The 2019-2020 Flagpole Guide to Athens

File Under: Mexican and Latin American. Features: Full bar, catering, outside seating, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Friendly, family-owned restaurant with Normaltown and Timothy locations. Menu: Very popular with folks who consider fajitas the height of Mexican food, but you can also find horchata, Mexican-style tacos with al pastor or barbacoa, tortas and more. Kids menu. Drinks: Margaritas, bottled and draft beer, micheladas (beer cocktails) and sangria.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Counter service, take-out, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Counter-service poke. Menu: There are lots of places to get poke, but this is one of the best, despite its unassuming atmosphere. Punch cards for repeat diners, vegetarian options, a bajillion fresh topping options, plus hibachi, fried rice, noodles and basic soups and salads.

File Under: Pizza, Bars. Features: Trivia, catering, outside seating, art, take-out, delivery, full bar, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Casual dining space with a long bar and brick walls. Menu: This small Georgia chain focuses mostly on pizza and wings, but also does sandwiches, pasta, salads and soup. Pizza of the month pushes the envelope in the toppings department (macaroni and cheese, a taco pizza called El Chido). Drinks: Full bar with lots of draft choices. The Beer of the Month is usually a good craft brew.

File Under: Sandwiches, Coffee Houses and Bakeries, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, counter service, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Breakfast and lunch, seven days. The Look: Locally owned bagel bakery with space to eat-in. Menu: Big, good bagels boiled and baked in-house in a wide variety of flavors. Top with hummus, butter (whipped, honey, peanut) or housemade cream cheese in flavors savory and sweet. Breakfast and lunch sandwiches on bagels: smoked pork, Reuben or housemade egg salad.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Take-out, delivery, beer and wine. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Casual atmosphere, friendly owners. Menu: Thai, Chinese, Korean and Japanese quick-sauteed dishes made with chicken, steak, salmon, shrimp, vegetables or tofu, plus sushi. The Thai curries are some of the best things on the menu, but everything is fast and fresh.

File Under: Mexican, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer (Clayton St.), catering, outside seating, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Locally owned burrito chain. Menu: Health-oriented Mexican-ish fare, with seven options that have less than 7 grams of fat each. Customizable burritos, quesadillas, fajitas, tacos, nachos and salads, lots of veggies; vegetarian and vegan options.

File Under: Bakeries, Sandwiches, Delivery. Features: Catering, counter service. Hours: 9:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m., Mon–Sat. The Look: Cute and decorative, like the fancy cookies and cakes it offers. Menu: Custom-order desserts, or pick up something from the display case (cake, iced cookies, cupcakes, brownies, cake pops and more). Box lunches with a sandwich, cheese straws and a cupcake are available without pre-ordering.

File Under: American, Bars. Features: Catering, outside seating, trivia, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. 

File Under: Sandwiches, Burgers and Chicken, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Catering, outside seating, trivia, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night, seven days. The Look: Longtime Athens sports bar. Menu: Tasty bar food with good vegetarian choices: burgers, wings, sandwiches, fried pickles, fish tacos, barbecue and chili cheese fries. "Fat" Tuesdays bring po'boys, Cajun burgers and more. Downtown lunch attracts lawyers and other types in suits. Drinks: Beer on tap and in bottles, including local brews. Standard cocktails plus a Bloody Mary bar on Saturday and Sunday.

File Under: American. Features: Beer and wine, curbside pick-up, catering, outside seating, delivery, take-out, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner, Mon–Sat. The Look: Family-friendly independent fast-casual. Menu: The kitchen makes pretty much everything from scratch, including the salad dressings, on a large menu that goes from artichoke dip to tilapia. Want a Monte Cristo? Fish tacos? Bison burger? Gluten-free choices? They have all that, plus kids meals.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, counter service, take-out, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner, Mon–Sat. The Look: Tiny, cute eatery hidden below street level downtown. Menu: Bubble tea, as you'd expect, but also gyoza, some hearty noodle soups, tasty Taiwanese-style snacks and rice bowls. Prepackaged snacks by the register. Fast and inexpensive.

File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Counter service, delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night, seven days. The Look: No-frills restaurant with booth seating in a shopping center. Menu: Order pizzas as big as 24 inches in diameter online, with up to 20 toppings, as well as wings (15 sauces), hot and cold subs, calzones, fried apps, pasta, salads, breadsticks and dessert.

File Under: BBQ. Features: Full bar, live music, catering, outside seating, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Bar-like barbecue joint. Menu: Consistently good pulled pork and ribs, even without sauce. Sides are reliably tasty, too: potato salad with bacon, chicken mull, corn nuggets, fried okra, meat skins. Kids menu. Drinks: Beer, liquor, margaritas and Bloody Marys.

File Under: Mexican and Latin American. Features: Outside seating, beer and wine, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, Tue-Sun. The Look: A kid's paradise, with coin-operated children's rides, old video games, an airplane hanging from the ceiling, tricycles, a full-size fountain and much more. Menu: Similar menu to the original on Lumpkin, with tweaked Peruvian specialties. La Michoacana… es Natural operates a booth with ice cream, paletas and street snacks inside the restaurant.

File Under: Mexican and Latin American, Vegetarian Friendly, Cash and Checks Only. Features: BYOB, outside seating, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Magical wonderland that continually changes. Most seating is outside, but a lot of it is covered. Menu: Latin American food with a Peruvian influence and big portions: plantains (sweet and savory), steak and fries, tacu tacu (rice and beans topped with eggs), fish burrito, great empanadas and more. Lots of veggie choices. Show up early if the weather's nice; the lines can get long. Small fee to BYOB; ATM in the gas station next door.

File Under: Asian. Features: Counter service, catering, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, Tue–Sun. The Look: Quick service is key at this small Chinese restaurant that focuses on to-go food. Menu: Lo mein, pancit, teriyaki, egg foo young, sweet and sour, moo shu and meat entrees, plus chef's special Cantonese dishes.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Buffet, catering, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Eight buffet tables, including a sushi bar and a hibachi area. Take-out priced by the pound. Menu: Choose from over 300 Chinese, American and Japanese dishes from the buffets or order off the menu of mostly Americanized Chinese standards. Crab legs are available daily after 4 p.m.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and sake, delivery, trivia, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night, seven days. The Look: Counter service, big booths. Menu: Generous servings of Korean and Japanese noodle and rice entrees with chicken, steak, salmon, shrimp or tofu. More traditional dishes include bibimbap, bulgogi and tonkatsu. Korean tacos come stuffed with jae yuk (marinated pork), kimchi or calamari. Popular with the late-night crowd.

File Under: Italian and Pizza. Features: Delivery, take-out, catering, counter service, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night, seven days.

File Under: BBQ. Features: Catering, counter service, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. Late night, Fri–Sat. The Look: Super-friendly; not fancy. Picnic tables out front, but some seating inside. A popular choice when downtown late. Menu: Ribs, barbecue chicken, pulled pork sandwiches and sausage dogs, plus sides like baked-potato salad, spinach supreme, yams, coleslaw, baked beans and mac and cheese.

File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Full bar, catering, outside seating, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Classic Italian good for a date or a casual lunch. Menu: Each location is a little different, but all have pizza, pasta, salad and classic desserts like zuppa inglese. The menu expands at dinner, with regular specials (lasagna of the day) and more upscale entrees. Vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free options; kids menu. Drinks: Long wine list with many Italian reds. Beers ranging from the regular to "really good."

File Under: BBQ. Features: Catering, counter service, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days.

File Under: Mexican, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Full bar, catering, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Big, beachy mural; chill atmosphere in a shopping center. Menu: Americanized Mexican staples: tacos, burritos, nachos, fajitas, quesadillas, big burritos, enchiladas, queso, fish tacos, fried ice cream. Drinks: Margaritas and more than 30 tequilas, some draft beers, more in bottles.

File Under: Italian and Pizza. Features: Counter service, delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night, seven days.

File Under: American, Bakeries. Features: Catering, counter service, delivery. Hours: Breakfast and lunch, Mon–Fri. Saturday brunch. The Look: Cute, cozy, family-run eatery inside Hawthorne Drugs, with lots of children's books to read. Menu: Breakfast has plates, biscuits, omelets, pancakes and baked goods. Brunch adds quiche, Benedict and more. Lunch is mostly classic sandwiches (chicken salad, pimento cheese, egg salad) but also a good Cuban and a pimento-cheese BLT with pepper jelly.

File Under: Sandwiches. Features: Catering, outside seating, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. 

File Under: Mexican, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Full bar, delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Plenty of booths, bar in the back. Menu: Lots of Mexican favorites. Drinks: Mexican beers, margaritas.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, buffet, delivery, catering. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Chinese restaurant in a shopping center. Menu: Big lunch buffet daily. Tons of standard options. Dragon Dinners feature combinations of dishes for two to 10 people.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, Tue–Sun. The Look: Pleasant dining in the Eastside Walmart shopping center. Menu: Countless classic options, 30 chef's specials, 50 different lunch specials and Peking duck (if you order ahead). A Lighter Fare section offers steamed MSG-free meals low in sodium; lots of tofu choices.

File Under: Burgers, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Full bar, counter service, outside seating, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Two-floor small chain out of Atlanta. Menu: Petite burgers made with beef, turkey or beans and quinoa, plus plant-based Impossible Burger. Build your own or select a combo from the menu. Handspun milkshakes, crinkle-cut fries, fried pimento cheese nuggets, salads, chili. Drinks: Domestic and craft beers, wine, shots, cocktails and boozy milkshakes.

File Under: Sandwiches, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer, outside seating, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Casual, longtime local haunt. Tables in one room, a few outside and some seats at the counter. Order at the counter for take-out, or grab a seat, and the staff will come to you. Menu: Pita and tortilla wraps, falafel, salads and Phillies.

File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, delivery, take-out, full bar. Hours: Lunch and dinner, Tue–Sat. Saturday brunch. The Look: R. Wood pottery, pretty flowers, welcoming atmosphere. Menu: A little bit New Orleans, a little bit rest of the South and a lot of vegetables. Menu changes often, but could include cheese curds, charbroiled oysters, beignets with hot chicken, green tomato crisp for dessert. Supper Club for early diners (5–6 p.m.) gets you two courses for $15. Saturday brunch options include bread pudding and a breakfast bowl. You can also buy casseroles, sides, snacks and take-away meals. Drinks: Bright cocktails, good wine list and beer selection.

File Under: American, Something Different. Features: Delivery, dinner, late night, lunch, vegetarian friendly. Hours: 11 a.m.–12 a.m., seven days.

File Under: Asian. Features: Counter service, delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Ideal for meals to go. Menu: Steak, chicken, shrimp, salmon, tofu and "Ultimate Vegetarian" prepared hibachi style or with teriyaki sauce. Entrees come with fried rice, vegetables and two sauces. 

File Under: Asian. Features: Full bar, reservations, delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, Sun–Fri. Dinner, Sat. The Look: Hibachi cooked in front of you as entertainment with your meal. Menu: Combinations of ribeye, filet mignon, chicken, shrimp, scallops and lobster cooked on the grill, served with rice and veggies and paired with onion soup, salad and a shrimp appetizer. Discounts for college students and senior citizens. Smaller portions during lunch. Good selection of sushi.

File Under: Asian. Features: Counter service, delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Fast sushi in a casual environment. Menu: No bells and whistles, but good sushi at a reasonable price. Choose among nigiri, maki and specialty rolls, then accessorize with katsu, edamame, seaweed salad, etc. Teriyaki and tempura, too.

File Under: Bakeries. Features: Catering, delivery. Hours: Seven days until 3 a.m.

File Under: Sandwiches, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Delivery, catering, counter service, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days.

File Under: Sandwiches. Features: Drive-thru (Baxter), delivery, catering, counter service, outside seating (Baxter). Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. Late night (Baxter).

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Outside seating, art, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, Tue–Sun. The Look: Fern-decorated Vietnamese eatery with sit-down service and local art on the walls. Menu: Lots of pho (beef-broth-based noodle soup customizable with lots of additions; available in a veggie version), but also com (rice with grilled meat), bun (noodles) or banh mi sandwiches. Bubble tea, fruit smoothies, pastries in the case.

File Under: Mexican, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Full bar, catering, outside seating, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Eastside restaurant with colorful decor and a large covered outdoor patio. Menu: Popular Americanized Mexican fare: burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, taquitos, nachos, tacos and quesadillas. Special entrees and combo plates. Drinks: Margaritas, Mexican beers, domestics and house wines.

File Under: Sandwiches, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, counter service, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days.

File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Curbside pick-up (Timothy), delivery, live music (Timothy), trivia, catering, Wi-Fi, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Local chain gone statewide has a focus on sports. Menu: Deli sandwiches, burgers with lots of toppings, salads, grilled cheese and chili combo, wings, fish tacos and, surprisingly, lots of vegetarian options. Drinks: Fully stocked bar with domestic beer available in pitchers or by the glass.

File Under: Mexican and South American. Features: Delivery, outside seating, full bar. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Large, authentic Mexican restaurant with a nice patio, attached to a gas station. Menu: Excellent tacos (filled with cilantro, onions and fish, al pastor, barbacoa or lengua), big tortas, menudo, tostadas de ceviche and a molcajete full of grilled meats and veggies. Drinks: Margaritas, mixed drinks and beer.

File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: BYOB, buffet, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, Mon–Sat. The Look: Casual, family-run pizzeria of long standing. Menu: An all-you-can-eat buffet is perfect for pizza lovers with a large appetite and a small budget. Order from the menu for salads, subs, pasta, hot wings, calzones and more.

File Under: Downhome. Features: Cash only, delivery. Hours: Breakfast, seven days. Lunch, Sun–Fri. The Look: Family-run Southern diner operating since 1948. Menu: Country-style comfort food. Omelets, biscuits, hotcakes, steak, country ham and more for breakfast. Hearty lunch options rotate daily and include pot roast, fried chicken livers and lemon pepper tilapia alongside vegetables like fried okra, cabbage, sweet potato souffle and squash casserole.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Delivery, outside seating, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, Mon–Sat. The Look: Patio out front with a fountain in the middle. Plenty of seating inside, too. Menu: The traditional beef-broth-based noodle soup is a mainstay, but you can also order banh mi sandwiches, Vietnamese crepes, summer rolls, claypots and rice dishes. Vietnamese coffee, fruit slushies, bubble tea and coconut juice to drink.

File Under: Bakeries. Features: Catering, counter service, delivery. Hours: 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Mon–Thu. 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Fri–Sat.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, buffet, delivery. Hours: Lunch, Mon–Fri, Sun. Dinner, seven days. The Look: A lot of look! Palatial exterior, ornate red-and-gold interior with lots of dragons. Menu: Big menu covers all the standards, with lots of vegetarian options. Pre-set dinners based on the quantity of guests makes sharing dishes in large parties easy. The expansive weekday lunch buffet is all-you-can-eat and the best bang for your buck.

File Under: Sandwiches, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, counter service, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch to late night, Mon-Sat.

File Under: BBQ, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: BYOB, catering, outside seating, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Next to the railroad tracks down Pulaski Street. Family-friendly patio with sidewalk chalk. Trains go by regularly. Menu: Excellent meats smoked daily, which means when they're out, they're out. (Check Facebook or Instagram before you go if you're worried.) Pescatarians and vegetarians will find plenty to eat. Ramen, kids-eat-free Mondays and other specials are well publicized. Housemade pickles, vinegar-lime slaw, smoked potato salad, tacos and more.

File Under: Mexican, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Full bar, delivery, catering, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Tallassee location has limited seating but a few tables outside (and is attached to a gas station). Broad Street location is better for big groups and has mariachi sometimes. Menu: Plenty for people looking for burritos, but there's also horchata to drink, real Mexican-style tacos (on corn tortillas with onions, cilantro, lime and fatty meats) and an awesome hamburguesa topped with ham and pineapple. Drinks: Margaritas served frozen or on the rocks, available in a variety of flavors. Beer, too.

File Under: BBQ. Features: Catering, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Karaoke, full bar, outside seating, delivery. Hours: Dinner and late night, seven days. The Look: Loud and slick, with private karaoke rooms upstairs that are a big attraction. Menu: Long menu of sushi and sashimi options: nigiri, hand rolls, veggie options, house and special rolls. Also fried softshell crab, dumplings, land proteins (steak, chicken), lobster, noodles and desserts. Drinks: Hot and cold sake, saketinis, wine, mostly domestic beer but a few Japanese brews.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, catering, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Nicely laid out, with carpet, plants and a long bar. Menu: Many vegetarian options and dishes that can be built around chicken, shrimp, pork, beef, seafood, tofu or vegetables. Noodles, rice entrees, soups, salads, curries and a Thai dessert selection. Spice level can be serious. Lunch specials. Drinks: A couple of Thai beers among the domestics, sakes and a section of organic wines.

File Under: Smoothies. Features: Catering, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Seven days.

File Under: Mexican, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Full bar (Jefferson and Gaines School), beer and wine (Watkinsville), delivery, catering, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Family-friendly Mexican restaurant with festive decor. Menu: Lots of standards well executed, like big burritos to which you can add cheese dip, tons of vegetarian options, taco salads, fajitas and combos. Also a low-cal menu, Mexican tacos, sopes and tortas. Something for everyone, great for big groups. Drinks: Margaritas, Mexican beers, regular bottled stuff, pitchers.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Nice views from a second-floor place with a bright entrance. Menu: Thai classics made with fresh ingredients and less sugar than at many restaurants. Curry fries, good noodles and salads, Thai duck, seafood and sweet rice for dessert. Lunch specials and bubble tea.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, take-out, delivery, reservations. Hours: Lunch and dinner, Mon–Sat. Sunday dinner. The Look: Cozy and ornate, with lots of small tables throughout the space. Menu: Big menu runs from fresh Thai salads to satay, spicy basil duck, lots of seafood and vegetarian (and vegan) options. Kids menu with Thai scrambled eggs. Great deals at lunch. Drinks: Beer and wine, Thai iced tea and Thai iced coffee.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Full bar, reservations, delivery. Hours: Lunch, Mon–Fri. Dinner, seven days. The Look: A long sushi bar, plus tables lit by twinkling star lights. Menu: Lots of specialty rolls on the menu, but the nigiri shows off the fish best. Big menu also includes udon and ramen, tonkatsu, teriyaki, fried rice and kids specials that come with ice cream. All-you-can-eat special. Drinks: Hot and cold sake, Japanese (and American) beers, wine, sake bombs and martinis.

File Under: South American, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, delivery, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner, Tue–Sun. The Look: Open space with a small bar, black-and-white tiled floor and color scheme that reflects the Argentinean flag. Menu: Not just beef, lots of vegetarian choices. Empanadas are a popular option, with fillings including sausage and rice, spinach and mushroom and ham and cheese. Dinner options include lomo con papas fritas, as well as chicken, shrimp and steak entrees. Cupcakes in regular and mini sizes, with a soft filling in the middle, are a highlight.

File Under: Downhome. Features: Catering, counter service, outside seating, delivery. Hours: 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Mon–Sat. The Look: Look for the bright-green cinderblock building and the sign that reads "Automatic for the People." Few frills. Be snappy with your order, or you'll hear about it. Menu: Dexter Weaver is still serving up fantastic fried chicken, squash casserole, mac and cheese, collards and the like. The James Beard Foundation named it an "America's Classic." Damn right.

File Under: Something Different, Downhome and BBQ, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, counter service, live music, BYOB, delivery, take-out, art, outside seating. Hours: Lunch, Mon–Sat. Dinner, Thu–Sat. Sunday brunch. The Look: Tucked away in a historic grocery with cozy indoor seating and fun picnic tables outside, plus toys for kids. Menu: Carnivores and vegetarians will be equally happy. Good ingredients abound. Perfect burgers, great veggies cooked on the flat-top (don't snooze on the cabbage), smoked pork barbecue and tofu-q; daily specials and seasonal sides. At brunch, try a biscuit sandwich or stack of pancakes covered in pulled pork.

File Under: Mexican, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer, catering, counter service, delivery, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days.

File Under: Sandwiches, Burgers and Chicken. Features: Delivery, take out. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night, seven days.

File Under: Sandwiches, Burgers and Chicken. Features: Counter service, delivery. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night, seven days. The Look: Located near the high-rise freshman dorms, this is a popular late-night spot for take-out. Menu: Wings and chicken tenders (for an individual or in bulk), wraps (including one with french fries, cool ranch, cheese and bacon), sandwiches and some Asian options (sesame chicken, tonkatsu, teriyaki).

File Under: American, Asian. Features: Delivery, take-out. The Hours: Lunch and dinner, Tue-Sun. The Look: Real Chinese food hidden in an unassuming Winterville shopping center. Menu: Excellent authentic Chinese dishes, including pork with chives, hot pot, yu xiang eggplant, various fish dishes, mapo tofu and more. On the other hand, you can also get Americanized standards, like sesame chicken and Mongolian beef, plus burgers (one topped with Chinese cabbage), an egg salad sandwich and chicken mull.

File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, catering, counter service, trivia, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. The Look: Locally based franchise does personal-size pizzas baked in a brick oven right in front of you. Menu: Lots of topping, sauce and cheese choices, as well as several doughs. Pick a specialty pie or build your own. Vegan and gluten-free pizzas are available. Panini, bread bowl salads and gelato, too. Beer and wine available. Specials on Pi Day (Mar. 14) every year.