Think Andy Griffith. Think Mayberry. Think townies. Think local gossip. Think chocolate milkshakes. Think pimento cheese hamburger.

Now, go to Add Drug.

If you remember those old lunch counter places where locals come to grab a cup of coffee, visit and eat

some good food, you will appreciate the nostalgia that arises when you visit a place like Add Drug.

Tucked back in the little corner of the same building as Earth Fare on Lumpkin Street, Add Drug is most certainly a well-kept secret.

The funny thing about these kinds of places is that the people who know about them go at least once a

week. My friend, Barrett Grant, frequents Add Drug every Friday for lunch. He is on a first name basis with the waitresses Samantha (Sam) and Susan. They know his name, too.

Being a student stuck in “college world” all the time, Add Drug is a wonderful escape. Everything inside probably looks the same as it did in the 60s. Knick-knacks, dolls, puzzles, dryer sheets, household items, chocolate, baby dolls and other paraphernalia line the walls and shelves of the long and narrow property. I think I could spend hours in there.

OK, focus. Didn’t I come there for food in the first place? To the point:

My friend, Stephanie, went there for lunch on Friday and ran into my friends Barrett and Phillip. They had just gotten their lunch of a grilled pimento cheese sandwich and fries (Barrett) and a pimento cheese hamburger and chips (Phillip).

Stephanie, after actually discovering what pimento cheese was (we were shocked!), decided to copy Phillip and go for the pimento cheese hamburger. I thought a grilled tomato sandwich and chips sounded good, so we gave Sam our order.

While we were waiting, this is what I observed: all kinds of people, moms, kids, old men and middle-aged women came in. Many of them came to eat, and they hopped up on the lunch counter with us. A mother and her two daughters, ages two and five, came in for lunch. The mom had a grilled chicken salad, and, of course, the girls got grilled cheeses.

Now, I have a different attitude when I go into somewhere like Add Drug as opposed to The Five and Ten or The Last Resort. I’m not expecting a Five-Star meal. Mostly, I look for nice people who enjoy their job and can carry on a fun conversation. That’s exactly what we got at Add Drug.

It was a blast talking to Sam, Susan, Stephanie, Barrett and Phillip about the week. My tomato sandwich was wonderfully toasted, and the extra tomato I requested was ripe and juicy. Stephanie thoroughly enjoyed her burger, too.

I was stuffed after my sandwich, but Barrett and Phillip decided they wanted to top off their meal with a chocolate milkshake. Gotta love those mustaches.

In the end, Add Drug was a perfect way to wrap up the week. From grilled cheese to chicken salad to milkshakes to Coke floats to egg sandwiches, Add Drug offers it all. They’re open every day except Sundays, so go by and give it a try. Sam and Susan will take care of you.

If you leave and find yourself whistling the Andy Griffith theme song and imagine a little boy with a fishing pole beside you, I wouldn’t be surprised.

If you want to see more pictures from the day, click here.

After months of waiting and many comments saying, “I don’t really like Five Star Day. Clocked is my favorite!!” Dr. Sweetser and I finally made it to Clocked.

If you want either a good sandwich or some rockin’ tater tots, Clocked is the place to go.

Here’s some basic info:

Location: 259 Washington St., right beside the 40 Watt

Phone Number: (706) 548-9175

No Web site and no reservations.

Price: Pretty cheap and reasonable- maybe $7 for lunch.

Best Meal: Lunch. It’s more fun to chat around then.

Open and Close:

Group friendly: It’s kind of small, so I wouldn’t suggest going with a big group.

Let’s get “strate” to the food. After all, that’s what Dr. Sweetser and I had been waiting on for forever!

I decided to order the Friendship Grilled Cheese- two pieces of sourdough bread with cheddar, onions, bell peppers and mushrooms grilled in the middle to perfection. Dr. Sweetser decided she’d order the Allison Turkey Sandwich and their oh-so-famous tater tots. I think it had turkey, cheese, a fried egg and something else squeezed in between two pieces of sourdough. Hopefully she’ll make a comment on this post, and she can give you more detail.

It was such a pretty day to walk to (and from!) lunch. While we were patiently waiting on our sandwiches amidst retro rooster napkin holders and other 60s-esque furniture, we talked about Dawg Food, her summer plans, her classes for next semester, my family and other fun things girls talk about.

When our sandwiches came, they were steamin’ hot, and the cheese was perfectly melted. The top of my mouth took a second to get used to the hard crust on the sourdough, but it gave in eventually.

At the end of our meal, after the check, our waitress brought us some Dubble Bubble Bubble Gum. I’ll let you watch the video so you can see what happened next.

Click here to view the embedded video.

To many, the word, “vegetarian,” may either bring forth a feeling of disgust, a feeling of anxiety or a feeling disbelief. To those who have been to The Grit, however, feelings like those never exist.

Located on Prince Avenue near downtown, The Grit is the home to many famous meals: Grilled Cheese Smelt, Tabouli salad, hummus, pasta and Macaroni and Cheese. You might leave the restaurant thanking God for vegetarians.

Throughout my past 2 years in Athens, I have been to The Grit countless times. I went there for a different surprise this past Sunday, though. My favorite word: brunch. Yes, The Grit serves an amazing Sunday brunch. I decided to go with the traditional 2 eggs any way you’d like, but I made it a platter. Platters come with your choice of potatoes or grits, and biscuits and toast. I opted for the grits and toast. If there’s one breakfast food I can’t live without, it’s toast. Even though it’s a simple meal, good toast can give anyone a good start to the day.

Made on their homemade bread, this toast exceeded my expectations by far. It was pretty thick, and it had just the right amount of crunch. Owning up to the restaurant name, the grits I ate were awesome. They were yellow. I guess that’s a little different, but they were hot, creamy and smooth. Grits don’t get much better than that.

My friend Caroline had the Border Patrol. They brought her a plate with a crispy tortilla filled in the middle with beans, salsa, scrambled eggs (or tofu), and cheese. As if that wasn’t heavenly enough, they gave her a dollop of sour cream on top. She couldn’t finish it all, but she admitted to me it’s the only thing she’s ever gotten for brunch there. It’s just too good!

The Sunday crowd was pretty busy, but the table turnover was surprisingly fast. A note to newcomers: they DO NOT separate checks. You have to pay together. I always forget that before I come, but I’m starting to remember.

To girls, it’s always cold in there, so bring a jacket. However, the inside of the restaurant is super cool: fun art, retro t-shirts, chalkboard menu specials, the list goes on.

If you can save room for any of the dessert, you won’t be disappointed either. Any of their cakes or pies are to die for. Honestly, I don’t have a favorite. Do you?

For those of you who have been to The Grit before,what’s been the best meal you’ve had? Any Sunday Brunch veterans?

So, for those of you who think vegetarians don’t know good food when they see it, think again. This restaurant is sure to surprise you! GRIT IT!