Athens Tour of Burgers: Allen’s

Allen’s is nothing short of an Athens institution, in my opinion. Its place in the annals of Athenian history has been solidified by both the B-52s (“going down to Allen’s/for a 25 cent beer”) and my Dad (“Kristen, I hope you’re not going to Allen’s for the same reasons I did in college!”). That’s enough for me.

AMBIANCE: 4.1
Once again the atmosphere for the Burger Tour is the same–college/beer paraphernalia decor, a few video games. Allen’s actually has a couple of pool tables in the back and a nice patio that faces Hawthorne Avenue. One reviewer described Allen’s as “cozy for a burger place.” Perhaps its older clientele (we 30somethings were the youngest people there) contributed to the comfy ethos. It’s a place you could bring your grandpa who likes a cold beer with his burger and onion rings. They have other offerings, too, like chicken sandwiches and salads.

PRICING: 4.5
Bottom line: at Allen’s you can get the Allen’s Burger, which is moderately-sized (think McD’s or Wendy’s as opposed to Blind Pig or Burger Factory), for $3.50, and a side of fries or onion rings for an additional cost ($1.50-2.99) that still keeps you in the $5-6 range. Reviewers mentioned their satisfaction with the cost in relation to “the amount of food.”

FOOD: 4.6
In some ways, comparing Allen’s to, say, White Tiger just isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison. Allen’s turns out an excellent burger, and I’d go back in a heartbeat (especially for the brownie a la mode!), but of course no one’s in the back grinding the sustainably-farmed meat from fresh beef. Both are excellent choices, but the yield is different by definition of the restaurants’ presentation and practices. Plenty of room for both.

Reviewers were happy with management’s eagerness to comply with special requests (extra cheese!) and with the quality of the fries and onion rings. “Classic American burger,” commented one reviewer. “Not gourmet…classic.”

DRINKS: 4.3
Coke fountain accessible to customers, Terrapin beer (and others) on tap, full bar. Honestly, my margarita was not the best, but that’s what I get. Should have ordered a Terrapin Golden Ale like last time…lesson learned.

Two pleas to Allen’s–PLEASE get Coke Zero and offer hard cider (Woodchuck’s fine)!

SERVICE: 4.5
One of the things I love to see is that Allen’s is savvy with social media. You can follow them on Twitter, and their feed is active and lively. Whenever I’ve visited, they’ve made me feel right at home (you know, that must contribute to that “cozy” feeling, too). The day of our last visit was a bit of an anomaly–it took longer than usual to get our dessert and checks–but I was glad to see the full dining room. Management and wait staff checked with us several times to make sure we had what we needed, and apologized for delays. No big deal.

This was the last stop on the Burger Tour, though we could have added more destinations, from what I hear! I keep hearing amazing things about The Royal Peasant, and apparently they have a burger–but we’re going to place them on the “Miscellaneous Tour” (gotta think of a better name for that one) that’s going to take place in January, after the Athens Tour of BBQ.

Athens Tour of Burgers: Blind Pig Tavern

I was dragged reluctantly to Blind Pig Tavern, but it was actually one of the best burger deals in Athens! Just as a reminder, all Tours are the same: 1 is nasty, 5 is awesome. We’re coming to the conclusion of the Burger Tour, but because only a couple of us made it to Allen’s, we’ll return there this week; I’ll give a comprehensive review after that visit. I’ll also announce the Burger Tour winner at that time!

AMBIANCE: 3.5
Nothing fancy; the Blind Pig is “your typical burger joint.” It’s a college bar–posters, beer signs. even a modern jukebox. I appreciated the 80s music (Asia!) that played while we dined, and I heard from both male and female sources that the restrooms were clean.

PRICING: 4.4
Really excellent, especially comparatively. The burgers rival some of the gourmets in town, and you get your burger AND a side (good fries!) for $8. Beer is also reasonably priced–$1.50 to $4 for a pint, $3.50 cider. Average selection for a full bar in Athens.

FOOD: 3.8
One reviewer found her food “too hot, too dry, too overcooked,” and one didn’t get his BBQ sauce on his BBQ burger, but everyone else was extremely satisfied with their food. “Sixteen different burger choices!” raved Chris, who ordered the ONE POUNDER pictured above…and ate every bite. I was extremely happy with a lovely fried egg sitting on top of mine–if you haven’t tried it, you should. An egg slapped on top of almost anything makes it better, I’m convinced.

SERVICE: 3.6
Absolutely average–nothing to complain about. Our order was taken and food arrived in a timely manner. Our server checked on us often.

DRINKS: 4.25
Coke products and an average selection for a full bar in Athens (13 beers on tap). It’s no Mellow Mushroom, but you should be able to find something you’ll like. The glasses are HUGE, which probably accounted for a slight rating boost from the reviewers!

Athens Tour of Burgers: Broad St. Bar & Grill

I’d never been to Broad Street Bar & Grill, a classic Athens bar, before; usually people are smoking outside of it (a sure deterrent for me), and I never thought to drop in. When we began this Tour, a friend suggested it as a must-stop, and every time I mentioned it to someone, they were almost guaranteed to reply, “Oh, yeah! Their burgers are good!”

I found out something that may interest the community at large: the owner told me that Broad Street Bar & Grill will be closing soon for renovations, and EVERY piece of memorabilia (that’s a LOT of stuff) is for sale. “Just make an offer,” he said. And he meant it. I got my dad’s Christmas presents in one fell swoop! YESSSS! I’m not kidding.

Anyway, on to the review. As usual, ratings are 1=nasty and 5=awesome.

AMBIANCE: 3.75
BSB&G is a college bar…period. LOTS of UGA memorabilia, older-looking chairs and tables that have seen their day, a video game, a cigarette machine. The latter was actually what sparked the conversation with the owner. “Um, why did you just take a picture of my cigarette machine?” he asked. I replied that it’s old, and I hadn’t seen one in a while. “There are four just like it on this street alone.” Guess I don’t go to bars much. Reviewers commented, “I definitely know I’m at UGA,” and “great if you love the Dawgs.” We also noted the clientele were all male. Um, except for three reviewers.

PRICING: 4.6
Especially after dining at some of the more gourmet outlets in town, we were pleasantly surprised that a 1/2 lb burger and side are $7.99.

FOOD: 4.25
The burgers were juicy, well-cooked and huge; not as amazing as White Tiger, obviously, nor as perfect as the Burger Factory, but darn good. There is a vegetarian option (a Boca Burger), but I doubt they sell a lot of those. The primary offerings have names like “Big Mama” (ahem, my choice) and “Big Dawg.” Manly! Options for sides: fries, coleslaw, vegetable medley (sauteed), and for an additional .50, lovely beer-battered onion rings.

DRINKS: 4.6
Coke products, full bar to include cider. There’s a “101 Shots” menu and a huge plaque on the wall with the names of people who have downed all 101.

SERVICE: 4.0
Our waitress checked on us several times and was super quick to check on specialty items (spicy mustard) or to fulfill requests (ranch on the side). One funny note: one of our diners got two top buns and the other two bottoms! Hee hee! They exchanged. No big deal.

This was supposed to be the Burger Tour’s last stop, but I have been goaded into going to Blind Pig Tavern next week. After that, we’re starting a mini-BBQ tour that will take us through the end of the year!

Athens Tour of Burgers: White Tiger Gourmet

White Tiger Gourmet is one of Athens’ best kept secrets, but it should be shouted from the rooftops.

Chef/owner Ken Manring and chocolatier/co-owner Amanda Crouse run this amazing mom-and-pop (um, literally) gem. Amanda, a UGA grad in Fine Arts, was “introduced to chocolate making while working at the Chocolate Shoppe (now closed) in downtown Athens.” She creates exquisite, creamy dark and milk chocolates you simply can’t find anywhere else, especially in the Athens area. Ken trained at the Culinary Institute of America in New York and worked in Vermont, Washington, California and Mexico before settling in his native Georgia. Usually you can spot their toddler horsing around the restaurant (mine would be busy breaking their artwork, but I digress). Everyone’s family here.

White Tiger used to be open for lunch only, but recently began serving Friday and Saturday night dinners. I haven’t been and am dying to go; they usually have a band or musician playing, too. You can follow White Tiger on Facebook here.

We had a great crowd for this stop; seven foodies rated this week’s burgers. As usual, the scale is 1-5, where 1 = horrid and 5 = amazing.

AMBIANCE: 4.0
“Relaxed and inviting.” There’s plenty of seating in this homey, laid-back eatery. It’s not fancy; it’s comfortable, artsy, unique–three things that, combined, characterize Athens “fine dining” to me. Fine dining is about the FOOD, not the cloth napkins. “My kind of place,” one reviewer remarked. “The building has a great history that is discussed in the menu,” wrote another. Here’s that history, quoted here because it’s another thing that makes Athens special:

White Tiger makes its home in the 100-plus year old structure on Hiawassee Avenue, in the Historic Boulevard District. Built in 1905, the space originally housed a grocery store called Davis House and served the needs of the then mill neighborhood. In the sixties, it became a restaurant called Thrashers, famous for their sausage biscuits; and more recently was home to The Green Scene and then Rooster’s BBQ.

PRICING: 3.3
This rating reflects some reviewers’ opinion that the dishes are “expensive for only a burger”–but the menu’s pricing is comparable to Clocked and Burger Factory. You get what you pay for; some reviewers felt “the prices are reasonable for the kind of food offered.” There’s a difference betweem McDonald’s ‘beef’ and fresh-ground, handmade all-beef patties and local, organic vegetables. It’s very easy to make a nice plate there for under $10, so ultimately I find it extremely reasonable. The chocolates are weighed, and you’ll get a wonderful deal compared to costly Godiva nastiness.

FOOD: 4.2
White Tiger’s food is seasonally-focused and inspired by Southern comfort food, with a healthy bent. Staples on their menu include pecan wood-smoked pulled pork BBQ (the “White Tiger” sauce is a wonderful and vinegar-based), smoked chicken salad, huge burgers, several appetizing vegetarian/vegan options, and eggs and pancakes (served ALL DAY!). The burgers were perfectly cooked–one was a bit overcooked, but others were medium well. Juicy, well-seasoned beef; substantial bun. “You hardly need condiments!” one reviewer said.

The chocolate is nothing short of incredible. Seriously. I was one happy camper yesterday when I saw the selection: dark chocolate lemon truffle, dark chocolate basil truffle (don’t knock it), milk chocolate creams, chocolate-covered Oreos and Zapp’s potato chips. Amanda outdid herself.

DRINKS: 4
“A vast array of interesting drinks…different sodas and uncommon specialty bottles,” wrote a reviewer. There’s sweet tea and usually a flavored green tea or lemonade. There’s a huge selection of sodas refrigerated in the back; you pay one price and select your own. Amanda told me that you can BYOB anytime (I had no idea!!). 1,000 Faces coffee is served, as well. Some of the diners wanted fountain sodas, but…can’t you get that anywhere? I think it’s more fun to have special drinks I can’t get many other places. And the sweet tea is excellent.

SERVICE: 4.2
I love how friendly and interested Ken and Amanda are. Every time I’ve visited there’s been some banter from the kitchen, a friendly hello–an experience that was repeated today, even though the restaurant was the busiest I’ve seen it (yay!). I called ahead to let them know we had a group coming, knowing that Ken doesn’t have a full staff in the kitchen.
Service was rapid, especially compared to other visits I’ve had. Again, though, this isn’t McDonald’s, and sometimes a bit of a wait is the tradeoff for amazing food at a lovely, intimate locale.

Reviewers all wanted to return sometime. I’m thinking date night with Brett, who will love the BBQ and burgers!

One note: White Tiger doesn’t take credit/debit cards. They’re cash only, which has proven inconvenient on more than one occasion. I hope they remedy this, because I do think it will ultimately hurt the business.

Bottom line: I’ll be back, and I hope White Tiger is a permanent Athens fixture.

This is the best, most random thing:

Don’t mess with Sutherland’s food.

Review: RedEye Coffee

After our lunch at The Grit the other day, my friend Ruth and I found ourselves desiring an apres-meal coffee.

Anyway, I’d been anxious to get back to RedEye. One of my favorite logos in town–maybe ever–by the way.

Gregg Carey, the owner and operator of RedEye Coffee in Bottleworks, embodies everything I love about Athens businesses. He’s simultaneously unpretentious, passionate, and laid-back. It takes about five seconds of talking to him to know that he really cares about his product, his customer, and his business.

Every time I’ve been to this spacious cafe, which offers gelato and specialty sodas in addition to its gourmet coffee, the atmosphere has been very quiet. It’d be great for studyphiles or readers seeking refuge from Starbucks XM (*shudder*) or downtown madness.

I’m just a fan of some form of iced dessert being available wherever I am. Thumbs up for that.

There’s also outdoor seating:

I’m going to let Gregg explain RedEye to you (from his site), emphasis mine:

You will not find drive-through windows and five gallon coffee urns at Red Eye. What you will find is individually prepared coffees from the far reaches of the world, roasted no more than two weeks ago and fresh ground when you order. You will find espresso that is served as the delicious and complex “essence of coffee” that it is meant to be [sic] and not merely an additive to warm milk and sugary syrup. You will find baristas who pursue excellence and who want to share that passion their patrons. And you will find a comfortable environment to discover the beverage that artisans from the farmers to the roasters to the baristas have worked so hard to produce, instead of an environment that sees you as another wallet to sell swag to.

When I visited Gregg a few months ago, I suggested he open earlier than 8 AM, as I and hundreds of other University employees have to be AT work by that time. He’s listened and responded to this and other suggestions he’s received (he now opens at 7 AM–now I know I can come there for my morning fix!). Another beautiful aspect of the small, local business: adaptability to your customers’ needs and ideas.

**Correction: Gregg has recently decided to open at 8 AM. My point stands, though, because he tried opening earlier based on customers’ suggestions and his desire to meet their needs.

Review: The Grit

Yes, the Grit is an Athens institution. I get it. I know that vegans and vegetarians have limited options in Athens.

HOWEVER.

To me The Grit has always been the perfect example of what people are referring to when citing Athens townie snobbery relevant to dining. The “You Are So Lucky to Be Here, and I Am Far Too Cool to Serve You; O THE HUMANITY” attitude has almost always been present when I’ve visited–and let me tell you, I’ve visited plenty since my first arrival in Athens in 1992. If you haven’t already figured it out, I’m a fan of making others comfortable. I like a place that is customer-oriented and is willing to do whatever necessary, within reason, to help and accommodate its patrons.

But, since I am a glass half-full person, I’ll start with the positive.

The Grit is happily situated within walking distance of downtown, by Bottleworks on Prince Avenue. It’s loaded with Athens indie cred, yet is well-known enough to have published its own cookbook. It has ample seating–not too crowded, with booths–and is open now for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

It’s lovely. I don’t wish The Grit away. I just have a few bones to pick. (BONES! TO PICK!!! HAHAHAHA…oh, never mind.)

THE GOOD: The Golden Bowl really is a must-try Athens dish. It’s craved by omnivores and vegetarians alike. It’s tofu done very, very well: flavorful and crispy, which is apparently not the easiest thing to pull off, with rice and your choice of cheese and/or vegetables. I have endured the long, frustrating service from the Grit many times just to partake of the Golden Bowl.

Bottled Coke. That’s a huge plus.

They have a decent selection of beer (lots of local, Terrapin-y stuff; I had a Golden Ale) and some wines.

The cakes are excellent–many people order them here for birthdays.

THE BAD: Good-sounding food with mediocre-to-bland, even bad, execution. Take my noodle bowl:

There was just no way I could make this look appetizing. Ruth, my lunch companion, was a little horrified. “It looks like worms,” she said. Who can argue with that? Um, no, it’s udon noodles with spicy citrus-sesame sauce. And if it were delicious, that would make up for its appearance, to me. But…it wasn’t. As most of the dishes I’ve taken a chance on at The Grit have been, it was mediocre at best. Salty and mucky.

Ruth was happy with her loaded nachos, which looked unimpressive to me but were as she’d expected and desired:

THE (DIS)SERVICE: To be fair, I was greeted by a very friendly, normal-acting employee. “I always want to ask [any normal, nice employees at The Grit] how they got this job,” Ruth remarked. Our waitress was friendly enough, but was either overburdened or unconcerned with bringing our check quite a while after we finished eating (you know, the cash and debit cards are waiting on the table and you’re trying to catch her eye?).

My main grumble is that The Grit doesn’t split checks and they make a HUGE deal about it. They’re doing YOU a favor to give you change, JEEZ. Ruth went up to the counter to get cash and was told with a sigh, “You’ll have to wait for Jay.” Whoever that is.

The bottom line for me is that there are just other places I want to spend my time, money and calories. I will go again, but only when the group I’m in is dying to and I can’t talk them out of it.

The National, Part 2

I had to go back to The National ASAP! I talked my buddy Meredith into going with me.

She’d been there before and had great things to say about the Ham & Cheese Ciabatta with fig jam (Black Forest ham, fontina cheese, arugula). I happily followed her suggestion, because I had actually considered that dish the other day. It comes with your choice of side for $9–not bad! The sandwich was a nice size; in fact, I could only eat half of it as I saved some room for dessert (and a breve at Walker’s).

Our waiter’s first question was, “Can I bring you something from the bar?” That is what I AM TALKING ABOUT. More places should begin their queries this way.

I got the local potatoes with spicy pomegranate ketchup: YUM. Tart AND spicy. I could have chosen a green side salad or pumpkin-currant salad. DANGIT! What is a girl to DO?! Also, a cup of the amazing pumpkin soup with curry crema and spiced pecans is only $3! I did get that.

Our beverages were fantastic: I went with the Vinho Verde again. It’s just so dependable and easy-drinking. Meredith got the seasonal Brooklyn pumpkin ale, which was by far the best of its ilk I’ve tried. Tasted strongly of pumpkin pie spice…awesome!

DESSERT!

I forgot to gank a dessert menu before we left, so I can’t remember the precise descriptions of the items pictured. One’s a custardy pastry/cake with a delicious cream (REALLY GOOD), and the chocolate one is a “molten cake,” but it was actually a tepid, fudgy mass. Which is not a BAD thing, but I’ve had better molten cakes and had kind of high expectations. The liquor-soaked berries were, however, to die for.

The National is fast cementing itself in my food consciousness as a staple place, not a once-in-a-while treat.

Oh, check out the Zagat rating! Rad.

Checking in: Your Pie Downtown

Your Pie’s downtown location is finally open! YAY! You can find it on Broad where Uncle Otto used to live.

First thing you need to know: text “yourpie” to 74700 to get a free fountain drink! SWEET. I love free stuff. Just show them the text when you get to the cashier so they can see the timestamp. Until further notice, you can do this 8 times a month, apparently.

From time to time I’ll revisit places I’ve reviewed in the past and check their pulse, or investigate a new location–I’m calling that “Checking In.”

Your Pie keeps the ambiance similar to its Alps location: classy and upscale. I love that I can get pizza that is healthy (my choice of regular, whole wheat, or gluten-free thin crusts and more cheese selections than one usually finds in a pizza joint) and not A) break the bank or B) feel greasy, stinky, and used when I am done.

I really like this space, and the simple but comfortable way they’ve set it up. We sat in the corner, and it was just really cozy. My liking could be influenced, though, by the fact that I have NO HEAT in my office, and they had theirs on. Heat really ups the cozy factor, in case you were wondering. Also, the spacing of the tables is just right (read: my claustrophobia wasn’t triggered).

This location also has the gelato, which–GASP–I didn’t get today. But IT’S THERE, and that is what matters.

My partner in crime today was my buddy Patrick Tilley:

Of course, Your Pie is all about making it however you want it–no struggles with roommates or cranky teens. Just give me my ranchy marinara, whole milk mozzarella, fresh garlic, pineapples, and cilantro. Thanks. Tilley got a more traditional cheese pie with hot sauce.

Mine was actually a little salty, but one of the things Patrick and I were discussing is that at Your Pie, if your pizza sucks, that is YOUR FAULT. They have done everything they can with their wood-fired oven and myriad choices. I love having the fresh taste of cilantro available for my pizza, though! Awesome.

This is me trying to act like I own the place, with predictably laughable results:

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Review: The National

I should have known.

I’m a huge fan of Five and Ten, now a foodie landmark in Athens, whose executive chef is Hugh Acheson. I’d heard a couple of years ago that the same mastermind behind Five and Ten had opened a new high-end, sustainable-farm-focused restaurant downtown: The National.

Why I haven’t been here before is a mystery to me, too.

It took Ruth’s birthday to summon me. Who wouldn’t go ANYWHERE for this face, and how much more to a fabulous restaurant?

PRICING:
My biggest reservation about The National was what I’d heard about its pricing, but at least at lunchtime, it’s not really any different from Last Resort, East/West, or any of the other upscale restaurants in town WHO ARE OPEN FOR LUNCH (sniff, Farm 255! Throw us a bone!). If you stick to an entree only–which does come with a side–you’re going to be looking at $10-15. Not bad for what you get.

FOOD:
This was a lovely way to start the meal: Savannah shrimp out of the ocean “less than 48 hours,” remoulade, and a spicy sauce, with local butter lettuces touched with vinegar and olive oil.

Ruth’s coworkers, Debbie and Caroline, were there to join me in scarfing the appetizer:

I had a cup of the local pumpkin soup (curry crema and pecans with a touch of spice)–HOLY CRAP–and the spinach salad, with smoked trout, house-pickled beets, scallions, and creamy dijon-vinaigrette. It makes such an amazing difference when every ingredient is high-end. Black and white versus Technicolor.

Ruth had the ground lamb pita with frites dipped in spicy pomegranate ketchup (read: ketchup that burns nicely on the way down!):

Debbie selected the bowl of soup, salad and side of frites:

Caroline chose the sumptuous-looking vegetable samoas with tamarind, yogurt, and sesame. She also approved of her soup:

DRINKS:
I absolutely loved the wine and cocktail list–Vinho Verde! The National offers 3 oz pours for half the price of the full 6 oz glass, so it’s easy and not wallet- or liver-busting to try new varieties. Next time I want to try the Fresca (housemade cantaloupe agua fresca, Brugel white rum, lemon, mint and soda). Yes, thanks. Caroline remarked favorably about her Campuget Rose.

SERVICE:
Not the fastest service I’ve ever had–presumably you’re not coming here for fast food–but our server was helpful, attentive and friendly. I always love when an upscale restaurant hasn’t a whit of snobbery.