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.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Counter service, take-out, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Pay attention to the second half of the name and get the poke, available at a reasonable price with loads of topping choices (raw and cooked). Vegetarian options, hibachi, fried rice, noodles and basic soups and salads.

File Under: American, Breweries. Features: Full bar, live music, trivia. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. Brunch. • Unlike most breweries, this one has a full restaurant of its own as well as a really wide variety of brews that is always changing (more than two dozen on tap at any given time). Beer features in many dishes, like ale-battered fried fish. Also: flatbreads, burgers, salads, biscuits + beer at brunch. Cocktails, wine, shots and cider, too.

File Under: American. Features: Breakfast, vegetarian friendly, full bar, catering. Hours: Breakfast and lunch, seven days. • Mostly breakfast (eggs, pancakes, biscuits, French toast) with a few lunchier things (club sandwich, burger, salads) and a whole bunch of cocktails like spiked coffee and mimosas from this national franchise.

File Under: Sandwiches, Coffee Houses and Bakeries, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, counter service, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Breakfast and lunch. • Excellent bagels boiled and baked in-house in a wide variety of flavors. Major renovations have been taking eons, but the owners swear it'll be open again at some point.

File Under: Italian and Pizza. Features: Take-out, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Locally owned pizza place with a wide variety of toppings, plus pasta (baked ziti, lasagna), subs, wings, calzones, salads and meatballs à la carte. Lots of desserts, including baklava.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Take-out, delivery, beer and wine. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Informal place focusing on quick-sauteed Thai, Chinese, Korean and Japanese dishes. The Thai curries are a highlight, but everything is fast and tasty.

File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, counter service, delivery, outside seating, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Big slices of New York-style pizza made in pans brushed with garlic oil, plus delish but not giant subs, salads and cannoli all with quality ingredients. Vegan-friendly + gluten-free options.

File Under: Mexican, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer (Clayton St.), catering, outside seating, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Locally owned burrito chain has expanded throughout the Southeast but remains Athens-y. Serves health-oriented Mexican-ish fare, highlighting low-fat options. Everything is customizable to your taste/dietary needs: burritos, quesadillas, fajitas, tacos, nachos and salads, lots of veggies; vegetarian and vegan options.

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.

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. • Longtime Athens sports bar has several locations and a big menu including many vegetarian choices. Beer on tap and in bottles, including local brews. Standard cocktails plus a bloody mary bar on Saturday and Sunday.

File Under: Asian. Features: Take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Vietnamese sandwiches and various fancy beverages in this Eastside space. You can get your banh mi with the classic fillings (grilled pork, ham) or vegan on fresh baked bread. Picking a drink might be harder, with a lot of bubble teas, coffees, smoothies and slushies to select from. Also: pho and snacks.

File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Counter service, delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night. • Some of the biggest pizzas in town, plus wings, hot and cold subs, calzones, fried apps, pasta, salads, breadsticks and dessert. Open as late as 3 a.m.

File Under: Coffee Houses and Bakeries, Bars, Sandwiches. Features: Full bar, counter service, outside seating, Wi-Fi, comedy, live music. • Boo-vay, not booves, as in the French for "you drink." European-style cafe with a light menu (pre-made sandwiches, pastries, Swedish fish by the scoop, snoballs, including boozy ones) and a lot of different beverages: coffee, tea, cool sodas, craft cocktails, wine, beer and aperitifs. Popular with kids and grown folks alike.

File Under: Downhome. Features: Take-out. Hours: Breakfast and Lunch. • New owners and new name at this country store/restaurant in Winterville that was previously Off the Vine (the Facebook address hasn't changed). It does breakfast plates and biscuits, hot lunch (meat-and-three-type stuff, lasagna, burgers), fresh produce, grab-and-go meals, boiled peanuts and more.

File Under: Mexican and Latin American. Features: Outside seating, beer, wine and margaritas (Eastside), delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Both locations of this Athens original do Latin American food with a Peruvian influence: lomo saltado, big sandwiches, plantains (sweet and savory), yuca, tacu tacu (rice and beans topped with eggs) and much more. Lots of veggie choices. Eastside location is bigger and full of quarter-operated kiddie rides. Lumpkin has a small fee to BYOB. 

File Under: Sandwiches, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Take-out, curbside pick-up, vegetarian friendly, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Healthier-than-average strip-mall Chinese, focusing on Cantonese standards. Hot pot, seafood, Singapore noodles, roast duck and lunch specials. Online ordering.

File Under: Asian. Features: Counter service, catering, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Mostly to-go food, available fast, but a better selection than your standard stir-fry eatery: lo mein, pancit, teriyaki, 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. • 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.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Hours: Lunch and dinner. Features: Counter service, take-out. • Americanized quick-service Chinese dishes, including chop suey, lo mein, mai fun, moo shu, et al., make up the primary order of business in this small restaurant that mostly does to-go.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and sake, delivery, trivia, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night. • Quick-service Japanese and Korean food at bargain prices. You can get hibachi basics and lots of fried stuff, but also bibimbap and bulgogi.

File Under: American. Features: Catering, curbside pick-up, take-out, vegetarian friendly. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • This franchise focuses on healthy eating, and is a lifestyle brand as much as a restaurant. It has wrapz, burgerz and flatbreadz with keto-friendly options but also deep-frozen meals for later.

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.

File Under: Coffee Houses, Something Different. Hours: Seven days. Features: Outside seating, Wi-Fi. • Locally-based small-batch chocolate shop offers truffles, chocolate bars, coffee bars and more, plus drinking chocolate, coffee, gelato, ice cream sandwiches, toffee, etc. Vegan options. Downtown location has big windows to watch the chocolate elves at work, or you can book a tour.

File Under: Asian. Hours: Lunch and dinner. Features: Full bar, outside seating. • Grilled meats cooked on your table, either in pre-set portion sizes or all-you-can-eat, plus banchan (free snacks that vary frequently). It's not inexpensive, but it is good. Also: vegetarian options, Korean ramen, kimchi stew. Japanese whiskey, shōchū and other unusual selections at the bar.

File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, curbside pick-up, delivery, full bar, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • This Athens favorite has been in business for decades doing classic Italian, from pizza and standard red-sauced pasta to eggplant florentine and grilled salmon. Each location has a slightly different menu, but all have vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free options; kids menu. Long wine list with many Italian reds and plenty of beers.

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.

File Under: Mexican, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Full bar, catering, curbside pick-up, delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Americanized Mexican staples done well: tacos, burritos, nachos, fajitas, quesadillas, big burritos, enchiladas, queso, fish tacos, fried ice cream. Margaritas, lots of tequilas.

File Under: Italian and Pizza. Features: Full bar, outside seating, take-out, trivia, live music. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Watkinsville pizza place with lots of events has a big menu with fried apps, wings, salads, subs, wraps, a wide selection of pastas, Italian desserts and big, good garlic rolls as well as pizza. Large covered patio, karaoke. 

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.

File Under: Mexican and South American. Features: Full bar, curbside pick-up, delivery, outside seating, vegetarian friendly. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Most of the restaurant is outside, and the lawn is often busy with a Five Points crowd. Tacos (including veggie and vegan choices) that change out regularly, plus other Mexican-ish standards, kids menu and a serious bar with lots of tequilas, a selection of mezcals, beer buckets and build-your-own margs.

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.

File Under: Something Different, Bars, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Reservations, outside seating, take-out, full bar. Hours: Dinner. • Refined and intelligent restaurant with a beauteous bar has an Italian focus to its food, with anitpasti, burrata, housemade pasta (can be gluten-free), risotto and more. Offerings change regularly. Virgin cocktails made with as much love as the boozy ones, plus nice wines.

File Under: Sandwiches, Burgers and Chicken. Features: Delivery, outside seating, take-out, counter service, catering, beer and wine, vegetarian friendly. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Locally originating burger chain does patties with 100% grass-fed, no-antibiotics, locally raised beef, pasture-raised pork, ground chicken or vegan ingredients. Lots of toppings, sides, kids menu, shakes and floats, burger + beer combos. 

File Under: Something Different. Features: Delivery, vegetarian friendly, outside seating, take-out, counter service, beer and wine. Hours: Breakfast and lunch. • Primarily biscuits, served all day, but not just traditional egg and cheese varieties. Nice ingredients like housemade pickles and jam. Lunch adds non-biscuit sandwiches and burgers plus specials. Baked goods in a case at the counter, good coffee.

File Under: Something Different. Features: Curbside pick-up, delivery, take-out. • The tasting room for Figment Kombucha features its small-batch drinks made with high-quality local ingredients, available on tap, canned or by the growler (half or full), plus a rotating selection of fermented goods, like ketchup, giardiniera and various krauts. Specific flavors change regularly. Get a kombucha float with housemade sorbet for a grown-up treat.

File Under: Something Different. Features: Full bar, reservations, catering, outside seating, take-out, vegetarian friendly. Hours: Dinner. • Celebrity chef Hugh Acheson's flagship restaurant, in a historic house on Milledge Avenue with a big covered porch. The menu is southern-ish but chef-driven and up to date, changing weekly depending on what’s in season. Wine list by James Beard nominee; unpretentious but smart cocktails; excellent after-dinner drinks. Look out for specials, including picnic stuff during football season.

File Under: American. Features: Beer and wine, catering, outside seating, take-out, vegetarian friendly. Hours: Breakfast, lunch and weekend dinner. 

File Under: Downhome, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, take-out. Hours: Lunch. • Real-deal southern food, available in meat-and-sides combos or as all-you-can-eat. Menu changes daily but could include pork chops, fried chicken livers, catfish, greens, yams, black-eyed peas, mac and cheese and more.

File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Delivery, take-out, catering, curbside pick-up, outside seating, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days.

File Under: Bars and Clubs, Something Different. Hours: Lunch and dinner. Features: Outside seating, Wi-Fi, live music. • This Athens classic thoroughly renovated its inside without losing any of the charm and added a new menu focusing on UK pub fare with plenty of specials, nice salads and some spicy stuff. Huge beer selection, general literary atmosphere (poetry nights!) and lots of cool things to look at.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, delivery, catering, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Tons of standard Americanized Chinese options, including duck, seafood and some good tofu options. Dragon Dinners feature combinations of dishes for two to 10 people. Online ordering.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Countless classic options, loads of chef's specials and lunch specials. A lighter fare section offers steamed MSG-free meals low in sodium; lots of tofu choices.

File Under: Sandwiches, Burgers and Chicken, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer, take-out. Hours: Dinner. • Burgers (Impossible and meaty), fries (dunk em in feta), classic milkshakes, sandwiches, kids menu. Cute vintage toys enliven the diner interior. 

File Under: Burgers, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Full bar, counter service, outside seating, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Small chain out of Atlanta does smashburgers with one patty or two (beef, turkey, beans and quinoa, or Impossible Burger), plus bar snacks, fried sides and boozy or virgin milkshakes. Nice upstairs outside seating.

File Under: Something Different. Features: Outside seating, drive-thru, take-out, counter service. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Small Atlanta chain does build-your-own bowls, salads and wraps with a protein (chicken, shrimp, tofu, avocado), veggies and sauce, ready fast. Kids menu.

File Under: Sandwiches, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Take-out, counter service, beer. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Longtime Athens franchise, with its own identity and a cult following, moved around the corner from its original location under new ownership. Curly fries, gyros, salads, etc., plus a new bar upstairs with a view of campus and wallpaper based on old Athens band posters. 

File Under: Coffee Houses and Bakeries, Bars. Features: Breakfast, full bar, catering, counter service, live music, art, Wi-Fi, outside seating. Hours: Open Mon–Sat. • Coffee drinks, nitro coffee, teas and juices all day, plus baked goods from Independent. Lots of draft and bottled/canned craft beers, plus wine, craft cocktails and mocktails (some made with coffee). Breakfast includes beignets, egg plates, a spam-based brekkie and more. Grab-and-go sandwiches and cheese plates. Loads of events.

File Under: American, Bars, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Full bar, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Family-friendly tavern is all things to all people, with lots of food (including a kajillion vegetarian and vegan options) as well as a major bar selection. Noodles, soups, chili, hot dogs, grain bowls, falafel. Great beers; also whiskeys, classic cocktails and juice for kids.

File Under: Asian. Features: Buffet, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Huge Asian buffet also does hibachi cooked to order. Tofu, Chinese dishes, sushi, American food, fruit, salad and desserts spread across the room. Open most holidays.

File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, take-out. Hours: Lunch. • Refined, Southern-inspired chef-forward restaurant has gone back to its catering roots. You can still eat lunch there, or order ahead from the website from a changing menu for pickup or delivery. Lots of veggies, fantastic snacks, still plenty of experimenting.

File Under: Bakeries, Sandwiches, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Counter service, outside seating, take-out. Hours: Breakfast and lunch, seven days. • Nice bagels, excellent house-smoked fish and sandwiches (either on bagels or on Luna bread) and made with meats sliced in front of you (capicola, roast beef, etc.) but also hummus, roasted veggies, sauerkraut and scrambled eggs. Kids meals.

File Under: Mexican and South American. Features: Delivery. Hours: Lunch, dinner, late night. Cheerful, colorful Mexican and Americanized Mexican restaurant with a big chalkboard menu, enabling flexibility. Giant burritos, good rajas tacos, sandwiches, loaded fries, tasty esquites in a cup. Kids menu. Kitchen is open until midnight.

File Under: Asian. Features: Counter service, delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Quick-service hibachi includes steak, chicken, shrimp, salmon, tofu and “Ultimate Vegetarian” with fried rice, vegetables and two sauces. 

File Under: Asian. Features: Delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Unlike its sister restaurant, this one focuses more on sushi than on hibachi, although you can get that too. Choose among nigiri, maki and specialty rolls, then accessorize with katsu, edamame, seaweed salad, etc. Teriyaki and tempura, too.

File Under: American. Features: Outside seating, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Breakfast and lunch. • Breakfast favorites are served all day, as well as salads, sandwiches and burgers.

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

File Under: Asian. Features: Delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Highly reputed franchise does lots of ramen but also salads, tacos, rice bowls, curry, sides like crispy chickpeas, dumplings and takoyaki. Mochi ice cream and panna cotta for dessert. Kids meals, too.

File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, catering, delivery, outside seating, take-out, trivia, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. 

File Under: Something Different, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Delivery, curbside pick-up. Hours: Seven days. • Raw, organic, cold-pressed and unpasteurized fruit and vegetable juices that are also delicious and pre-packaged for easy transporting.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Outside seating, art, delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Plenty more, actually, in addition to the Vietnamese beef, chicken or vegetable broth-based noodle soup customizable with lots of additions. Other things on the menu include rice dishes with grilled meats, noodle dishes, banh mi sandwiches, goi cuon, tiramisu.

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.

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.

File Under: Mexican and South American. Features: Catering, full bar, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. Weekend brunch. • Atlanta vibe at this cheffy Wire Park restaurant that brings you three salsas instead of one and offers lamb and octopus in its tacos as well as chicken and steak. Good vegetarian and pescatarian options. Mezcal in addition to tequila. Swanky cocktails. Kids menu.

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

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.

File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, take-out, counter service. Hours: Lunch and early dinner (open until 6 p.m.). • Salads (chicken salad, pimento-less cheese and the like, plus bowls of greens and vegetables), soups, lots of veggies that change daily. Cookies, brownies, fancy chocolates, candy and gift items available, too. Holiday menus. 

File Under: American. Features: Counter service, curbside pick-up, delivery, take-out, outside seating, vegetarian friendly, catering. Hours: Breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. • The Little City in question is Winterville, just outside Athens. Southern breakfast and brunch include biscuits, eggs, quiche and Red Mule grits. Lunch means sandwiches on housemade breads, burgers and salads. Good desserts, coffee and veggie options. Occasional dinners.

File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer, counter service, delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night. • Classic New York-style pizzeria is fast and busy. Slices are big and floppy, subs are ginormous (one of the best deals in town), salads available, too. 

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. • Locally based sports bar chain has a big menu with lots of vegetarian choices, deli sandwiches, burgers, salads, grilled cheese and chili combo, wings and fish tacos.

File Under: Mexican and South American. Features: Drive-thru, delivery, beer and wine, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Fast-casual Mexican, both drive-thru and dine-in, with surprisingly good tacos (both more traditional offerings on corn tortillas and things like a quinoa taco with a whole-wheat tortilla that is absolutely worth your time), enchiladas, burritos, rice bowls, kids menu, aguas frescas and more.

File Under: American, Bars. Features: Reservations, outside seating, live music, room service, take-out, Wi-Fi. Hours: Breakfast and dinner, seven days. • Hotel Indigo’s restaurant serves croissant sandwiches and omelets for breakfast, plus a full dinner, with steak, salmon, sandwiches, salads and even a kids menu. Nice cocktails.

File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Outside seating, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Virtuous and tasty quick service, now franchised and expanding elsewhere. Start with brown rice, quinoa, sweet potatoes or salad greens. Add a protein, two veggie-forward sides and a housemade sauce. Menu changes seasonally. Condor Chocolates and cookies for dessert. Kids meals. Gluten-free choices. Everything is recyclable or compostable. Epps Bridge/Oconee location opening later this year.

File Under: Asian. Features: Take-out, catering, beer and wine, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Delicate, not oversugary Thai food in the middle of downtown Watkinsville: satay, tom yum, curries, eggplant basil, noodles, Thai tea, boba. Cake from Sweetie Pie by Savie. Kids menu. Makku rice beer.

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.

File Under: Downhome, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, curbside pick-up, counter service, outside seating, art, Wi-Fi. Hours: Breakfast and lunch. • Southern breakfast and lunch all day: biscuits with lots of toppings, hash, egg plates, tacos, pimento cheese burger, chicken salad, strawberry lemonade. Lots of great sides. Very accommodating to those with special dietary needs. Third, smaller location to open in Watkinsville's Wire Park food hall.

File Under: Something Different, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Take-out, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Athens' only Ethiopian restaurant feels like you're being hosted in someone's home. Beef, for sure, but also loads of vegan choices, all served with chewy, pancake-like injera bread. Ethiopian tea and coffee, plus cookies.

File Under: Italian and Pizza. Features: Delivery, take-out. Hours: Seven days.

File Under: Something Different, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Counter service, catering, delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Grilled meats and veggies (lamb, chicken, kufta, gyros) and tons of vegetarian choices, like falafel, salads, dolmas, hummus and tabbouleh, all of which can be mixed and matched into good combos. Kids meals and business lunch specials. Baklava and other desserts.

File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Catering, delivery, outside seating, trivia, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Lots of toppings and specialty pies, plus pretzels made with the same dough, salads, subs, calzones and munchies; good beer selection.

File Under: Asian, Tea Houses and Bakeries. Features: Counter service, take-out. • Donuts made with rice flour (gluten-free) in a wide variety of flavors at this franchise that also serves bubble tea and Korean corndogs coated in things like Hot Cheetos.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Delivery, outside seating, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Sweet covered patio is a great place to sit at this Vietnamese restaurant. It has its titular beef broth-based noodle soup, of course, but also banh mi, crepes, summer rolls, claypots and rice dishes, with a good veggie-friendly selection. Vietnamese coffee, fruit slushies, bubble tea and coconut juice to drink.

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.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Take-out, curbside pick-up, full bar. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Athens' source for authentic Chinese food. You don't have to drive to Duluth; just remember to ask for the Szechuan menu (or locate it on the website if you're ordering take-out). If that’s not your thing, there’s sesame chicken, too, plus Thai curries, sushi, steamed seafood and much more.

File Under: Sandwiches, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, Wi-Fi. Hours: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days.

File Under: Asian. Features: Take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • This franchise opening fall 2023 downtown does Vietnamese baguette sandwiches with pâté, pickled veggies, hot peppers, meats and seitan, plus versions of the same on croissants and hamburger rolls. Picturesque patisserie, too, and bubble tea. 

File Under: Something Different, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Outside seating, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Crepe-based restaurant by day (with savory and sweet options, plus non-pancake-based foods) turns into a busy bar by night with beer, wine and vodka-heavy cocktails.

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.

File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, counter service, take-out, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Owned by the same folks as Little Italy, so the food is similar (New York-style pizza, enormous subs), but the vibe is different and more family-oriented. Italian salads, pasta of the day, stromboli, tiramisu and cheesecake.

File Under: Downhome. Features: Drive thru, take-out, vegetarian friendly. Hours: Lunch and early dinner (closes at 6 p.m.) • Don't feel like cooking? Check out this local company that makes home-cooked meals. Order ahead on the website or stop by to see what's on offer. Options change daily, but could include tomato pie, lasagna, salads, cheesecake, enchiladas, pork chops and anything else the owners feel like making. 

File Under: Sandwiches, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Catering, counter service, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner.

File Under: Italian and Pizza. Features: Delivery, take-out. Hours: Seven days. • Pizza, pastas, sandwiches, salads, wings.

File Under: Downhome, Bars. Features: Outside seating, full bar, take-out. Hours: Lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. • More refined takes on Southern standards, like shrimp and grits with gouda. Big salads, chicken and waffles (not just at brunch), shrimp burger, collard spring rolls. Cocktails that play on things like peanuts and Coke.

File Under: Chicken. Features: Catering, take-out, outside seating, vegetarian friendly, delivery, counter service. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Tenders fried in rice bran oil, tofu options, vegan patties, hot dogs fried and served with slaw and sides that include white or brown rice and Japanese pickles.

File Under: Mexican and South American. Features: Beer, counter service, outside seating, wine, take-out, vegetarian friendly. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Get an elaborate michelada preparada, a pambazo (a torta soaked in red sauce) and some wet wipes, and you'll be thrilled. Lots of taco fillings, including an array of vegetarian choices that go beyond beans. Good, cold tres leches cake. Beer buckets.

File Under: Asian, Bars/Clubs. Hours: Dinner. Features: Full bar, outside seating, vegetarian friendly, reservations. • Little-bitty bar/restaurant with tons of personality and charm has a big covered patio with heaters in the winter and is tucked away in the Southern Mill development. Menu is "Thai drinking food" but so much more than that, with big, complex flavors, a real love of veggies and a strong sense of fun. Graze lightly or keep ordering until you're full. Cocktails change regularly but feature beautiful rums and unusual ingredients. Mocktails, too.

File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Counter service, outside seating, live music, catering. Hours: Dinner. • Bar/restaurant on top of the historic Georgia Theatre is open during and just before shows, with food from pop-up restaurants.

File Under: Mexican and South American, Bakeries. Features: Delivery, full bar, take-out, outside seating (Oglethorpe). Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Looks like your standard Americanized Mexican from afar but is actually Uruguyan, with choripan, chivito, churrosco del sur and more hiding on the menu at both locations. Great baked goods, especially Latin American sweet breads (Watkinsville location), and tasty empanadas, both sweet and savory. Kids menu.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Full bar, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Both locations serve a similar menu, from hibachi as entertainment to some of the better sushi in town to elaborately presented sashimi platters. Also: lunch specials, hot pots, yaki udon, dumplings, mochi ice cream, kids menu. Japanese beer, sake, cocktails and wine.

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.

File Under: Sandwiches, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Drive-thru, catering, counter service, delivery, outside seating, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. 

File Under: Something Different, Bars. Features: Full bar, catering, outside seating, take-out. Hours: Dinner. • Longtime hip oyster bar, with a great selection that changes frequently. Also fun takes on seafood and more: scallop fried rice, scallion pancake, lobster roll, grilled cheese. Beer, wine, absinthe, sake, serious cocktails and frozen Negronis. Hire its mobile unit to shuck at your party.

File Under: Mexican, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Full bar, delivery, catering, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • One location (the original) next to a gas station and the other in a much bigger space on Broad Street. Both serve reliably very tasty Americanized Mexican standards but also lengua, buche and tripe tacos. Chilaquiles and surprisingly good hamburguesas.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Karaoke, full bar, outside seating, delivery. Hours: Dinner, seven days. • Party sushi bar with private karaoke rooms. Lots of rolls and sashimi as well as surf and turf, noodles, fried tofu and apps. 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, 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.

File Under: American, Bars and Clubs. Features: Full bar, catering, outside seating. Hours: Weekend brunch, lunch and dinner. • Historic former hotel with a menu of small and large plates, all with big flavors: sweet potatoes, chicken-fried tofu, duck fat tater tots, candied bacon, that kind of thing. Gluten-free stuff. Rotating draft beers in full or half pours, good wines by the glass (and bottle) and regularly changing craft cocktails with housemade ingredients.

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.

File Under: Asian. Features: Delivery, take-out, full bar, vegetarian friendly. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Miss Ru San's? This new sushi place in Watkinsville is owned and operated by the same folks, with a large array of rolls, entrees, bento boxes, kids meals, poke, noodles, desserts. Sake and Japanese whisky at the bar as well as Japanese beers and other stuff. Friday and Saturday feature an omakase experience that requires reservations. Gluten-free choices and a wide variety of boba drinks.

File Under: Something Different, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Counter service, outside seating, take-out, catering. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Fresh flavors, low salt cooking and lots of vegetables in dishes like pasta with creamy basil arugula pesto or coconut macademia crusted fish at this restaurant tucked away on Baxter. Gluten-free and dairy-free options.

File Under: Mexican, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer, outside seating (Milledge), take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Not a Mexican restaurant, but an Athens restaurant. Milledge location has been open since the 1970s, with very little in the way of change, as it should be. Burritos, veggie chili, quesadillas (nuked or grilled), gigantic nachos. Eastside has some different options and a much more squeaky clean vibe.

File Under: Asian, Tea Houses. Features: Take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Bubble tea, ramen, poke bowls, sushi burritos and salad bowls. Order online and pick up.

File Under: Mexican. Features: Full bar, catering, counter service, outside seating, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Chef-crafted taqueria with a focused menu. Pork, brisket, fried chicken, carnitas, fish and veggie tacos, plus weekly specials and a blue-plate special. Great selection of premium tequilas, build-your-own margaritas and bottled beers.

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. • Locally owned small chain Mexican restaurant has chips-and-salsa-type standards and will give you fried ice cream on your birthday, but also serves Mexican-style tacos and good tortas. Kids menu. Margaritas, Mexican beers, regular bottled stuff and pitchers.

File Under: Asian, Mexican and South American, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Outside seating, take-out, delivery, full bar. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Small Atlanta-based chain does Asian/Latin fusion tacos: bulgogi and shiitake, teriyaki chicken with pineapple pico de gallo, tofu with sesame-soy vinaigrette and more. Apps, bowls and salads. Margaritas, cocktails, sangria and craft beers.

File Under: Something Different, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, delivery, catering, outside seating, take-out, vegetarian friendly. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Big menu of Indian standards, from samosas and pakoras to poori, chat, tandoori and many vegetarian and vegan options. Get your entree made with veggies, paneer, tofu, chicken, lamb, goat, fish or shrimp. Lassis, chai and Indian tea, wine and beer.

File Under: Something Different, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, catering, counter service, delivery, outside seating, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Mediterranean quick-service franchise does gyros, entree-size salads and "feasts" (grilled veggies or protein, salad, side). Soups, baklava, daily specials, family take-home meals, hummus and spicy pimento cheese, too.

File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, outside seating, take-out, delivery, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch and dinner, seven days. • Beauteous personally sized pizzas are as far from chain pizza as you get, carefully prepared with thinly sliced fancy toppings. Also other Italian-ish items and great salads. Gluten-free options. Desserts in the refrigerated case. Good beer in cans, on draft and bottles, a few wines by the glass. Large patio with a sandbox for kids.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Beer and wine, take-out, delivery, outside seating. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Big menu runs from fresh Thai salads to satay, spicy basil duck, lots of seafood and vegan options, plus gluten-free stuff, with lots of eggplant, basil, chilis and curry, all customizable to your taste. Kids menu. Beer and wine, Thai iced tea and Thai iced coffee.

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.

File Under: American, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Full bar, outside seating, Wi-Fi. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night, seven days. Sunday brunch. • Big menu of food and beer with lots of vegetarian choices: loaded mac and cheese, southern fish and chips, tabbouleh salad, housemade pickles, a vegan Reuben, buffalo tofu taco, plus scores of unusual, well-described beers in the bottle and on tap. There's also wine and nice cocktails.

File Under: Asian, Vegetarian Friendly, Bars. Features: Full bar, delivery, take-out. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Lunch combos have more variety than at many other restaurants. Lots of specialty rolls (the sushi part of the menu is huge), but also good udon and ramen bowls, yakitori, tonkatsu, teriyaki, fried rice and more. Hot and cold sake, Japanese (and American) beers, wine, sake bombs and martinis.

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.

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

File Under: Asian. Features: Counter service, take-out, delivery. Hours: Lunch and dinner. • Fast-casual made-to-order stir-fry. Pick a protein (steak, chicken, shrimp, pork, tofu), some veggies, a sauce and a base (rice, noodles, salad), and they’ll cook it for you right then and there.

File Under: American, Bars, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Counter service, delivery, art, full bar, live music. Hours: Lunch, dinner and late night. • Half bar, half restaurant, with hearty, fun food (poutine, meatball banh mi, General Tso's tofu), lots of veggie choices and regular specials. Creative cocktails, well-priced beer (including lots of canned craft brews), wine, housemade nonalcoholic sodas and a great chalkboard.

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.

File Under: Italian and Pizza, Vegetarian Friendly. Features: Full bar, reservations, outside seating. Hours: Dinner. • Italian restaurant with a bit of beachiness and a great 1960s soundtrack. Primi including crudo and anchovies on toast, housemade pasta, meat-centric entrees, pizzas, from-scratch gelato, a serious cocktail program and more. Book a table ahead or walk in. Heated patio.