2 Best Restaurants in Central and North Georgia, Georgia

Five and Ten

$$$$ Fodor's choice

This cozy yet sophisticated restaurant put the Athens culinary scene on the map almost two decades ago with chef Hugh Acheson's inventive cuisine that blends European technique with down-home Southern cooking. Acheson, an Ottawa native, honed his culinary skills in classical French kitchens in Ontario and San Francisco before settling in Athens. His cooking has garnered numerous regional and national accolades, including a James Beard Award. Five and Ten’s seasonal menu draws from local sources and includes updated Southern classics such as pimento cheese with bacon marmalade; veal sweetbread with Red Mule grits custard and succotash; and Lowcountry Frogmore stew with shrimp, andouille sausage, potatoes, and corn in a tomato-leek broth.

1073 S. Milledge Ave., Athens, Georgia, 30605, USA
706-546–7300
Known For
  • chef-driven menu focused on local, seasonal ingredients
  • romantic old-house setting
  • inventive cocktails
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, No lunch, Reservations essential

Mully's Nacoochee Grill

$$$

Hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, and seasonal vegetables are the focus at this casual restaurant set in a cheerful old house in Nacoochee Village, just outside town. Shrimp and grits, whole fried trout, and slow-cooked ribs are customer favorites. There's also a nice array of signature cocktails and a wine list featuring several local wines.

7277 S. Main St., Helen, Georgia, 30545, USA
706-878–8020
Known For
  • local trout dishes
  • hand-cut steaks
  • local wine and inventive cocktails
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Closed Mon. in winter