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The Blue Willow Inn Restaurant in Social Circle |
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A NOTE TO OUR READERS:
"Our Favorite Regional Restaurants" is from the Favorites 2005 issue of Southern Living.
ATLANTA
The Atlantic Seafood Company (Seafood): 2345 Mansell Road, Alpharetta; (770) 640-0488 or www.atlanticseafoodco.com. Diners are drawn by the fresh seafood, but find it hard to
pass up dessert. We dream about the Passion Fruit Trifle, with layers of passion fruit curd and ladyfingers soaked in raspberry syrup. Lunch, dinner.
Mary Mac's Tea Room (Traditional Southern): 224 Ponce De Leon Avenue NE.; (404) 876-1800 or www.marymacs.com. On your first visit, the Turnip Green and Pot Likker Soup with
cornbread is complimentary. Try a selection of the cooked-from-fresh-daily vegetables, or enjoy Southern favorites such as Roast Pork with Dressing and Gravy or Chicken Pot Pie. Lunch,
dinner.
Rathbun's (Contemporary Southern): 112 Krog Street, Suite R, Inman Park; (404) 524-8280 or www.rathbunsrestaurant.com. Chicken livers never had it so good--paired with fig
molasses as an appetizer. If you're really hungry, go for the 20-ounce bone-in rib eye. Otherwise, try the Sea Scallop Benedict on Country Ham Grits with asparagus and spiced
hollandaise. Dinner (closed Sunday).
BRUNSWICK/GOLDEN ISLESBarbara Jean's (Traditional Southern): 214 Mallory Street, St. Simons Island; (912) 634-6500 or www.barbara-jeans.com. This small family restaurant with comfy booths stays
crowded. Homemade soups, pot roast, and veggies are standouts, and the crab cakes melt in your mouth. For lunch, try the meat and two and a berry cobbler. Other locations: Amelia
Island and Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida; Beaufort, South Carolina. Lunch, dinner.
SeaJay's Waterfront Café and Pub (Seafood): Jekyll Harbor Marina, 1 Harbor Road, Jekyll Island; (912) 635-3200 or www.seajays.com. Well-prepared food in a casual setting draws
islanders to this little frame house with a dining deck shaded by live oaks. The crab chowder is chock full of crabmeat and potatoes in a creamy broth. At night enjoy live music and a
shrimp boil, a one-dish meal of fresh shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes. Lunch, dinner.
DAHLONEGA
The Smith House (Traditional Southern): 84 South Chestatee Street; (706) 867-7000, 1-800-852-9577, or www.smithhouse.com. Pass the corn and peas as you dine family style
with other hungry guests. Platters are piled with fried chicken, and bowls filled with beef stew, creamed corn, fried okra, squash, and turnip greens, and other traditional favorites.
Lunch, dinner (closed Monday).
PLAINSMom's Kitchen (Traditional Southern): 203 Church Street; (229) 824-5458. You can order from the menu, but we like to go through the cafeteria line. One recent day the perch
fillets, scalloped potatoes, sweet potato soufflé, turnips, and green beans caught our attention. No wonder it's a favorite of Rosalynn Carter. Breakfast, lunch, dinner on Friday and
Saturday only (closed Monday).
SAVANNAH AREA
Firefly Cafe (Seafood): 321 Habersham Street; (912) 234-1971. Go for the Sunday brunch, with offerings that include Eggs Benedict with Crab and Grits, Blueberry-Corn Pancakes,
and crabmeat-and-spinach omelet. An old-fashioned hoecake complements the egg dishes. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch (closed Monday).
Georges' of Tybee (Seafood): 1105 East U.S. 80, Tybee Island (a 30-minute drive east of Savannah); (912) 786-9730 or www.georgesoftybee.com. Appetizer options include a
delicious blue crab-and-Granny Smith apple salad dressed with crème fraîche and horseradish on a bed of lettuce. Be sure to try the signature soup of crab, sweet corn, leeks,
artichokes, and thyme. Dinner (closed Monday; reservations recommended).
Holton's Seafood Restaurant (Seafood): 13711 Oglethorpe Highway East, Midway (about 30 miles south of Savannah; from I-95, take Exit 76, U.S. 84); (912) 884-9151. This greasy
spoon serves huge plates of fresh fried shrimp. Lunch, dinner.
The Lady and Sons (Traditional Southern): 102 West Congress Street; (912) 233-2600 or www.ladyandsons.com. Act like a local and get in line for fried chicken and seasoned
vegetables. The "Lady" refers to cookbook author and television chef Paula Deen. Lunch, dinner, Sunday buffet.
Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room (Traditional Southern): 107 West Jones Street; (912) 232-5997 or www.mrswilkes.com. Make friends with others seated at your table while you wait for
the platters of fried chicken and ham, and bowls filled with vegetables to be brought out. We return every chance we get. Lunch (closed Saturday-Sunday).
Olde Pink House (Seafood): 23 Abercorn Street; (912) 232-4286. This lovely 1700s mansion really is pink. You must order the she-crab soup and the shrimp and grits. The same food
is served in the tavern downstairs. Dinner.
Palmyra Plantation at Melon Bluff (Seafood): south of Savannah in Midway, Georgia; (912) 884-5779, 1-888-246-8188, or www.melonbluff.com. This coastal hideaway offers
comfortable quarters, nature-based activities, and can arrange a Lowcountry boil.
SOCIAL CIRCLEThe Blue Willow Inn Restaurant (Traditional Southern): 294 North Cherokee Road (State 11); (770) 464-2131, 1-800-522-8813, or www.bluewillowinn.com. When driving between
Atlanta and Augusta, we try to time our trip to stop for a meal at this lovely plantation-style home a few miles north of I-20. From the buffet we load our plates with fried chicken,
sweet potato soufflé, turnip greens, and fried okra (there are more selections, but no room on our plate). Just one dessert won't do, so we usually end up with small samples of several
scrumptious cakes, pies, and puddings. Lunch, dinner (closed Monday; reservations recommended).
WARM SPRINGSThe Bulloch House Restaurant (Traditional Southern): 47 Bulloch Street; (706) 655-9068. Dining tables fill the rooms of this 1892 house where country cooking is served buffet
style. Be sure to try the fried chicken, a specialty. Lunch, dinner (Friday and Saturday).
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