By far the best option (based on what you are asking for) is the Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle. They specialize in southern cooking and is in a lovely historic old home.

http://www.bluewillowinn.com/

It's just a few miles off the interstate and is well worth the stop. If you think that interests you, email me at the address in my profile and I'll forward a discount coupon valid for March.

If you want to order from a menu, another option would be a restaurant in the gorgeous antebellum town of Madison. It's just a few miles past the Social Circle exit and the town is always at the top of the prettiest towns of America lists.

http://www.madisonga.org/Dining.htm

The Chop House Grill is good.

If you really want BBQ, there are two small family-owned options in Covington GA. Neither are fancy, but both are good.

http://www.bradleysbbq.com/about_us.html
Is just off the square in Covington - and is their second location. You may recognize the little town from movies and TV shows - Vampire Diaries is being filmed there now and the Mystic Cafe is a permanent set on the square.

Out a bit more in the country is Cowboy's BBQ. The owners are a couple who lost their jobs during the recession and opened a restaurant - and it's good BBQ. Again, neither are fancy at all.


ALL of the above mentioned suggestions are less than 3 miles off I-20, about an hour from Atlanta and around 1 to 1.5 hours from Augusta.


If you want a SPLURGE option, go to the very fine restaurant of the Ritz Carlton Reynolds Plantation at Lake Oconee. VERY nice - and a gorgeous hotel that looks like it should be in New England.

Feel free to email me if I can be of any help.

PS - you won't have much traffic. As you leave the airport, take 285 or the south end of the Perimeter Hwy and then head east on I20. You MAY have a bit of a back-up as you get on 20 around Panola Road, and then it will clear. That side of Atlanta doesn't have the awful traffic like the rest of Atlanta.

Thanks for all the recommendations. This is great. And I it is nice to know that traffic won't be much of an issue.

The Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle looks great - and the prics are very reasonable. They also have the coupon on their web site. I like the BBQ place in Covington too.

This is a business trip, so no splurging, but I like to do more than just exist on road food

I live in the general area so if you want a mini-GTG let me know. ira does too, but I don't think he's available now.

A GTG would be great, but I am only passing through for a couple meetings and then heading up to DC. I will actually be in Georgia for less than 24 hours. If I do my job right though, this should lead to more work and more trips to the area.