Best Dining in the South
Kathleen Walls
Published 6-11-2022
I've been doing a lot of road trips lately and have discovered
some of the best dining in the South. Here are a few must-dine
places.
Saint Augustine,
Florida
Saint Augustine has so
many fabulous restaurants, but I just discovered a wonderful
new one yesterday.
Ancient City
Brunch grew out of two high school twins' project.
Emily and Sophia
Schroeder conceived the idea from their own family's eating
habits. A 'brunchcuterie' which is a
charcuterie board on
individual choices served on a beautiful olive wood board.
Their mother, Melissa, loved the idea. Today it is a cozy place
in the heart of historic downtown, where you can have your own
board with a lovely message written on it for breakfast or
lunch. I loved my chicken salad on a croissant, with a chunk of
the best cheese I have ever tasted, and some fresh fruit.
Henry County, Georgia
Just Dogs in McDonough is a mother-son restaurant
specializing in unique hot dogs. Darrius was an Atlanta
culinary school graduate who got burned out and worked a
variety of other jobs before he returned to cooking. His hot
dogs are special.
Two friends, Tracy
North and Michelle Pyrtle, began
Rutabaga's Market &
Café in Hampton as an afterthought from their bottled
LeAnn's Gourmet Food items. The music décor is a blast from the
past with lots of vinyl records. The food is fantastic.
Welcome Home Creamery &
Coffee is another Hampton treasure. The husband-and-wife
team makes and serve homemade ice cream, pastries, and
specialty coffee.
Rico's Mexican
Restaurant in Stockbridge proves immigrants serve their
adopted county well. Ricardo Olivares, Sr. immigrated from
Mexico in 1971 and opened his first restaurant in Underground
Atlanta. He moved it to Stockbridge in 1982. It closed in 2000
but in 2002 his daughter, Chela, and her husband Mike Davis,
reopened and named the new restaurant, Rico's in memory of one
of the Olivares sons who served in the United States Navy. it
has been serving great Mexican food combining old family
recipes with new twists ever since.
Southern Fusion Dining in Locust Grove is owned and
operated by Chef Paul Lewis. A graduate of
the Art Institute of
Atlanta. His Bananas Foster Crepe special is a perfect example
of the mix of southern cuisine with a modern twist. One of his
specials is his huge delicious cinnamon roll.
Hamburger Mike's
is a husband-wife team operation. His Black Angus burgers are
done to order and you dress them from a serving cooler with a
large variety of fresh toppings. They also offer grilled or
breaded chicken breast, beef, Philly cheesesteak, fried bologna
sandwiches, homemade chips, and more. He has an extensive vegan
and vegetarian menu.
Florida Panhandle
Tropical Trader
Shrimp Company in Panacea has not only delicious seafood.
They have killer desserts.
Don't let the
name fool you.
Posey's Steam
Room & Oyster Bar has all kinds of seafood. I has some of
the best King Crab Legs ever there.
Dining in the
historic
Edward Ball Dining Room at the Lodge at Wakulla National
Park is a trip back in history as well as delicious food.
Lucy Buffett
branched out from her world-famous Gulf Shores, Alabama
location and opened a
LuLu's
in Destin in 2015 at Legendary Marine complex, right under the
Mid-Bay Bridge. I had the Shrimp and Oyster Combo and loved it.
Dessert was an enormous brownie with ice cream.
Pensacola dining is
over the top. I had a Lighthouse Platter at
Nick's Boathouse.
Not only fabulous food, it has a great beach view.
Another Pensacola
beachfront restaurant with delicious food is
Casino Beach Bar &
Grill . I
tried my first
Bushwhacker there. It won't be my last.
In Chipley I found
two favorites.
Sister's Sweets, Eats & More is a family-owned dessert
bakery and where I had a delicious quesadilla sandwich. There's
a touch of history in the old murals on her walls from the
building's previous incarnation as a grocery store back at the
turn of the 20th century.
.
Sliced Deli is the place for a quick snack or to buy fresh
lunch meats and cheeses. I had their New York Hot Dog and loved
it.
Macon, Georgia
Piedmont Brewery &
Kitchen combines beer and food uniquely. I had their famous
Smoked Wings and for dessert, one of their rotating kinds
of homemade cheesecakes, Lemon Cheesecake.
Oliver's Corner Bistro,
a downtown dining spot, specializes in fresh ingredients. I had
the Steak Quesadillas and a side order of Sweet Potato Fries.
Delicious and perfect portion size.
The Rookery is
another popular downtown Macon restaurant. It's décor and
Allman Burgers and Jimmy Carter shakes reflect the era. I had
the Pot Roast. Very tasty.
Blairsville, Georgia
Hole in the Wall
on the Square is a Blairsville institution since 1931, mainly
famous for their huge breakfast served all day long. I heartily
recommend them for the very hungry. Note: they do not take
credit cards.
Downtown Pizza Company
is a great lunch choice. They offer a variety of pizza
at the buffet, all hot and delicious. They include a dessert
pizza and will make specials if you ask. There's a salad bar,
so you can get a healthy veggie fix.
You've got to have
something to drink along with the great food. Why not a
moonshine cocktail at
Granddaddy Mimm's Distilling Company? You can ask for a
tour. If you're lucky, owner, Tommy Townsend, who played with
Waylon Jennings, may be singing or playing his guitar.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
The perfect stop for
early or late dining.
City Café Diner is open 24 hours and offers some of the
best Banana Pecan Waffles.
Even if you aren’t
staying at Hotel Indigo, stop in and enjoy great food at the
Wanderer Restaurant in
the lobby. I had a delicious omelet there when I checked in.
For
something unique, try
Naughty Cat
Café, Chattanooga's only cat café, and share a cup of
coffee or tea with some friendly kitties looking for a forever
home.
Pluckett's
Grocery is another great choice for a down home breakfast.
I enjoyed their Biscuits and Gravy. They offer lunch choices as
well in a old country store atmosphere.
Old Gilman's Grill used to be a paint store back in 1910.
In 2018, it became an American dining experience with a French
twist. I sampled the Bacon
Wrapped Dates with applewood smoked bacon, reggiano
parmesan, 12-year aged balsamic vinegar. So unique and
delicious. For dessert, try the
Flourless Chocolate
Torte with raspberry coulis and topped with vanilla ice
cream.
The
Purple Daisy
in St. Elmo at the foot of Lookout Mountain is great for a
quick snack. Lots of hot dog choices here. Or you could go with
barbeque or deli style foods.
Tony's is the perfect spot when you are browsing the Bluff
View Art District. You can do a pick and choose pasta. I picked
the fettuccini with Alfredo sauce and sausage. Huge portions
will provide a dinner later.
If you are looking for something more
upscale, try Stir
Restaurant in the Chattanooga Choo Choo. I had their Spicy
Chicken Samosas.
Nashville
The local
Farmers
Market offers all sorts of ethnic food. I tried the BBQ.
Very tasty.
Barlines at
Omni Nashville Hotel is a good place for a quick snack if you
are waiting for a timed visit to the County Music Hall of Fame.
It's just a few feet away. I had their Pretzel with a cheese
beer dip. Pretzel and sauce were both warm and fresh.
Florence
Big Bad Breakfast in downtown Florence lives up to its
name. The owner, Chef John Currence, was born and raised in New
Orleans, my original hometown, which is probably why my
breakfast of biscuits and gravy felt so homemade. His first
restaurant was City Grocery
in Oxford, Mississippi. I ate there several years ago
and loved it. In 2005, he was nominated for his first James
Beard Award for Best Chef South, and again each year before
winning in 2009. He now had eight Big Bad Breakfasts around the
South.
Rosie’s Mexican
Cantina
specializes in
handmade Tex-Mex food. Portions are large and tasty. I had the
Polo Loco,
Char-grilled
Chicken breast on a bed of Mexican rice with queso blanco. I
think that translates to "Crazy Chicken" but you'd have to be
crazy not to love it. The décor with Mexican art objects and
old-time signs make you feel like you are in old Mexico.
Marriott Shoals Hotel has a great dining
choice,
Swampers Bar and Grille. I had the Shrimp and
Grits for lunch and a Strawberry Cheesecake for dessert. On
Sunday evenings, try their buffet. There is live music, and the
room is decorated to represent the Muscle Shoals Sound with
guitars and photos of the Swampers and other musicians.
Carrabelle
Since the most delicious oysters in the
world come from Apalachicola Bay, I had to have some. Even more
so, since now harvesting of wild oysters is shut down until
2025, so now all are farm raised. I found
Fathom's Steam Room and Raw Bar, where I could do a sample
platter of several kinds of roasted oysters. Delicious! The
outdoor seating right on the water with live music is
reminiscent of Key West places I have visited.
If you want more sophisticated dining, try
The Crooked
River Grill
at
St. James Bay
Golf Club. I enjoyed their breakfast of Two Buttermilk Biscuits
with gravy & sausage. They also serve lunch and dinner and have
cocktails and local craft beers.
Carrabelle Junction is a step back to the days of
old-fashioned café diners. They serve ice cream sodas, malts,
and homemade soups and sandwiches. Prices are very reasonable.
The menu is small but delicious and freshly made. I had the
bacon, tomato, and melted cheddar cheese on an English muffin.
They filled the walls with old time coke, Pepsi, and other
vintage signs and cute items. Note: they do not take credit
cards.
Eastpoint
The
Red Pirate Family
Grill and Oyster Bar is a family-owned Forgotten Coast
restaurant with a Key West vibe. I had the southwest egg rolls
with a peg-leg sauce that was unique and very good. They
specialize in seafood, sandwiches, and burgers.
Southern food can hold its own with any
other location in the world because it has that special
Southern touch.