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Seven Days: Late Night Grub

by Mary Catherine Brutz
09/26/2007

Are you one of those people who decide during the afternoon which late-night food they are going to have that night? Many people savor this decision-making process as much as the actual food itself. Just talking about the greasy goodness is enough to pull any study nerd or couch potato off their rears and to the bars. Thinking about it logically, if you eat dinner at 7 p.m. and go out until 2 a.m. it has been about 7 hours since you’ve eaten and it would be unreasonable to starve your body like that. Because I am a devoted late-night eater and because I care about the overall happiness of you, the reader, I have decided to go to 7 different restaurants and judge each of their abilities to satisfy the post-downtown hunger strike.

Night 1: Little Italy (Lumpkin Street, open daily until 2 a.m.)

Little Italy is undoubtedly the prime late night spot. Every single night, except perhaps Sundays, the line goes out the door and sometimes around the corner. Many people believe going to get a slice at Little Italy is a way to extend your socialization time because the crowd tends to move from the bars into the loud, rowdy, red-lit spot. I ordered a plain piece of cheese, my personal favorite, and only $1.60. As always, it was gone in about a minute and followed by me debating whether or not to go for seconds. Although Little Italy does serve other items such as hot sandwiches, pizza is the late night way to go. Nobody ever leaves this place unsatisfied.

Night 2: Waffle House (3 locations, 2 on Milledge Avenue and 1 on Oconee Street, open 24 hours)

Whoever says that Waffle House is dirty, trashy, or gross obviously has not been there to revel in its glory at 2 a.m. Once you learn the “Scattered, Smothered, Covered” lingo, you can rest assured that you will be able to order successfully every time. I decided on some scrambled eggs, grits, and bacon when I went the other night; however I have been known to down a few pecan waffles before. Needless to say, whatever you order at Waffle House late night, you are sure to be pleased. In a place where the waitresses call you by name and the cooks prepare your food to order, this place is a haven for the late-night crowd. According to their website, Waffle House has served almost 1.2 billion hash brown orders since 1995. Why not help them reach 2 billion?

Night 3: Gumby’s Pizza (Baxter Street, open until 3 a.m. during the week and 3:30 a.m. on weekends)

Conveniently placed across the street from the freshman dorms, Gumby’s pizza is famous for their gargantuan orders of Pokey Stix. Pokey Stix are the epitome of greasy post-downtown fare and you have not experienced college life to the fullest if you have never eaten these at 3 or 4 in the morning. Basically a concoction of dough, cheese and garlic with ranch and marinara sauce on the side, these chewy breadsticks satisfy all who eat them. Although Gumby’s also has a variety of sandwiches and pizzas on their menu, most students (me included) turn to the delicious simplicity of the Pokey Stix. You can never eat just one and 99 percent of the time you find yourself discussing how delicious they were with your friends the next morning.

Night 4: Downtown Hotdog Vendors (located on many of the street corners downtown, opening times vary and usually close after everyone is served)

I'm not really a big fan of hot dogs. It's just a personal opinion, but, I know that most people cannot resist the temptation of a juicy grilled wiener from the downtown vendors. Located seemingly on every street corner, these stations release the aroma of meaty nourishment into the night air. I know many people who gobble down a couple dogs every time they go out. Most like their dogs all the way and some just like them plain. Either way, the salesmen downtown provide a quick, cheap, and delicious fare all at your convenience.

Night 5: The Pita Pit (Jackson Street, open until 3 a.m. during week and 4 a.m. on weekends)

For those who want to take a healthier approach to their late-night choice, Pita Pit is the best decision. It’s a meat and veggie assembly line with pitas and sauces. Open until the wee hours of the morning, this place is probably the only post-bar scene where vegetables are involved. I ordered roast beef with cheddar cheese, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, green peppers and some mayo and was highly satisfied. There are so many choices from typical deli meats to chicken, tuna and BLT’s. The Pita Pit is also great for vegetarians, with a variety of meatless options. Although most people leave the bar scene in search of some grease, this restaurant is just as delicious and also comes with a lot less guilt the next day.

Night 6: JB’s Polish Sausages (located next to the 40Watt on Washington Street, opening and closing times vary)

Even though I’ve already written about the hot dog vendors downtown, JB’s Polish Sausages belong to a completely different category. JB’s stand is located right beside the 40 Watt, perfect for set break and post-concert munchies. JB is said to set up every night a concert is in town. Just a plain grilled sausage with relish, onions and famous Comeback sauce leads to a messy, yet unbelievable delicious, snack or meal. The smell of his grill is enough to lure anyone. Even though I’m not the biggest fan of sausage, I’ll admit that this guy knows what it takes to do sausage right.

Night 7: The Grill (College Avenue, open 24 hours)

It’s open 24 hours a day. That in itself makes The Grill one of the most popular spots for late-night eaters. Breakfast is also available starting at midnight, serving everything from bagels to omelets. With its red lights and diner-esque feel, The Grill has been a pastime in Athens for years. Although they advertise “Hamburgers, Shakes and Fries the Way They Used to Be,” the menu at the grill extends beyond these things. I personally ordered a Cajun hamburger that was spicy but delicious with garlic mashed potatoes and gravy. The hand-cut fries dipped in feta sauce are also a late-night craving for many. The Grill wins points for its location, variety of food, business hours, taste and affordability.