EAT

t 6566 Highway 53 East, Dawsonville t 212 Atlanta Road, Cumming, bigdsbbq.com, 706-216-6706

The Collegiate Grill t 220 Main St. SW, Gainesville, facebook.com/collegiategrill, 678989-2280

Travel back in time at this diner that serves up one of the best hamburgers in town. Sizzling on the flat top in front of you with fries being cooked in oil nearby, a burger at The Collegiate is an American classic. Order one with a patty or two, add some cheese and ketchup — lettuce, tomato and onion if you like — and you’ll be on your way down memory lane.

Dawsonville Pool Room

The Pool Room is a staple of the Dawsonville downtown and a monument to the history of racing. It’s known for its connection to the beginnings of the sport and famous for its Bully Burger and for sounding the “si-reen” for racing victories by NASCAR drivers Bill and Chase Elliott.

t 9 Bill Elliott St., Dawsonville, 706-265-2792

JAG’s Cafe & Catering

The smell of crawfish, jambalaya and gumbo fills the family-run JAG’s Cafe & Catering. Recipes come from the owner’s memory of growing up in New Orleans, though it’s more about cooking than following instructions.

t 3008 McEver Road, Gainesville, facebook.com/JAGsCafe, 770-8954105

Lennys Grill and Subs

Lennys serves handcrafted deli sandwiches piled high with freshly sliced meats and cheeses and authentic cheesesteaks made with the highest quality ingredients on bread that’s baked fresh every day.

t 1040 Market Place Blvd., Cum- ming, facebook.com/LennysAtlanta, 678-947-0336

Longstreet Cafe

Looking for some good ol’ Southern comfort food? Longstreet has you covered. The longtime staple is the place to go if you’re looking for a meat-and-three. Expect to find fried foods like chicken tenders and hefty sides like macaroni and cheese or mashed potatoes. Don’t forget your sweet tea and banana pudding.

t 1043 Riverside Terrace, Gainesville, longstreetcafe.com, 770-2870820

Marie’s Italian Deli

Marie’s Italian Deli uses only the finest and freshest ingredients to create breakfasts, pizzas, calzones, subs, soups, salads and homemade Italian dishes.

t 580 Atlanta Road, Suite 34, Cumming, mariesitaliandeli.com, 770-886-0084

Shipley Do-Nuts

Doughnut lovers do everything they can to get a taste of Shipley’s heavenly glazed doughnut – served hot and fresh just the way Lawrence Shipley liked them. He created his original recipe for hot, fresh, handcrafted doughnut so fluffy, simple and delicious that owners still create the doughnut his way to this day. t 3225 Keith Bridge Road, Cumming, facebook.com/ShipleyDoNuts30041CummingGA, 470-8392135

Smokin’ Mike’s Meats

Roughly a mile from the Hall/ Dawson county line, this hole-in-thewall takeaway spot offers smallbatch, hickory-smoked pulled pork, barbecue chicken, brisket and baby back ribs, along with rotating specials, house-made sides and desserts like cobbler and banana pudding. Customers can nosh on just the meat, a sandwich or a plate with two sides, choosing between coleslaw, baked beans, mac and cheese, twicebaked potato casserole, potato salad and Brunswick stew.

t 5646 Price Road, Gainesville, facebook.com/smokinmikesmeats

Socks Love Barbecue

Meats are smoked and rubbed in-house at Socks Love, which offers brisket, ribs, pork, turkey and chicken along with sides like mac and cheese and cowboy beans.

t 1050 Buford Road, Unit 104, Cumming, sockslovebrands.com, 470-302-8383