THOUGHTS ON DINING OUT

by Alice Zwaagstra    

Ray and I have lived in the Athens area for two years now and have noticed some sad losses in restaurant choices.  It must be really hard for new, or even old, businesses in these troubled economic times.  Certainly it is that much more difficult for restaurants that are not part of a major chain.  It is always sad when favorite places to eat out have closed.  While we were still in the process of moving into our new home, the first place we went for dinner was Roberto’s – a little Italian place in Butler’s Crossing near Watkinsville.  It wasn’t very noticeable, but walking past there after grocery shopping nearby, we smelled the most wonderful fragrance!  Peeking in the windows, we spied rounds of baked pizza crusts placed over the backs of chairs to cool.  So, of course, we had to come back for dinner and it was great!  We liked their pizza, but they also served a great veal Marsala.  Sadly, they have now closed.  Shortly after we went for the first time to Johnnie Carino’s, they closed, too (I guess they are a chain, but we didn’t know that).  In Monroe, we loved a little place called La Cucina – they’re gone now.  The unkindest cut of all is that the Woodfire Grill on Prince Ave., a very recent Newcomer’s Dining Out experience (October), has just closed its doors.   A restaurant the group went to last summer, Basil Press, appears to be struggling, as is Maison Bleu in Watkinsville, we’ve heard.  Watkinsville has already lost Gautreau’s.

So all of this makes me think, maybe we can make a difference.  Suppose we all made a systematic effort to avoid the big chain restaurants in choosing where to go when we don’t want to cook?  The list of locally-owned restaurants in the Athens area is long, varied and of excellent quality, i.e. The National, Harry Bissett’s, East West Bistro, DePalma’s, Porterhouse Grill, Five and Ten, etc., etc.  Cost and prices are always a concern.  It may be helpful to know that many, if not most, Athens restaurants have prix fixe offerings prior to 7:00 pm (call to check times).  Ray and I, now in our second year of coordinating Dining Out, have tried to choose locally-owned restaurants, with two exceptions.  We will now try even harder to make this a priority.   Won’t you join us in this endeavor?  Maybe we can help struggling Athens area restaurant owners in some small way.  Here is a list of restaurants enjoyed by the Dining Out group, minus The Carriage House in Jefferson and Woodfire Grill (now closed).

 Peking – Athens                                   The National – Athens 

 Casa Mia – Athens                               Harry Bissett’s - Athens

 Perugino’s - Winder                             Basil Press - Athens

 The Last Resort – Athens                     Maison Bleu - Watkinsville

 La Dolce Vita – Athens                        Twisted Oak - Monroe

 Porterhouse Grill – Athens                    220 Bistro - Madison

This isn’t every restaurant (some don’t work well for groups), but it’s a good start.  You may know of some great places, also – let’s all eat out!