This is a great little spot off the beaten path in Helen. We stumbled across it while wandering…read morearound during Oktoberfest. Two things made this spot really stand out. First, it has probably the best selection of beers on tap in the city. Second, they have lots of TVs that were all tuned into various games of college football. It was incredibly nice to have a solid selection of beer and to be able to watch all of the relevant college football games. Now, it's not a particularly big spot, which adds to the charm in my opinion. And they don't have their own bathroom. You have to walk a bit. But none of these are even remotely deal breakers. I will visit Helen again in the relatively near future and this place will be on the agenda.

Taproom that has a diverse beer menu, frozen drinks, and a small cocktail menu. We came here twice…read morewhile we were in Helen and had a great experience both times. The bartender was friendly and helpful, and we appreciated that they offer flights and mug fills. Prices were reasonable and beer was fantastic. If I lived nearby, I'd come here frequently. But since I don't, I look forward to coming back again the next time I visit.

Love this place It's the center of everything. Generally…read morelive music playing, people watching, wonderful beers to choose from and a large chess board and a corn hole set too. Like any good Biergarten, it is the center of town. Love it here!

Cool Biergarten experience in the center of town with several beers on tap. There are several…read moretables and umbrellas which are great on a hot sunny day. There's also corn hole, a giant chess set, and space for a live performer. The only things I think could be improved is that I wish it was cleaner. We came in the evening and both the tables and ground could've used a wipe down and sweep. Also, there's a 25% gratuity charge automatically added to the bill.

Get the ribeye steak. Repeating... get the ribeye steak. Other things are great but the ribeye…read moresteak is tops.

I don't usually post about bad experiences, but tonight was one of those nights where I'm hoping I…read morecan save someone else the frustration we experienced tonight. Tonight was our final attempt at giving Pings another chance, and unfortunately it was even worse than the last time. We called more than 24 hours in advance to let them know we'd be bringing a large party. During that phone call they were so appreciative, would be sure to let the staff know, and would be sure to have a table set up for us outside. Once we arrived today, that completely changed and were told "it doesn't matter what you were told" and were completely dismissed by the manager. The manger actually said, you can wait, or leave. We decided to wait, even though we were already treated horribly just trying to check in. After waiting over 30 minutes to be seated, we were then told they didn't care that we were a party of 12 -- we were not allowed to move the outside tables together so we could sit as a group. This was after our previous visit, where we waited over an hour just to be seated, and then another hour for mediocre food. We genuinely hoped things would improve after they reopened, but the service and food are somehow worse than before. Save your time and your money. There are too many great local restaurants that actually value their customers.

The wing were great! Since we get takeout, they told us what…read moretime to be there and it was right on time.. Looks like a great place to eat, but we just always bring it home

If there were more than 5 stars available, I would select more stars. Michelle made my wife and I…read moreplus our daughter feel like family on Fathers Day. Best wings we have ever had. My 2+2 Burger was perfect. We are planning on going back for prime rib night on our 50th anniversary this Friday. We live in the area now and Dugout is going to be a regular stop now.

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.

Came during the 4th of July weekend, and was just blown away by the place. Our waiter, Marcus, was…read morefantastic, even giving recommendations on drinks. The pizza we slit was the best I've had. The flavors perfectly balanced, light, and crust, crispy.

Staff is excellent, great drinks appetizers and pizza. Our favorites are the shrimp scampi,…read moreburrata caprese, the Greek salad and the Arugula & Prosciutto pizza. Great place!

First time stopping in, the place is decent and the staff was friendly, most of the food was…read moretypical pre-made food from the distributor, so the food is the same as most places like this. The only con for me is the drinks were weak, left after my second drink because of this. They also have game room with some pool tables and video games. Come to watch the game and hangout, but if it's good food and drink you're looking considered somewhere else.

Its changed! Wings are dry, service is horrible. Much more of a dive bar than a restaurant.read more

I love Grant Street's grub, not what you expect from a bar/bowl establishment. Hellaciously good…read moreservice to boot!

Good eats nicely served. Went to a catered event. Well handled. The outdoor porch was very pleasant…read more& inside tables were also available.