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Favorite Restaurants and Bars 2025

Restaurants

New (opened between Feb. ’24–Jan. ’25)
Winner: Pretty Boy
247 Prince Ave. · 706-850-0938

Runner Up: Preacher Green’s
1995 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-215-9079

Italian

Winner: ZZ & Simone’s
1540 S. Lumpkin St., Ste. 4 · 706-395-6556

Runner Up: DePalma’s Italian Cafe
401 E. Broad St. · 706-354-6966
1965 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-369-0085
2080 Timothy Rd. · 706-552-1237

American

Winner: Clocked!
259 W. Washington St. · 706-548-9175

Runner Up: Hi-Lo Lounge
1354 Prince Ave. · 706-850-8561

Asian

Winner: Puma Yu’s
355 Oneta St., Ste. D-400 · www.pumayus.com

Runner Up: Pretty Boy
247 Prince Ave. · 706-850-0938

Sushi

Winner: Shokitini
251 W. Clayton St. · 706-353-7933

Runner Up: Chuck’s Fish
220 W. Broad St. · 706-395-6611

Mexican/Latin American

Winner: Cali-N-Tito’s
1427 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-227-9979
1245 Cedar Shoals Dr. · 706-355-7087

Runner Up: Tlaloc El Mexicano Restaurant
1225 N. Chase St. · 706-613-9301

International

Winner: Mannaweenta
1055 Gaines School Rd. · 706-850-8422

Runner Up: Taste of India
1040 Gaines School Rd., Ste. 119 · 706-559-0000

BBQ

Winner: Dawg Gone Good BBQ
224 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-613-9799

Runner Up: White Tiger
217 Hiawassee Ave. · 706-353-6847
64 Main St., Watkinsville · 706-705-6115

Bakery

Winner: Independent Baking Co.
1625 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-850-3550

Runner Up: Sweetie Pie by Savie
150 E. Whitehall Rd. · 706-850-9255

Downhome/Southern

Winner: Preacher Green’s
1995 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-215-9079

Runner Up: South Kitchen and Bar
247 E. Washington St. · 706-395-6125

Local Coffee House

Winner: Jittery Joe’s Coffee
1860 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-354-8000
1480 Baxter St. · 706-548-1099
1230 S. Milledge Ave. · 706-208-1979
150 Fitz Mar Ln. · 706-227-2161
297 E. Broad St. · 706-613-7449
1880 Epps Bridge Pkwy. · 706-345-8900

Runner Up: Sips Espresso Cafe
1390 Prince Ave. · 706-363-7211

Local Pizza

Winner: Automatic Pizza
1397 Prince Ave. · 706-850-2037

Runner Up: Little Italy
125 N. Lumpkin St. · 706-613-7100

Local Burger

Winner: Clocked!
259 W. Washington St. · 706-548-9175

Runner Up: Baddies Burgers
1591 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-850-8331
1011 Park Dr., Watkinsville · 706-705-6032

Fries

Winner: Hi-Lo Lounge
1354 Prince Ave. · 706-850-8561

Runner Up: Trappeze Pub
269 W. Washington St. · 706-543-8997

Burrito

Winner: Barberitos Southwestern Grille and Cantina
259 E. Clayton St. · 706-549-9008
1860 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-549-9954
1880 Epps Bridge Pkwy. · 706-354-0300
1739 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-548-1866
680 N. Hwy 29 · 706-543-5299

Runner Up: Paloma Park
235 W. Washington St. · 706-850-7356

Taco

Winner: Paloma Park
235 W. Washington St. · 706-850-7356

Runner Up: Taqueria del Sol
334 Prince Ave. · 706-353-3890

Steak

Winner: Slater’s Steakhouse
1653 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-395-6082

Runner Up: Porterhouse Grill
459 E. Broad St. · 706-369-0990

Seafood

Winner: Seabear Oyster Bar
297 Prince Ave., Ste. 10 · 706-850-4367

Runner Up: Chuck’s Fish
220 W. Broad St. · 706-395-6611

Wings

Winner: Paloma Park
235 W. Washington St. · 706-850-7356

Runner Up: Blind Pig Tavern
312 E. Washington St. · 706-548-3442
2440 W. Broad St. · 706-208-7979

Vegetarian Options

Winner: Hi-Lo Lounge
1354 Prince Ave. · 706-850-8561

Runner Up: Maepole
1021 N. Chase St. · 706-850-3600
1850 Epps Bridge Pkwy. · 706-510-3133

Sandwich

Winner: Hi-Lo Lounge
1354 Prince Ave. · 706-850-8561

Runner Up: Birdie’s
497 Prince Ave. · 706-850-1711

Dessert

Winner: Last Resort Grill
184 W. Clayton St. · 706-549-0810

Runner Up: Condor Chocolates
1658 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-850-4803
160 E. Washington St. · 706-521-8966

Bubble Tea

Winner: Bubble Cafe
247 E. Broad St. · 706-355-3002

Runner Up: Taichi Bubble Tea
151 E. Broad St. · 706-395-6483

Ice Cream/ Frozen Treat

Winner: Jeni’s Ice Creams
1710 Lumpkin St. · 706-493-7377

Runner Up: Andy’s Frozen Custard
2180 W. Broad St. · 762-356-4330

Breakfast

Winner: Mama’s Boy
197 Oak St. · 706-548-6249
8851 Macon Hwy. · 706-850-8550
1725 Electric Ave., Watkinsville

Runner Up: Cafe Racer
2343 W. Broad St. · 706-850-0297

Lunch

Winner: Paloma Park
235 W. Washington St. · 706-850-7356

Runner Up: Marti’s at Midday
1280 Prince Ave. · 706-543-3541

Brunch

Winner: Big City Bread
393 N. Finley St. · 706-353-0029

Runner Up: Mama’s Boy
197 Oak St. · 706-548-6249
8851 Macon Hwy. · 706-850-8550
1725 Electric Ave., Watkinsville

Special Occasion

Winner: The National
232 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-549-3450

Runner Up: Five & Ten
1073 S. Milledge Ave. · 706-546-7300

Catering

Winner: Marti’s at Midday
1280 Prince Ave. · 706-543-3541

Runner Up: Paloma Park
235 W. Washington St. · 706-850-7356

Meal for a Deal

Winner: Paloma Park
235 W. Washington St. · 706-850-7356

Runner Up: Taco Stand
2230 Barnett Shoals Rd. · 706-549-5481
670 N. Milledge Ave. · 706-549-2894

Kid-Friendly Local Restaurant

Winner: Ted’s Most Best
254 W. Washington St. · 706-543-1523

Runner Up: Cali-N-Tito’s
1427 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-227-9979
1245 Cedar Shoals Dr. · 706-355-7087

Outdoor Dining

Winner: Cali-N-Tito’s
1427 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-227-9979
1245 Cedar Shoals Dr. · 706-355-7087

Runner Up: Ted’s Most Best
254 W. Washington St. · 706-543-1523

Take Out

Winner: Maepole
1021 N. Chase St. · 706-850-3600
1850 Epps Bridge Pkwy. · 706-510-3133

Runner Up: Thai Spoon
149 N. Lumpkin St. · 706-548-9222

Chef

Winner: Kenny Nguyen
at Pretty Boy
489 E. Clayton St. · 706-543-8898

Runner Up: Pete Amadhanirundr
at Puma Yu’s
355 Oneta St., Ste. D-400 · www.pumayus.com

Uniquely Athens Restaurant

Winner: Cali-N-Tito’s
1427 S. Lumpkin St. · 706-227-9979
1245 Cedar Shoals Dr. · 706-355-7087

Runner Up: Hi-Lo Lounge
1354 Prince Ave. · 706-850-8561

Bars

Bartender

Winner: Ally Smith at Puma Yu’s
355 Oneta St., Ste. D-400 · www.pumayus.com
Richard Mikulka at Flicker
263 W. Washington St. · 706-546-0039

Runner Up: Atanas Kushlev at Paloma Park
235 W. Washington St. · 706-850-7356

Specialty Drinks

Winner: The Old Pal
1320 Prince Ave. · 706-850-4340

Runner Up: Puma Yu’s
355 Oneta St., Ste. D-400 · www.pumayus.com

Happy Hour

Winner: Paloma Park
235 W. Washington St. · 706-850-7356

Runner Up: Seabear Oyster Bar
297 Prince Ave., Ste. 10 · 706-850-4367

Beer Selection

Winner: Hi-Lo Lounge
1354 Prince Ave. · 706-850-8561

Runner Up: Trappeze Pub
269 W. Washington St. · 706-543-8997

Wine Selection

Winner: The Lark Winespace
493 Prince Ave. · 706-850-5455

Runner Up: Tapped Athens
297 Prince Ave. · 404-538-4369

Local Brewery

Winner: Creature Comforts Brewery
271 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-410-1043

Runner Up: Athentic Brewing Company
108 Park Ave. · 706-206-2074

Outdoor Bar Space

Winner: Paloma Park
235 W. Washington St. · 706-850-7356

Runner Up: Creature Comforts Brewery
271 W. Hancock Ave. · 706-410-1043

Place to Play Games

Winner: The Rook and Pawn
294 W. Washington St. · 706-543-5040

Runner Up: Wonderbar
240 E. Washington St. · @wonderbarwonderbar

Uniquely Athens Bar

Winner: Hidden Gem 625 Barber St., Ste. 140 · @hiddengemglobalhq

Runner Up: Manhattan Cafe
337 N. Hull St. · 706-369-9767

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