Favorite Restaurants 2011
Photo Credit: Cindy Jerrell
Italian
• WINNER: DePalma’s Italian Café
401 E. Broad St. · 706-354-6966
1965 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-369-0085
2080 Timothy Rd. · 706-552-1237
• RUNNER UP: La Dolce Vita
323 E. Broad St. · 706-353-3911
American
• WINNER: Last Resort Grill
184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810
• RUNNER UP (Tie):
Clocked!
259 W. Washington St. · 706-548-9175
Five Star Day Café
229 E. Broad St. · 706-543-8552
Asian
• WINNER: Thai Spoon
149 N. Lumpkin St. · 706-548-9222
• RUNNER UP: Siri Thai Cuisine
367 Prince Ave. · 706-548-7667
Sushi
• WINNER: Athens Sushi Bar Utage
440 E. Clayton St. · 706-227-9339
• RUNNER UP: Shokitini
251 W. Clayton St. · 706-353-7933
Mexican/South American
• WINNER: Sr. Sol
175 Tallassee Rd. · 706-546-1570
• RUNNER UP: Taqueria La Parrilla
2439 Jefferson Rd. · 706-549-4977
1431 Capital Ave. · 706-310-9991
Barbeque
• WINNER: Jot ‘Em Down Country Store and BBQ
480 Macon Hwy. · 706-549-2110
• RUNNER UP: Harry’s Pig Shop
2425 Jefferson Rd. · 706-612-9219
Bakery
• WINNER: Ike and Jane
1307 Prince Ave. · 706-850-1580
• RUNNER UP: Big City Bread Cafe
393 N. Finley St. · 706-353-0029
Ike & Jane's proprietor-managers got themselves a world of food-service experience, put a bunch of sweat-equity work into preparing just the place they wanted, and then opened to instant success which hasn't slowed down since, all these many fruity pebbles and blueberry doughnuts later. (Winner: Favorite Bakery)
Downhome/Southern
• WINNER: Weaver D’s Fine Foods
1016 E. Broad St. · 706-353-7797
• RUNNER UP: Five Star Day Café
229 E. Broad St. · 706-543-8552
Local Coffee House
• WINNER: Jittery Joe’s Coffee
1860 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-354-8000
1480 Baxter St. · 706-548-1099
1230 S. Milledge Ave. · 706-208-1979
780 E. Broad St. · 706-227-2161
• RUNNER UP: Espresso Royale Caffe
297 E. Broad St. · 706-613-7449
Local Pizza
• WINNER: Transmetropolitan
145 E. Clayton St. · 706-613-8773
1550 Oglethorpe Ave. · 706-549-5112
• RUNNER UP: Your Pie
1591 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-850-7424
196 Alps Rd. · 706-549-3179
350 E. Broad St. · 706-850-5675
1430 Capital Ave. · 706-705-1510
Local Burger
• WINNER: Clocked!
259 W. Washington St. · 706-548-9175
• RUNNER UP: Farm 255
255 W. Washington St. · 706-549-4660
Steak
• WINNER: Porterhouse Grill
459 E. Broad St. · 706-369-0990
• RUNNER UP: Longhorn Steakhouse
196 Alps Rd. · 706-548-1341
Seafood
• WINNER: Square One Fish Co.
414 N. Thomas St. · 706-353-8862
• RUNNER UP: Red Lobster
1956 W. Broad St. · 706-549-5376
Vegetarian Option
• WINNER: The Grit
199 Prince Ave. · 706-543-6592
• RUNNER UP: Gymnopedie
675 Pulaski St.
The Grit is Athens' neighborhood restaurant, where the waitstaff is as familiar as the menu - but always with surprises. Sought out by touring musicians, small children, hungry lawyers and everybody who can't decide between spinach feta lasagna and a Golden Bowl. (Winner: Favorite Vegetarian Option, Winner: Favorite Uniquely Athens Restaurant)
Dessert
• WINNER: Last Resort Grill
184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810
• RUNNER UP: Cecilia Villaveces Cakes
610 N. Milledge Ave. · 706-543-3308
Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt
• WINNER: Yoforia
1210 S. Milledge Ave. · 706-548-4020
• RUNNER UP: Yoguri
198 College Ave. · 706-354-8351
Buffet
• WINNER: Taste of India
131 E. Broad St. · 706-559-0000
• RUNNER UP: Peking Restaurant
1935 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-549-0274
2725 Atlanta Hwy. · 706-549-9333
Breakfast
• WINNER: Mama’s Boy
197 Oak St. · 706-548-6249
• RUNNER UP: Big City Bread Cafe
393 N. Finley St. · 706-353-0029
Hangover Breakfast
• WINNER: Mama’s Boy
197 Oak St. · 706-548-6249
• RUNNER UP: Waffle House
7 Athens Locations · www.wafflehouse.com
The Mama's Boy crowd started up in a space that has always been doomed to failure and made it a resounding success with a friendly fidelity to mouthwateringly good food from breakfast tofu stir fries through luncheon pimiento cheese, chicken salad and fried green tomatoes. (Winner: Favorite Breakfast, Winner: Favorite Hangover Breakfast, Runner Up: Favorite Brunch)
Lunch
• WINNER: Last Resort Grill
184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810
• RUNNER UP: Marti’s at Midday
1280 Prince Ave. · 706-543-3541
Brunch
• WINNER: Last Resort Grill
184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810
• RUNNER UP: Mama’s Boy
197 Oak St. · 706-548-6249
Date Night
• WINNER: The National
232 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-549-3450
• RUNNER UP: Last Resort Grill
184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810
Special Occasion Restaurant
• WINNER: Five & Ten
1653 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-546-7300
• RUNNER UP: The National
232 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-549-3450
Cheap Night
• WINNER: Taco Stand
247 E. Broad St. · 706-549-1446
670 N. Milledge Ave. · 706-549-2894
2131 Hog Mountain Rd. · 706-769-3233
2230 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-549-5481
• RUNNER UP: Little Italy
125 N. Lumpkin St. · 706-613-7100
Late Night (table service after 10 p.m.)
• WINNER: The Grill
171 College Ave. · 706-543-4770
• RUNNER UP: Little Italy
125 N. Lumpkin St. · 706-613-7100
Local Kid-Friendly
• WINNER: Brett’s Casual American Restaurant
3190 Atlanta Hwy. · 706-850-1395
• RUNNER UP: Cali ‘N’ Tito’s
1427 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-227-9979
Outdoor Dining
• WINNER: Cali ‘N’ Tito’s
1427 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-227-9979
• RUNNER UP: Big City Bread Cafe
393 N. Finley St. · 706-353-0029
Take Out
• WINNER: Choo Choo Japanese Korean Grill Express
1021 Parkway Blvd. · 706-353-8889
1055 Gaines School Rd. · 706-543-8888
• RUNNER UP: Peking Restaurant
1935 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-549-0274
2725 Atlanta Hwy. · 706-549-9333
Place to Eat When Someone Else is Paying
• WINNER: Five & Ten
1653 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-546-7300
• RUNNER UP: The National
232 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-549-3450
Restaurant for Adventurous Eaters
• WINNER: The National
232 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-549-3450
• RUNNER UP: Farm 255
255 W. Washington St. · 706-549-4660
Uniquely Athens Restaurant
• WINNER: The Grit
199 Prince Ave. · 706-543-6592
• RUNNER UP: Last Resort Grill
184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810
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