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february road trip, dining/drinking suggestions athens GA & highlands NC

Posted on 12/29/25 at 5:34 pm
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
46834 posts
Posted on 12/29/25 at 5:34 pm
in athens GA, day drinking/eating and late night, 3 nights
in highlands NC, lunch/dinner and drinking, 2 nights
never been to either town...any other suggestions welcome for shite to do
please and thank you

after that we are going to asheville, i think i can figure that one out, then knoxville and nashville where we've been a few times before (and will be running out of steam by then)

i saw a suggestion for a late night place in athens called "the world famous"?
Posted by deeprig9
Unincorporated Ozora
Member since Sep 2012
73421 posts
Posted on 12/29/25 at 5:45 pm to
Describe "we"? What's your vibe?
Posted by deeprig9
Unincorporated Ozora
Member since Sep 2012
73421 posts
Posted on 12/29/25 at 5:50 pm to
quote:

i saw a suggestion for a late night place in athens called "the world famous"?


When it first opened around 2013-ish it was a solid place, food-wise, bar food but scaled up and fancy, with things like Poutine and Korean Dumplings, which 99% of Athens residents had never heard of, very cool, it was a regular spot to me that I would recommend back then, but management has changed hands too many times since then, food quality dropped significantly and I haven't been back in years.

It's a hipster bar, but also football friendly with a side room with a projector screen to show UGA games in a hipster-friendly environment.

My review of the place should be taken with a grain of salt, as I haven't been to that particular spot since around 2017.
This post was edited on 12/29/25 at 5:57 pm
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
46834 posts
Posted on 12/29/25 at 6:01 pm to
me and the bride
going on a short concert tour for billy strings
Posted by deeprig9
Unincorporated Ozora
Member since Sep 2012
73421 posts
Posted on 12/29/25 at 6:07 pm to
Billy on Feb 7th in Athens. Nice.

If you are there on a weekday, have lunch at Blind Pig Tavern across from the courthouse. All the lawyers and judges and clerks and court workers go to lunch, and jurors etc, and it's great people-watching, like being in an episode of Better Call Saul. It's "bar food" but I've never had a bad meal at Blind Pig Tavern. In fact, they have the best wings and the best burgers in town.
This post was edited on 12/29/25 at 6:12 pm
Posted by deeprig9
Unincorporated Ozora
Member since Sep 2012
73421 posts
Posted on 12/29/25 at 6:11 pm to
Where are you staying in Athens? You don't have to tell me your room number or anything, but what street, etc?
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
46834 posts
Posted on 12/29/25 at 6:49 pm to
hotel abacus near the arena (where the shows are). Stumbling or uber distance from there preferred LOL
Posted by deeprig9
Unincorporated Ozora
Member since Sep 2012
73421 posts
Posted on 12/29/25 at 7:28 pm to
Cool, that's the old Foundry Inn. Good spot.

Next door is the Lyndon House Arts Center, very cool place to kill an hour. I got married there. Be advised, when you look your hotel up on the map, see the big blue line to the East representing the North Oconee River, don't go over there. There's a homeless encampment. Most towns with a river flowing through them are touristy spots, not Athens. Stay away from the river.


ETA- Mary Lyndon was the first female grad of UGA, her grandson was this guy...

LINK

quote:

On April 30, 1970, Lyndon stabbed club owner Angel Aliotta to death in Buffalo, New York in a dispute over $500 owed to the [Allman Brothers] band. Lyndon was eventually found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity; his lawyer, John Condon, essentially argued that life on the road with the Allman Brothers had driven him crazy.
This post was edited on 12/29/25 at 7:35 pm
Posted by SpotCheckBilly
Member since May 2020
8302 posts
Posted on 12/29/25 at 9:11 pm to
The Last Resort Grill used to be pretty good. Haven't been to Athens in a while.

Cali N Tito's was a good casual, Mexi-Peruvian place.
Posted by deeprig9
Unincorporated Ozora
Member since Sep 2012
73421 posts
Posted on 12/29/25 at 10:26 pm to
quote:

Cali N Tito's was a good casual, Mexi-Peruvian place.


One of my favorites, but not walkable from downtown where OP is staying. Maybe he can uber there. BYOB place. Also cash only. Go to gas station next door, use ATM, buy beer, bring to Cali N Tito's.

But in early February, that's going to probably be pretty shitty weather for that setup.


Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
46834 posts
Posted on 12/29/25 at 10:34 pm to
yes the weather will be a factor. I’ll be happy if it’s anything better than miserable
Posted by LSUrme
JP
Member since Oct 2005
5440 posts
Posted on 12/30/25 at 9:16 am to
I love Highlands Smokehouse
Posted by Y.A. Tittle
Member since Sep 2003
109768 posts
Posted on 12/30/25 at 9:46 am to
Most of the food scene in and around Highlands is pretty forgettable.

Think Haute suburban country club dining room.
Posted by Tigers0891
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2017
7084 posts
Posted on 12/30/25 at 10:07 am to
Don’t be surprised if some of the high rated places in Asheville don’t live up to their hype. It’s been a while, but when I went about eight years ago, it was very mediocre at the top several places in town.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
46834 posts
Posted on 12/30/25 at 12:15 pm to
quote:

Don’t be surprised if some of the high rated places in Asheville don’t live up to their hype
we had a top 10 meal there the first time we visited at buxton hall but i see its now closed. i still think about those mussels in pork fat
Posted by Y.A. Tittle
Member since Sep 2003
109768 posts
Posted on 12/30/25 at 1:41 pm to
quote:

i still think about those mussels in pork fat


That was a truly remarkable dish.

Sadly that place (Buxton Hall) fell off a cliff rather quickly, as they decided to focus on their bizarre hipsterish Indian “concept”/influencer-magnet instead.
Posted by BigDropper
Member since Jul 2009
8420 posts
Posted on 12/30/25 at 2:12 pm to
quote:

in athens GA, day drinking/eating and late night
We live about 40 minutes from DT and frequently find ourselves wandering the streets of Athens eating and drinking the local offerings.

FOOD & DRINK
Emmy Squared Pizza - Detroit style pizza with interesting topping combinations, a really good burger. Good beer & wine. Near Bottleworks on Prince

South Kitchen + Bar - Typically a good beer list & good cocktails. Duck fat tater tots, fried chicken, shrimp & grits. Near the Classic Center. Probably the place we eat at the most frequently.

Seabear Oyster Bar - Oyster Happy Hour 4-6pm & 10pm-12am everyday, frozen Negroni on tap, good beer selection, outstanding cocktail program, scallop fried rice. In Bottleworks on Prince. Wife's favorite restaurant in Athens.

Chuck's Fish - good place to split apps or sushi & have a drink. Not a fan of their main courses. Decent beer & cocktails. Corner of Broad St. & Hull.

Shokitini - better sushi than Chuck's Fish. Really good tuna. Cold beer, some wine, ok cocktails.

Osteria Olio* - high end Italian. Ok beer, great cocktails & wine list. Good when it's good but service can be hit or miss. Lobby of the Rivet House Hotel.

The National* - high end Spanish-inspired Mediterranean food. Great cocktails & wine. We like to sit at the bar or in the bar area and share a plate or two over drinks. Hancock Ave. Near CCBC

Five & Ten* - Modern, upscale southern cuisine with European influences. Split a couple apps & have a bev at the bar.

*higher end places that might require an rsvp

DRINK
Creature Comforts Brewing Company (CCBC) - Best beer in Georgia (IMO). Taproom offers other beverages besides beer, but why bother? Hancock Ave

Cura - Newish cocktail bar and distillery by Creature Comforts Brewing Co. located behind the main taproom, that serves handcrafted cocktails using house-distilled spirits like rum and gin, alongside other craft beverages. Hancock Ave

Oak House Distillery - Cool local distillery operated by a UGA alumnus Foid Scientist & Biochemistry Professor. Decent spirits. Cool atmosphere. A bit out of the way. Outside the loop off Macon Hwy.

quote:

saw a suggestion for a late night place in athens called "the world famous"?
My favorite stop for late-night eating & drinking. Open until 2am on weekends. An eclectic cross-section of local Athenians. Very diverse & non-discriminatory. Great burger & fries.
Posted by deeprig9
Unincorporated Ozora
Member since Sep 2012
73421 posts
Posted on 12/30/25 at 2:20 pm to
quote:

Seabear Oyster Bar - Oyster Happy Hour 4-6pm & 10pm-12am everyday, frozen Negroni on tap, good beer selection, outstanding cocktail program, scallop fried rice. In Bottleworks on Prince. Wife's favorite restaurant in Athens.


Same.
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
46834 posts
Posted on 12/30/25 at 3:22 pm to
wow great info thanks so much
I’m looking forward to checking Athens out
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