Kiké’s Kitchen, the delightful birrieria that had been serving out of a Chevron near the Ingles in Hull, closed at that location in March due to septic tank issues. The good news is that it’ll reopen in Watkinsville at 18 Barnett Shoals Road (the former Jacob’s Pizza) this Thursday, May 18. The restaurant is also tinkering with the spelling of its name—the nickname for Enrique, pronounced “kee-kay,” will now be spelled as “Kique’s” to avoid any confusion about the word’s pronunciation or meaning. You can follow along with its news on Facebook or Instagram.
Watkinsville is also getting a cat café, a project that several folks have tried to get up and running in the area for years. Entangled Cat Cafe and Market will open in downtown Watkinsville, to the left of the courthouse, hopefully this fall, and it is partnering with the Georgia-based animal rescue organization Circle of Friends Animal Society (COFAS).
Oak House Distillery, first reported on in July 2022, is officially open in a historic house at 1015 Macon Highway, featuring a dry gin to start out with (available in a gin and tonic, a basil-cucumber smash, a lavender gin fizz, a bee’s knees, a “gin fashioned” and, of course, a martini). Hours are generally Tuesday through Saturday, 4–10 p.m., but check Facebook for specifics and special events.
Effin Egg, a fast-casual breakfast sandwich franchise, plans to open an Athens location at 140 West Broad, in the former Sub-Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream, at the base of the Georgia Heights building downtown. In addition to sandwiches, it makes burritos, tacos, the requisite bowls, pancakes, waffles, loaded fries and tots, cinnamon rolls and more. The three existing locations (in Decatur; Morristown, NJ; and New York, NY) are all open about 7 a.m.–3 p.m., so it’s likely the one here will keep similar hours.
Taco Mama, a taco bar franchise based in Alabama with a whole lot of locations there, wants to move into the former Fuzzy’s Tacos at the corner of Lumpkin and Washington streets downtown. It’s essentially Fuzzy’s without the genitalia wink-wink: tacos, burritos, a kids menu, margaritas, bowls (of course), nachos, salads and queso.
Emmy Squared Pizza is open across the street from Flagpole, in the former Grit. You can see the menu here.
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