COLORBEARER OF ATHENS, GEORGIA LOCALLY OWNED SINCE 1987
February 29, 2012

Favorite Restaurants 2012

Photo Credit: Carlo Nasisse

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): Locos Grill & Pub

1985 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-208-0911

581 S. Harris St. · 706-548-7803

2020 Timothy Rd. · 706-549-7700

Brett’s Causal American Restaurant

3190 Atlanta Hwy. · 706-850-1395


Asian

• WINNER: Thai Spoon

149 N. Lumpkin St. · 706-548-9222

RUNNER UP: Siri Thai Cuisine

367 Prince Ave. · 706-548-7667


Sushi

• WINNER: Shokitini

251 W. Clayton St. · 706-353-7933

• RUNNER UP: Athens Sushi Bar Utage

440 E. Clayton St. · 706-227-9339


Mexican / Latin American

• WINNER: Sr. Sol

175 Tallassee Rd. · 706-546-1570

2455 W. Broad St. · 706-850-7112

• RUNNER UP: Taqueria La Parrilla

2439 Jefferson Rd. · 706-549-4977

1431 Capital Ave. · 706-310-9991


BBQ

• WINNER: Harry’s Pig Shop

2425 Jefferson Rd. · 706-612-9219

• RUNNER UP: Butt Hutt

480 Macon Hwy. · 706-850-8511


Bakery

• WINNER: Ike and Jane

1307 Prince Ave. · 706-850-1580

255 ½ College Ave.

• RUNNER UP: Big City Bread Cafe

393 N. Finley St. · 706-353-0029


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

AthensFavorites-WeaverDs.jpg

Weaver D's is world-famous for putting the soul in food, but Dexter Weaver still presides from the cash register, and the ladies in the kitchen still pile on the casseroles and collards, while the same cross-section of Athens folks fills the family-style tables, making room for visitors who may be there for the first time. An Athens institution—"Automatic!" (Winner: Favorite Downhome/Southern)


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

297 E. Broad St. · 706-613-7449

2950 Atlanta Hwy. · 706-542-8990

• RUNNER UP: Two Story Coffee House

1680 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-850-5422

1911 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-850-6701


AthensFavorites-Transmetropolitan.jpg

Transmetropolitan: People are breaking down the door to get at Transmet's good pizza. And no wonder: crisp crust, fresh toppings and savory sauces make Transmet's pizza the centerpiece, supplemented by all the calzones, lasagna, sandwiches and salads. Join the happy line downtown or drive right through the front door on the Westside. [Yeah: that joke's getting old already.] (Winner: Favorite Local Pizza)

Local Pizza

• WINNER: Transmetropolitan

145 E. Clayton St. · 706-613-8773

1550 Oglethorpe Ave. · 706-549-5112

• RUNNER UP: Little Italy

125 N. Lumpkin St. · 706-613-7100


Local Burger

• WINNER: Clocked!

259 W. Washington St. · 706-548-9175

• RUNNER UP: Stuffed Burger

1074 Baxter St. · 706-850-8411


Fries

• WINNER: Five Guys Burgers & Fries

101 College Ave. · 706-549-2811

1850 Epps Bridge Pkwy. · 706-549-9081

• RUNNER UP: Keba Spitfire Grill

1860 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-850-7285

1850 Epps Bridge Pkwy. · 706-543-8210


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 Thomas St. · 706-353-8862

• RUNNER UP: Red Lobster

1956 W. Broad St. · 706-549-5376


Burrito

• WINNER: Barberitos

259 E. Clayton St. · 706-549-9008

1860 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-549-9954

1880 Epps Bridge Rd. · 706-354-0300

1739 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-548-1866

• RUNNER UP: Taco Stand

2131 Hog Mountain Rd. · 706-769-3233

2230 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-549-5481

247 E. Broad St. · 706-549-1446

670 N. Milledge Ave. · 706-549-2894

AthensFavorites-Barberitos.jpg

Barberitos: It’s no wonder Barberitos, the ever-growing Athens chain of burrito joints, is a Favorite, since you can build your own burrito out of endless mounds of fresh ingredients at numerous locations around town. If you don’t like the result, you have only yourself to blame, but obviously, most people do like the results, and therefore most people like Barberitos. (Winner: Favorite Burrito)


Vegetarian Options

• WINNER: The Grit

199 Prince Ave. · 706-543-6592

• RUNNER UP: Gymnopedie

675 Pulaski St.


Dessert

• WINNER: Last Resort Grill

184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810

• RUNNER UP: The Grit

199 Prince Ave. · 706-543-6592


Ice Cream / Frozen Yogurt

• WINNER: Menchie’s

196 Alps Rd. · 706-208-7223

1860 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-850-8336

• RUNNER UP: Yoforia

1210 S. Milledge Ave. · 706-548-4020

142 W. Clayton St. · 706-548-4388


Buffet

• WINNER: Taste of India

131 E. Broad St. · 706-559-0000

• RUNNER UP: Hibachi Grill Super Buffet

2020 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-546-8777


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

eight Athens Locations · www.wafflehouse.com


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


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


Date Night

• WINNER: The National

232 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-549-3450

• RUNNER UP: Last Resort Grill

184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810


Cheap Night

• WINNER: Taco Stand

2131 Hog Mountain Rd. · 706-769-3233

2230 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-549-5481

247 E. Broad St. · 706-549-1446

670 N. Milledge Ave. · 706-549-2894

• RUNNER UP: Little Italy

125 N. Lumpkin St. · 706-613-7100


Special Occasion

• WINNER: Five & Ten

1653 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-546-7300

• RUNNER UP: The National

232 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-549-3450


Kid-Friendly Local Restaurant

• WINNER: Ted’s Most Best

254 W. Washington St. · 706-543-1523

• RUNNER UP: Brett’s Causal American Restaurant

3190 Atlanta Hwy. · 706-850-1395


Outdoor Dining

• WINNER: Cali ‘N’ Tito’s

1427 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-227-9979

• RUNNER UP: Ted’s Most Best

254 W. Washington St. · 706-543-1523


Take Out

• WINNER: Choo Choo Japanese Korean Grill Express

1021 Parkway Blvd. · 706-353-8889

1055 Gaines School Rd. · 706-543-8888

• RUNNER UP: Locos Grill & Pub

2020 Timothy Rd. · 706-549-7700

581 S. Harris St. · 706-548-7803

1985 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-208-0911


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Hugh Acheson, chef/owner of Five & Ten and owner of The National (plus Atlanta's Empire State South), author of his cookbook, "A New Turn in the South,", perennial James Beard nominee for best chef and a regular on the TV shows "Top Chef" and "Top Chef Masters," has done more than anybody in Athens to make us aware of good food and how to prepare it. Hugh's the Favorite, but he has encouraged and inspired so many other local chefs that somebody is bound to be sharing honors with him soon. (Winner: Favorite Chef)

Chef

• WINNER: Hugh Acheson at Five & Ten

1653 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-546-7300

• RUNNER UP: Peter Dale at The National

232 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-549-3450


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


Restaurant That’s Worth a Short Drive

• WINNER: Chops and Hops

2 South Main St. · Watkinsville · 706-310-1101

• RUNNER UP: Girasoles

24 Greensboro Hwy. · Watkinsville · 706-310-0410


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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