Italian

Winner: DePalma's Italian Cafe

401 E. Broad St. · 706-354-6966
1965 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-369-0085
2080 Timothy Rd. · 706-552-1237

All three locations are specialists in every form of Italian food from Pasta DePalma to pizza del giorno—the basics and the frills—with a great bar and desserts.

Runner Up: La Dolce Vita

323 E. Broad St. · 706-353-3911

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American

Winner: Clocked!

259 W. Washington St. · 706-548-9175

Fourteen varieties of burgers! Is that American? How about fries, tots, shakes? Are you getting the picture? Sandwiches, salads. As American as… Clocked.

Runner Up: Dirty Birds

312 E. Washington St. · 706-546-7050

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Asian

Winner: Thai Spoon

149 N. Lumpkin St. · 706-548-9222

It's kind of like your local diner for good taste and reliability, except that it serves an exquisite cuisine with many specialties right in the middle of downtown.

Runner Up: Siri Thai

367 Prince Ave. · 706-548-7667
1040 Gaines School Rd. · 706-850-3500

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Sushi

Winner: Shokitini

251 W. Clayton St. · 706-353-7933

Over 100 choices of sushi or sashimi, plentiful choices of rolls, a dozen different sakés, and state-of-the-art karaoke rooms all add up to this year's favorite (and last year's).

Runner Up: Utage Athens Sushi Bar

440 E Clayton St. · 706-227-9339

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Mexican/Latin American

Winner: Sr. Sol

175 Tallassee Rd. · 706-546-1570
2455 W. Broad St. · 706-850-7112

The perennial winner that excels at the popular favorites and the exotic specialties in both locations is hard to beat.

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

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Photo Credit: Porter McLeod

Pulaski Heights BBQ: Winner, Favorite BBQ

BBQ

Winner: Pulaski Heights BBQ

675 Pulaski St. Suite 100 · 706-583-9600

The Q brings them in, the friendly neighborhood vibe keeps them coming back and the comfortable ambiance makes it hard to leave.

Runner Up: Harry's Barbecue

2425 Jefferson Rd. · 706-353-7895

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Bakery

Winner: Ike and Jane

1307 Prince Ave. · 706-850-1580

You'll find yourself hurrying through your sandwich, soup and salad to get your shot at the bakery case filled with donuts, muffins, pastries, breads and cupcakes.

Runner Up: Independent Baking Co.

1625 South Lumpkin St. · 706-850-3550

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Downhome/Southern

Winner: Weaver D's Fine Food

1016 E. Broad St. · 706-353-7797

An Athens institution, an endangered species, an automatic guarantee of Southern soul cooking done right by experienced experts.

Runner Up: Mama's Boy

197 Oak St. · 706-548-6249

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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
297 E. Broad St. · 706-613-7449
425 Barber St. · 706-227-2161
1880 Epps Bridge Parkway · 706-354-8900

Location, location, each one somebody's favorite for the great, locally roasted coffee in all its guises with baked goods and sandwiches and room to work or hang out.

Runner Up: Hendershot's Coffee Bar

237 Prince Ave. · 706-353-3050

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Local Pizza

Winner: Ted's Most Best

254 W. Washington St. · 706-543-1523

Brick oven, thin-crust individual pizzas, hot, soups and salads, indoors and out, downtown in the mix, children's delight, retrofitted tire place—an instant Athens institution.

Runner Up: Transmetropolitan

145 E. Clayton St. · 706-613-8773

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Local Burger

Winner: Clocked!

259 W. Washington St. · 706-548-9175

“Local burger” says it all, and Clocked knows that's where it all begins, and everybody knows you can taste the difference. Local, organic and natural ingredients cooked fresh to order, plus it's a cool place in the downtown scene.

Runner Up: Grindhouse Killer Burgers

1553 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-612-9327

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Fries

Winner: The Grill

171 College Ave. · 706-543-4770

Any place that can master fries, when they're on every menu in town, has got to be doing something right. Yes, you want fries with it.

Runner Up: Trappeze Pub

269 W. Washington St. · 706-543-8997

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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

Wherever you are, you aren't far away from fresh, healthy ingredients that you can have assembled into exactly the meal you want. If you can't please yourself, you have only yourself to blame.

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

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Taco

Winner: Taqueria del Sol

334 Prince Ave. · 706-353-3890

Here in a sleekly converted gas station, the fresh ingredients on the seemingly simple menu raise Mexican food to a new level. Tacos are their focus. Six eclectic varieties plus a special taco of the week keep the crowds coming back for more.

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

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Steak

Winner: Porterhouse Grill

459 E. Broad St. · 706-369-0990

If a place is bold enough to proclaim steak in its very name, you know they know what they're doing, and obviously, the word has gotten around.

Runner Up: The Branded Butcher

225 N. Lumpkin St. · 706-850-5152

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Seafood

Winner: Square One Fish Co.

414 Thomas St. · 706-353-8862

Seafood done fancy, seafood done plain, but always seafood done fresh with all the trimmings—an unbeatable game plan.

Runner Up: Marker 7 Coastal Grill

1195 S. Milledge Ave. · 706-3451

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Wings

Winner: Amici

233 E Clayton St. · 706-353-0000

Wings in a downtown pizzeria? Favorite wings? They've got to be good. And they always are. In a town with wings on every corner, Amici is the place to beat.

Runner Up: Dirty Birds

312 E. Washington St. · 706-546-7050

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Vegetarian Options

Winner: The Grit

199 Prince Ave. · 706-543-6592

“Eat your vegetables” was never a more welcome command. This hometown institution is the neighborhood restaurant of the whole town.

Runner Up: The National

232 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-549-3450

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Photo Credit: Porter McLeod

Big City Bread Cafe: Winner, Favorite Sandwich.

Sandwich

Winner: Big City Bread Cafe

393 N. Finley St. · 706-353-0029

Big City starts with an advantage and builds French-influenced sandwiches that are delicacies in themselves, accompanied by soups and salads, too, of course.

Runner Up: A-OK Cafe

154 College Ave. · 706-355-3002

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Dessert

Winner: The Last Resort

184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810

The huge dessert case will stop you in your tracks when you first come in, and by the time you're settled comfortably into the warm surroundings, you know dessert is going to be special.

Runner Up: The Grit

199 Prince Ave. · 706-543-6592

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Ice Cream/ Frozen Yogurt

Winner: Menchie's

196 Alps Rd · 706-208-7223
1860 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-850-8336

Over a dozen flavors, all the toppings from fruits to nuts to candies, self-serve—frozen yogurt that keeps you coming back to enjoy the bright and friendly environment.

Runner Up: Yoforia

1210 S. Milledge Ave. · 706-548-4020
142 W. Clayton St. · 706-548-4388

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Buffet

Winner: Taste of India

131 E. Broad St. · 706-559-0000

The perfect buffet: a garden of earthly delights spread out before you so that you can concentrate on favorites and sample the less familiar—plus quick and delicious and right downtown.

Runner Up: China Star Super Buffet

3567 Atlanta Hwy. · 706-316-3382

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Breakfast

Winner: Mama's Boy

197 Oak St. · 706-548-6249

It's the biscuits; no, the cheese grits; no, the sausage; no, the stir-fry tofu; no, the breakfast tacos; no, the omelets; no, the salmon patties; no, the fruit cup. Hell, it's all of it.

Runner Up: The Grit

199 Prince Ave. · 706-543-6592

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Lunch

Winner: The Last Resort Grill

184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810

There's just something about lunch at the Last Resort: it's a combination of inviting ambiance, imaginative dishes and the energy of people enjoying themselves.

Runner Up: Marti's at Midday

1280 Prince Ave. · 706-543-3541

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Brunch

Winner: Mama's Boy

197 Oak St. · 706-548-6249

Hungover or not, for brunch you head to Mama's Boy for your weekly fix of carbs and protein and caffeine that gets you ready to get back into the game.

Runner Up: Heirloom Cafe and Fresh Market

815 N. Chase St. · 706-354-7901

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Late Night

Winner: The Grill

171 College Ave. · 706-543-4770

If you haven't been to The Grill for a late-night, after-the-event feast, you're missing half of what makes Athens Athens.

Runner Up: The World Famous

351 N. Hull St. · 706-543-4002

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Date Night

Winner: The National

232 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-549-3450

Nothing says you're special like an evening at The National. You know it's serious when she takes you there.

Runner Up: The Last Resort Grill

184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810

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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

Generations of Athenians know where to go for quick, tasty, affordable fare that is always one of the top reasons people miss Athens when they're exiled.

Runner Up: Taqueria Del Sol

334 Prince Ave. · 706-353-3890

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Special Occasion

Winner: Five & Ten

1073 S. Milledge Ave. · 706-546-7300

Actually, any time you go to Five & Ten it's a special occasion, so you're already ahead of the game as soon as you announce the place you've chosen.

Runner Up: The National

232 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-549-3450

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Kid-Friendly Local Restaurant

Winner: Ted's Most Best

254 W. Washington St. · 706-543-1523

It's a good thing grown-ups enjoy Ted's so much, because their kids are going to want to go there for the pizza and the big sandbox formerly known as a bocce court.

Runner Up: Cali ‘n' Titos

427 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-227-9979

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Outdoor Dining

Winner: Ted's Most Best

254 W. Washington St. · 706-543-1523

One of the few places downtown where eating outside is an integral part of the layout, away from the sidewalk. Sunlight just makes food taste better.

Runner Up: Cali ‘n' Titos

427 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-227-9979

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Take Out

Winner: Choo Choo Japanese Korean Grill Express

1055 Gaines School Rd. · 706-543-8888

What you get is a delicious, affordable feast, ready in a jiffy to turn any mealtime into a special occasion.

Runner Up: Siri Thai Cuisine

367 Prince Ave. · 706-548-7667
1040 Gaines School Rd. · 706-850-3500

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Catering

Winner: Home.made Catering

1072 Baxter St. · 706-206-9216

You're at an opening or a reception and, amidst the wine and the chatter, you realize that hors d'oeuvre you just bit into is fabulous. Chances are it's Home.made.

Runner Up: Marti's at Midday

1280 Prince Ave. · 706-543-3541

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Chef

Winner: Peter Dale at The National

232 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-549-3450

He shuns the spotlight, but he's always in control, fine-tuning the restaurant experience from day to day, so that everybody thinks it just happens.

Runner Up: Hugh Acheson at Five & Ten

1073 S. Milledge Ave. · 706-546-7300

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Restaurant for Adventurous Eaters

Winner: The Branded Butcher

225 N. Lumpkin St. · 706-850-5152

Local, homemade, creative, downtown—this is food lovingly coaxed into revealing all that skill and taste can contribute to the dining experience. Word!

Runner Up: The National

232 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-549-3450

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Restaurant That's Worth a Short Drive (20 miles or less)

Winner: Chops and Hops

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

Aptly named, Chops and Hops is a destination for the best cuts and brews, but it's got whatever else you want, too, in that friendly small-town atmosphere.

Runner Up: The Savory Spoon

705 Sycamore St., Jefferson · 706-367-5721

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Uniquely Athens Restaurant

Winner: The Grit

199 Prince Ave. · 706-543-6592

Run into somebody in Brooklyn and ask them what they miss most about Athens, and you will no doubt hear “The Grit,” and probably see tears in her eyes.

Runner Up: Last Resort Grill

184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810