4 Best Restaurants in Central and North Georgia, Georgia

This cozy yet sophisticated restaurant put the Athens culinary scene on the map almost two decades ago with chef Hugh Acheson's inventive cuisine that blends European technique with down-home Southern cooking. Acheson, an Ottawa native, honed his culinary skills in classical French kitchens in Ontario and San Francisco before settling in Athens. His cooking has garnered numerous regional and national accolades, including a James Beard Award. Five and Ten’s seasonal menu draws from local sources and includes updated Southern classics such as pimento cheese with bacon marmalade; veal sweetbread with Red Mule grits custard and succotash; and Lowcountry Frogmore stew with shrimp, mussels and potatoes.

With its warm exposed brick walls and folk art decor, this local favorite specializes in Southern-inspired, from-scratch cooking. Everything, from the salad dressings to the bread, is made in-house. The menu offers a variety of salads, sandwiches, and "meat and three" mix and match entrées like fried catfish or meatloaf with your choice of veggies. Other specialties include shrimp and grits and grilled salmon with asparagus and sweet potato soufflé. The Moon Roof upstairs and Dark Side of the Moon Bar next door feature live music and late-night bar bites.

A favorite of locals and tourists alike, the Last Resort is a popular spot for dinner and boozy weekend brunch. Brunch, offered on Saturday and Sunday, features entrées like crab cakes, eggs Benedict, and a hearty "Lumberjack Burrito." Dinner items focus on classic Southern cooking with a Southwestern and Mediterranean bent. Think horseradish crusted–salmon and pork tenderloin stuffed with charred poblano peppers. Exposed brick walls, lined with reminders of the building's history as a 1970s music club, create a cozy bistro feel. The restaurant does not accept reservations, but you can call ahead for priority seating. There's lovely outdoor seating as well. 

Hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, and seasonal vegetables are the focus at this casual restaurant set in a cheerful old house in Nacoochee Village, just outside town. Shrimp and grits, whole fried trout, and slow-cooked ribs are customer favorites. There's also a nice array of signature cocktails and a wine list featuring several local wines.