So, you’ve found yourself in a little hippie town in rural Ohio called Athens; home of Ohio University. You can find you fair share of chain restaurants for those too scared to be adventurous with their taste buds, but the town tries its best to keep them out.
In this cute little town, they support and encourage ‘Mom & Pop shops’, whether it be restaurants, stores or services. There are a few must try places for stoners to check out!
Casa Nueva
The first being Casa Nueva. The locally owned Casa has always battled for the #1 restaurant in town, and for a good reason! They aren’t your typical Mexican restaurant. This worker-owned cooperative creates their own recipes including homemade salsa and tortilla dough, as opposed to pre-cooked tortilla wraps. With a hip atmosphere, very friendly staff and conveniently placed in town makes it a desirable location for many locals (Tons of street parking and a parking garage nearby). Their prices are a little more expensive but it’s because the tip is built-in! That’s right, no additionally tipping is necessary! Any additional money left by customers is then donated to a local charity. Additionally, they often have live music in the evenings to vibe out to, as well as a bar on property if you decide you want a cocktail for a nice cross-fade.
O’Betty’s
Not wanting a sit-down restaurant? No worries! O’Betty’s across the street has you covered! This little hole-in-the-wall restaurant is well versed with the all-beef hot dog. Their concoctions are wild and fun, such as the “Hootchy-Kootchy”, the “Blaze the Queen”, the “Dixie Hubba-Hubba” and so many more! Sandwiches and other sides can be found as well if hot dogs aren’t enough to satisfy. Nothing goes better with a deliciously messy hot dog than a massive side of chili cheese fries; hand-cut daily and fried in 100% peanut oil. Cool fact – O’Betty’s is the smallest building in uptown Athens! This is a go-to place for stoners in this little hippie town.
Avalanche Pizza
Rather stay home and enjoy dinner from the comfort of your own couch? Then Avalanche Pizza is what you’re looking for. After winning more than 12 awards for their NYC style pizza, I’d say they figured out their groove. They produce tasty creations such as “The Loaded Baked Potato Pie”, “The K-2”, and “The Chicken Chupacabra” along with many crazier named pizzas with wild pizza recipes.
Bagel Street Deli
If you found yourself sticking around for breakfast (who are we kidding, it’s probably brunch / lunch at this point) and you’re trying to figure out where to go. A local favorite is Bagel Street Deli, where they have every combination of bagel sandwiches you can think of. This hole in the wall restaurant can be found on the main strip of Athens, being Court Street. It is conveniently close to campus along with other coffee shops, which is often necessary. Didn’t leave the house in time for a steamy bagel for lunch? No worries, they are open until 9pm every day of the week. Perfect for an evening stroll to enjoy that bagel and high.
Although there are numerous other places that are delicious in Athens, these are some of the favorites of mine, and other locals. Bon(g) Appetit!
Stoner Travel Guide 