Down at Transmet

Transmet stands for The Transmetropolitan, a restaurant located on clayton street between college avenue and lumpkin. I'm sure you can understand why Tranmetropolitan was shortened to Transmet, college kids are lazy. Either that or college kids are just more efficient. One of the two.

Now that we got that settled lets move on. Transmet is definitely an Athens dining attraction. Every person I talk to in Athens just visiting, even if just for the weekend, has been taken to Transmet to experience their italian inspired yet surprisingly diverse menu. I don't think I know many people who haven't been there, but there are always a few. Those are the people this blog is for, but that doesn't mean those of you that have been are off the hook. Let me know if you agree or disagree with my review.

The Transmetropolitan is a great place to go for all kinds of occasions, such as hanging out with friends, going to a quick lunch between classes, etc. My adventure to Transmet on this occasion was to have a nice lunch date with my girlfriend. It was a Sunday afternoon so finding a parking spot close to the restaurant wasn't that difficult, and we didn't have to pay the meter. Once we made it inside we grabbed a menu and waited in line to order up. This was the first time my girlfriend had been there, but it was certainly not my first. The waiting in line part was quite ridiculous on this occasion. I would rather have sat down and tipped, than wait in line for as long as we did. When we finally made it to the counter my girlfriend and I had decided on the same thing with minor differences, pepperoni calzones. Now these aren't you everyday run-of-the-mill calzones. These are your mouth-watering, made to your exact order calzones. I have to warn you though, there is a downside to them. It is the wait time. It usually takes about 25-30 minutes for a calzone to be made, but it is well worth it. The calzones are even fairly priced, about $6, and they are pretty big. I personally made mine into two meals. Transmet also delivers it with free marinara sauce for your dipping pleasure.

The calzones were absolutely delicious. A little hot at first, but once it cools down you can dig in all you want. I mean Transmet has all kinds of things on their menu if your not into calzones or don't have the time to wait, such as noodles, sandwiches, salads, pasta, pizza, but I just don't see myself ordering anything else. Anyway, the date went well and my girlfriend really enjoyed the experience and especially her calzone.

Pros:

Wide variety menu, excellent atmosphere for a casual lunch or dinner, and CALZONES!

Cons:

Standing in line to order, wait time for calzones, and just overall wait time. (Could be a pro if you want to hang out more and talk.)

Well, after this review I hope everyone that hasn't been to Transmet will try it out. Give the calzones a chance! Also, I would love to hear from people who have had other things on the menu there that are worth mentioning. Maybe if I don't have the time one day for a calzone I will give your suggestion a chance to prove itself!

Down at Doc Chey's

Doc Chey's Noodle House is a stretch from what I usually eat and enjoy. Usually, when I eat any kind of Japanese/Chinese/Anything-ese, I have the reliably delicious fried rice and tend to stray away from the slimy looking noodles. However, when I recently went to Doc Chey's I decided to try these elusive noodles, since Doc Chey's is the "noodle house," and I have to say, Doc Chey's has really broadened my horizon on the noodle front.

I decided to have the japanese teriyaki udon, (recommended to me by a friend) which is udon noodles stirfried in teriyaki sauce with carrots, onions, and bok choy. I was told that it was a great choice for people who are not used to eating noodles but wish to try something new. I'm not really sure what bok choy is, but I can tell you the meal was excellent. I even found myself scraping the bottom of their dark tan plastic bowls in hopes of savoring the taste. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised.

Dining with me on this occasion were my good friends Kristi and Bree (Kristi is the one in the picture.) Now I know some people will deny this, since it is usually impossible to do, but we actually got parking RIGHT in front of Doc Chey's, right where Clayton St. and Jackson St. collide! I know what your thinking, "There is no possible way someone could get a parking spot directly in front of the place they want to be downtown." Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but it happened! After this monumental occasion, Kristi, Bree, and myself stood in line to decide on and make our order. I activated a Doc Chey's membership card at the counter so I could start accumulating points towards free food, and then I was handed a table indicator with a nice little proverb on it so the waitress could bring the food to us when it was done. It wasn't long before my japanese teriyaki udon, Kristi's sesame stirfry, and Bree's general chey's meal arrived.

The only thing that was a little annoying is that Kristi and Bree ordered an appetizer, japanese edamame, that arrived at the same time. We were hoping that the appetizer would come first so we could enjoy each others company longer, but it couldn't be avoided.

The most interesting food we had was the japanese edamame. The edamame is steamed soybeans sprinkled with kosher salt. Now I say interesting because the edamame wasn't bad, but it wasn't exactly good either. The steamed soybeans were still in the pouches you find on bushes and the pouches were covered with hundreds or tiny hairs. To properly eat the edamame you have to put the pouches close to your mouth and suck the soy beans out of it. This allows you to taste the kosher salt that is sprinkled all over the pouches. If you like soybeans then you should really try the japanese edamame. If you don't like soybeans then don't order the edamame unless you are with someone who does. The reason being that the plate was so huge it was really intimidating. We literally sat there for 30 minutes longer than we would because Kristi was still working on finishing the edamame. If you want to try the edamame I would ask for a sample. Luckily, I showed the foresight to hurry Kristi along at the end. We just narrowly avoided being issued a ticket for parking over the two hour limit. Did I mention how badass the parking was?

Pros:

Something new to try, good amount of food for the money, and inspires you to keep coming back to rack up your points towards free food.

Cons:
Almost every meal comes with some kind of vegetable thrown in (which means I had to pick around it,) and there was no fried rice.

Ok, maybe those cons are just my own personal preference, but I couldn't think of any other reasons to not go. My experience at Doc Chey's Noodle House might even influence me to try the noodles at other "anything-ese" establishments. Oh, and did I mention you get a free fortune cookie at the end!?

Down at Five Guys

I'm sure everyone has seen or heard of Five Guys Burgers and Fries. It is really hard to miss since it is right in front of the infamous University of Georgia arches, and also since that light connecting Broad and College always seems to turn to a red right as you come up to it supplying you with a long wait where all you can do is stare at the huge Five Guys sign. Well, at least that is what happens to me.

Five Guys is probably one of the greasiest fast food places I have ever been to, and you know what... I liked it. Sure, I had to wipe my fingers every three minutes and maybe my stomach felt a little too full at the end, but if you are in the mood for that delicious, greasy, high in every kind of fat you can think of, but still extremely mouth-watering, food, then this is the place to be.

My downtown adventure once again included my good friend Jack. We were both starving for something that would satisfy our powerful hunger, something that would take away that need for at least six hours, so obviously we drifted towards Five Guys. Five Guys has the easiest menu you can think of. Want a hamburger, get a hamburger, want a cheeseburger, get a cheeseburger. If your not feeling brave enough to try a "regular" sized cheeseburger, which is fairly large, then you can get a little cheeseburger, simple as that! All the toppings are free and you can even get a hot dog if your not that into burgers. Now, here comes the greasy yet mandatory part. You have to order yourself a batch of cajun fries. You don't need anything larger than a regular believe me. Five Guys will fill up your paper bag with those cajun fries. Once you add a little ketchup, or mustard if that is your flavor, then you will be in greasy heaven!

Jack and I, being our foolish selves, decided to try our fate with a regular hamburger for him and a cheeseburger for myself. On a side note, the guy at the counter taking our orders was a really fun, energetic guy. I don't think I have ever seen someone so happy that works at a fast food restaurant. Lets just say that I have never had so much trouble trying to finish a meal. The burger was so huge and the fries just kept coming, and coming, and coming. If you are going with a friend then just get one batch of cajun fries. Jack and I had to throw away half-a-bag due to our inability to eat anymore.

Afterwards, Jack and I walked around downtown taking pictures for his photography class. Five Guys + long walks= A No, No.

Pros:

Greasy, energetic servers, and just the overwhelming satisfaction that you have sufficed you hunger for awhile.

Cons:

Greasy (who says it can't be good and bad,) not much variety, and if you eat too much then the overwhelming fullness afterwards.

Overall, I would have to say that Five Guys is a place to go to only if your in the mood for a greasy meal. Maybe if you started early on your drinking and you get the munchies, Five Guys is open from 11 A.M. to 10 P.M. everyday, or maybe your just feeling like your hunger can never be satisfied, either way Five Guys is where you want to be then.

Down at Which Wich

Finally, the long-awaited Which Wich has been tested, and will now be reviewed. For those of you that have never been to Which Wich, I want to explain the unique system they have for ordering your sandwich. When you walk in there will be a large menu on your right, above what looks like cubby holes. The choices of sandwich types on the menu are turkey, ham & pork, beef, chicken, seafood, vegetarian, italian, comforts, classics, and breakfast. As you can see there is certainly a wide variety of sandwiches to choose from that would suit many different kinds of tastes.

After you have selected what kind of sandwich you want, you will find tons of brown paper bags in the cubby holes with labels above them displaying the different sandwich types. On the bags is where you decide what kind of sandwich you want in one of the 10 types listed above, as well as anything you want put on it. This includes cheese, sauces, dressings, extra meat, vegetables, etc. Now what if you don't have a pen? How will they get your order? Well no worries, they provide you with permanent markers and a table to check off what you want. At the bottom of the bag there is a spot to put your name so that they can call it out when your sandwich is done. When your finished, you give the paper bag to the cashier and they ring you up, along with anything else you want to get, such as chips or a drink. If you want to know what else they have on the menu you can check it out here.

I know it seems complicated, but if you give it a try you will find that it is actually pretty simple! The whole system is so new and refreshing that I find it to be extremely useful. It is especially useful for those of you, like me, that don't like lettuce, tomatoes, or basically anything green, but also don't like complicating your order by saying "no lettuce... oh and no onions."

I went to Which Wich with a few old friends that I haven't seen in awhile; Kelsey, Kristi, and Bree. When we went I ordered the Wicked. The Wicked is a specialty sandwich that is a little more expensive. The Wicked comes with five different kinds of meat, including ham, turkey, bacon, etc., three different choices or cheese, and any other kind of topping or dressing you want on it. I also paid for a bag of Which Wich's home-made potato chips. The chips taste like sour cream & onion chips, but are a bit more crunchy. The whole meal costed me about eight dollars, which isn't bad, but it certainly isn't a money saver. The sandwiches are smaller than the ones you will find at Subway and a little more expensive, but still the sandwiches are filling. All-in-all I had a delicious meal with some old friends I haven't seen in awhile.

Now, I really don't think I should be saying this because my friends and I got the impression that it wasn't really supposed to be made, but there is a secret shake that is not on the menu. It is called the peanut butter and jelly shake, and it tasted delicious! Kristi was offered to buy it by a male cashier who probably thought she was hot and wanted to impress her. Anyway, I challenge someone to ask for it and let me know what happens. I am curious to see if the people will make it, or if it was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing.

Pros:

The ordering system is unique and refreshing, wide variety of sandwich choices, and a great place to meet with friends for lunch.

Cons:

The sandwiches are small for the price, and I can't really think of another bad thing about the place.

Which wich is located on Broad Street between Lumpkin and the arches, operating from 9 A.M to 10 P.M. I really recommend you give it a try the next time your hungry downtown!

Down at Picantes

I know what you're thinking... This will probably be Justin rambling on again because he still hasn't gone to any restaurant downtown. Well if your thinking that then you would one hundred percent wrong. I'm here to write about my experience at the first restaurant I went to in downtown Athens, Picantes Mexican Grill and Bar.

My adventure started out right after I got out of a wonderful and inspiring class taught by Dr. Kohn. Can you tell that he will be reading this b

log? Anyways, my good friend Jack and I walked from the class to the restaurant in a matter or minutes. That is just how close this place is to the good old University of Georgia. Now, let me tell you that my first impression of this place wasn't exactly the best. The first time that I came to this place I didn't really get anything, and I only ate chips and salsa, so I didn't really get the full experience. This time however, I decided to get a steak quesadilla and a soft taco (without lettuce.) The way you order is a little different, since the place is also a bar you don't get waited on in a booth. You order at the bar when you come in, and it is more of a serve yourself kind of deal. Jack ordered the burrito to make sure we had different kinds of food to try. With every meal you get unlimited chips and salsa, so obviously Jack and I took advantage of this.

Before I go on, I have to tell you about their chips. Oh my goodness! The chips were freshly made, hot off the oven, and probably the best batch of chips I have ever had. I mean these things were so thick and crunchy I couldn't stop eating them. There are three different kinds of salsa; mild, hot, and chunky. The hot was a little too spicy for me, which is a challenge since I'm from New Orleans, and I don't really like chunky salsa, but the mild was perfect. (Jack, however, strongly recommends the chunky salsa and showed his enthusiasm for it by going up to get more about ten times. So if you like tomatoes, onions, and cilantro then that is the salsa for you.) However I do have a complaint. You may think I was exaggerating about Jack going up ten times for salsa, but that is the problem. I mean I don't mind serving myself salsa, but the little cups that you put it in are about the size of those little paper ketchup holders at McDonalds. I mean I could hardly get one of my thick chips in there to dip without breaking it apart.

Apart from that, the quesadilla was pretty good. If you get one you don't need to order a taco as well because they are pretty large and quite filling. The soft taco comes on corn tortillas, which is how they do it in Mexico and Costa Rica, but due to a series of unfortunate events, corn tortillas makes me sick to my stomach. My girlfriend told me if was good though! Jack's burrito was huge and was well worth it. After our meal, Jack and I headed off to Mr. Haircut (Jack's favorite place to get a nice clean cut) and then I headed to my next class.

Pros:

Thick crunchy chips, choice in salsa, unlimited chips and salsa, and pretty filling at an affordable price.

Cons:
Salsa bowls too small and you have to serve yourself (although, at least you don't need to tip anyone.)

So just to give a little summary, I would say that Picantes is probably the best mexican restaurant downtown and within walking distance of the Student Learning Center. Of course I do have a few others to try out before I can say that for certain, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone that had a craving for mexican.

Down at Athens

Hey everyone! Welcome to Downtown Discovery! My name is Justin, and I will be your tour guide through these exciting adventures to uncover the great tastes in downtown Athens, Georgia.

Before we get to the good stuff, let me give you a little information on Athens.

The city of Athens is built around the University of Georgia that was named in honor of Athens, Greece, an ancient city known for it pursuit of knowledge and culture. The cultured life surrounding the college attracted wealthy families, and that is why Athens is now one of the largest college towns in all of the United States. Downtown Athens is now a thriving cultural center of businesses, restaurants, and bars. (Fun fact, Athens is in competition with some city in Kentucky for most bars in a college town. I'm pretty sure we are winning now!) Downtown Athens now has 53 restaurants situated in walking distance from the University of Georgia.

My mission: Explore these restaurants undercover as a seemingly handsome yet unpredictable college student and provide an accurate review of the establishment along with any other relevant information in this blog.

Mission accepted!

Oh wait, there is also a few things you should know about me as well.

First off, I like to use exclamation marks! I am not yelling at you it is just my preference. I am horrible at spelling and frequently make up words or put words where they don't really belong. One of my favorite made up words is "Bowchickabowow" or "Bowchicka." Note that it is not "Bowchickawowow" which I find to be offensive.

An important aspect to consider is that I am going to give the everyday persons review of these restaurants. I am not a food critic, I do not usually give reviews, and I will not be corrupted by anyone who would want me to write a good review on a bad restaurant. Not that it is really likely that will happen since I will be deep undercover, but I just wanted to be clear. Also, I am not that crazy about vegetables, but I will give it a try just for you guys. Not promising anything though!

If you think I did not give the restaurant a fair chance or an accurate review then let me know! If you think I should try something that you think I would like at a restaurant that I am going to, then let me know! Basically, if you want to talk to me, then leave a comment.

Now that we are all done with that boring stuff I bet you can't wait to hear about my extravaganzas through the heart of downtown Athens!!!

Well... I hate to say it, but you are going to have to wait until my next post. I know it is a bit disappointing right now, but I assure you that it will be well worth the wait!

Stay tuned!