Where You’ll Want to Dine in Athens, Georgia

When The National opened in 2007, it quickly became an Athens staple. It’s in the heart of downtown on Hancock Street, serving exceptional food in a casual environment. The neighborhood vibe of The National matches its setting, while the cuisine resembles what you’d normally find in Athens, Greece instead of Athens, Georgia. Pop into The National to snack on shareables like Medjool dates, olives, flatbread, and hummus, or enjoy something more substantial like a chard and tomato pizzette or hanger steak served with cauliflower, mushrooms, and arugula. Pro tip: If you’re across the street at Creature Comforts brewery or having a few at Little Kings, order food from The National to be delivered to you for only $1. Of course, you can always make a reservation and then hit your favorite watering hole, too.  

Everything about ZZ and Simone’s is Instagrammable, whether you’re enjoying a drink under the café lights on the upstairs patio or a Spritz (they have five to choose among!) at the bohemian-style blush and beadboard bar downstairs. The newest hot spot in Athens has a chic coastal vibe and delivers fresh pastas, pizzas, and other Italian favorites. It’s light and airy, casual and completely hip. Sip on a margarita with mandarin orangecello before enjoying a fresh yellowtail or salmon crudo, followed by a margherita pizza, chicken Parmesan, or the spaghetti al limone, which is a like a brighter cacio e pepe. Don’t sleep on the sides, either: The grilled carrots are a must-have, served with ricotta and a white balsamic, and could easily take the role of an appetizer. Snag a reservation as soon as you can — ZZ and Simone’s is booking up fast, and for a good reason.  

If Athens is the Classic City, Last Resort Grill is the classic Athens restaurant. It’s refined yet cozy, serving fresh southern food with an approachable, upscale vibe. With an open kitchen as the focal point in its narrow dining room, look doe daily specials in addition to signature items like the southwestern pork roll, praline chicken, and Carolina crab cakes. Whether you’re there for weekend brunch, lunch, or dinner, you really can’t go wrong — as long as you order the fried green tomatoes (appetizer or sandwich) and dress your salad with the Vidalia bacon dressing. Oh, and save room for dessert. Cake and cheesecake flavors change daily, but you won’t be disappointed with the strawberry cake or the white chocolate cheesecake.

Find more info here.

Vegetarians rejoice: The Grit is hands-down one of the best vegetarian restaurants you’ll find. Even if you’re not always committed to the no-meat lifestyle, you’ll briefly give up the beef to enjoy veg-forward dishes like the Grilled Cheese Smelt, made with homemade whole wheat bread toasted with melted cheddar and finished with fresh spinach and tomato. Or try the hot noodle bowl of the day, which comes with veggies and hearty tofu sauteed in a revolving roster of Asian-inspired sauces, tossed with noodles, and served in a huge bowl piping hot. Or keep it simple and snag a few veggies to create your own veggie plate — either way, you won’t be sorry. Open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, The Grit is always a good choice when you’re in downtown Athens.

Find more info here.

On any given night at Porterhouse Grill, you can expect to find couples on a date, families enjoying a celebratory dinner, or a group of students filling up before a formal or semi-formal event. This fine-dining American steakhouse is an Athens staple when you’re looking for a nice evening out on the town. Located on Broad Street in downtown, Porterhouse is the perfect place to start your evening with a Moscow Mule or French Martini, then fill up on steak before hitting the downtown bar scene. Try the Bleu Filet, served with melted blue cheese and herbed butter alongside green beans and mashed red potatoes. If you’re not in the mood for steak, go for the she-crab soup to start and either the shrimp scampi, served with tomatoes, baby spinach, and garlic butter sauce over angel hair, or the chicken saltimbocca. On Wednesdays, enjoy live jazz from 6-9 p.m.  

With three Athens locations, there’s no reason not to visit DePalma’s when you’re craving Italian fare. What started as a pizza joint in 1988 is now a pillar of the Athens restaurant community, always serving up fresh and delicious pizza, pasta, and more. While each location’s menu varies slightly, you can always find favorites like the Italian chopped salad or the Pasta DePalma, which is angel hair baked with rosemary cream, mushroom, mozzarella, and your choice of additional protein or veggie (go for the ham and artichoke!) on the menu. Or you can build your own pasta dinner or pizza if you know exactly what you want. Open for lunch or dinner, DePalma’s is a go-to spot for a casual family meal or a romantic date night. Whatever you do, make sure you order the breadsticks right when you sit down; they’re made from scratch, take a little time, and are totally worth it.

More info here.

If you didn’t know it was there, nestled in a Craftsman-style house among the sorority and fraternity houses on Milledge Avenue, you might miss it. But the people waiting outside on the sidewalk for Five and Ten to open know exactly what’s up. They know that you’ll find an inviting and intimate dining experience, where every room in the house has a distinct vibe, from the dark and cozy bar to the sunroom, where the natural light beams in. No matter where you sit, you’ll enjoy fresh southern food from one of the best in the biz; James Beard Award-winning chef and owner Hugh Acheson has been delighting diners in Athens for 22 years. Stop in for happy hour from 5-7 p.m. on weekdays and 4-6 p.m. on weekends to try the rosemary-ginger gimlet or a refreshing paloma. Then snack on the burrata with fresh grilled bread or the pimento cheese with bacon marmalade (an Acheson favorite). For your entrée, go with the catfish with tomato chutney or pasta primavera, served with Serrano ham, peas, crème fraiche, and dill. 

Call 706-546-7300 for reservations.

The authentic Latin kitchen opened in the mid-2000s and has two locations; one on Lumpkin Street near UGA’s campus and one on the East Side of town. It’s an open restaurant — and most of the seating is outside at picnic tables, creating an inviting communal experience. Go for the food and stay for the atmosphere; Cali-N-Tito’s is a laid-back, dog-friendly, kid-friendly place to relax on a warm afternoon and enjoy a simple and delicious handheld meal. Yes, they have salads and items to eat with a fork, but do yourself a favor and go for the tacos, quesadillas, or sandwiches. Favorites include fish tacos, plantain chips, and the chicken El Sandwich Cubano, although all of the sandwiches are worthy of your time and six bucks. Heads up that the Lumpkin Street location is cash-only and you can BYOB; the East Side location takes credit cards.

Find more info here.

Looking for breakfast? Look no further than Mama’s Boy. Line up outside one of the two locations to get your hands on the famous made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuits, peach French toast, and creamy cheese grits. There are no reservations and it’s first-come, first-served, so get your early bird friends out at 7 a.m. to fuel up for the day. Fan favorites include the vegetable and egg scrambler with spinach, onion, goat cheese, and tomato scrambled with two eggs; chocolate cake for breakfast (exactly what it sounds like); and the Mill Town Breakfast Plate. You also can’t go wrong with any of the biscuit sandwiches, made your way, or the homemade cinnamon bun.

No reservations. Find more info here.

Trapeze is pub perfection on tap. Another downtown Athens staple since 2007, Trapeze serves up elevated pub fare like a stellar turkey and Swiss sandwich, Belgian fries, loaded mac ‘n’ cheese with cheddar, bacon, green onions, blue cheese crumbles, poblano, and caramelized onions, and, of course, lots of beer. In addition to 33 draft beers and hundreds of bottles, Trapeze’s cocktail game is strong — one of the best in downtown Athens, even. Cocktails rotate seasonally, and you can expect to find twists on your favorite Moscow Mule, French 75 as well as new original creations. Try the “Sorry, I Just Don’t Like RHCP That Much,” with jalapeno-infused blanco tequila, Ancho Reyes, mezcal, lime, and red pepper syrup or the Trappeze Mai Tai beer cocktail, with rum, Berliner Weisse, lime, orgeat, and Angostura bitters.