FILL ‘ER UP
Speedy Eats: I'm a big fan of eateries that set up shop in
or right next to gas stations. Charminar, Sr. Sol, Taqueria La
Rosita, Pupuseria El Coquito: these are just a few of the many
that have served superior eats in less-than-sparkling sur
roundings. Expectations are almost always low, which lays the
groundwork for nice surprises. Honey B's Deli (1428 Prince
Ave., 706-549-3709), which connects to and is owned by the
same people as the FastTrac gas station and convenience store
at the corner of Satula, doesn't rise to the highest of heights,
but it does supply a good, quick option to the area. The res
taurant is only a deli in the regional sense, meaning it does
breakfast and closes at 3 p.m. It doesn't make sandwiches or
sell sliced meats. What it really is is a meat-and-three with a
steam table that also happens to do breakfast. If you're trying
to pick between the two meals, steer toward lunch.
Breakfast isn't terrible, but it seems like most of the food
has been heated more than cooked and supplied by Sysco
rather than slaved over by an old granny. The hash browns are
majorly greasy. The eggs lack flavor. You can get biscuits with
a large array of meats (bacon, steak, chicken, pork loin, gravy)
or with honey, and the store does open at 6 a.m., when it's
hard to find much else to eat in Athens.
You'd think lunch would be about the same, but it's consid
erably better, if not up to the standards of the absolute best
Southern-cooking places in town. The pork chops are impres
sively tender, not the chew toys one usually gets. The fried
chicken is juicy and a bit salty, but that's the way I like it. The
macaroni and cheese has lovely crackly browned bits on its
edges. Fried okra, corn and mashed potatoes and gravy acquit
themselves just fine, and the tea is delicious.
The prices are good, too. You can get four vegetables to
go for a mere $4.99, and if you want chicken, you'll pay just
$5.99. The atmosphere at Honey B's is lacking—a few tall
tables and stools, a spartan room—but it's not really a place
to linger unless you have to. The restaurant is open for break
fast and lunch Monday through Saturday, does take-out primar
ily and accepts credit cards.
Yogurt Report: With yogurt places multiplying like rabbits
in Athens, it's hard to keep them straight. The two newest to
open are Polarberry (2080 Timothy Rd., in the shopping center
also occupied by Agua Linda and DePalma's) and Menchie's
(196 Alps Rd., in Beechwood Promenade).
The former is an independent shop and functions more
along the lines of downtown's Yoguri, i.e., you ask the nice
people behind the counter for what you want, and they'll get
it for you, toppings and all. Menchie's, on the other hand, is
a franchise, with another location due on the Eastside in the
Georgetown Square shopping center, and is a self-serve opera
tion, like Five Points' Yoforia. Which of these models you prefer
probably depends on how much yogurt you can eat. If you're
easily filled up, you probably want Menchie's, where you can
ignore the size of the bucket-like cup you're allotted and swirl
yourself a reasonable amount, benefiting at the cash register,
where you pay by the ounce. If, on the other hand, you could
always eat more yogurt, it might be worth your while to go for
Polarberry, which has three sizes (Baby, Mama and Papa Bear)
that may work out to a better price.
Menchie's has more flavors, including its dairy-free and.
therefore, vegan sorbet, which is really refreshing and a major
attraction, even if you love dairy. It's also nice to be able to
grab a little bit of several different flavors. On the other hand,
Polarberry is a lot less stressful. There's something that ramps
up the tension when you're waiting for an opening at Menchie's
and your're surrounded by excited children. There's a great
relief to just walking up and having someone else make your
food, which is after all why we go to restaurants. The yogurt at
Doth is plenty good, although tart fruit flavors tend to be more
true to life than ones like Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and red
velvet cake.
It doesn't vary much at any of these places, which is why
location is probably the primary factor in determining which
you'll frequent, although if you want specifically vegan or low-
caib froyo, Menchie's is your place. Polarberry is open from
11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Menchie's is open from 11
a.m. to 11 p.m., except Fridays and Saturdays, when it's open
until midnight. Both take credit cards.
Hillary Brown ’ood flagpole com
Taste your
PLACE
Local Farms
Local Foods
• Local Flavors
JULY 9-23
Support these restaurants as they support local farms when they
offer their unique takes on local food during Taste Your Place
• DePalma's (downtown)
• East/West Bistro
• Etienne Brasserie
• Farm 255
• Five and Ten
• Heirloom Cafe
• Ike and Jane
• La Dolce Vita
• Last Resort
• Lumpkin Cafe
• Mama's Boy
• The National
• NONA
• Speakeasy
s
7/13: Community Potluck at Roots Farm
7/16: "Taste Your Pie" Contest at the Athens Farmers Market
7/1 /: Driving Tour of 3 Local Farms
7/19: Special screening of "Farmageddon" at Cine
7/21: "Taste Your Tapas" Restaurant Contest, Silent Auction
and 4th Annual Athens Local Food Awards at Cine
Organized by PLACE. Get more info at
WWW.LOCALPLACE.ORG
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JULY13.2011-FLAGPOLE.COM 9
