Atlanta has been lauded for its varied and celebrated restaurant scene, but there are some jewels outside of the heart of the city.
Here are 8 restaurants worth exploring in cities across the state:
Frog Hollow Tavern
1282 Broad St., Augusta. 706-364-6906, froghollowtavern.com, @FrogHollowTaver.
Putting its spin on new American cuisine, Frog Hollow goes farm-to-table in the kitchen and handcrafted behind the bar. Popular picks range from braised Berkshire pork shoulder to Kentuckyaki glazed, grilled swordfish.
The Dillard House
768 Franklin St., Dillard. 706-746-5348, dillardhouse.com.
It continues to be a bucket list destination for Southern family-style eating. The staff rolls out all-you-can-stomach breakfast, lunch and dinner. Country ham, fried chicken, green beans, fruit cobbler and an endless array of other options rotate daily.
Willie’s Wee-Nee Wagon
3599 Altama Ave., Brunswick. 912-264-1146.
Hot dogs may get top billing, but go straight for the pork chop sandwich. The roadside snack shack stands by its creation, offering $2,000 to anyone who can find a better one in Glynn County.
H and H Restaurant
807 Forsyth St., Macon. 478-621-7044.
No-frills Southern comfort food. Think fried chicken, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and the usual suspects. Don’t miss the chicken biscuit with a fried egg topper at breakfast. Members of the Allman Brothers Band frequented H and H back in the day, and the decor celebrates the musicians.
Southern Soul Barbeque
220 Demere Road, St. Simons. 912-638-7685, southernsoulbbq.com, @southernsoulbbq.
Expect a wait. There’s no denying the power of the Southern Soul sandwich, overflowing with pulled pork. Ribs, the pimento cheese sandwich, fried green beans and a Kool-Aid chaser make it worth your time.
Maté Factor
401 E. Hall St., Savannah. 912-235-2906, matefactorcafe.com.
The devoted flock to this tiny spot specializing in organic yerba maté, giving high marks for the chai and green tea matés. Customers follow sips with bites of sweet treats such as sweet potato pound cake and the dates bar.
Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room
107 W. Jones St., Savannah. 912-232-5997, mrswilkes.com.
The lines are long, as this family-style, lunch-only institution continues cultivating a religious following. Large tables are packed with soul-stirring helpings of fried chicken, sweet potato soufflé, okra, cornbread and more.
The Pirates’ House
20 E. Broad St., Savannah. 912-233-5757, thepirateshouse.com.
Known for its historic aesthetic and old-school Savannah history, the Pirates’ House continues charting a solid course after all these years. She-crab soup, fried shrimp, pecan-glazed chicken and more keep them coming back. Take an after-meal tour of the place for a heaping helping of history.
