Every good college town is going to have at least one good pizza place. In Athens, Avalanche Pizza was recommended to me. They serve up standard pies, but also some specialty ones that may even require a dictionary. Take a look at some of these unique pies:

The Wheels on Fire: Our fabulous hand-tossed crust, with savory Gorgonzola cream sauce, bake with fresh-sliced Red Onion and King Family Farms Chicken that is gently coated with our spicy Ninja Sauce. After the oven we apply spokes of Creamy Ranch Dressing and shaved Celery with a garnish of Roasted Red Pepper in the middle.

Hot Tuna: Tuna, artichoke hearts, fresh mushrooms, tomatoes, asiago, and spicy ninja sauce using our aged mozzarella and provolone blend on our creamy béchamel sauce and crispy thin crust.

Loaded Baked Potato: Potatoes, crispy bacon, broccoli and cheddar using our aged mozzarella and provolone blend on our creamy béchamel sauce and signature hand-tossed dough.

Crouching Kimchi, Hidden Chicken: Teriyaki-tossed roasted chicken, crunchy cashews, mandarin oranges and Korean kimchi using our aged mozzarella and provolone blend on our house marinara sauce and signature hand-tossed dough.



But The Godzilla has won the "Best Pizza in the U.S.A." - Velvety Blanched Spinach atop our Delicious Marinara Blend with Melting Feta Cheese, Fresh Golden Roasted Chicken and finished with Sweet Sun-dried Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Provolone. And it won Best Pizza in the U.S.A. at the World Pizza Championship in Salsomaggiore, Italy!

This was a really tasty pizza. The flavor combinations are not all that crazy - sundried tomatoes, spinach, feta - those are great together. And covered in mozzarella and provolone brings it all together. A pretty good pizza, all in all.

Grade: A

Little Fish Brewing is "locally sourced, meticulously crafted, with love" in Athens, Ohio.



"We brew with a farmhouse mentality, deriving inspiration from locally sourced ingredients. While saisons and barrel aged sours are close to our hearts, we also love to brew and drink a hop-forward pale ale or a subtly crafted lager. Nothing is off the table, as long as it pairs well with friends and family!



We strive to make our brewery a reflection of our beliefs. We source the majority of our grain and a portion of our hops in-state. Our electricity is generated by our solar panels and wind power credits. We are 100% independently owned. Every little bit helps."



They're a really cool little brewery with a nice outdoor space. I started with their "Honey Bruin," which is a sour brown ale was aged 22 months in used French oak wine barrels & neutral American oak bourbon barrels, and refermented on raw buckwheat honey, which adds an earthy, caramelly flavor and mouthfeel. It was refreshing, light and super drinkable. Just a really nice enjoyable beer.



I also ordered this beautiful plate of homemade linguine pasta with a beautiful flower garnish. It had a umami base with some parmesan and a kick from chili peppers. I love, love the chewiness of homemade noodles. So yummy. 

Grade: A

Casa Nuevo in Athens is a worker-owned restaurant dishing out Mexican-inspired food. 



The fact that it's worker-owned was super interesting to me. What does that mean? 



"A worker-owned co-op is a business where the workers of the cooperative have joined together to produce goods and/or services for sale. The workers, being the only members of the cooperative, elect the Board of Directors and share whatever profits are earned by the business."



They also don't allow tipping - instead, they pay their "Casatrons" a liveable wage (what they call their servers). They just have a very cool, progressive way of running their business - from how they support their employees to how they source their food and everything inbetween. 



Because I visited during the era of COVID19, it was takeout only. So after perusing the menu full of burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and enchiladas, I went with the Albondigas: pork meatballs simmered in the house BBQ salsa and served on a bed of jasmine rice. 



These were really tasty! I was so full from our mini food tour of Athens, but I kept sneaking bites of these meatballs. They were moist and had some sweetness and some spice. And I loved how there was plenty of the salsa to soak into the jasmine rice, which is sometime my most favorite part of a meal. 



Grade: A

Prior to my ever visiting Athens, Ohio, folks would always tell me I need to check out Jackie O's.



We're not just talking OU alums; we're talking everyone who has ever spent any time in Athens recommends Jackie O's. 



And for good reason.



Jackie O's brews their own beer - and lots of it. They have 50 available at all times, and they span from IPAs to sours and all styles inbetween.



"Jackie O’s owner, Andrew Arthur Oestrike, known by most as Art, went to Ohio University in Athens, Ohio as an undergraduate and again as a graduate student after teaching English overseas in South Korea.
In 2005, Art purchased O’Hooley’s. Shortly before this new venture, his mother, Jackie Oestrike, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. Jackie passed away in June of 2006, but not before her son let her know he had plans to change the name “O’Hooley’s” to “Jackie O’s” in her honor. Her reaction was a classic motherly reaction, “a bar?!” Art’s reply, “it's going to be so much more than a f*@%ing bar, mom!” has been what continues to inspire and grow the business to this day. " In January of 2007, the name of O’Hooley’s officially changed to Jackie O’s Brewpub. The original Brewpub became a pillar of the Athens community by focusing on locally inspired and produced products. At Jackie O’s inception, the decision was made to brew specific beer that would only be available in Athens, create barrel-aging and sour programs, and commit to using locally sourced products whenever possible."



We dined outside, and I ordered a sour beer, which I remember enjoying but do not remember which one specifically. 



We also ordered a pizza with red marinara sauce, provolone, a balsamic glaze - rich, fatty, delicious.



They often have specials and new beers, so I want to go back soon to check out some new drinks and food.



Because from my experience, what they have to offer is great.



What's your favorite order here?



Grade: A

Larry's Dawg House is a beloved local restaurant in Athens that serves up both hot dogs and ice cream sundaes.



"What’s better than a delicious hot dog washed down with an ice cream sundae? Absolutely nothing! That’s why, we’ve been serving up hearty combos to the good people of Athens since 1972, and we don’t plan on stopping any time soon. Whether you prefer a standard dog or want to go all out with a fried one dressed with all the toppings, we’ve got you covered. We know that good flavor and amazing service are what keep you coming back, which is why we’re always doing our very best to make sure you leave us with a smile."



At this point in the day, I had eaten my way through Athens, but I could manage a drink.  I ordered a banana split arctic swirl. I'm not usually a banana split girl, but the freshness of the fruit was calling my name. Can a milkshake be healthy? Maybe kinda if it's made with fruit, right? In that case, this was sweet, a little bit healthy and a lot delicious.

Grade: A

Fluff Bakery in Athens wasn't open for me to go inside and visit. But, they did have a pick-up window that I took full advantage of. 



The bakery opened in 2010 "to fulfill a lifelong dessert and bakery obsession, and to showcase the talents of local farmers, producers, and entrepreneurs committed to making good food and drinks. Our Mission is to introduce our version of comfort food to the people of Athens, Ohio, and the surrounding region, and to support as many local people, businesses and non-profits in the process."



The bakery had a lineup of quite a few delicious goodies, like cannolis, pumpkin cookie with caramel icing and peanut butter bars with chocolate ganache. 



I went with just a couple desserts because the made-to-order sandwiches were a bit more difficult to come by.



The first was a cream cheese swirled brownie that was more of a dark chocolate. That's not my favorite, but the cream cheese topping was a perfect sweet touch to balance out any bitterness. 



The other was a much lighter dessert with some shaved almonds on top that I enjoyed. Just a few delights made for a nice morning.



Grade: B

Donkey Coffee and Espresso in Athens is a beloved local coffee shop.



This artsy and funky shop serves up coffee, as well as pastries and snacks.



Bright purple walls and little nooks make for great spots to sip on your drink. I went with a simple hot chocolate - my guilty pleasure. But perfect when homemade.



The drink was good, and I liked the vibe of the place.



Have you been?



Grade: A

I love, love, love a good bagel. And the cool college town of Athens, Ohio, had the perfect place for me: Bagel Street Deli.



This shop has an online ordering system, which made it super easy for me to take some time to look over the menu. It is quite extensive. From breakfast bagels and blts to bbq tofu and pizza bagels - there's a little bit of everything.



I opted for their Larry David bagel, which has lox, cream cheese, capers, onions, and tomato all on an onion bagel. After placing my order online, I picked it up at the shop and went on my way - super easy peasy. And the bagel was delicious. Sometimes a lox bagel has way too much cream cheese - or even way too much lox. Or not a good quality lox. This one checked all the boxes with the silky lox, the briney pop of the capers and the creaminess of the cheese all matched perfectly with a touch of sweetness from the onion. All in all, v good.

Grade: A