Dining in Lawrenceville

Peachtree Cafe

The owners hail from New York, and they instill the secrets of New York diners into the menu. This is one of the few restaurants in Lawrenceville with authentic home fries. Local potatoes are seasoned and dotted with sautéed vegetables, and served as a hefty side to the popular corned beef hash platter. You’ll find belly-filling, homemade portions similar to what you would tuck into at your grandmother’s house. If you’re craving Belgian waffles, top them with a “fruit salad” of strawberries, blueberries, bananas and whipped cream. The vanilla batter is griddled in a cast-iron waffle maker, lending itself to a browned exterior and a fluffy center. Whether you bring the family in after a game or after church, you’ll fit in.

50 S. Clayton St., Lawrenceville. 678-377-8745, peachtree-cafe.com.

For lunch:

The Georgia Pine

This spot sources from local farms and breweries. Come here for a made-from-scratch lunch with a bold daily-specials menu. Sheepshead or curry-braised rabbit, anyone? The interior is convivial, with minimalist gray and brown color schemes that fit because the focus is on the food. Southern appetizers, such as deviled eggs, are amped up with a smoked trout topping. The bratwurst hoagie is made with their homemade sausage, ground in-house with flavorful ginger and nutmeg seasoning. And to tie in the “Georgia” in the restaurant’s name, all 10 draft beers are based in-state, such as Sweetwater Brewing Co., Creature Comforts and Three Taverns Brewery.

1250 Scenic Highway, Lawrenceville. 770-978-1800, thegeorgiapine.com.

For ethnic eats:

Footprints Cafe

The Lawrenceville outpost is far from the Caribbean restaurant’s three other locations in Brooklyn, N.Y. Footprints Cafe touts itself as home of the Rasta Pasta, a traditional Jamaican creamy pasta. You can choose jerk-style proteins such as shrimp, chicken or tofu. For an offbeat pick, try the braised oxtail with rice and peas. Oxtail is tender, with a taste like beef — it is simply the tail of cattle. While the restaurant’s laser-blue lighting can be off-putting, it fits into Footprints’ late-night scene. On weekends, the restaurant turns to a clubby atmosphere with live music and DJ entertainment.

706 Grayson Highway, Lawrenceville. 678-226-9191, footprintscafega.com.

For a gastropub dinner:

Local Republic

The quietly inventive menu takes seasonal Southern fare and fuses it with international flavors. Take the shrimp and grits — Andouille sausage adds a touch of Creole, while the pimento cheese offers spicy jalapeños and crispy bacon. You’ll want to try the interesting selection of craft beers that range from Belgian brews to vintage. They tend to get specialty brews on tap, such as Bell’s Hopslam or Lonerider Beer With No Name. Once the weather warms up, the restaurant’s garage-style doors open up to link the patio and dining room, offering views of the buzz happening on Lawrenceville Square.

225 W. Crogan St., Lawrenceville. 678-205-4782, thelocalrepublic.com.

For the sweet tooth:

Blue Rooster Bake Shop & Eatery

This quaint bake shop moved from Lilburn to Lawrenceville in 2013. It’s a family affair, with owner Kyle Cave and her sister-in-law, Donna Cave, having been in the catering business since the mid-1990s. The ladies are self-taught decorators, but you couldn’t tell based on their elaborate custom cake creations — whether a “Frozen” themed birthday cake or a three-tiered wedding cake with fondant roses. Stop in and peruse their bakery case for a slice of cake or a cookie creation. Just in time for spring, go for the strawberry cupcake: a deep pink fluffy cake mixed with real strawberries and topped with a smooth, luscious strawberry cream cheese frosting.

169 W. Pike St., Lawrenceville. 770-995-0065, blueroosterbakeshop.com.