Athens, Georgia

A tolerable refuge from the hell that is South Georgia! Goons that are fleeing from the vacuum of everything below our capital and want to throw some money at a philosophy or art degree often find themselves in Athens, Georgia- home to the University of Georgia and one of the poorest counties in the United States. Some sad saps still love this town and have contributed to a guide of how to avoid eating at Applebee’s or Wendy’s while in the city that spawned REM.

Bakeries and Delis

• Big City Bread
  • They make great cakes with vegan options. They also sell fresh bread, pastries, and have a café by the same name but under a different owner.393 N. Finley Street
• Black Forest
  • 1307 Prince Ave

Burgers and Fries

• The Grill
  • A fifties style dinner and Athen's staple. The service is sketchy but, the main appeal of The Grill is that it is open 24 hours, has "keep 'em coming" coffee, and diabetes inducing milk shakes. After a show my answer to what to do next is usually 'milk shakes at the Grill'. There are vegetarian options and few other places to get a decent meal at three am.college avenue downtown
• Clocked
  • The best burgers in Athens. You may also entertain yourself by watching silent B movies on the tiny TV or pondering the plastic dinosaurs. Those of you who think B movies and dinosaurs are over-rated are probably jerks. You probably wouldn’t like the double-bubble the give you with your check either. 259 W Washington St next to the 40 watt

Brew and Pubs

• Aromas
  • The space is absolutely beautiful. Although I'm of the old school that thinks lace, leather, and stained glass go well together. Their black currant tea is also good and they sometimes do wine tasting. 1235 South Milledge Avenue
• Copper Creek
  • Home-brewed booze “from tank to tap”. For those of you who aren’t local be forewarned smoking indoors is prohibited in Athens. Walk downtown and you’ll see crowds around the doors of pubs for this exact reason. Enjoy the fresh air- smokers and non-smokers alike!

• Cine
  • The tiny art house theater in downtown also has a bar with booze, coffee, and pastries. It's also been rumored that a restaurant is opening next-door in conjunction with the theater complex.

Cajun/Creole

• Harry Bissett's
  • 279 E. Broad Street

Coffee

• Hot Corner
  • Also known on and off as HoCo. It is open 24 hrs in the fall and spring and offers a coffee bar, lounge, pastries, sandwiches, and sasparilla. There is a patio and space adjacent for reading and alternately acoustic bands and poetry. The corner of washington and hull
• OK Coffee
  • Literally a hole in the wall. This place offers the only freshly made Belgian waffles and nuttela combination that I've found in Athens. An added bonus is the space next to the whole in the wall for eating, drinking, and loafing about which allows one to hide from the inevitable hobo asking for change. college avenue
• Espresso Royale
  • Various pastries, coffees, and sandwiches. Most importantly- convenient. There is also a space downstairs for loafing.Broad street

Cuban

• Cali’N’Tito’s
  • Decent fare and you can pretend you're at the beach by building sand castles out front although I don't think they'd like that much. Eat the Cuban sandwich and BYOB South Lumpkin

German

• Achim’s K-Bob
  • Sadly re-christened as “Uncle Otto’s”. Achim, a local entrepreneur from Germany who formerly played in the Berlin Philharmonic started “Achim’s” in response to the lack of Kabap's in the U.S. He offers beef, chicken, and feta. I go here when I want to know what it would be like to die happy from a heart-attack after I order the combo with fries, curry dressing, and a giant root beer. Downtown Broad

Mexican

• Agua Linda
  • I prefer their tacos here to anywhere else in Athens. Served with soft warm tortilla and tongue meat.Prince Avenue
• El Salvador
  • Plato Tipico 2 comes with a whole fried fish head and all. Doesn't get more authentic than that. Pescado frito is all over the damn place in the Yucatan.Gaines School Road in the corner of the ChooChoo Express lot

Indian

• Taste of India
  • These jerks usurped Bombay café by opening up this place not three doors down. It is debated as to which is better although I suppose it is pointless to argue now. They have a buffet and are the only Indian place I am aware of in Athens. Sad,sad,sad. Downtown Broad

Italian

• Little Italy
  • Cheesey Calzone at two am? Yes, ma'am. North Lumpkin Downtown Avoid the drunks by byob (bring your own billy..club)
• Transmetropolitan
  • Yes, there's tacky crap on the wall but that tacky crap is part of the building's history. The booths were hewn from the "heart pine wood" that was removed during the renovation of the building. The owner's are Georgian and one of them was a university graduate. The pizza is good and options are nigh endless. Get a large pesto pizza and split it with your nancy friends E. Clayton Downtown

Southern

• Five Star Day
  • If there is something to celebrate I always want to come here in the morning. The five star day breakfast: Biscuits topped with fried-green tomatoes, sunny side up egg, and white gravy. Fruit on the side, please. E. Broad Street Downtown
• The Grit
  • The Golden Bowl, The Daily Noodle Bowl, Vegan choclate death cake. The restaurant is all vegetarian and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a break from three-five. Another Athen's staple. You can not go wrong by buying their cookbook. Worth every penny.199 Prince Avenue
• Mama’s Boy
  • E. Broad st (just past downtown), alternately known as 197 Oak street, alternately known as Lexington

Sushi

• Utage
  • Japanese atmosphere and good sushi E. Clayton downtown
• Shokitini
  • Purportedly a new sushi/sports bar plus karaoke W. Clayton street downtown

Various

• Bluebird Cafe
  • Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner M-F, brunch on Saturday, and closed on Sunday. They serve good vegetarian fare although are unreliable in their menu. Myself and friends have been asked to change our orders serveral times in a single sitting. However, I find freshness prefereable to reliable frozen food. Nice atmosphere, nice staff, good food.493 E Clayton street and Thomas
• Common Ground
  • Free food brought to you by your local anarchists. Menu is dictated by food donated. Perfect if you are a hobo, college student, or just curious. These categories are not exclusive. Mondays, Wednesdays (4:30-8:00,) and Saturday (2pm) on College Avenue to eat and 157 N Newton Street to prepare.
• Farm 255 "The Farm"
  • A restaurant based on the philosophy of local, seasonal, and sustainable farming practices. The space is beautiful both inside and outside. Live Jazz is performed in the courtyard on wednesdays during half off house wine night. Athens' Full Moon farms is the source of the 255 concept and also functions as a research facility and teaching tool for the University and community. They serve delicious food with an Italian quality. The staff is acommodating, pleasant, and knowledgable. Be prepared to spend a decent amount of cash. 255 west washington street downtown, there is a sign but you have to walk down the courtyard to see it.
• Five and Ten
  • S. Lumpkin
• Lumpkin Cafe
  • Open everyday except Sunday for Lunch only, shares a house with "The Ecclectic Sisters" a store of novelties and local artist's work; or as one of the owners told me, "whatever we think is interesting". The cafe sells homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, and cakes. S. Lumpkin

Groceries and Specialty stores

• Daily Co-Op
  • For all your hippie needs. Bulk tofu, tabuli, pasta, soy sauce. Bulk most everything.Prince avenue under the giant hanging carrot that may or may not still be there
• Earth Fare
  • For the discerning hippie who likes to eat poblano peppers and seventeen different kinds of cheese. They also offer free cooking classes on every other Wednesday. S. Lumpkin
• Fook’s Foods
  • East-Asian grocery. Baxter
• Nameless Indian Grocery
  • Word on the street is she put her father out of business for spite. Only mention the "Oriental" that was once on Prince if you want to see her frown. This may or may not be entertaining or get you a discount.Baxter
• Gosford Wine
  • A very pleasant and knowledgable staff the corner of Alps and Baxter (Alps shopping center)