Eat Athens: Cajun cuisine done right at Macon Highway restaurant

Andrew Shearer, Athens Banner-Herald
Updated ·2 min read
The outside of George's Lowcountry Table in Athens. The restaurant has been in business since 2010.
The outside of George's Lowcountry Table in Athens. The restaurant has been in business since 2010.

"Mardi Gras" is French for "Fat Tuesday," and the annual celebration is so named for the consumption of rich, fatty foods the night before the fasting season of Lent begins.

For most, images of brightly-colored costumes, beaded necklaces and wild revelry come to mind, but those in search of authentic cuisine to accompany the party, even though it has since passed, are limited to store-bought King Cakes unless they know where to go.

In Athens, there is no better place to enjoy great-tasting Cajun food than George's Lowcountry Table located at 720 Macon Hwy.

Last week, the Banner-Herald stopped in at George's to soak in the general vibe and get a taste of what the restaurant had in store.

More in dining: How an Athens musician and entrepreneur found his mix with hip hop and cheesecake

The crowd at the bar at George's Lowcountry Table.
The crowd at the bar at George's Lowcountry Table.

Named in honor of Athens restaurateur George Davis, founder of such beloved local favorites as Gus Garcia's and Harry Bissett's, George's Lowcountry Table was opened in 2010 by Reggie DiSante, who worked under Davis at Gus Garcia's and was promoted to head chef at Harry Bissett's. In a 2022 poll, OnlineAthens.com readers named Harry Bissett's as one of the most-missed restaurants in Athens.

Open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, George's follows in the Harry's tradition of offering Southern-style seafood dishes in a New Orleans-inspired atmosphere. The Banner-Herald visited George's on a Thursday evening and most of the spacious indoor dining rooms were already full. It was immediately clear that George's is a popular spot in the area.

The Gumbo Ya Ya at George's Lowcountry Table.
The Gumbo Ya Ya at George's Lowcountry Table.

From staples like fried green tomatoes and grilled andouille sausage to smoked bacon deviled eggs topped with fried oysters, the appetizers at George's are anything but ordinary. And where entrees are concerned, customers have their pick of surf and turf classics from oysters and shrimp to burgers, fried chicken and steak.

Our $21 plate of traditional crawfish etouffee came with a side salad and biscuits that were reminiscent of the ones at Red Lobster. Since etouffee is known to be a spicy dish, we ordered an alcohol-free Heineken beer to help tame the heat. As it turned out, the etouffee at George's had a cumulative effect, which means the heat intensifies as the food is eaten. The biscuits and the beer helped cut the spice, but the natural flavor of the crawfish remained at the front, and the portion was more than enough for one person.

To view the menu at George's Lowcountry Table and order online, visit georgeslowcountrytable.com.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Eat Athens: George's Lowcountry Table is Cajun cuisine done right