Eating Well Between Rosemary Beach, FL and Asheville, NC

[LPM]

Any tips or thoughts on breakfast near Rosemary Beach, FL and then road food up to Asheville, NC. The general route is Hwy 331 to Montgomery, then I-85 to Atlanta then Greenville, SC, then I-26 to Asheville, understanding that some deviation may be necessary.

[bbqdawg]

Not sure exactly what you're looking for, but the Varsity in Atlanta and The Beacon in Spartanburg, SC are classic road food places. Also, Alton Bown went to a place in Toccoa, Ga during his "Feasting on Asphalt" show that looked good. Its a southern-style, meat and 3 type place...can't remember the name...something like Shirley's. I'm sure a google search would turn it up.

[Leepa]

Shirley's is correct.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feasting...

[johnb]

However, if the OP follows the suggested route, he/she will not pass anywhere near Toccoa. Full disclosure: Same could be said about the places to which I linked above, which are mostly clustered around I-75 not I-85.

As an alternative route, it is worthwhile to consider using I-985 from Atlanta then US 23 to I-40, which would pass close to Toccoa. I'm fairly sure this is shorter than the proposed ATL-AVL route and is probably faster to boot. I'm not too sure Shirley's is the best choice however. There is a place in Clayton, Ga called Henry's--a Southern buffet but with really good fried chicken. Only open for lunch, T-F and Sunday. In Franklin NC where I live there is a place called Yati's Bistro that isn't bad--limited hours however. Generally speaking, there isn't much to recommend along this stretch.

[bbqdawg]

Toccoa is about 10 miles off I-85. Thats hardly "not anywhere near". Also, according to Google maps, its 3 1/2 hours from ATL to Asheville either way.

The OP should check out htis post, too:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/545519

[johnb]

Google maps are fine but they can mislead due to not taking account of local conditions.

The distance from ATL to AVL is 30 miles less using I-985/US23/I-40 than the OP's original idea which was I-85 to I-26. The I-85 route can be shortened a little by going up US 25 through Greenville, but that involves lots of congested local roads and would be slower. The I-985 route is fast 4 lane roads for all but about 2 miles just before the NC line.

In addition to Henry's there is another place in Clayton Ga called La Jerezana. Excellent and very authentic Mexican. A hole-in-the-wall however.

Also, if you are stopping in Toccoa, it is much easier to reach from US23 than from I-85 (it's more than 10 miles from I-85 BTW, and the roads are a hassle). Even Google recommends the I-985 route from ATL-AVL if you include a Toccoa stop.

Along the I-985 route, there is a decent BBQ place in Franklin called Willy's, and another called Cash's BBQ. But if it were me I'd just save my appetite for 12 Bones when I got to Asheville. Also, when in this part of the world, be sure to call ahead because many places have odd hours.

[Suzy Q]

Whew...I've made that drive many, many times. Pack a cooler. :-)

With that being said, as much as I love the Varsity and the Beacon, I wouldn't recommend them as road food - something about eating that much grease and being trapped in a car together just isn't the best idea I've ever heard of. Not sure what time you'll be hitting the Greenville, SC area, but we always enjoyed Stax Omega for breakfast-lunch-diner-type food. It's not far off of 85 in Greenville and a decent place where just about everyone can find something to eat on the menu.

[miss piggy]

Good to know about Stax because I make that trip from Asheville to Atlanta a lot via Greenville and it is pretty bleak for food. I was also going to suggest Varsity in Atl if you want a fun experience and some grease...it's very convenient off the highway. Any place in Midtown Atlanta would be a good choice - Taqueria Del Sol, Figo, anything on Crescent. I like to get off on 10th and pass by Peidmont Park to scoot up into Virginia Highlands if there is time - we love sandwiches at Alon's. It's probably about a 10-15 minute detour off 85. Places on Ponce would be pretty convenient as well - Mary Mac's, Eats.

Instead of gooing thru Greenville you can also go via Franklin, NC to Asheville. It is just a touch longer but a much prettier drive. You can also take 85 to Spartanburg then get on 26 - I have heard that is not much longer than the Greenville way either and it is highway the whole time.

[bbqdawg]

I assume that there are multiple locations of Stax Omega? A 'hound whose opinion I trust (danna) had this to say about one of their locations:

"Stax Original on Poinsett hwy is HORRIBLE. Draws huge crowds, nonetheless. Waitstaff have been there forever. My husband just went there last week (I swore if off years ago). He said he had forgotten how horrid it was, and remarked on how it could be possible to serve roast beef so foul He thinks it may come from a can. Avoid."

[Suzy Q]

Different Stax - that's Stax Original - and is old, old, old and fairly gross. Stax OMEGA is on Orchard Park in Greenville, just off of 85 on the other side of town. Like I said, not fancy, but always decent food and clean, with friendly waitstaff.

[bbqdawg]

That's good to know. Have to laugh at 2 different places, one named Stax Original, one named Stax Omega! There must be a good story there involving feuding family members.

[ted]

If you go up 431 through Eufala to Columbus, GA, you could hit Macon Rd BBQ. May be a slight detour through Columbus, unless Google routes a good way to cut over to I-185 S of town. If you're headed N when they're open (Wed-Sat, IIRC), and you haven't already gotten sick of fried seafood, Rose Hill Seafood is really good, too.

There's also Barb's Country Kitchen in Eufaula. Nothing great in the grand, regional scheme of things, but a nice small-town meat & 3. I'd take OK Cafe or Greenwood's in Atlanta over it, if it wasn't lunch time.

Have fun. We're staying across the fence from Rosemary in September, and I'm really looking forward to it.

-----
Macon Rd BBQ
2703 Avalon Rd, Columbus, GA 31907

Rose Hill Seafood
2621 Hamilton Rd, Columbus, GA 31904

Barb's Country Kitchen
114 W Broad St, Eufaula, AL 36027

[johnb]

I keep forgetting when these threads come up, but if you opt for the I-985 route from Atlanta to Asheville, in/near Franklin there are two more places worthy of note. Just a few miles north of the GA/NC border, on the right as you head north, is the Spring Ridge Creamery. They have really great ice cream, made from the milk of Jersey cows right there on their own property. Very rich stuff; intense flavors. In Franklin itself is a true hidden gem, Cafe REL, basically a bistro type of place run by a fellow who knows how to cook. Many daily specials that are generally top notch, plus the regular items--I recently had pork osso buco on special that was fabulous. The kind of place where the staff never changes much. Fair prices. Oddly, located on Business 23 in the same building as the Hot Spot (local gas/convenience chain).