Hillary Brown

OSTERIA OLIO (355 Oneta St., 762-316-1818): Is there still room for more high-end restaurants in Athens? Sure, why not? Osteria Olio, the brand-new swanky restaurant that’s part of the brand-new swanky boutique hotel Rivet House, is the first place in 28 years of living in this town where I have had my car valet parked. There is no other option unless you park around the corner sneakily and arrive on foot. Given that the parking lot is right there, it can also feel silly; previously free for those dining at the restaurant, it seems to have been updated to a $5 charge, plus tip. Credit where credit is due: The decor is higher end than anything in Athens, with curvy poured-concrete banquettes on the gorgeous patio, chunky slabs of wood creating a partial screen and gigantic arrangements of dried flowers that hang from the ceiling. It feels like Atlanta, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. There is something a bit conservative about the vibe (aesthetically, not politically), but the atmosphere is still very nice.

The exhibition “Joel Sternfeld: When It Changed” will be on display through Dec. 1.

KILLER CRUST PIZZA (1791 Oconee Connector, Suite 420, 706-850-0125): I did not have high hopes for this restaurant when I first heard about it. Its owners have connections to Doughby’s, which used to be open in Watkinsville and made gigantic slices of pizza that were mainly notable for their measurements. Its location, in the former Charlie Grainger’s hot dog franchise in the middle of the sprawling Epps Bridge shopping center, isn’t long on charm. Its logo, a pointy-nosed anthropomorphized slice of pizza with greaser vibes and a pepperoni-ed face that calls to mind intense acne, is confusing. But here’s the big old but: Killer Crust is turning out some of the best pizza in the Athens area.

Meeting up with your friends at La Parrilla is about to get a lot more confusing. There’s a brand new Mexican restaurant called La Parrilla open in Beechwood Shopping Center, near the Hibbett Sports, only it’s not the same one as our local chain that’s been open in Athens since 1999. It’s not an uncommon name among Mexican restaurants given that “parrilla” means “grill.” Bizarro LaPa is a bigger chain, based out of Marietta, with 21 locations, mostly clustered around Atlanta. Prices and menus are similar. Just maybe specify on your text chain.

Yet another business is going into the building at 625 Barber Street; this one in the former retail space/gallery of State the Label (which still exists next door, just as a place where people sew and paint things, not as a place where you can buy them). Tonique Bottle Co.

ATHENS BAGEL CO. (268 N. Jackson St., 706-543-5001): Sometimes, when you wish upon a star, and you really want something, your wish is granted. Not frequently. I can probably count on one hand the number of places I and many others have deeply wished would reopen, and then they actually did, but just because something is unlikely doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. All this is to say that, after years of COVID closure, renovations, contractor difficulties and historic preservation issues, Athens Bagel Co. really did open back up downtown in its original location, and (maybe just as important) it’s still good.

Five Points breakfast, lunch and tea restaurant The Café on Lumpkin will close after Sunday, Nov. 3. Owner Luke Martineac confirmed the news in a phone call with Flagpole and said that although he’s disappointed, he doesn’t see negativity as helpful. The restaurant isn’t closing because it’s not successful. Instead, it’s due to new landlords, who bought the building in August.

First Watch, a breakfast franchise that also does brunch and lunch, opened yesterday Monday, Oct. 21, in the former Jason’s Deli building in the Beechwood Shopping Center. You can look out for fall flavors like salted caramel donut holes, pumpkin pancakes and a honey bacon Brussels sprout hash, plus a juice bar, lots of egg dishes and a kids menu. It’s open from 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m. daily. Munch Hut and its sister business Baskat Catering have moved into the space on Baxter Street that previously housed home.made. It is open Monday through Saturday from 8 p.m.–4 a.m. You did read that right. Taqueria la Parrilla (the Athens one) will open LaPa to Go on Tuesday, Oct. 22. The quick service […]

It’s your annual Turkey Day round-up of local businesses offering sides, turkeys, full meals and desserts for pickup, or that are open on Thanksgiving Day to serve you a feast. We’ll update the version of this article that appears online at flagpole.com if your favorite isn’t listed here.

RESTAURANTE EL AGUILA DOMICILIO (3495 Atlanta Highway, 470-201-0983): We can all agree that a gas station restaurant is one of the best things around—a statement that’s not even controversial anymore. Low rent, small spaces and a steady stream of customers brought in by lottery tickets, fuel and giant cups of soda combine to make something equipped to exceed expectations.