No money, No problem...

Food Finds is a blog created by four broke journalism students at the University of Georgia. The purpose of this blog is to review local restaurants that wont burn a hole in a college student's already slim wallet.

In addition to reviews of affordable restaurants, Food Finds also recognizes more expensive restaurants that may dwindle your keg party cash stash, but are worth it. We've even spotlighted some unique restaurants outside of the classic city for all of you roadtrippers.

Didn't see your standard Sunday brunch staple on our blog? Let us know your favorite tasty, cheap eats in Athens, Georgia!

Keep eatin' cheap,
Katie McW, Katie W., Mandy, and Allison

Allison's Perfect Athens Meal

  • I love to start out any Athens evening in the spring sitting outside at The Boar’s Head drinking beer with good friends. One of my favorite beers is Terrapin Golden Ale, which is native to Athens. Aside from almost every bar in Athens, this beer can also be enjoyed at the Terrapin Brewery, which gives tours on Thursday nights and Saturday afternoons.
  • As an appetizer, I love to munch on Hummus from The Grit or Cheese Dip from Taqueria La Parilla. Both of these restaurants are fun places to have a laid back night out with friends and enjoy inexpensive favorite appetizers.
  • I love the Martha’s Salad Plate from Marti’s at Midday. This salad wouldn’t really fit in my Athens top meal, because it is about two meals in itself, but I couldn’t think of a salad that is as tasty as this one. Although it’s easy to pass on Prince Avenue, Marti’s always attracts a HUGE lunch crowd.
  • I have got to stay true to my roots and so it is only fair to choose The Last Resort Grill’s Chicken Praline as my favorite entrée. It was the first meal that I had when I visited Athens almost five years ago. I have had MANY dishes that could have qualified for this spot, but none compare. The Last Resort Grill is one of the things I will miss the most when I graduate.
  • I am such a dessert fanatic, so this was a no brainer for me. I associate good looking and tasting dessert with one name: Cecilia Villaveces. A case of her cakes receives owwws and awws from all the diners who enter The Last Resort Grill. My favorite is the White Chocolate Cheesecake, but I would honestly settle for anything that comes out of that bakery. Another one of my favorites is a Snicker’s Blizzard from Dairy Queen. This year, my roommate and I have walked to DQ several times so that we wont feel guilty about getting these cool treats.
  • I’m sad to say that I am a late night Athens meal connoisseur. Even if I try to fight it, after a night at the bars I crave a slice of Veggie Pizza with a side of Pesto from Little Italy. I try to stay away from the bars around Little Italy past midnight so my late night craving doesn’t get the best of me. Even though I am never in the area, the Cheese Tots from Clocked! are worth the walk. Thank goodness that Clocked! is only open late a few nights a week!

Katie Mc's Perfect Athens Meal

  • Cocktail: A Georgia Peach Martini from Speakeasy
  • Salad: The House Salad with Feta cheese from Transmetropolitan
  • Appetizer: The Crab Cake from East West or the Spinach Dip from Speakeasy
  • Entree: The Georgia Roll and an order of Mushroom Soup from Shokotini
  • Dessert: Godiva Chocolate Martini from East West
  • Late Night: A Hot Dog from Hot Dog Man (he brings me so much joy) on the corner of College St. and Broad or a Loaded Grilled Cheese with a side of Feta dressing from The Grill

Katie W's Perfect Athens Meal

  • Drinks: On a typical Athens spring afternoon, there is nothing quite as great as sitting outside of Cali-n-Titos with friends and a side of chips and dip. It's BYOB, but it fits the atmosphere and makes you fall in love with those beautiful spring days.
  • Salad: Basil Press has by far the best caesar salad EVER! They make this delicious appetizer right in front of your very eyes. The dressing is the good stuff, not the fake, "wannabe" caesar that comes from a bottle that a lot places seem to resort to using.
  • Appetizer: Speakeasy is all about the small portions, and this is why I would choose any of their dishes as a favorite appetizer. The basil mozzarella is a classic choice for a light portion that wets the pallet for your entree.
  • Entree: I just can't get enough of it, and I am going to severely miss it when I leave, but the salmon and grits from Last Resort makes my mouth water whenever I hear about it. The salmon is cooked to perfection and the grits are thick and creamy. A side of veggies makes it all complete. Now that I think about it, I will probably get that for dinner tonight!
  • Dessert: I am an ice cream fiend. Therefore, I like just about anything that comes with it on the side, or simply by itself! Brownie a la mode is a classic choice, and you can never go wrong with that as your dessert. Even though East West is never my choice for a meal, they carry the most gooey, chocolate-filled brownies with the perfect portion of ice cream to end your night with a smile.
  • Late Night: In my younger college years, I satisfied the late night cravings with a slice of pizza and a side of ranch dressing from Little Italy. It was not until this year that I found out what I had been missing: Five Guys Burger and Fries. The burgers are HUGE and the french fries are plentiful, leaving your belly too full to move and ready for bed.

Mandy's Perfect Athens Meal

  • My favorite meal of the day is breakfast. Although not considered the most elaborate meal, I will always be a breakfast girl at heart. Any time of day is breakfast time for me.
  • To begin, I would get fresh squeezed orange juice from The Grit. The fresh taste is unbeatable. No carton can come close to the real thing.
  • For my main meal, I would get blueberry pancakes from The Grille. The cheap price and the fluffy texture make these a great addition to the day. Add a little syrup and I'm good to go.
  • Lastly, even though breakfast is not a meal considered to have dessert, I am all for it. My perfect one would be the "chocolate cake for breakfast" from Mama's Boy. It is a rich cake with espresso drizzle, whipped cream and fresh fruit. Does it get better than that? I don't think so.

4.27.2008

FUSCO'S VIA ROMA


By Shaina Mangino
Fusco's via Roma
Find Me

We would eventually get to the cannolis—the true quality test of an Italian restaurant.
Growing up in a Jewish-Italian home I am accustomed to food rich in taste and history. And being the food snobs we are, my family and I always have trouble finding the perfect Italian cuisine. But, somehow the humble trattoria on Historic Main Street in the small town of Acworth, Georgia does the trick.

With rustic beams and brick, Fusco’s via Roma rivals any authentic trattoria in Italy. Candlelight, small tables and Tuscan artwork add to the restaurant’s true mom and pop feel. Family portraits and autographed photos from celebrities line the walls leading to the kitchen. The warm, welcoming environment carries through the entire restaurant—a place designed with fun and family in mind. There is even a framed portrait of The Godfather cast in the bathroom.

The trio of my mom, sis and me dare to order their cold antipasto platter. We’ve been disappointed at other establishments and at $9.95 per person this better be good. Would it have the sliced meats and cheeses with marinated vegetables we were so accustomed to or would it be the odd mixed salad we’ve had at other restaurants? Prosciutto, Capicola ham and Genoa salami; mozzarella and provolone cheeses glisten on the plate. Olives, roasted peppers and artichokes round out the sampler. Finally, a proper antipasto platter.

Next comes the ciabatta bread. Crispy and crunchy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. Hot and fresh with an elastic nature when breaking it apart. The fruity olive oil, pepper and salty parmigiano reggiano dip delicately complement the rustic bread.

The insalata misto (house salad) is simple and fresh with bitter mixed greens; juicy, vine ripe tomatoes; and crumbly, aromatic parmesan. My sister’s Caesar salad has just the right ingredients: romaine lettuce, garlicy croutons made from day old bread, and shaved parmesan; the perfectly made dressing including anchovies and lemon doesn’t overpower the simple ingredients but could be used a bit more sparingly.

Oh what to have for dinner? The large, diverse menu makes it difficult to choose. Farfalle with prosciutto wrapped scallops in a vodka cream sauce sounds scrumptious; so does the traditional lasagna and the duck breast with a honey glaze served over risotto cooked with Barolo wine.

Ultimately the pizza special with goat cheese, Genoa salami, Kalamata olives and basil wins out. The traditional, thin crust is perfectly cooked and there is a nice contrast between the velvety goat cheese and crispy salami. Fresh, lemony basil perks up the dish while the tang from the salty olives adds tiny bursts of flavor. A slight change in preparation of the salami would have put this pizza over the top. Instead of bite-size pieces, sliced salami would allow for a stronger, spicier flavor.

My mom orders a perfectly tender parmesan crusted pork tenderloin that has the right amount of crunch when I bite into it, and the warm, roasted potatoes are appropriately seasoned. My sister sticks with her usual pasta dish—Penne Rivazza, which is penne pasta tossed in a vodka cream sauce with prosciutto, onions and peas.

About 15 or so minutes after we order, my dad walks in to join us for dinner. It is a nice surprise but we will obviously receive our food before he even orders. Head chef David Fusco is extremely accommodating and puts in a rush order for his Fettuccini Quattro Fromaggi.

Fusco’s al dente pasta is soft with a slight bite in the middle—as it should be. Both the vodka and four cheese cream sauces are silky. While many Italian eateries douse their pasta in a heavy sauce, Fusco’s sauce showcases the pasta, gently wrapping around each piece like a warm jacket.

Two words: chocolate soufflé. Rich, smooth and possibly the best chocolate creation ever invented. Each warm bite melts in my mouth. And the cold vanilla gelato with the hot cake is the most delectable duo. It’s the grown-up version of licking the brownie batter bowl as a kid.

Now the cannolis. Crunchy, flakey, tube-shaped pastry dough: check. Creamy, ricotta cheese with chocolate chips: check, check. Ok, the chocolate chips aren’t traditional but they’re a nice touch for a chocoholic like me. “That’s a good cannoli,” my Italian dad said. “I haven’t had a cannoli as good as this in years.” The owner said they get all their desserts imported from Italy; they even ship in dough and other ingredients from New York.

Fusco’s extensive menu also offers wine pairings, and the restaurant has a full bar with almost any wine, beer or cocktail anyone could imagine.

With comfort foods and warm people, Fusco’s is a small gem in the heart of Acworth. But authenticity comes with a price. Pasta dishes range from $10.25 to $19.95 while meat and fish dishes range anywhere from $15 to $30. The lunch menu, including a variety of panninis, subs and pastas, is slightly cheaper with selections ranging from $7.25 to $17.95.

Fusco’s fresh ingredients are reminiscent of the traditional, Italian Sunday dinner I had as a kid. The restaurant successfully combines fine dining with comfortable surroundings. They embrace their motto: A travola non si invecchia mai (You never age at the dinner table). At Fusco’s, you feel like one of the family.

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