Favorite Restaurants 2013
Photo Credit: Porter McLeod
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
The perennial favorite. Three locations, each comfortably inviting with casual elegance and attention to the food. The food is Italian, but it's also whatever you want–from a salad through pizza to pasta in all its guises.
Runner Up: La Dolce Vita
323 E. Broad St. · 706-353-3911
DePalma's Italian Cafe - Winner: Favorite Italian Restaurant.
American
WINNER: Clocked!
259 W. Washington St. · 706-548-9175
You can't get any more American than Clocked, with its burgers and fries, onion rings and tater tots. Always an Athens favorite.
RUNNER UP: Last Resort Grill
184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810
Asian
WINNER: Siri Thai Cuisine
367 Prince Ave. · 706-548-7667
1040 Gaines School Rd. · 706-850-3500
In its elegant space in The Bottleworks (and now a second location on the Eastside, on Gaines School Road), Siri Thai lovingly presents the classics of its cuisine for dining that is casual yet upscale–and delicious.
RUNNER UP: Thai Spoon
149 N. Lumpkin St. · 706-548-9222
Sushi
WINNER: Shokitini
251 W. Clayton St. · 706-353-7933
Sushi done right, and lots of other Japanese cuisine, too, from seaweed salads to Udon noodles to steaks. But the sushi: Ah, the essence of the East.
RUNNER UP: Utage Athens Sushi Bar
440 E. Clayton St. · 706-227-9339
Sr. Sol - Winner: Favorite Mexican / South American Restaurant, Runner Up: Favorite Margarita.
Mexican/Latin American
WINNER: Sr. Sol
175 Tallassee Rd. · 706-546-1570
2455 W. Broad St. · 706-850-7112
Authentic Mexican food in large quantities at good prices, washed down by expert drinks. That spells "favorite," all right.
RUNNER UP: Taqueria La Parrilla
2439 Jefferson Rd. · 706-549-4977
1431 Capital Ave., Watkinsville · 706-310-9991
855 Gaines School Rd. · 706-548-5040
BBQ
WINNER: Butt Hutt Bar-B-Q
480 Macon Hwy. · 706-850-8511
Take good ‘cue and a full bar, add lots of TVs and Georgia Bulldog fanaticism, and you've got the recipe for success in Athens, GA, you hear?
RUNNER UP: Pulaski Heights BBQ
675 Pulaski St., Ste. 100 · 706-583-9600
Bakery
WINNER: Ike and Jane
1307 Prince Ave. · 706-850-1580
Work backward: Go in for the doughnuts; stay for the soup and sandwiches, and find out why this is one of those places that give Normaltown its ambiance.
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
The basics: fried chicken, pork chops, catfish, broccoli casserole, squash casserole, green beans, turnip greens, fried okra (gasp), corn muffins, caramel cake, cobbler, sweet tea. Automatic! (Hang in there, Dexter!)
RUNNER UP: Five Star Day Cafe
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
297 E. Broad St. · 706-613-7449
2950 Atlanta Hwy. · 706-542-8990
From the downtown upstart that brought the coffeehouse to Athens, Jittery Joe's is all over the area, reminding us why local matters.
RUNNER UP: Two Story Coffeehouse
1680 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-850-5422
1911 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-850-6701
Local Pizza
WINNER: Transmetropolitan
145 E. Clayton St. · 706-613-8773
1550 Oglethorpe Ave. · 706-549-5112
Both locations look like the kind of place where you can get a good pizza, and seeing is believing, along with tasting. A good calzone and lasagna, too.
RUNNER UP: Ted's Most Best
254 W. Washington St. · 706-543-1523
Local Burger
WINNER: Clocked!
259 W. Washington St. · 706-548-9175
We say burger, you say Clocked. Perennially the favorite around here. Tater tots, too. A great example of the power of local thinking.
RUNNER UP: Stuffed Burger
1860 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-850-8411
Fries
WINNER: The Grill
171 College Ave. · 706-543-4770
Whoa! To be chosen for best fries in this town? Do you know what that means? If you want fries with it, you know where to go. Want a burger with that?
RUNNER UP: Five Guys Burgers and Fries
101 College Ave. · 706-549-2811
1850 Epps Bridge Pkwy. · 706-549-9081
Burrito
WINNER: Barberitos Southwestern Grille and Cantina
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
2 S. Main St., Watkinsville · 706-705-1228
It's probably because they let you build your own burrito out of all those fresh ingredients, or because they're all over town, or just damn good. Whatever.
RUNNER UP: Taco Stand
2230 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-549-5481
247 E. Broad St. · 706-549-1446
670 N. Milledge Ave. · 706-549-2894
Taco
WINNER: Taqueria del Sol
334 Prince Ave. · 706-353-3890
In its former life this place fueled cars; now it powers the crowds who come for the fresh and inventive take on Mexican food.
RUNNER UP: Taco Stand
2230 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-549-5481
247 E. Broad St. · 706-549-1446
670 N. Milledge Ave. · 706-549-2894
Steak
WINNER: Porterhouse Grill
459 E. Broad St. · 706-369-0990
Sometimes, you just want a steak, and if you want it with a white-tablecloth ambiance, you know where to go, even if you want something else, which they've also got.
RUNNER UP: Longhorn Steakhouse
2170 W. Broad St. · 706-548-0054
Seafood
WINNER: Square One Fish Co.
414 Thomas St. · 706-353-8862
The owners may be local, but they know all the best places on the coast to grab their catch. They've spared you the trip, so you can buy shrimp instead of gasoline.
RUNNER UP: Red Lobster
1956 W. Broad St. · 706-549-5376
Wings
WINNER: Amici
233 E. Clayton St. · 706-353-0000
"Italian cafe wins Best Wings." That says it all, doesn't it? They have got to be good, and of course the wings are a specialty at a restaurant known for its fresh food.
RUNNER UP: Locos Grill and Pub
581 Harris St. · 706-548-7803
1985 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-208-0911
2020 Timothy Rd. · 706-549-7700
Amici - Winner: Favorite Wings.
Vegetarian Options
WINNER: The Grit
199 Prince Ave. · 706-543-6592
The Grit has taught us to enjoy the vegetarian option so much that we don't even think of it as vegetarian, just good home cooking served by friendly townies.
RUNNER UP: Broad Street Coffee
1660 W. Broad St · 706-548-2266
Sandwich
WINNER: Big City Bread Cafe
393 N. Finley St. · 706-353-0029
The sandwich as art form, as meal-in-itself, as anything made more delicious on just-baked bread. Big City has all the ingredients.
RUNNER UP: Marti's at Midday
1280 Prince Ave. · 706-543-3541
Dessert
WINNER: Last Resort Grill
184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810
You can go either of two ways here when you want a special occasion. Enjoy the "nouvelle Southern cuisine served in a warm, casual atmosphere" and then grab the cake, or come in just for dessert. Either way…
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
An infinite number of toppings from fruit to nuts to chocolate welcome you to the United Flavors of Yumm, where "any mix is possible, and all mixes are created equal." Yumm, indeed.
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
Ah, the Taste of India Buffet! Oh my! It is fast: no waiting. It is plentiful: eat all you want. It is an infinite variety, and it's all delicious, even if you have to read the label to know what it is.
RUNNER UP: Hibachi Grill Supreme Buffet
2020 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-546-8777
Breakfast
WINNER: Mama's Boy
197 Oak St. · 706-548-6249
Come prepared to wait on weekends. Come prepared to eat well anytime: all the basics from eggs to biscuits to tofu. Lots of people become regulars, like the codgers on the porch.
RUNNER UP: Big City Bread Cafe
393 N. Finley St. · 706-353-0029
Lunch
WINNER: Last Resort Grill
184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810
You met her at the 40 Watt, and she agreed to lunch, and you are going to impress her and enjoy yourself at the same time.
RUNNER UP: Marti's at Midday
1280 Prince Ave. · 706-543-3541
Brunch
WINNER: Mama's Boy
197 Oak St. · 706-548-6249
They hang around outside, patiently waiting for a seat, because what they get when their name comes up is worth every bit of the waiting.
RUNNER UP: Last Resort Grill
184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810
Late Night
WINNER: The Grill
171 College Ave. · 706-543-4770
If The Grill did not exist, it would have to be invented. Fortunately, it does exist, and it immensely improves your existence when hunger comes in the night.
RUNNER UP: Little Italy
125 N. Lumpkin St. · 706-613-7100
Date Night
WINNER: The National
232 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-549-3450
If you are sure about him, you take him to The National, where he's sure to be sure about you, surely.
RUNNER UP: Last Resort Grill
184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810
Meal for a Deal
WINNER: Taco Stand
2230 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-549-5481
247 E. Broad St. · 706-549-1446
670 N. Milledge Ave. · 706-549-2894
The Taco Stand is in a category all its own; maybe it should be called "Local Addiction." So, it's a good thing that wherever you are, you're not far away from one.
RUNNER UP: Little Italy
125 N. Lumpkin St. · 706-613-7100
Special Occasion
WINNER: Five & Ten
1653 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-546-7300
Oh yes: Five & Ten is the place to go for a special occasion, and it's the place to go if you want to make an occasion special.
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
Winner hands down–in the sand. See, they built this elegant bocce court, and then they saw immediately who was going to get the biggest kick out of it, so they've got this long, fun sandbox.
RUNNER UP: Cali N Tito's
427 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-227-9979
Outdoor Dining
WINNER: Ted's Most Best
254 W. Washington St. · 706-543-1523
So, there are all these tables outside with umbrellas, and the patio is right in the middle of the music scene and the food and wine and beer are good, and you can play in the long sandbox.
RUNNER UP: Cali N Tito's
427 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-227-9979
Take Out
WINNER: Choo Choo Japanese Korean Grill Express
1055 Gaines School Rd. · 706-543-8888
Always fast, always fresh, always friendly: Choo Choo has all the elements you want when you're taking out.
RUNNER UP: Siri Thai Cuisine
367 Prince Ave. · 706-548-7667
1040 Gaines School Rd. · 706-850-3500
Catering
WINNER: Home.made Catering
1072 Baxter St. · 706-206-9216
New, local, homemade, tasty, portable–what's not to like? Just one more example of how local entrepreneurs keep on replicating what we all like so much about Athens.
RUNNER UP: Marti's at Midday
1280 Prince Ave. · 706-543-3541
Chef
WINNER: Peter Dale at The National
232 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-549-3450
The unassuming chef, who shuns the limelight and stays focused on the food and the service and the wine list. The peanut gallery noticed, anyway.
RUNNER UP: Hugh Acheson at Five & Ten
1653 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-546-7300
Restaurant for Adventurous Eaters
WINNER: The Branded Butcher
225 N. Lumpkin St. · 706-850-5152
Even if you haven't been there yet, you've heard the word of mouth, and now it's a roar: a flair for food, tasty, well presented and surprising.
RUNNER UP: The National
232 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-549-3450
Restaurant That's Worth a Short Drive
WINNER: Chops and Hops
2 South Main St., Watkinsville · 706-310-1101
Well named, Chops and Hops has the cuts and the brews worth driving for, and it's also just a friendly, comfortable place where you can dine with friends or have your rehearsal party upstairs.
RUNNER UP: Girasoles
24 Greensboro Hwy., Watkinsville · 706-310-0410
Uniquely Athens Restaurant
WINNER: The Grit
199 Prince Ave. · 706-543-6592
If you know The Grit, you know why it is uniquely Athens. If you don't know, you've got a lot to look forward to. The Grit is the hometown restaurant for a lot of Athenians and a magnet for travelers.
RUNNER UP: Last Resort Grill
184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810
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