Sngilmore’s Weblog

My last stop on my restaraunt food finding quest was at Jot em’ Downs on Barnett Shoals Rd.  This hot spot features classic bar-b-que at it’s finest!  This place is different from all of the other restaraunts in that it doubles as a convenient store for passer byers and eatery.  I know how this sounds..convienent store/restaraunt, but you would be shocked at the amazing food that comes out of this place.  Jot em’ Downs feature a plethera of barbeque plates from pulled pork, chicken, and beef that they smoke and grill right in the back of the store.   They also have porkribs, beef ribs, and delectable sides to top it all of (Mac n’ cheese, cabbage, green beans,pork and beans, etc).  The technique they use to cook the meat is unlike anything I have ever seen.  You won’t catch a little charcoal grill or gas grill here. Instead, they use a huge smoke house in the back that slow cooks and smokes the meat to perfection!  If this place doesn’t qunech your southern taste buds then I don’t know what will.  The meals range from $6-$9 and the individual sides range in price from $3-$5.   If barbeque is not your thing then step inside the convenient store for something that suits your tastebuds a bit more.  Jot em’ Downs was the ultimate hometown country bar-be-que experience I have been looking for.  Paper plates, messy fingers, and a huge smile are what you can expect after eating at Jot em’ Downs!

Moving along through my journey through food heaven I stumbled upon this ridicuously fun restaraunt on Friday night called East West Bistro.  It’s a fusion restaraunt that plays upon Asian inspired foods combined with good ol’ classic American dining.  Not only that, but they’ve got a tapas menu that is out of this world! Here’s a brief run-down of what had to eat Friday night.  My friends and I started with two tapas- the sweet potato chips that were cooked so perfectly and served with a side of cool blue cheese truffle dressing.  Can you say yum! Along side the chips we had a delectible Bruschetta (about 6 pieces) that were topped off perfectly with tomatoes,fetta cheese,and a piece of basil. Once I finished devouring my tapas we moved our attention towards the dinner menu which has so many options to choose from.  If you are a seafood lover than this place has got more options than you can imagine.  For my choice though I chose the grilled Porterhouse porkchop that came slightly infused with lime juice,cilantro, and a sweet chili sauce.  Ok is your mouth watering yet?  As a side dish I got some crispy green beans and purple potato cake.  This place was hands down one of my absolute favorite places to go.  Everything from the atmosphere to the service made my trip to East West Bistro unforgettable.  Although the actual dinner menu may be intimidating it is posible to eat there on a low budget.  Just grab a few good friends and order 5-6 tapas and you’ve instantly created a meal for yourself! 

Continuing my journey through the plethera of eateries Athens has to offer I have to stop and tell everyone about this cozy little nook called “Uncle Otto’s European Eatery” nesstled in the busy yet exciting downtown Athens area. Uncle Otto’s is not your average run of the mill sandwich shop it specializes in Kebaps, which is a distant cousin to the Greek’s gyro.  The warm and “towney” atmosphere reminds you that while the food is not familiar you are still in wonderful Athens.  The menu features a sandwich with either grilled beef or chicken( or tofu for the veggie lovers), a side of fries, and either a soft drink or draft Belgian beers! The sandwich is delightfulyy stuffed with  cool cucumbers, sweet tomatoes,crispy lettuce, tasty onions and your choice of feta cheese! All of these ingredients are fresh and prepared upon order. Not only that but the fries are to die for.  They are also made fresh with non-frozen potatos.  Did I forget to mention the bread? That is the absolute best part of all! The bread is a round Eurpoean style bread that is crusty and toasted on the outside and flaky on the inside.  The combination of the fresh veggies, grilled meat, delicious bread make this one of my new favorite sandwich shops!