Where the Locals Eat

Four notable residents residents share their favorite Gwinnett restaurants

BY JENNIFER SENATOR

DANIEL BURAPAVONG

When Daniel Burapavong moved to Atlanta to attend Georgia Tech 18 years ago, it wasn’t long before he realized many of his favorite restaurants were in Gwinnett County. “The main reason I purchased a Peach Pass years ago was because I found myself driving to Gwinnett so often to dine out,” he says. He continues to eat out in Gwinnett regularly, using the hashtag #ExploreGwinnett to document his culinary outings.

All-around favorite restaurant: Right now, it’s K BBQ Factory. Korean barbecue is one of my favorite types of cuisine. You can’t get much better than these guys in terms of the quality of food and service. Best breakfast/brunch: Georgia French Bakery & Cafe is as authentic as it gets when it comes to delicious, madefrom-scratch breads, pastries, and sandwiches. The Parisian sandwich, made with roast beef, balsamic mayo, red onions, blue cheese, and tomato, is phenomenal. Best date spot: Why not make it a doughnuts date? Sarah Donuts has the best doughnuts in metro Atlanta. My favorites are the red velvet cake with icing and the glazed twist cake. Best on a budget: RW’s Subs—this sandwich shop is legit and arguably the best in metro Atlanta.

Sarah Donuts

Tree Story Bakery & Cafe

Ryan’s Honey Club (smoked turkey, ham, crispy bacon, Monterey Jack cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion, and honey mustard) is perfect from top to bottom. Favorite coffee shop: I love the whimsical, storybook-like atmosphere at Tree Story Bakery & Cafe. It offers an ever-changing selection of drip-brewed coffee and interesting foods like fresh mochi (Japanese rice cake) and sweet green bean paste buns. Best place to take out-of-town guests: Bally Budaejjigae is unique—they specialize in budae-jjigae, Korean for “army base stew.” There are stoves at every table to cook and keep the hearty stew nice and hot. Best dessert: The flavored snow (shaved ice) and toast at Snowflake Tea House not only looks great, it tastes great, too. The ice is neatly shaved into soft, thin, ribbons and the toast creations are large and impressive. Best ethnic restaurant: Gwinnett has some of the best Korean food in the country, and Seo Ra Beol is one of my favorites. Their naengmyeon (cold noodles) and bibimbap (mixed rice) are outstanding. Plus, it’s open 24/7.

KACIE FLANAGAN

A native of Lilburn, Kacie Flanagan enjoys dining out in her hometown and beyond. “Gwinnett reminds me of Atlanta in that there are so many different neighborhoods and towns to explore,” she says. “Each one of them has its own personality.” Flanagan documents her food adventures and discoveries on Instagram @Treatyoself_atl.

All-around favorite restaurant: Universal Joint in Lawrenceville has a great patio, delicious food, and strong drinks. The overall laid-back atmosphere of this place is what keeps me coming back. Best date spot: There’s nothing fancy about Truck & Tap, which is what makes it a great casual date spot. They have a different food truck every day and are constantly rotating the beers, which makes it that much more appealing and exciting. It’s in downtown Duluth, so you can take a stroll around town to finish your date night. Favorite coffee shop: Alcove Coffeehouse in Lilburn has delicious coffee drinks and a pretty view. It sits right on Lake Lucerne and is always a great place to catch up with friends. Best patio: Universal Joint is right on the Lawrenceville Square, with guaranteed good people-watching. It faces the courthouse, so it’s a prime spot for festivals or weddings. They also allow dogs on the patio and have cornhole. Best dessert: Blue Rooster Bake Shop in Lawrenceville always has the most gorgeous displays and bakery cases with lots of Instagrammable goodies. They also do some of the most amazing custom cakes I’ve ever seen, and actually did the dessert station at my wedding. Fun Fact: I worked at the original Blue Rooster Cafe, in downtown Lilburn, throughout high school.

Universal Joint

Best pizza: O4W Pizza in Duluth. Be sure to get Grandma’s Pie—that is all you need to know. If you haven’t tried it, you aren’t living right. Best ethnic restaurant: SriThai in Snellville offers authentic Thai food and sushi outside the Perimeter. The ingredients, consistency, and casual atmosphere are just some of the reasons I keep going back.

O4W Pizza

JEFF SMITH

Serving the Lawrenceville Police Department, Gwinnett native Jeff Smith knows Gwinnett well. He’s also knowledgeable about Gwinnett’s restaurants, and enjoys exploring new spots in town with his family. “Gwinnett is a great food destination, especially due to the diversity of styles, cultures, and ethnicities,” he says.

All-around favorite restaurant: Adriatic Grill isn’t fancy, but it’s my go-to for lunch or dinner. The people are superfriendly and accommodating, and their food is consistently good. I especially enjoy the gyros, doner kebabs, burgers, and chevapi (a Balkan favorite). Jakup and his wife (the owners) make incredible homemade desserts. Be sure to try the chocolate-dipped baklava. Best breakfast/brunch: Peachtree Cafe has a great variety of breakfast favorites, but I’m partial to the omelets. The pancakes are always a hit. Best date spot: The atmosphere at Parkside District is inviting and vibrant; they have an open kitchen and an incredible painting of an octopus that I love. Chargrilled oysters are my favorite food, and these are the best I have had this side of New Orleans. The chowder is also a must. Best on a budget: For almost 30 years, Hong Kong Garden has been my quick, inexpensive, and delicious go-to lunch and take-out spot. Their General Tso’s chicken and Kung Pao chicken are my favorites. Favorite coffee shop: While Ligero touts itself as a tobacco house, it also has great Cuban coffee. The cigar selection is probably one of the best in the county. Sitting with a friend in a comfortable leather chair with a Cuban coffee and a good cigar can help solve many of life’s problems. Best patio: I love Lawrenceville, and one of the best views of the historic downtown is from the rooftop patio of McCray’s Tavern. A cold beer, a good burger, and loaded housemade chips while overlooking the prettiest and most historic downtown in the county? Yes, please. Best place to take out-oftown guests: Dominick’s provides good food, insanely big portions, good drinks, and a great atmosphere. It’s locates on the main floor of what was once a hotel on the square in Lawrenceville. You can show off the historic courthouse square to out-of-town guests while walking to the restaurant. My favorite dish is the Dominick’s veal with a side of angel hair Alfredo with cherry peppers. Half-orders will provide most people with something to take home. Best dessert: Special Kneads and Treats offers a variety of incredible cupcakes. The main buzz in my circle is the “ChocCorn”—a highly addictive corn puff covered in white chocolate that is a favorite for gifting and hoarding. Best pizza: The giant NY-style slices or whole pies at Fratelli’s Pizza NY Style in Grayson— they are all delicious. I love the Bella Bianca pizza. The staff and family really make customers feel welcome. Best ethnic restaurant: We are so fortunate in Gwinnett to have so many different cultures and ethnicities represented and this is also represented in our restaurants. I have favorite Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Caribbean, Mexican, Peruvian, German, and Persian restaurants. This is a major strength in Gwinnett.

McCray’s Tavern

CHRISTINA HOWELL-SCOTT

A Gwinnett resident for 17 years, Christina Howell-Scott says she moved to Peachtree Corners “for the schools, trees in my neighborhood, and a Tudor home.” As senior sales manager at Gwinnett’s Infinite Energy Center, she also enjoys the county’s vibrant restaurant scene. “There is so much quality and variety,” she says, “and I don’t have to go intown to have intown fare.”

All-around favorite restaurant: Favorite restaurants are like moods, I have one for every way I feel. I like Masterpiece for when I can sit with my family and leisurely enjoy a great meal; O4W Pizza when I’m with friends or co-workers for a great time; and Mojito’s, Osteria di Mare, and Taqueria del Mar are my girls night out go-tos. Best breakfast/brunch: The pancakes and French toast with bacon at Peachtree Cafe. Best happy hour: I like the variety of margaritas, beer, and cocktails with great tacos at Taqueria del Mar. Best date spot: Mojito’s Cuban American Bistro in Old Norcross has an intimate atmosphere and live music in the evenings. Try the Cuban seafood gumbo and, of course, have a mojito. If you’re really comfortable with your date, the spicy oxtails will have you sucking the bones, just sayin’. Best on a budget: Blaxican, which serves Mexican soul food. The collard green quesadilla is savory, and with a glass of the housemade sangria, starts the meal off right. The fish tacos and pork chop tacos are also favorites. They also have a food truck. Best patio: On a beautiful spring day, with a lovely seafood Cobb salad, the patio at grace | 17•20 just takes me away. Best place to take out-of-town guests: The shrimp and grits at Noble Fin is a must-have for visitors. They also have a great bar with buck-a-shuck oysters. I’m so happy they’re in my neighborhood. Best dessert: I stumbled onto Osteria di Mare during restaurant week. They have a fantastic crème brûlée. Best pizza: The handcrafted pizzas at O4W Pizza are made with fresh ingredients. And the calzones are a two-meal deal! Best ethnic restaurant: Masterpiece, a Sichuan Chinese restaurant in Duluth. Chef Rui Liu is a James Beard Award nominee and a winner in my book. The eggplant with chili powder and pepper ash is my all-time favorite, but it’s not for the foolhardy—you could call it mouth-numbing! I also love the lamb with cilantro and the boiled fish fillet with chili stew.

Noble Fin