Local Limelight: The 3 best Athens-local Restaurants
With the end of my senior year fall semester quickly (too quickly) approaching, I can't help but reflect on my time here at UGA and, more specifically, Athens. Athens truly is the quintessential college town. It's the town all of your friends want to come visit - the town of bars, boutiques, coffee shops, and most importantly: GOOD FOOD. Athens prides itself on supporting local business ventures and ensuring the artistic, creative culture that surrounds Athens remains intact. With all the senior-year feels beginning to set in, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite local food establishments that have had a positively-delicious impact on my time here in Athens.
The Last Resort Grill
The place that every UGA student makes sure their parents bring them too when they are in town. Originally opened as a music club in 1966, this venue once featured artists from Doc Watson to Steve Martin to even Jimmy Buffet. Today, that same passion and energy is found in their menu and warm atmosphere. Stated on the website, owners voice their commitment to serving the local community and supporting the growth and preservation of Athens. Many of the ingredients and flavors used in their dishes extend from local farmers, growers and bakers in Athens - my favorite being the White Chocolate Cheesecake from Blackbird Bakery. Last Resort has grown to become one of the most popular, renowned restaurants in Athens and has done so by sticking to their southern-roots and local supporters.
5 & 10
"Five and Ten is, and was always meant to be a place to revel in great food and drink, and where the patron would quite simply, he happy" - Hugh Acheson, chef and owner of 5 &10. Originally from Ottawa, Canada, Hugh opened this flagship restaurant from scratch in 2000. He created a menu that combined the French and Italian influences he learned growing up with his interpretation of southern food. Over the years, Hugh has been awarded Food & Wine's Best New Chef (2002), the Atlanta Journal Constitution's Restaurant of the Year (2007), and a James Beard winner for Best Chef Southeast (2012). Nevertheless, the decadent meals and delightful atmosphere speak for themselves. Like Last Resort, 5 & 10 too uses ingredients from local farmers and sustainable producers of the Athens community. Hugh, along with the executive chef Richard Neal, continually create new, playful dishes that never fail to satisfy the hearts and stomachs of the Athen's community.
Marker 7 Coastal Grill
In an award-winning historic home located in Five Points Athens, Marker 7 is a seafood lover's paradise. Owner Chris Lloyd grew up in the Tampa Bay area and said to truly appreciated good seafood and a relaxing, coastal environment. In effort to duplicate this Gulf-Coast style, he opened Marker 7 in early 2013. With oysters from the Gulf of Mexico and shrimp from the coast of Georgia, this restaurant offers nothing but the freshest, most delightful meals. Various specials are offered depending on the season, as well as lunch and brunch menus. On their website, Chris urges customers to "sit back and relax, let your mind drift off to that little stretch of beach where we all wish we were". Sounds pretty easy to me - count me in!
Sources:
http://lastresortgrill.com/
https://www.fiveandten.com/
https://www.marker7coastalgrill.com/about-us/
The Last Resort Grill
The place that every UGA student makes sure their parents bring them too when they are in town. Originally opened as a music club in 1966, this venue once featured artists from Doc Watson to Steve Martin to even Jimmy Buffet. Today, that same passion and energy is found in their menu and warm atmosphere. Stated on the website, owners voice their commitment to serving the local community and supporting the growth and preservation of Athens. Many of the ingredients and flavors used in their dishes extend from local farmers, growers and bakers in Athens - my favorite being the White Chocolate Cheesecake from Blackbird Bakery. Last Resort has grown to become one of the most popular, renowned restaurants in Athens and has done so by sticking to their southern-roots and local supporters.5 & 10
Marker 7 Coastal Grill
In an award-winning historic home located in Five Points Athens, Marker 7 is a seafood lover's paradise. Owner Chris Lloyd grew up in the Tampa Bay area and said to truly appreciated good seafood and a relaxing, coastal environment. In effort to duplicate this Gulf-Coast style, he opened Marker 7 in early 2013. With oysters from the Gulf of Mexico and shrimp from the coast of Georgia, this restaurant offers nothing but the freshest, most delightful meals. Various specials are offered depending on the season, as well as lunch and brunch menus. On their website, Chris urges customers to "sit back and relax, let your mind drift off to that little stretch of beach where we all wish we were". Sounds pretty easy to me - count me in!
Sources:
http://lastresortgrill.com/
https://www.fiveandten.com/
https://www.marker7coastalgrill.com/about-us/
Great post! I LOVE Athens and feel so lucky to have called it home the past three and a half years. I think what’s really cool is people never expect there to be so many amazing places to eat here and a lot of the time from the outside, you wouldn’t even expect the restaurants to be good. The Athens food scene is so unique and diverse and I think that is evident just in the three restaurants you wrote about here.
ReplyDeleteLove this post! After transferring from Georgia Southern two years ago, I am so thankful to be in a town that has an abundance of good food!!! It's my last year here, and there are so many places that I still haven't tried yet. I haven't tried Five and Ten, or Marker 7 Costal Grill so I'll definitely give those a shot.
ReplyDeleteMhmmm this post makes me want to go to those places ASAP! Last Resort is definitely one of my favorites and their cake is to die for. I can't believe I have yet to try 5 & 10 and Marker 7. I always forget about the restaurants that are not downtown. I will definitely have to try those before I graduate. I am not picky at all when it comes to food so I'm sure it'll be tasty!
ReplyDeleteLove this post! These are some of my favorite restaurants in Athens too! I am weak for Last Resort's White Chocolate Cheesecake, definitely one of my favorite desserts to treat myself to! Marker 7's outdoor porch and environment is perfect for nice days in Athens, my friends and I love coming here on nice days! I love your take on some of Athen's best!
ReplyDeleteThis post was everything I needed! I have been thinking which restaurants in Athens are truly the best so I can go eat at each of them before I graduate. Marker's 7 is always a hit, and Last Resort is surely on my list solely because of their cheesecakes! While I do enjoy 5 & 10, I wish they did a better job marketing their deal through September of $5 cheeseburgers. Anyways, I really enjoyed the post!
ReplyDeleteI was eager to read this post when I saw the display on the Google + home page. Who doesn't like to read about food? I have been to the three restaurants and agree that they're great, especially Last Resort. You should try The National! It's my favorite and sources food locally farm-to-table. The menu is constantly updated based on the best fresh produce available, so it's exciting every time you go because you don't know exactly what they'll have to offer. I'm a bit picky and some of their food is pretty rich and complex, but they do a great job combining unexpected ingredients and making it tasty.
ReplyDeleteI agree that these restaurants are among the most popular of Athens. Last Resort is one of my favorites, and I definitely go there whenever I have family in town. I have yet to make it to Marker 7 but have only heard great things, and I hope I get to go soon. Athens is definitely known for it's good food and before my senior year ends, I would like to try out as many unique restaurants that are here.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I absolutely love Last Resort; I'm a sucker for their praline chicken! I have always wanted to try Marker 7. It's definitely on my list of places to go before I leave Athens. Have you ever been to South Kitchen + Bar? They serve contemporary southern food, and the restaurant is beautiful with its antique stained glass windows, tile floors, and marble columns. They have delicious shrimp and grits!
ReplyDeleteAmazing post! I'm also graduating this coming May and I am so sad to leave all behind all of these superb restaurants. I love Last Resort and Marker 7 but I actually haven't had the chance to visit 5&10. It is definitely on my to do list. I think it would be really interesting to see how these restaurants market themselves to the UGA students and local residents. They have become such huge names that everyone knows, it would be cool to look back and see how they originally established themselves.
ReplyDeleteI love finding local restaurants around Athens!! Athens is a one of a kind city where hip local shops pop up all over and thrive. I also haven't had the chance to visit Marker 7 or Five and Ten so I must make a trip to each of those. Even local brewery's are becoming more well known around the southeast and to know they started in Athens is exciting.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that Last Resort used local grown foods! I love going there but it's not always in the budget. Restaurants like these are part of the reason Athens is such a unique college town.
ReplyDeleteAnytime I have a little extra money to spare, I go to Last Resort! I absolutely love that place especially for lunch and Sunday brunch. I'm definitely going to try and go more now that I know they use locally grown food to cook their delicious dishes!
ReplyDeleteLove this post! I am a huge foodie and have been trying to cross as many Athens restaurants off of my list as possible before I graduate in May! I've never been to 5&10 but every time I pass it, I always say I want to go, I'll have to make time for it some time! I used to love going to Marker 7 but the changed their menu a few years ago and it just hasn't been the same since.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! I love going to local places, and I am determined on discovering Athens' greatest hits when it comes to food. I even have a bucket list with these places on them. Last Resort is great. There's definitely something different to offer at each and every Athens local restaurant, and I enjoy discovering these in my free time. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI've only been to The Last Resort out of the three. The other two are must go's before I graduate too. I love how local Athens restaurants just seem just as authentic if not more than a NYC pizza shop, or a Chicago hot dog stand. I really will miss this place.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great article! Athens has so much to offer sometimes it is so hard to choose! Every time I hear other peoples' favorite places to eat in Athens, I immediately put it on a list of places to try before I graduate. At this rate, I will have to stay an extra year!
ReplyDeleteGreat article! Last Resort is absolutely one of my favorite's in downtown Athens, like most other UGA students. I agree with the other comments that I had no idea they used local grown foods to make their dishes, makes me love them even more! My favorite dishes are from the lunch and Sunday brunch menus, it is often too hard to pick my favorites. Another favorite place of mine in Athens is Iron Factory. They are a "Korean Barbecue" Restaurant that is truly unlike anything I have ever had - definitely recommend trying it out!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this post, so thank you for sharing! My absolute favorite is Last Resort because I love their salmon. Another one of my local favorites is the Grit. I would definitely recommend trying it out if you haven't had the chance! In terms of the blog post, I like the way that you incorporated the pictures. It makes it easy to read.
ReplyDeleteAwesome article. Athens is such a unique place with their local shops, music venues, and restaurants. I love discovering new places to eat at. Last Resort Grill and Marker 7 are delicious and have a great atmosphere. I've never eaten at 5&10 just because I know it's a little more expensive, but I definitely want to eventually try it. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis post is spot on! All 3 of these restaurants are iconic to Athens and I definitely enjoy Last Resort! I love how the town of Athens has so many different restaurants of every variety and each with their own unique personality. Last Resort is definitely my favorite and I am sad to graduate and not be able to go as often!
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I saw this post on the Google plus page I immediately clicked it and was so excited to see if some of my favorite local restaurants were listed..... Of course they were! This blog post is awesome, I learned so many new facts about the restaurants that I never knew before. For example, like everyone else I did not know Last Resort used local ingredients. I have yet to try Marker 7 Coastal Grill, but I can't wait to try it before I graduate.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! Since the Athens food market is so competitive, restaurants really have to do well to succeed. This does a great job of highlighting three restaurants who are doing just that! I have been to all except 5&10 and will have to make sure I pay it a visit before I graduate in December!
ReplyDeleteLol I think we can all agree that we clicked on this blog for the food! This was great! As many people have already said, Athens is a GREAT place for food. It's such a hidden gem! And yes, overtime I have friends or family in town, I try to find nice places to go and eat! Sadly though, even after 4 years, there are sooooo many great places I still haven't had a chance to get to yet. I'm making it my goal for next semester so I don't miss out on anything. I'm going to try to go to a new place once a week/two weeks. The Last Resort is definitely a hit!!! I've only been once and can't remember what I got because it was so long ago. So I have to go soon and try something good! I hear so many people recommend it and are absolutely in love with it so I'm going to get there soon!
ReplyDeleteI love all of these restaurants too! I think Athens is such a good foodie place. I would totally recommend Seabear to you especially if you like seafood! They do happy hours every day with cheaper oysters and its amazing! Love reading all about food and restaurants though my favorite thing!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Of course I absolutely love Last Resort grill...it's a staple for Athens. I've been dying to try both 5&10 and Marker 7 and have heard nothing but amazing things. Your post just amplifies the fact that it's necessary I try both restaurants before graduating (which I also agree is approaching way too quickly).
ReplyDeleteI love this post! One of the hardest parts about leaving Athens for me is going to be leaving all of my favorite restaurants behind. It's really unique to find a community that values local restaurants and flavors so highly, and I will miss my favorites so much! The white chocolate cheesecake is to die for so i'm glad you share my opinion on that!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome post! All of these restaurants really contribute to the Athens local flare and community and there are so many more out there that are awesome for UGA students to go out to eat at!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post! I have only been to Last Resort Grill, so it was great reading about Marker 7 Coastal Grill and 5 & 10. I have never heard of those before and I want to be able to try those before I graduate. I found this post also useful because I am looking for somewhere to host a graduation lunch after the ceremony, so now I really want to check those places out to see if that's the place I want it to be. I think it so great that Athens has so many unique restaurants. There is always one place that I need to try and I keep adding more to my list. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou made a wonderful, and beautiful post. I've never been to these locations before to eat, but I have met up with people afterward. The smell has always been great, but they're kind of townie secrets! I think what you wrote will definitely inspire me to reach out to more interesting places.
ReplyDeleteI haven't ate at Last Resort or 5&10, but I love Marker 7. The seafood there is so good. It reminds me of going to the beach as a kid. I have had cake from Last Resort before and it was on point. Overall, I love your post and it shares so much light on the great cuisine scene we have here.
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome post, not only because I'm a sad senior who is in denial about our last semester here, but because the only place I've been on your Top 3 is Last Resort!! I clearly have to step my game up when it comes to hitting all the sweet spots in Athens. Graduation will not be my last time in Athens, but I still have a bucket list going before we leave, and these are definitely getting added to that list.
ReplyDeleteThis was great! I haven't eaten at 5&10 or Marker 7, but whenever my parents are in town, I always try to go to the Last Resort! It's hard considering all of these places are so good but often out of college student's price range.
ReplyDeleteWow what a great post!! I know one of my favorite parts about being a student in Athens was trying all the food, so this definitely makes me feel a little sadder knowing that when I graduate I'll be leaving this behind. Marker 7 has one of my favorite mac n cheeses and I've been dying to go to 5&10 so that's next on my list!
ReplyDeleteI adore all of these restaurants! I love that Athens has so much to offer! Marker 7 is definitely my go-to.
ReplyDeleteI am also in my senior year and I have never been to these restaurants! Could it be their marketing? or just me not knowing about them? I think of myself as a wannabe foodie so I will now see if I can go before graduation!
ReplyDeleteSuch a good post. I'm inspired to explore new restaurants in Athens. Really interesting analysis.
ReplyDeleteThis is super interesting! I am a Senior here at UGA and haven't been to these. I have always heard great things and this analysis is nothing shy! Great post.
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