The Best of Athens 2012 - Dining

Best Burrito

Big Mamma's Burritos

Once again, Big Mamma's Burritos reigned supreme with their daily and late night burrito creations that draw the masses.

Much like last year, Big Mamma's and the Burrito Buggy were neck-and-neck in competition for the title, with Burrito Buggy tailing behind in second place and Casa Nueva holding the third runner-up spot.

Best Hamburger

The Pub

Tis the gift to be simple when it comes to making a good hamburger. Holding strong with their previously held title, The Pub on North Court Street has the best hamburger in town. With no fancy sauces or fixin's, the Athens crowd is most satisfied with the classic American hamburger with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and ketchup or mayo if you so choose. The basic ruffled chips on the side add yet another traditional flair to the Pub-burger.

For eaters who crave a more unique hamburger creation, Jackie O's Pub & Brewery comes in second place, followed by Wendy's.

Best Pizza

Avalanche Pizza

The secret to Avalanche Pizza's success is not due to their eye-catching advertisements but to their top-notch ingredients and wild menu options. Not only has the Food Network deemed Avalanche! the "best pizza in the USA," but they claim the title of best pizza in Athens as well.

First runner-up goes to Goodfella's, which has helped students sober up during late-night debauchery with their rectangular, buttery slices for years, and third runner-up goes to Jackie O's Pub & Brewery.

Best Chicken Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings

This year, the race for the title of best wings was chicken-neck-and-chicken-neck between Buffalo Wild Wings and the recently opened Wings over Athens, with neither coming out on top.

While Buffalo Wild Wings didn't have to share the title with anyone last year, the new Wings over Athens on North Court Street has caused a perfect divide in the Athens community with their ginormous wings at a reasonable price. Although Wings over Athens doesn't provide the sports bar and restaurant environment that Buffalo Wild Wings does, their speedy production will likely make them competitive for this title for years to come.

First runner-up is Leghorn's on East State Street, and third place goes to Miller's Chicken. Miller's does have the advantage of offering all the pieces of a chicken, including the innards, a benefit that can't be understated.

Best Sub

Subway

In a college town with broke students and a poor economy, it's no wonder that Subway was voted the best sub in town with their $5 foot-long deals and cheap menu options. Jimmy John's places first runner-up with their delicious fresh bread, followed by WG Grinders on Union Street.

Best Beer

Jackie O's Pub & Brewery

It just wouldn't seem right for any bar other than Jackie O's Pub & Brewery to come out on top in the best beer category. As the only bar in town with its own functioning brewery and brewmaster, it's hard for other bars to compete with Jackie O's handcrafted neo-traditional ales that can satiate the sweet, savory or even sour brewtooth.

Second place goes to Casa Nueva/Cantina, with a tap lineup featuring all-Ohio beers, one of which is Athens' own Jackie O's.

The third place ranking reveres not a bar, but the popular Yuengling brand, which finally expanded distribution to Ohio this past October, preventing any further craving-driven trips to West Virginia to purchase the rich and delicious beer.

Best Breakfast

Casa Nueva

Casa Nueva makes it easy for customers to begin their day after a long night of boozing with their delicious breakfast menu offering refreshing local ingredients, homemade jams and bread, and one heck of a Bloody Mary to soothe your hangover's soul.

First runner-up is the Union Street Diner, with cheap all-American choices in all-American big portions that will keep your wallet and stomach full, and placing third, the reliable old standby Bob Evans on East State Street.

Best Ethnic Restaurant

Restaurant Salaam

The best ethnic restaurant title goes to Restaurant Salaam on West Washington Street, where when you dine, you really do "step into another world," as they advertise.

Not only does Salaam have a spectacularly diverse menu offering delicious traditionally inspired dishes from North Africa, Thailand, India, Pakistan, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, but the ambiance of the restaurant is unique as well. Warm colors, Persian carpets and lush greenery frame the intimate dining room of Salaam, and it's nothing out of the ordinary to see a belly dancer sashay past your table on a Saturday night. Customers at Salaam get more than just a delicious meal; they get an entire experience.

First runner-up in this category goes to Casa Nueva, and third place goes to China Panda on East State Street.

Best Vegetarian Cuisine

Casa Nueva

The Locavore and the herbivore's solution since 1985, Casa Nueva offers the best vegetarian cuisine in Athens according to our readers. Through breakfast, lunch and dinner, vegetarians have more than just a few options to choose from with Casa's menu. As advertised on the front of their menu, they offer vegetarian, vegan and even gluten-free options for customers, none of which are slim pickin's, and all of their delicious salsas are vegan.

Coming in second place is Restaurant Salaam, followed by Lui Lui.

Best Hot Dog

O'Betty's Red Hot!

As past-tradition would predict, O'Betty's Red Hot! gets top honors as the best hot dog in Athens. With a new location on Union Street, O'Betty's is now double the trouble for hot dog and French-fry lovers, who can choose from the new location or the original location on West State Street.

Although the original O'Betty's in the Cameron building may be the smallest building in uptown Athens, their menu options promise big flavor.

First runner-up is Larry's Dawg House on West Union with a family-friendly environment (and great shakes and fries), followed by Mike's Dog Shack on South Court.

Best Uniquely Athens restaurant

Casa Nueva

Outfitted with art done by local artists, filled with the music of local bands and cooked with ingredients from local farmers, Casa Nueva earns the title of the most uniquely Athens restaurant.

Worker-owned and operated, Casa embodies the spirit of Athens and has been part of the community since 1985.

Second place goes to O'Betty's Red Hot!, which opened in 2003 and has a rock-star ambiance filled with hotdog paraphernalia and pictures of burlesque beauties, while third place goes to Restaurant Salaam, which opened in 2009.

Best Fine Dining

Zoe

While they might not have the cheapest menu in town, the value and quality of food at Zoe fine dining (which has an umlaut over the "e" but we don't know where it is on the keyboard) gain them the rank of best fine dining in Athens.

The contemporary French American cuisine available on their menu is accommodating to vegetarian customers, and the restaurant provides further appeal with its changing a la carte menu

The first runner-up in this category goes to Stephen's, which provides a quality and intimate dining experience for customers, and third place goes to Restaurant Salaam.

Best restaurant/bar

Casa Nueva/Casa Cantina

For the second year in a row since this category has been offered, Casa Nueva/Casa Cantina takes the rank of Athens' best restaurant/bar.

Due to the fact that Casa Nueva and Casa Cantina are the only place in town that have a divided full bar and restaurant, it's only fitting that they would win this category by a landslide. On the restaurant side, Casa Nueva, customers can sit at the tiled tables and be served the latest and greatest of Casa specials, while in the bar section, Casa Cantina, people can gather for a quick bite or drink at their leisure while waiting for a table at the highly in-demand Casa Nueva.

During the weekend and weeknights after Casa Nueva has closed, Casa Cantina has a calendar full of events, filled with scheduled local musicians and themed dance evenings including Open Doors Dance Night and '80s Dance Night. No matter what, Casa Nueva/Casa Cantina always has something unique to offer.

First runner-up in this section goes to Jackie O's Pub & Brewery, which has made a name for itself with its delicious food and weekly Sunday brunch hosted by the displaced Jana's Cafe.

Third place goes to the Pub, where people love to go for "Athens Best Hamburger" during the day, then drink a few aquariums at night for a bumpin' good time.