Step Back in Time with Athens, Georgia's Original Eateries
By Elizabeth Chambers | February 22, 2017 | 12:30pm
Photos: Elizabeth Chambers Travel Features Dining
The heart and soul of Athens, Georgia, lies in its history. The town may be famous for its adaptability to new trends in art, music and food—think R.E.M. and the B52's—but it is its timeless character and its must-see, decades-old locales that provide the foundation and confidence for the "Classic City" to play its role as quick-change artist.
A lot of people come to Athens to embrace that artsy culture and are immediately wrapped up in its nouveau scene. That makes sense, of course. The city, which is about an hour from Atlanta, is loaded with enough cuisine, venues and lounges to fill a much larger city and satisfy any trend-setter. Often, though, what folks are actually attracted to are the modern renditions of the traditional. What visitors should understand, however, is that the best version of the traditional, is the traditional itself.
This is especially the case when it comes to food. From old Southern meat-and-three restaurants to pharmacies with lunch counters, it is important for visitors to come to the home of the University of Georgia and pay respect to their elders. We've provided a list of our favorites. You can thank us later.
1. The Grill
Right in the heart of downtown, The Grill is the spot for late night eats. Since 1981, its doors have been open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The diner is home to giant burgers, big home fries and creamy milkshakes. Its retro vibe is actually just vibe attracts UGA students, locals and tourists alike. The restaurant is packed day and night, but especially when the downtown bars close at 2 a.m.
The original owner of The Grill, Bob Russo, knew how to please his customers. Back when the restaurant first opened, patrons would line up down the road and around the corner to be seated. Waiters went outside in the steamy Georgia heat to take orders in line so that food would be ready by the time they a party sat down.
2. The Varsity
"What'll ya have!?" The catchphrase is a Varsity rite of passage, but it is also the restaurant's slogan. The Varsity has been around in Athens since 1932—and is still just as popular today as it was back then. For its first 40 years, The Varsity sat thrived on College Avenue downtown. It has since moved up to the corner of Milledge and Broad. Opening at 10:30 a.m. seven days a week, The Varsity has always been the go-to spot to cure a hangover with a burger and fries.
3. Mayflower Restaurant
Located on Broad street, adjacent to the UGA campus, Mayflower Restaurant is among the only restaurants in Athens to remain in one location and stay under the same ownership for decades. It's slogan is "putting the south in your mouth since 1948," and it's been doing it longer than anyone.
The oldest restaurant in downtown Athens, the Mayflower serves up breakfast and lunch daily (except for Saturdays which are breakfast only). Featured items include eggs, biscuits and pancakes for breakfast. Sandwiches and fried chicken for lunch.
4. The Taco Stand
Looking for cheap Mexican food and a good (strong) margarita? Taco Stand is your best bet. This place has been around since 1977, marking 40 years of dishing out some of the best starving-artist food on the planet. The restaurant caters to a varied clientele, dishing it out in "mild, hot or extra-hot" for carnivores and vegans. Generations have grown up on deluxe (with sour cream) bean burritos, mega burritos (grilled), chips and salsa. Somehow, an extra salsa here still costs less than quarter.
5. ADD Drug Store
ADD Drug is one of Athens' underrated classics. Opened in 1961, this soda fountain-style lunch counter is located on Lumpkin Street, right off of Five Points. Its menu features burgers, fries, shakes, soups, sandwiches and salads—all for the best price you can find around. There isn't a better deal than a burger for $1.50 and a milkshake for $2.95.
Raised just a few blocks from the lunch spot, Allison Turnipseed (mentioned above) remembers: "When I was little—old enough to be left alone but not old enough to do much on my own—I can remember my mom letting me and my older sister ride our bikes up to ADD Drug for lunch—or just for a milkshake and some fries. The ladies working the soda counter knew us by name and were always so friendly. It was a huge part of my childhood."
Maybe it's watching your burgers being cooked in front of you, maybe it's the friendly ladies behind the counter telling stories of Athens back in the day, but something about ADD Drug—like all the places on this list—just makes you feel at home.
Elizabeth Chambers is a health intern with Paste and a freelance writer based out of Athens, Georgia.
Recently in Travel
Great Food and Real Animals Make Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge One of the Best Hotels at Disney World By Garrett Martin July 15, 2019
Where to See Fireworks in America's Biggest Cities this Fourth of July By Garrett Martin July 3, 2019
Universal's Endless Summer Resort Is a Value Hotel Done Right By Garrett Martin June 24, 2019
Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure Brings a World-Class Coaster to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter By Garrett Martin June 13, 2019
Flying the Millennium Falcon Is Great but Somehow the Least Impressive Thing about Disney's Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge By Garrett Martin May 31, 2019
More from Dining More
Beat San Francisco Traffic with These 5 Bay Area Restaurants By Dillon Thompson July 24, 2017 | 11:45am
Step Back in Time with the Jersey Shore's Original Eateries By Elizabeth Chambers June 27, 2017 | 12:30pm
The Best Dining Experiences on Kauai By Tiffany Leigh March 16, 2017 | 2:59pm
A Valentine's Eve Aphrodisiac Dinner, Solo By Karen Resta February 14, 2017 | 2:08pm
The Sporkful Launches Podcast on Race, Coding and Food By Dakota Kim October 10, 2016 | 9:02am
Gluten-Free Friendly Restaurants in Seattle By Gowri Chandra June 7, 2016 | 2:58pm
Take Five: Fine Dining in Las Vegas By Darryn King April 11, 2016 | 3:00pm
The Best Food Trends of 2015 By Paste Food Contributors December 29, 2015 | 9:00am
Jonathan Gold Weighs in on LA Food Trends By Laurel Randolph August 26, 2015 | 3:00pm
The Head and The Heart 2011-11-09T00:00:00-06:00
First Aid Kit 2011-09-19T00:00:00-06:00
Dylan LeBlanc 2016-07-18T00:00:00-06:00
Disney World's Skyliner Gondolas Will Start Service in September By Garrett Martin July 15, 2019
Disney's Epic Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Ride Finally has Opening Dates By Garrett Martin July 12, 2019
The Best Ice Cream Shops in Cape Cod By Arthur Levine July 11, 2019
5 Great Things to Do in Las Vegas Off the Strip By Garrett Martin July 9, 2019
Six Great Denver Breweries You Can Walk To By Josh Jackson June 27, 2019
Get Ready for a Ghostbusters Haunted Maze at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights By Garrett Martin July 17, 2019
The Main Street Electrical Parade Returns to Disneyland For a Limited Engagement This August By Garrett Martin July 8, 2019
El and the Gang Challenge Demodogs in New Promo Art for Stranger Things Mazes at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights By Drew Novak July 8, 2019
Bucket List: 8 Mouth-Watering Overseas Destinations By Lauren Kilberg July 25, 2017
Travel Secrets: The Role of Fear By Jess Simpson July 24, 2017
My Italian Holiday Taught Me to Drink Aglianico and Celebrate the Everyday By Kathryn Streeter July 27, 2017
Jet-Set Bohemian: Luxury Yacht Living By Lane Nieset July 21, 2017
Breathtaking Balkans: 3 Ways to Explore Kosovo By Sarah Bennett July 28, 2017
Take Five: The Bay of Kotor, Montenegro By Valerie Hopkins July 26, 2017
Breathtaking Balkans: Road-Tripping in Southern Serbia By Bridget Nurre Jennions July 23, 2017
Escape Artist Q&A: Adam Groffman of Travels of Adam By Carolyn Crist July 27, 2017
Croatia Guide: All you Need to Know about Zagreb's Medvednica Mountain By Andrea Pisac July 3, 2017
Gear Geek: The Unplaid By Nathan Borchelt July 28, 2017