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
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
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
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
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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