Tomatoes, Wings & Hairy Things

Riverside Tavern, a new-to-me pub, twists traditional southern cuisine the right way.

Not to be dramatic, but today I had the best fried green tomatoes I’ve ever eaten. Ellijay, Georgia, is a tiny mountain town in the lower Appalachians known for its apple orchards and fall festivals. It’s easy to explain what I was doing there if you picture something tall and hairy that goes bump in the night. 

 

This month I’m wrapping up edits on my first piece of Women’s Fiction while researching agents. The book features a special appearance by the elusive, controversial character we call Bigfoot. For those in the know, Expedition Bigfoot: The Sasquatch Museum, is a fascinating center in north Georgia that pays homage to the legend with history, stories and evidence. After checking it out for research purposes, it was time to eat before hitting traffic in the ATL. Online, downtown Ellijay boasted Riverside Tavern had a pub menu that shouldn’t be missed. After a two-hour drive just to look at footprints, I figured I had nothing to lose.

 

I found the tavern a block off the Ellijay town square along a boardwalk. When I breezed into this narrow, hole-in-the wall, it took me back to lovely London pubs minus the leather and polish. Inside stood a rustic bar and a couple television screens besides basic goodies like burgers and wings on the menu. What made the Riverside Tavern stand out, was meat from local farms, wild game options and creative twists on the basics. Yes, I wanted the fig, cheese and prosciutto over fried chicken, but the fried green tomatoes caught my eye. Minutes later, they arrived in a thick crispy and crunchy cornmeal coating. The addition of feta and hot honey made me swoon. 

 

I’ve had fried green maters all over: Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, possibly on a cruise, and I make them myself on occasion. I’m 99% convinced even mater-haters would come to the green side after tasting these tomatoes at Riverside Tavern. They were pretty as could be on a little platter of lettuces, not soggy (it happens) and they didn’t fall apart. I’m not sure what they were marinated in, if at all, but the feta and honey made the whole yummy stack a chef’s kiss, and I loved how the bed of greens cooled the bite of spice from the honey. The whole ensemble was a genius idea, and two plates would have made the perfect meal. 

 

While there, my partner enjoyed bigger than expected wings, and the sauce must have been good because he brought the leftovers home. As for myself, besides that figgy chicken, I’ve put the grilled mahi-mahi on my bucket list and plan to return. While I usually never visit the same place twice on the road, Riverside Tavern gets a pass. The name is simple, the digs are modest, but the food is absolute five star fun. I don’t know if I’ll go looking for Bigfoot around there anytime soon, but I’ll definitely be back for the menu.