Slip Away » restaurants

Calliope (that’s KAL – EE – OH -PEE) Sweets!

Lake Lanier CVB — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:00:55 +0000

Calliope Sweets is located in Historic Downtown Flowery Branch where they serve fresh baked goods that are delicious and made with only the finest ingredients. All of their desserts are freshly baked on site.

Managers Patty Phillips and Diane Hanes have brought a little bit of the Big Easy to the Branch with the New Orleans theme of their bakery/bistro. Enjoy the atmosphere and “laissez les bon temps rouler” (let the good times roll!)

At Calliope Sweets, you’ll get the old-fashioned tastes of your youth with every mouthful of their delightful baked goodies. The goal is to help you remember the way your Mother and Grandmother took such love and care to prepare special treats just for you.

Stop by to pick up something special for dessert at home, to take to a party or as a Hostess gift. Or join us in the store for a snack or dessert. You can even savor their fresh brewed coffee as you enjoy the aroma of just baked goods that fills the store.

Open Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 8pm
Call ahead to pick up an order fresh from the oven 770-965-3333.

CLICK HERE to visit their website!

Let the Good Times Roll!

Calliope's charm is sweet too.

Yummo! All treats are baked on site.

Need a gift? Wrap up something sweet.

The price is right for these homebaked treats.

Placecards wait to name delish fare

Tummy growling? Head to Big Bear Cafe…

Lake Lanier CVB — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:30:47 +0000

Today’s no repeat lunch fare was found on Main Street in Gainesville at the Big Bear Cafe. A staple for breakfast in the area – said to be in the top 5 choices for a morning feast – we stopped in for lunch and were not disappointed.

The cafe is located just one block from the Amtrak station and offers a wide variety of home cooked favorites. Daily specials include chicken and dressing, fried green tomatoes and squash casserole. They also grill burgers, fry up chicken tenders and even prepare a few salads for those looking to trim their waistline.

Owner, Chad Vaughan says he opened Big Bear Cafe because he thought the area lacked a good place to have breakfast – judging by the crowd at lunch, if breakfast is there most popular meal – you better go early to grab a seat – try one of the vintage bar stools at the lunch counter where you can sneak a peek into the kitchen.

Being the fearless lunch mates we are – we opted for a bevy of treats from the daily specials menu including the “bean of the day” – white soup beans – aka – navy beans.

Check out the photos below to see for yourself why Big Bear Cafe is worth the trip.

Click HERE to see their menu.

Big Bear Cafe

893 Main Street, SW
Gainesville, GA 30501770-538-0272

Open Monday-Friday 6am-3pm
Weekly motorcycle ride in Saturdays 7-11am

Chad Vaughan and one of Big Bear's sweethearts

Hibernate for the winter after the chicken/dressing

Cop a squat at the lunch counter and visit w/locals

Grab breakfast and hop the train to Atlanta

Grizzly of an appetite? Chad's got you covered

Veggie plate...mac and cheese, bean of the day, squash and tomatoes

Milkshake-a-thon benefits Cystic Fibrosis Society

Lake Lanier CVB — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:15:28 +0000

Story courtesy of Brandee A. Thomas, Gainesville Times

Although she could’ve asked for a new doll or bicycle, a Charlotte Snyder is asking for something much simpler for her birthday.

Instead of gifts, the 6-year-old is asking people to purchase a milkshake.

Charlotte, who has cystic fibrosis, has decided to host a milkeshake-a-thon in lieu of a party for her seventh birthday.

The fundraiser benefitting The Cystic Fibrosis Society will be held noon to 5 p.m., April 30 at Pier 29 on Lanier, 9420 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville.

The society is a nonprofit whose mission “is to assure the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease.”

Cystic fibrosis is a chronic disease that affects patients’ lungs and digestive systems.

According to restaurant personnel, $3 from every $3.59 milkshake purchased will be donated to the nonprofit.

Milkshake-a-thon
When: 5 p.m. April 30
Where: Pier 29 on Lanier, 9420 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Cost: $3.59 per milkshake

11Alive’s Chris Holcomb Knows Where to Find Good Eats

Lake Lanier CVB — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:00:21 +0000

Check out the video of local newsman Chris Holcomb when he visits one of his favorite restaurants near Lake Lanier.

Loretta’s in Oakwood, Georgia is an authentic southern cafeteria with fresh cooked veggies, hot baked breads and some of the best fried chicken on planet earth.

MMMMMmmmmm…we’re getting hungry just thinking about it!

For more info on Loretta’s, visit their website - CLICK HERE.

Get in the Holiday “Spirit” at Toasted & Tapped

Lake Lanier CVB — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:00:44 +0000

A brand new micro-brewery has opened in Flowery Branch just in time to ring in the holidays. The brewmeisters at Toasted & Tapped offer an array of freshly brewed beers weekly – specialty flavors are always on the menu – they even have a chocolate beer for the holidays.

The brew pub just opened in downtown Flowery Branch – so head over there soon before the word gets out and they are packed!

To learn more about Toasted & Tapped, check out their website - CLICK HERE!

Owners including Paul are living the dream with their own brew pub!

Specialty hops and other key ingredients go into their home brews.

Where the magic happens - the brewery is on view for all the patrons to see.

Tropical Breeze Blows Through Flowery Branch Daily

Lake Lanier CVB — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 14:00:22 +0000

Unbelievable Latin flavors are cooked up daily in Flowery Branch – who knew? Tropical Breeze Restaurant on Atlanta Highway is a family run business where Cuban-Americans create dishes their grandmothers would be proud of.

The menu is filled with dozens of delicious options. Of course they have a fine traditional Cuban sandwich, but don’t be afraid to try one of their other main dishes including shredded beef with black beans, grilled pork chops in mojo sauce or even a side of fried plantains.

imported soft drinks like Iron Beer are a great treat for kids

Homemade Sangria is filled with local fresh fruit

Get your caffeine fix with a cup of authentic Cuban Coffee

The beverage menu alone will boggle the mind – house made sangria, imported sodas including Iron Beer, fresh squeezed juice drinks (the day we went, they had pineapple and mango) and of course hot brewed Cuban coffee with cream.

Just like Grandma's - the rice pudding is made fresh

No meal at Tropical Breeze would be complete without dessert – they bake all their own sweets and have standard fare you’d expect to see like tres leches cake but don’t miss the flan with ice cream or the rice pudding. And for kids, they make hand dipped milk shakes.

Click HERE to check out their menu

Tropical Breeze Restaurant

5545 Atlanta Highway, Flowery Branch, GA 30542
770-965-1305

Visit their website HERE

Dine In – Delivery – Take Out – Catering

Weezie’s serves up homespun goodness in North Hall

Lake Lanier CVB — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:00:38 +0000

Heading to Cleveland from Gainesville? Be sure to stop at Weezie’s Kitchen – where Weezie herself will serve you up a home cooked hamburger and fries. Specialties of the house include hot dogs served on a toasted bun, homemade pimento and cheese, and the best breakfast in town. Handmade biscuits, crispy bacon and eggs cooked to order.

Weezie has been serving up home cooked comfort food at her restaurant located on Cleveland Highway just north of Nopone Road for five years. Regulars enjoy the good company and family atmosphere. They even have BINGO on Thursday nights!

Click HERE to download their menu.

We stopped in for lunch and had a BLT and Slaw Dog – delicious. See for yourself in the photos below:

yum...slaw dog on toasted roll with fries

don't miss out on their home baked coconut cake - delish!

Weezie’s Kitchen
770-983-0370
4147 Cleveland Highway
Suite 100
Gainesville, GA 30506

Hours of Operation
Monday – Saturday 5:30am – 2:00pm
Wed, Thurs, Fri 5-9pm for Dinner
CLOSED Sundays

Dining with a Lake View – Dockside Grill Cafe at Aqualand Marina

Lake Lanier CVB — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 14:00:36 +0000

Dockside Grill Café at Aqualand Marina offers open-water views of Lake Lanier in a casual outdoor cafe setting. The famous Docker hand-pattied burger comes with a variety of topping choices from bleu cheese to chili.

Other menu items include sandwiches, salads, and fresh seafood — grouper, tuna and mahi-mahi – plus munchies and grilled chicken.

Open seasonally May through October Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Boat parking at the Aqualand courtesy docks.

www.docksidegrill.com

Dining with a Lake View – Sunset Cove Cafe & Beach Club

Lake Lanier CVB — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:00:59 +0000

The area’s newest shoreline dining option at Lake Lanier Islands is Sunset Cove Cafe & Beach Club, with on-the-water access during the summer season.

Guests of the Beach & Waterpark have direct access to Sunset Cove through a gate located near the FunDunker attraction.

Boaters welcome, lots of dock space, music and more! GPS coordinates North 34 degrees, 10′ 26 / West 84 degrees, 01 46

Sunset Cove Cafe has an extensive list of appetizers as well as soups and salads, dockside favorites, sunset entrees, sides, sandwiches, desserts, signature cocktails and kids menu.

Enjoy beach volleyball, live music and special events all summer. Mark your calendar now for their Full Moon Parties. Enjoy a meal by the lake shore in the summer evening, or have a cocktail and sit by the open air fire pits as the sun sets in the cove.

The only dining experience of its kind on Lake Lanier. Visit us once and you will come back again and again.

www.lakelanierislands.com

Dining with a Lake View – Dockside Grill at Holiday Marina

Lake Lanier CVB — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:00:17 +0000

Dockside Grill at Holiday Marina serves a full and diverse menu of 100-plus items. Crab legs, grilled fish and hand-cut aged steaks complimented by salads, sandwiches and appetizers, plus the restaurant’s famous “Docker” hand-pattied burgers.

Situated right on the water behind the offices of Holiday Marina, the restaurant offers a view of Big Creek. Boat parking at the marina’s courtesy docks. Indoor and outdoor dining available. Full bar, beer on tap. Open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Located at 6900 Holiday Road in Buford.

For information, call 770 945-2208