Authors | Flagpole Magazine | Athens, GA News, Music, Arts, Restaurants

Blog posts by Hillary Brown

UPDATED: Where to Eat While Sheltering in Place

Blog: Grub Notes

De Palma's will be this empty for the foreseeable future.

Maybe you don't want to go to the grocery store right now. Maybe you can't cook. Maybe you're worried about the folks in the service industry who make up a big chunk of our town and are going to be especially hard hit by social distancing as we attempt to flatten the curve of COVID-19 contagion. Here are some restaurants going out of their way to help. Throw 'em some bucks if you can and/or donate to the GIving Kitchen, which will provide resources to those workers. Cosmic Delivery and Bulldawg Food are still operating, as are national services like UberEats.

By Hillary Brown | May 27, 2020
Athens Farmers Markets Restart Next Weekend

Blog: Grub Notes

The Athens Farmers Market at Bishop Park has been taking orders for pick-up for a while, but on May 9 it’ll open back up to the public for in-person shopping. Does this seem like a terrible idea? There are some strict procedures for how it works, so don’t expect the same crush of people as usual.
1. You have to wash your hands, both before you enter and while you’re in there. Hand-washing stations have been installed.
2. One person per family. This is not a social outing. Don’t dilly-dally.
3. Pre-order if you can. Options are on AFM’s site.
4. Wear a mask. This is not optional. If you forget yours, you can buy one there.
5. Keep your distance from people, duh.
6. If you must pay in cash (and try not to), leave it on the table for the vendor to pick up.
7. High risk? Stay home.
The West Broad Farmers Market is also opening the same day, in a drive-thru format in the parking lot of the Athens Housing Authority at 300 S. Rocksprings St. AHA is also providing land for the community garden that was previously on Clarke County School District property. You can order ahead of time at wbfm.locallygrown.net, beginning at 5 p.m. each Sunday and continuing through 1 p.m. Thursday, then pick up your order on Saturday between 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., paying when you get there. Folks who live in the West Broad neighborhood can have their orders delivered.

By Hillary Brown | May 2, 2020
Champy's Changes Names, a Persian Buffet and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Classic City Eats via Facebook

The owners of the Baxter Street location of Champy's Famous Fried Chicken, which opened in 2015, recently decided to separate from the franchise and create their own restaurant. The renamed Classic City Eats has a similar menu but does not have the Delta tamales that were a highlight. it does still have plenty of fried chicken, draft beer, fried green tomatoes and such. It's open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday and lunch Tuesday through Sunday.

International Grill & Bar, the Iranian restaurant on Mitchell Bridge Road, has added an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $12.65 a person.

Square One Fish Co., in Normaltown, has added Sunday brunch from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. You can see the menu on its website.

By Hillary Brown | March 6, 2020
Cravings Is Open Downtown; Nedza's Is Moving to Five Points

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Nedza's Waffles via Facebook

Cravings, a restaurant with another location in Milledgeville, has opened an Athens location in the former Franklin House Cafe downtown, at the corner of Thomas, Broad and Oconee streets. The Milledgeville location focuses on deli sandwiches and bubble tea, with breakfast to go, as well as occasional Filipino specialties like pancit. Cross your fingers for the latter.

Nedza's, which started out as a pop-up puffle waffle business at a table at Athens Farmers Market, then expanded to doughnuts and more out of a truck, is set to move into the old Your Pie in Five Points, opening around April. It'll serve doughnuts, biscuits and waffles (with ice cream and fruit), with gluten-free options and vegan options, but not pizza (the oven was removed). The business will still do events.

Happy 20th birthday to Barberitos, which managed to franchise without losing its identity or going out of business. It's a real achievement! Making it to 20 years is genuinely difficult in the restaurant industry, so props.

By Hillary Brown | February 25, 2020
Athens Is Getting a Flying Biscuit, and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Flying Biscuit

Sometime this year, Athens will open a branch of Atlanta-based franchise the Flying Biscuit Café, on Prince Avenue, in the development under construction by the now-Walgreen's across the street from Piedmont Athens Regional. The building will include office and retail space. Founded in 1993 in Atlanta's Candler Park neighborhood, the restaurant began franchising some years ago and has a slew of locations. Its menu, as you might expect, is biscuit-based, with lots of gluten-free options.

By Hillary Brown | February 5, 2020
Independent Baking Co. Has Been Sold (But Don't Panic)

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Independent Baking Co./Facebook

When it opened six-plus years ago, it was clear from the start that Independent Baking Co., in Five Points, was something pretty special: a bakery that milled its own wheat, that didn't give a damn about cupcakes, that cared deeply about the proper way to do things.

So, finding out that it had been sold to someone new produced some palpitations. Calm yourself. Things aren't changing much.

By Hillary Brown | February 4, 2020
Rashe's Cuisine Is Opening on Vine Street

Blog: Grub Notes

Rashe Malcolm.

Hey, it's the first good news of 2020! Rashe Malcolm of Rashe's Cuisine is about to have a physical location once again. Malcolm has leased the space on Vine Street next to Broderick Flanigan's studio that was most recently Bajan Delight, and hopes to be open by February.

Malcolm owned a brick-and-mortar restaurant off Tallassee Road once upon a time, then went to catering only, then started building toward a shared commercial kitchen for small businesses (still in progress) and started a downtown market to let those vendors sell their wares.

By Hillary Brown | January 9, 2020
The Downtown Taco Stand Is Closing Sunday

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Taco Stand/Facebook

Late Friday afternoon, Team Clermont, the music promotion firm, sent out a press release announcing that the downtown location of Athens' Taco Stand would have its last day in business Sunday, Dec. 15.

By Hillary Brown | December 13, 2019
Eden's Cafe Is Closing, and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

The curse of 1660 W. Broad St., which has claimed a large number of restaurants over the past 20 years, continues, as Eden's Cafe announced that it will close Dec. 22, meaning another small, local business is shuttering right before the holidays.

By Hillary Brown | December 9, 2019
The Café on Lumpkin Is Coming to Five Points

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Café on Lumpkin via Facebook

It's been almost four years since the long-running Lumpkin Street Café closed, but something is finally brewing in the old house between Fleet Feet and the credit union. Luke Martineac, a young entrepreneur and business-type dude, found himself here in Athens while his wife pursues a doctorate in marine studies, wanted something to do and felt there was a need for a breakfast-and-lunch hangout in Five Points. Working with his brother, Peter, he's getting ready to open the Café on Lumpkin, aiming for late February.

By Hillary Brown | November 12, 2019
Farm Burger Cometh, Five and Ten Ends Sunday Service and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Farm Burger

Farm Burger

Wondering what restaurant might be going in the former St. Joseph's chapel as that large development gets underway next to the Flagpole office? Well, Farm Burger is finally opening an Athens location. The popular grass-fed burger chain grew out of what was once Farm 255 in Athens, but the closest it's been until now is Decatur.

By Hillary Brown | August 23, 2019
Eden's Cafe Opening Aug. 3, and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Eden's Cafe/Facebook

Eden's Cafe

Wondering what's up with Eden's Cafe, the vegan eatery set to move into what was most recently The Fish Shack, at Broad and Hancock? Co-owner Nick Bradfield says they'll be opening up Saturday, Aug. 3, with "plant-based grab-and-go convenience items sourced from mostly local and organic sources, as well as coffee and tea, pastries and deserts. Also of interest is the fact that we will have a 24/7 vegan vending machine outside for healthy late-night pick-me-ups!"

By Hillary Brown | July 28, 2019
Uncle Ernie's, Kajun Seafood and Carriage House Are Open; Five Points Your Pie Is Closed

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: The Carriage House/Facebook

The Carriage House

Have you been passing the sign in the window of the space next to Max that promises Uncle Ernie's is opening soon for something like two years? Me too, but now it really is open. For really real. Ernie Batinelli has owned many a sandwich shop in Athens, and Uncle Ernie's Pub and Grub promises to be his usual overstuffed sandwiches and wraps, with lots of veggie options. This time, there's also a full bar.

By Hillary Brown | July 12, 2019
Square One Is Opening, Mirko Is Closed and More Restaurant News

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Square One Fish Co. via Facebook

Seafood restaurant Square One will be open in Normaltown this Friday at 5 p.m. and is not taking reservations, so you might have to wait a bit.

The last location of Mirko Pasta anywhere nearby, in downtown Watkinsville, closed a few weeks ago. Locations remain in Atlanta, Marietta, Mobile, AL and Nashville.

Off the Vine, in Winterville, where you can get breakfast biscuits and hot lunches along with the baked items and fresh produce, has added Sunday hours for groceries and ice cream.

Holy Crepe doesn't have regular hours for breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Friday anymore, but still does catering and can be found many places around town.

By Hillary Brown | June 27, 2019
Lickin’ Chicken and Fully Loaded No. 2 Are Open, and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Jessica Silverman

Fully Loaded Pizza Kitchen

Lickin' Chicken, a drive-through with fried chicken, fish and okra that is a small chain out of Covington, is open in the former Church's on Oak Street. The Athens location doesn't have a web presence yet, but the Covington menu is up on Facebook, should you want a preview.

By Hillary Brown | May 17, 2019
Chuck’s Fish, El Barrio and Pelican’s Are All Open

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: El Barrio/Facebook

Chuck's Fish, an upscale seafood restaurant with an original location in Tuscaloosa, AL, is open for business, softly, in the former Greyhound station on Broad Street downtown. It's owned by the same folks at Five Bar and does dinner 4–10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with the bar and sushi starting at 4 and the full kitchen opening at 5. As with Five Bar, the menu includes Japanese and Korean influences (brussels sprouts with kimchi, edamame, shishito peppers) and Gulf seafood. If you're expecting a fish shack, this is not it.

By Hillary Brown | May 7, 2019
Farm Cart Is Open on Baxter, Mifflin House in Homewood Hills

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Farm Cart/Facebook

Farm Cart

Farm Cart's brick-and-mortar location on Baxter, in the space that was The Sultan until very recently, is open for business, much, much faster than anyone could reasonably have expected. Breakfast biscuits (topped with sausage, egg, cheese, organic micro-greens, pulled pork, fried chicken, gravy, ham, jam, housemade pickles and more—not all on the same biscuit) are available all day. Lunch starts at lunchtime. It's open 7 a.m.–3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and closed Monday.

By Hillary Brown | May 1, 2019
Newtown Has a New Bakery

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Baked via Facebook.

Baked might sound like the name of an entirely different sort of business, but this collective of three ladies, operating out of Newtown, is into croissants, not kush.

Faith Rocchio, RaeAnne Sturgill and Crissy Dobson all say they love to bake, but each of them has a different specialty. Sturgill says she prefers "difficult things like croissants, and I'm trying my hand at baklava; mainly flaky and buttery. Faith is all about cupcakes and fresh breads. Her lavender cookies are heavenly. Crissy is doing 4-inch and 9-inch pies that I'm betting are going to be as beautiful as they are tasty."

By Hillary Brown | March 22, 2019
Farm Cart Is Opening a Brick-and-Mortar on Baxter, and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

Photo Credit: Farm Cart/Facebook

Farm Cart

The space that was The Sultan won't be vacant for long. Beloved local food truck Farm Cartwill be taking it over this spring, with breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Saturday. Yes, there will be biscuits. There will also be espresso and beer. Woop! The Athens Farmers Market at Bishop Park, at which you can find the cart, gets going for the season this Saturday, Mar. 23 at 8 a.m.

More news:

By Hillary Brown | March 18, 2019
The Sultan Is Closed, Homewood Social Is Open and More Food News

Blog: Grub Notes

If you've driven past The Sultan, on Baxter, in the past few days and seen its windows papered up, your worst fears are now confirmed. Long-time owner Zouheir Abouharb is retiring from his restaurant, although he will continue to be at the Athens Farmers Market with hummus et al.

Homewood Social, Matt Downes' redo of the bowling alley in Homewood Hills, is open for business and now has a website. The menu includes a bunch of tasty-looking foods that'll grease up your fingers, such as cheese curds, funnel cakes, pizza, fried cauliflower and sandwiches, plus beer, wine and cocktails.

By Hillary Brown | February 20, 2019