Zoe's Kitchen

If you've driven down Alps Road lately and thought, "hey, what the heck happened to Wendy's," the answer is that Zoe's Kitchen, a health-oriented vaguely Greek quick-service franchise, is taking its place. Zoe's has a number of locations in the Atlanta area, and its food is pretty good, even if Alps is a nearly uninterrupted flow of chain businesses.

In BBQ news, although Athens and the area in general isn't particularly known for its fine smoked meats, the Classic City BBQ Festival, brought to you by and at the Classic Center, is set for Aug. 16 and 17. Both professionals and amateurs will compete, and ticket proceeds from the tastings benefit the Food Bank.

Sr. Sol, the much beloved Mexican restaurant with two locations, is celebrating five years in business on Apr. 25, with specials all day and a mariachi band at the Broad Street iteration.

Finally, JB, the man with the grill, the Polish sausage, the comeback sauce and the desire to call anyone of the female persuasion "baby girl," is back in business outside the 40 Watt. His creations have always been one of my absolute favorite things about the Athens culinary scene, but an entire class of UGA students has missed out on the wonder that is the sausage with onions and peppers plus comeback sauce. Make up for lost time, dudes.