Hidden Gem Alert…read more Some places spend millions trying to manufacture "authentic." The Open Door at Alley's Ol' Store apparently skipped that meeting and just kept being authentic. The building looks exactly like what you'd hope to stumble across while wandering the North Georgia mountains. Rustic. Colorful. Cozy. The kind of place that makes you instinctively slow down because you know there's probably something interesting inside. Parking is a bit of a scavenger hunt, but that's part of the adventure. If you're expecting a six-level parking garage with valet service, you've made several wrong turns. The staff immediately made us feel like we'd wandered into Papaw's store and the grandkids were helping out for the afternoon. Two young ladies were running the place, one at the register and one making sandwiches. They weren't reciting a corporate script or trying to upsell me a rewards program. They were just genuinely friendly people who actually seemed happy we stopped in. Imagine that. This isn't a restaurant pretending to be a country store. It is a country store. There's no fancy dining room either. You can eat on the little front porch if it's available, but we grabbed our sandwiches and walked across the street to the riverside park. Honestly, I can't think of many lunches that end with eating beside a mountain river and making a few casts with a fishing rod before heading down the road. That's hard to beat. Now let's talk sandwiches. Three of us ordered the Harvest. Presentation? Maybe a 7 out of 10. Nobody is arranging edible flowers with tweezers back there. It's toasted store-bought bread filled with ingredients that simply belong together. Sometimes food doesn't need to perform gymnastics. It just needs to taste good. And it did. Every bite reminded me that somewhere along the way we've confused "artisan presentation" with "good cooking." The Harvest isn't trying to become internet famous. It's just quietly being delicious. My brother ordered the meatloaf sandwich, and if he wasn't already family, I probably would've stolen half of it. He declared it fantastic with exactly the right amount of condiments. The grandkids inhaled their grilled cheese and ham & cheese without a single negotiation, which every parent knows is basically a Michelin star. One thing that really caught my attention was the steady parade of locals coming in for takeout. That's the kind of review you can't fake. Locals vote with their wallets every day, and this place clearly keeps getting elected. Here's another tip: don't skip the neighboring art gallery. My daughter wandered in and came back smiling. The manager wasn't just selling artwork. She was telling stories. She explained the history of the area, how it shaped the artists, and why certain pieces existed. You could tell she genuinely loved what she was talking about. That's becoming a rare commodity these days. By the time we left, I realized something. The Open Door doesn't have the polish of a big destination restaurant. It doesn't need dramatic plating, twelve-word menu descriptions, or foam strategically placed with tweezers. It has something much harder to create. Character. If you're driving through Lakemont, call ahead if you're in a hurry. If you're not, browse the store, visit the gallery, grab a sandwich, walk across to the river, and stay awhile. Some places feed your stomach. Places like this feed your trip. That's the definition of a hidden gem.

We stopped in with our grandkids to get desserts after picnicking at the park across the road. I…read morehave a small service dog for a serious medical condition. My daughter was carrying her due to my grabbing some meds out of the car & she was told to leave - dogs not allowed. I stepped in and explained she was a service dog. The woman behind the register needs some training on how to handle service dogs because her response was embarrassing and uncalled for. She rolled her eyes and nodded her head and said "ohhhhkayyyyyy" and walked back behind the counter. We left without patronizing this establishment. Please read up on ADA guidelines for service animals so that this is not repeated for future customers.

We went here because it was the closest Resy restaurant to use our Amex credit. Turns out it is…read morepretty good especially the rabun spicy roll

Food was phenomenal, and the workers were attentive and the service was on point. The ambiance was…read moreperfection.

There's not a lot of places to eat on the lake so I was really excited to try this place out. I…read morewill note that it is PRICEY. Pizzas range from $23-26, but the pizza was darn tasty & easy to share. The wings were good, salad was meh and drinks were fantastic (delicious spiked slushies !) Lots of really great outdoor seating (covered and uncovered) and patio like seating inside. The bar area is small but cozy. Tbh the plain cheese pizza was the best thing on the menu.

Owner, wife and service the best. Home away from home (being from BFLO). True style BFLO pizza and…read morewings. Blue cheese is legit. Go Bills!

Not many places get me excited, not many places make me want to go back, and not many places are as…read morefun as Oldknow. I am not local to the area and I do wish I could revisit this establishment. My bar fly days have been long gone, yet I guess "closing the bar" is part of my genetic structure, and these things don't go away. It's not something that I intend on doing, but the conversation flows with me and around me, and people just don't want me to go home! So, we ended up hanging out with one of the owners, and this gave me an insight to the whole idea behind this concept. If you are interested in local, unique products, and search for new flavors, this is the place to find excellent quality drinks. There's in-house gin and bitters, and that is all I will say. Well, one more thing I will say: don't be surprised if this bar becomes a national destination. The bar itself is classy and inviting, the music is great, the crowd is cool, but the hospitality is above tops. This place has it all and deserves a visit. Closing statement: very few places deserve 6 stars, this is one of them.

Old Know is situated in downtown Clayton and brings an eclectic vintage approach to grabbing a…read moredrink. They offer around 3 mocktails, but several different cocktail options. Their cocktails are on tap, which is an interesting approach. The drinks are packed with flavor and the staff are super accommodating in helping you pick out a drink. They had a fun selection of cards and board games too!

My friends and I were visiting North Georgia for the first time and stopped in at this brewery…read more They had tons of beer selections and even had wine from a local winery. It has a very casual relaxed but fun feel to it. They have some cards games as well as a pool table and other entertainments inside. I heard they have corn hole as well. The outdoor area was nice with picnic tables and shade. We appreciated the fact that they play country music there too since that can be hard to find businesses do (at least while I've been traveling) so that added to the appeal and charm. I would highly recommend for a chill casual hangout or date night .

Good, fresh beer. Good selection. Free friendly service…read more Third visit to Clayton and second to Currahee. I got flight this time, ranging from a hazy IPA to a stout. The hazy was the best o' the bunch, but all were good. I probably won't order the Kawi (coffee milk stout again), but the hazy and the Oktoberfest and the dark Belgium are all on the table for next visit. One server on staff on both visits. Both times friendly. Love the front porch, covered, right on the street. Great Mountain View's, especially this visit (November) with the colors.

What a great hidden gem in Helen! The views were fantastic and the service was wonderful!…read more Everything we ordered was delicious including the smoked salmon dip. The highlight of the visit was its pet friendly! Well behaved dogs are allowed to join you at this adorable find. My brother ordered the fried chicken sandwich and he raved about it:) We were too full for dessert but I hope on my next visit up, we will most definitely return

Delicious food with a great view. Comfort food with a date night feel. Thanks to the staff for our…read moreyummy Oyster sauced meatloaf and chicken.

We came here after our hike at the gorge for lunch with our three kids. We moved from TX a few…read moreyears ago, where there were often restaurants with play areas outside for kids, and we loved that this setup was here too. It made our time relaxing and gave us time to bond while playing as a family--the kids also played while we enjoyed a beer. Brilliant. The wings are smoked by hand and were a highlight. We also enjoyed the nachos and the power bowl (the chickpeas seemed roasted on site as well). We left with full bellies and happy memories.

Hamburger was good, chicken quesadillas was just okay. Service was really none existent. Staff was…read morenot engaged with customers, more interested in their cell phones. Never checked on us the entire time we were there. Would have stayed for another beer but didn't feel like begging for service.

Laid back bar, attentive & friendly staff and the best part they are pet friendly! Will definitely…read morego again!

Tried a flight, left with 2 growlers. Damn good beer, friendly people. Would recommend.read more