Athens, Georgia.

Home to my beloved Georgia Bulldogs and becoming quite a destination for foodies as there are several local chefs who have taken dining in Athens to a whole new level!

{Believe me this wasn’t the case in 1994 when I attended the TN/GA game here!}

Recently I made the 35 minute drive up HWY 78 to Athens to catch an early Saturday basketball game with my daughter, MacKenzie (my Carolina Gamecock) and her new husband, Michael.

Before the rivalries of our two teams met we decided a casual and peaceful brunch was in order so we made a reservation at South Kitchen + Bar in historic downtown.

Housed in the old Georgian Hotel with its large arched windows, stained glass and chandeliers,  South Kitchen offers not only a lovely atmosphere, but southern food with a modern touch for a delicious meal!

We arrived at 11 am to a bustling restaurant, very thankful for our reservation.  We were seated promptly and had a few moments to look at the vast brunch menu.  Deciding what to order was difficult as there are so many fabulous choices, but we managed to find exactly what fit our personalities and listened intently to our waiter’s favorite options.

We kicked off brunch with a delicious small plate of Blue Crab Deviled Eggs.  These deviled eggs were topped with a mixture of blue crab, old bay seasoning, Tabasco, capers and panko bread crumbs.  Y’all I could have ordered three more plates to make my entire meal, but alas, something better was calling my name.

For my brunch I enjoyed the Green Tomato Benny.  This plate took classic eggs Benedict and elevated it to a whole new level by adding friend green tomatoes and thick cut bacon to the poached egg, English muffin and hollandaise sauce. It was served with cheddar grits on the side.

 

 

Oh my!  It was absolutely scrumptious!  I was full long before I finished my plate and had to make myself stop eating the deliciousness before me.

MacKenzie and Michael each ordered the Brunch Burger made up with a certified Angus beef patty, cheddar cheese, bacon, a fried egg, fried green tomato and arugula.

It just screamed Southern comfort food!

On the side they each added an order of tater tots which are a delicious treat anyway, but these were fried in duck fat which took them to a whole new level. One order was served with sweet red pepper dip and the other with house-made bacon ranch.

The burger was just as messy as it was delicious, but my not always adventurous newlyweds loved it, and the tots doubled the pleasure.

No dessert was necessary as we were extremely full.  As a matter of fact we didn’t even need a snack at the basketball game as three hours later we were still satisfied!

The only disappointment of the day was Georgia’s loss.

Brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday, but you can dine at South Kitchen for both dinner and supper, as well as stop in at the bar for small plates and cocktails.  I highly recommend you make a reservation!

South Kitchen + Bar

247 E Washington St.

Athens, GA 30601

(706) 395-6125