Classic Cooking in Georgia’s Albany Will Make You Hungry for More
Posted on 6/12/2015 by Rashelle
Categories: Family Friendly‚ Travel
The South is famous for its classical cuisine, and Albany is no different. Featuring historic and beloved establishments, eating in Albany is an experience in and of itself.
Pearly’s Famous Country Cooking has been whipping up a traditional breakfast and lunch menu for nearly 50 years. Sometimes the lines are long, but it’s not uncommon to see staff going through the parking lot and taking orders from cars. Even if you do have to wait a little while, Pearly’s fluffy biscuits, creamy grits and famous fried chicken will have you convinced it was worth it.
Jimmie’s Hot Dog stand on Jackson Street has been serving up some of the South’s best hot dogs since 1940, and even in the digital age is still receiving 4- and 5-star ratings on TripAdvisor and Google. One Yelp reviewer said, “The Varsity is gourmet dog food compared to Jimmie’s. Jimmie’s is simply the best.” Jimmie’s toasts its buns and serves the dogs with fresh coleslaw and chili so good it’ll make you slap your mama (so they say). And with a menu where nothing costs more than $1.95, Jimmie’s is good on the tummy and easy on the wallet, too.
Pub-style Harvest Moon, is the go-to for a slice of famous Harvest Pie pizza, piled high with pesto, grilled eggplant, portobello mushrooms, tomatoes, tri-colored bell peppers, spinach, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Here you’ll also find an assortment of more than 50 craft and import beers, with evening musical entertainment served on the side Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
For fresh seafood flown in from Florida, head to The Catch – you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled upon some secret hideaway where only those in-the-know go, since the restaurant lacks a splashy sign out front and is instead marked by a discreet silver fish. Panko-crusted grouper, crab cakes and shrimp and grits rank as the most popular menu items.
Another option? The elegant Henry Campbell’s Steakhouse – a popular choice for special evenings that is known for its extensive wine list and high quality fare and whose menu favorites include filet, rib-eye steaks and pan-roasted Chilean sea bass.
Where to stay? Merry Acres Inn was recently named one of Georgia's Top 10 Southern Hospitality Hotels for 2014 by Convention South Magazine, and is also home of the Manor House Pub. Here visitors and locals alike gather to savor a nightcap and relax on the patio with friends. Or, rock the night away with live music on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Insider tip: While the Pub offers its own menu of tasty bites, you can also order from the other restaurants in the Stewbo’s Group and have fare delivered and served to you at the Pub. Merry Acres offers shuttle service to and from all the Stewbo’s restaurants.