Blue Ridge

[Minerva]

We'll be spending a few days here and I'm hoping there is at least one acceptable place to chow down. We will probably drive down to The Pink Pig in Cherry Log for BBQ and garlic salad (sensational if you like the stinky rose!), but I'd love suggestions for other places.

[chefmoss]

I like the trout at Taccoa Riverside

[Girly]

I like the trout at Taccoa Riverside

Agreed. And that's pretty much all you should order there IMHO.

I haven't been in a few years but the pickin's are rather slim in Blue Ridge. Ellijay is a little better and can be only 15 minutes away depending on where you are in BR. There's a decent cajun place in Ellijay - Cajun Depot, and a seafood place - Jolly Rogers also in Ellijay that aren't too bad. Walkers on 52 used to have much better BBQ than Pink Pig but they have new ownership and it's not good at all any more. Pooles is still better than PP to me but I do like the garlic salad at PP.

[chefmoss]

I like the trout at Taccoa Riverside

Agreed. And that's pretty much all you should order there IMHO.

I haven't been in a few years but the pickin's are rather slim in Blue Ridge. Ellijay is a little better and can be only 15 minutes away depending on where you are in BR. There's a decent cajun place in Ellijay - Cajun Depot, and a seafood place - Jolly Rogers also in Ellijay that aren't too bad. Walkers on 52 used to have much better BBQ than Pink Pig but they have new ownership and it's not good at all any more. Pooles is still better than PP to me but I do like the garlic salad at PP.

Agreed about Pooles being better than the Pink Pig.

[Minerva]

Blue Ridge tourism site notes several restos in downtown and nearby, a few of which appear to offer some decent choices. They may be too new to have a foodie track record, however. I'm not interested in wasting money so not sure I want to be a trailblazer.

[el_ted]

Agreed. And that's pretty much all you should order there IMHO.

We ate there after a hike with friends and kids over the holiday weekend. And I pretty much agree and add that it's overpriced.  Think we had fried pickle chips and my best guess was that the cost was $0.50 per chip.  Leftovers back at the rental house would've been better.

[Minerva]

We were there for four days over the holiday ourselves, and with a bit of detective work found pretty decent pizza, a good meat and three, a very satisfactory Italian-style deli sandwich and a dynamite fish market (go figure).

Sue's, the no-frills burger place that's a locals draw, ain't too bad, either, and we were shocked and delighted to find garlic salad, like Pink Pig's. The senior-age lady who owns it chatted us up and told us she originated the garllic salad, but a former employee took the recipe with her to the 'cue joint.

The fish market is a dinky little place on the south edge of town and open only Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Their trout is north Georgia and North Carolina farmed fish, the filets are a good size and the flesh is extremely tasty. Guy who owns it says trout bought in big chain markets most likely comes from fish farms in South America, which if true might account for the marked difference in size and flavor. We also bought fresh amberjack, which was terrific.

We even went back up there yesterday and bought more trout and some fresh whole pompano, which at $6.95 a pound was a steal. He fileted it for free, and we ended up with four nice size pieces for $14. It was rich and buttery tasting, just as I remembered it from my years in Florida.

Still want to eat at Cucina Rustica, which is housemade pasta and other entrees and attached to the pizzeria, and Harvest on Main, which specializes in farm to table fare.

[HaagenDazs]

Guy who owns it says trout bought in big chain markets most likely comes from fish farms in South America, which if true might account for the marked difference in size and flavor.

Isn't it now a requirement to label the country of origin?

[Minerva]

Not sure if label is required, although probably so, but they do also have to tell you if you ask. Don't remember if I ever vetted the trout at Publix because, idiot that I am, I just assumed their trout was farmed in U.S. Maybe it is/ You can bet I'll ask next time. But wherever it's from, it's not as good as what we bought in Blue Ridge.