I know. I know. It must be strange for this proud Auburn Tiger to be recommending restaurants in Athens, Georgia, but those Bulldogs are serving up some mighty fine food. Today and next Monday I’ll give you some ideas when you visit for an away game at Sanford Stadium or just happen to find yourself on the campus or in the city in the future.
Yes. That’s the name of it — home.made. Instinctively, I wanted to try it. It just sounds good, don’t you agree? home.made is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, but we chose to visit for Saturday brunch, which is served from 10:00-2:00, and it was exceptional.
The outside of 1072 Baxter Street is rather unremarkable, but the food produced inside shows commitment to high quality, seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients prepared with skill and imagination.
Steve and I shared both the salmon and the chicken thighs, and we found the grits, the sweet potato gratin and the pickled deviled egg to be outstanding. We splurged on the green tomato crisp for dessert, and I promise it tasted very much like apple pie.
home.made is several notches above Cracker Barrel. Yes, Cracker Barrel is a great place for breakfast, but every once in awhile you just want something extraordinary. And, by the way, the tea and coffee were special, too.
Isn’t that a great name for a restaurant in a college town? My son unashamedly calls himself a Mama’s Boy, and I bet he’d head straight there based on the name alone.
Located at 197 Oak Street, Mama’s Boy is open 7 days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. We arrived for an early Sunday morning breakfast before driving back to Alabama, and the place was packed. Fortunately, there’s a large parking lot in the back, because the front lot is WAY too small. I have to admit that it felt good to be “where the young folks were,” rather than at some old codgers kind of place. Ha! The building and decor are rustic, but the vibe is fun and energetic.
Here we shared the veggie scramble with grits and a biscuit and the Georgia Peach French toast. Both were yummy. The lunch menu lists several sandwiches and salads. They sound good, too, but I can see why breakfast is such a big deal for Mama’s Boys everywhere.
Check back next Monday for some dinner recommendations and where to find the pie that has been served on the University of Georgia campus since 1956.
For other breakfast suggestions in Athens, Georgia, click here.