I tried the fried pickles at Lakeview Tavern in Hiawassee, and honestly, they're exactly what you…read morewant when you're craving good bar food done right. They come out hot and perfectly crispy, with a light, crunchy breading that doesn't overpower the pickle itself. Each bite has that satisfying crunch followed by the tangy dill flavor that fried pickles should have. They aren't greasy, which I really appreciated, and the portion size is generous enough to share (though you might not want to). Paired with the ranch, they hit that perfect salty, savory balance that keeps you reaching for "just one more." Sitting there with the lake nearby and a cold drink in hand made them even better. If you're at Lakeview Tavern and debating on an appetizer, the fried pickles are a no-brainer -- classic, flavorful, and done right.

Let's end the night with cocktails, good food and amazing new friends. We found seats at the bar…read moreand thats where we were planted for the rest of the night. When visiting new establishment it's best to go with whatever your friend orders since this is their territory. She ordered the ribs and I was able to try one and it was by far one of the best I've had in a long time. I was trying to be good since overloading on food and alcohol. The last few days and opted for the grilled chicken dinner with broccoli. I was very much happy with my meal. I preferred to drink my calories so I did order myself a nice old-fashioned. Ambience was definitely fun and we were all enjoying ourselves and it's just a great atmosphere when you can also interact with the bartenders. I would go back again.

I had never been to a Blimpie before, but subs are a favorite for me so I had to give it a try…read more I to-go ordered a Buffalo Chicken sub on whole wheat bread with pepper jack, green peppers, olives, banana peppers, and onions. Both the meat and veggies were fresh, and the bread was super soft. It wasn't the best sub I've ever had, but it was better than expected for a fast food sub! The best part was that the store was super clean and the worker was kind. I'd recommend checking it out if you're looking for a quick and yummy sandwich.

Last Resort. Subs were average. Staff - there was only one person at noon on a Wednesday. She never…read moresmiled and was slow but she was nice enough. Requested sandwich be toasted and it wasn't hot when we got it and cheese not melted. Main complaint is they were out of Diet Soda in Fountain drinks, Out of Iced Tea and almost no soap in bathroom, which wasn't exactly clean. Of course she was only one working so probably didn't have time to clean. Also, she waited on the guy ahead of us handled his money and then didn't put on new gloves when she made our sandwiches. Wouldn't go here if there had been another similar place near by.

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.

Cute and quaint sandwich shop that feels like stepping into your grandparents house. Lovely indoor…read moreseating and a nice outdoor space as well. The staff were lovely humans and took great care of us and our dogs. Don't miss this spot if you're visiting the lakes or rivers around here. There's a nice creek and shaded area across the street if you have a bigger party. Is is the Perfect lunch spot.

I was surprised at all the things this store had! We grabbed sandwiches from them two nights and…read morethey were very good! We also bought groceries, beer, soap, fire starters, marshmallow sticks, water and a few other necessities. One evening we sat out back for live music and drinks! Everyone was friendly and helpful. Betty's is an all in one stop shop!

Great atmosphere! We ordered food at the bar by filling out a slip of paper with our choice and…read moreoptions. I ordered the bratwurst sandwich and it came with a bag of chips. I also ordered the potato salad. It was a little sweet for me. The beer selection was full of great German options.

When I'm in town Sweet Pea's is my go too before 2pm. Anytime I can get a club sandwich with fries…read moreor when they have a Cuban as a special, I'm game. Cheryl is always so nice and greets me with a smile every time. Def one of my favorites in town with reasonable pricing

My experience was alright, it wasn't bad it just didn't blow me away especially for what I got. I…read morehad the lox bagel, and it was basically them giving me the ingredients and I had to put it together myself, and for right at $18 the sandwich should come assembled, because it wasn't a quick ordeal. I haven't gone back since my visit last year, but I've had this review in my drafts for a while, and decided it was finally time to post it. Things may have changed since I was there, but from my one experience it wasn't bad, but there are better restaurants for the price in Blairsville

My son and I ate here during the Rod Run and were both very pleased with what we ordered. The…read morefried shrimp and the Etouffee were both very good, and the grits were amazing. The couple that runs this place absolutely could not be any nicer. Just wonderfully friendly people. Totally recommend.

Amazing Shrimp both grilled and fried. The Gumbo is off the chain!!! It's so delicious I went back…read morefor seconds. The service is on point and everyone was so friendly. If you get to the North Georgia Fairgrounds you need to stop and try the food

Sandwich was very good - foot long BMT. They've got a good thing going there. Fresh ingredients and…read morebread. Ordered online and was ready when arrived.

From the owner: Your local Hiawassee Subway® Restaurant, located at 1620 Highway 76 brings new bold flavors along…read morewith old favorites to satisfied guests every day. We deliver these mouth-watering flavors with our famous Footlongs, 6" sandwiches, wraps and salads. And we offer a variety of ways to order--quick and easy in the app or online, convenient delivery, come into your neighborhood shop for an in-restaurant meal, or pick up curbside. We're proud to offer a change from same old fast food with fresh cut veggies and toppings with protein choices, fresh-baked bread and let's not forget cookies! And we're happy to help you with any catering needs as well. All Subway® Restaurants are independently owned and operated by business owners who employ talented Sandwich Artists™.

I was with our ladies group. Everything looked absolutely amazing. Except my falafel wrap. It was…read moreactually bitter, I think because of some bitter bean paste on the wrap, but I soldiered through half of it I looked longingly at my friends turkey and pimento cheese wrap, and kicked myself for trying to be adventurous I remember falafel as a breaded, fried, and extremely tasty herby treat Anyway, everyone else's food looked fabulous There was a huge , panini pressed cuban that looked yummy The portions of everything were very generous We will be back

The food was INCREDIBLE!! Between my husband & I, we had entrees, dessert, & a drink from the bar…read more All of it was so perfect!! Brooke went out of her way to make sure we could choose what we would like the most. Highly recommend!!