops of pimento cheese and chicken salad, sandwiches, sweets.

  • The National

    thenationalrestaurant.com

    Price: $$$$

    Locations

    • 232 W. Hancock Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-549-3450 View Map

    Athens Favorites Logo

    File Under: Something Different, Bars, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Reservations, catering, curbside pick-up, outside seating, Wi-Fi, full bar. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • This place always pleases, whether for date night or an upscale lunch. The menu is Spanish/Mediterranean-inspired, with lots of vegetables (try the "power lunch") and high-quality ingredients. Roasted chicken with za'atar, Portuguese custard tarts, pizzettes and a lot more. Great wine list and cocktails. Hosts occasional pop-ups from small operations.

  • Peking Restaurant

    westpekingathens.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 2725 Atlanta Hwy. Athens, GA 30606. 706-549-9333 View Map

    File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Elaborate decor and Chinese-American standards. Big menu covers all the standards, with lots of vegetarian options. Sizzling rice soup comes with many of the pre-set dinners, and soups in general are more interesting than you would expect.

  • Planet Smoothie

    planetsmoothie.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 196 Alps Road Athens, GA 30606. 706-316-3090 View Map

    • 1993 Barnett Shoals Road Athens, GA 30605. 706-353-8181 View Map

    • 1791 Oconee Connector Athens, GA 30606. 706-521-5833

    • 2361 W. Broad St. Athens, GA 30606. 706-369-3111

    File Under: Smoothies. Features: Catering. Hours: Seven days.

  • Plantation Buffet

    plantationbuffet.com

    Price: $

    Locations

    • 1119 Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy. Athens, GA 30601. 706-353-3663 View Map

    File Under: Downhome and BBQ. Features: Buffet, catering, counter service, take-out, outside seating, checks. Hours: Lunch. • Old-school Southern restaurant opened in the 1970s serves an all-you-can-eat weekday buffet. Expect fried chicken, steak and gravy, barbecue, meatloaf, turnip greens, black-eyed peas, fried okra and Southern desserts.

  • Rafferty's Restaurant & Bar

    raffertys.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 15 Huntington Road Athens, GA 30606. 706-613-0045 View Map

    File Under: American. Features: Full bar, catering, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days.

  • The Savannah Room

    hotel.uga.edu/dining-in-athens/savannah-room

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1197 S. Lumpkin St. Athens, GA 30602. 706-338-8781 View Map

    File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Full bar, Wi-Fi, take-out, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • UGA Hotel restaurant has been around for ages, serving strawberry ice-cream pie and celestial chicken, but also does shrimp and grits, salads, meatloaf, southern vegetables and more.

  • Scott's BBQ

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 4007 Danielsville Road Athens, GA 30601. 706-546-1005 View Map

    File Under: BBQ. Features: Cash and checks only. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Family-owned place you might have seen on "True South" on the SEC Network serves barbecue pork, chicken, beef and ribs with beans, hash, slaw, potato salad, collard greens and seasonal vegetables. Sauce is hot and thin.

  • Siri Thai Cuisine

    sirithaiathens.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1040 Gaines School Road Athens, GA 30605. 706-850-3500 View Map

    File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, catering, delivery, outside seating, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Noodles (available with various proteins), rice entrees, soups, salads, curries and a Thai dessert selection. Spice level can be serious. A couple of Thai beers among the domestics, sakes and a section of organic wines.

  • Strickland's Restaurant

    stricklandsrestaurant.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 4723 Atlanta Hwy. Athens, GA 30622. 706-548-7003 View Map

    File Under: Downhome. Features: Catering, checks. Hours: Breakfast and lunch. • Open since 1960, this unassuming place out on Atlanta Highway serves some of the best southern food in town. Menu changes daily but always includes fantastic biscuits. You might also get fried chicken, ribs, catfish, pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed corn and greens. Good desserts.

  • Tlaloc El Mexicano Restaurant

    facebook.com/tlalocmexicano

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1225 N. Chase St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-613-9301 View Map

    File Under: Mexican and Latin American. Features: Full bar, outside seating, drive-thru. Hours: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days. • Central American and Mexican food at this cult favorite. Pupusas, massive tortas, regular specials and fantastic mole; lots of seafood options. Breakfast, which includes chilaquiles, starts at 10 a.m. and is served all day. Margaritas, beer and aguas frescas.

  • Weaver D's Delicious Fine Foods

    facebook.com/weaverds

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 1016 E. Broad St. Athens, GA 30601. 706-353-7797 View Map

    File Under: Downhome. Features: Catering, counter service, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • A legend, in Athens and far outside it, and thankfully still open. Look for the bright-green cinderblock building and the sign that reads “Automatic for the People.” Fantastic fried chicken, squash casserole, mac and cheese, collards and the like, varying a bit daily.

  • White Tiger

    whitetigergourmet.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 217 Hiawassee Ave. Athens, GA 30601. 706-353-6847 View Map

    • 64 N. Main St. Watkinsville, GA 30677. 706-705-6115

    File Under: Something Different, Downhome and BBQ, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, counter service, delivery, take-out, art, outside seating, table service, full bar (Watkinsville). Hours: Lunch and dinner, weekend brunch (Watkinsville). • Original location is in an old-timey grocery with high ceilings and a ton of outside seating under fairy lights. BYOB. New candy-colored "Deluxe" edition is in Watkinsville with cocktails, beer, wine and dance party bathrooms. Both serve amazing cheeseburgers, pork and tofu barbecue and excellent veggie sides.

  • Your Pie

    yourpie.com

    Price: $$

    Locations

    • 196 Alps Road Athens, GA 30606. 706-549-3179 View Map

    • 1430 Capital Ave. Watkinsville, GA 30677. 706-705-1510

    File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, catering, counter service, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Locally-based franchise does personal- and full-size customized pizzas. Lots of topping, sauce and cheese choices, as well as several doughs. Vegan and gluten-free choices. Panini, pasta, bread bowl salads, gelato, beer and wine.