Near the western border of Georgia in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains sits the city of Rome. Though not as well known for its food as the famous Italian city that gave it its name, these 10 amazing restaurants show that Rome, Georgia still has plenty to offer visiting foodies.
Harvest Moon Café
Restaurant, American, Vegan, Vegetarian, $$$
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The Dirty South Mouth from Jamwich | Courtesy of Jamwich
What started as a small bread market quickly grew into an award-winning local restaurant well known for its ‘delicious fare and funky atmosphere.’ Located in a historical building, Harvest Moon Café has a restaurant with an outdoor eating area and two late-night bars to catch the night crowd: the cozy and trendy Moon Roof Bar and Dark Side of the Moon Bar. The cafe sources local and organic produce, high-quality meats, and home-baked breads, and the menu has plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. For lunch, try the homemade sweet potato chips and bacon-gorgonzola dip or tasty burgers and sandwiches. For dinner, try an entrée like Southern-fried catfish or crispy pork belly.
Jamwiches are specialty sandwiches made with quality ingredients like Boar’s Head meats and cheeses and Zelma’s Blue Ribbon Jams and Jellies on sourdough bread. Each sandwich is flavored with a fun jam, from the Dirty South Mouth’s raspberry-jalapeño jam served with London broil, bacon, house-made pimento cheese, hydroponic bibb lettuce, and red onion on jalapeño-cornmeal bread; to the Breakfast Ham Jam served with blueberry jam alongside ham, bacon, and Swiss cheese prepared ‘French toast-style’, If the sweet and savory combination sounds too adventurous for you, the menu also includes classic sandwiches, salads, and daily special soups.
This distinctive spot in historic downtown Rome serves high-quality baked goods, and every dough, batter, filling, and frosting is made from scratch. The local establishment serves everything from specialty cakes to pralines to cupcakes, and the breakfast menu includes pastries sandwiches, pancakes, and more. Every treat you see is made and decorated with care, so arrive early to guarantee your favorite will still be in stock.
Like true Southerners, the owners of Jerusalem Grill make an effort to make every customer feel at home in the restaurant. Fresh, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine is made with quality ingredients and care. Try a Kofka sandwich, which comes with beef, lamb, onions, tomatoes and tzatziki sauce, or falafel served with light hummus with a hint of lemon. The restaurant has plenty of flavor-packed dishes served in large portions. Don’t miss this favorite.
La Scala opened in 1996, and the restaurant features a mix of local and seasonal cuisine with traditional influences from the family’s roots on the Isle of Capri and all around the Mediterranean. The chefs keep customers excited with a changing menu full of the latest fresh food. Try the borso di pasta, which mixes sweet and savory with a pear and cheese stuffed pasta served with prosciutto and walnut cream sauce, or the fresh North Atlantic salmon grilled with sweet, roasted bell peppers and Gorgonzola cheese sauce. The salads are sure to impress, like the fresh arugula salad with crisp prosciutto, focaccia croutons, and Gorgonzola dressing. Come to La Scala for the authentic Italian experience.
Schroeder’s New Deli has been serving Italian cuisine to the Rome community for more than 34 years. The sidewalk cafe has outdoor seating where events like live music and poetry are featured. The kitchen makes pizzas, calzones, and soft pretzels in-house along with other tasty Italian fare. The food looks and tastes like real homemade, Italian fare, and the restaurant’s outdoor dining area makes it a great place for a casual lunch or dinner on a nice day.
It’s no shock that Rome, Georgia is filled with Italian restaurants, but it is surprising how many good ones the city has. Provino’s is a small chain with a handful of restaurants in Georgia and Tennessee. The Italian sampler provides an appetizer with a lot of variety, the dish comes with cheesy fried ravioli, marinara-covered zucchini, breaded artichoke hearts, and savory mozzarella sticks. For an entrée, try the chicken francese, an egg-dipped boneless breast sautéed in lemon butter and wine sauce, or the cioppino, an array of clams, shrimp, scallops, mussels, and snapper simmered in a spicy tomato garlic sauce and served over linguine.
Blue Fin Sushi serves traditional sushi rolls alongside new options, like the Rome’s Beauty Roll, a chef specialty made with shrimp, tempura, avocado, cream cheese, and crab salad with homemade sweet Mirin sauce. Try any of the fresh fish options or Asian favorites during the hibachi lunch grill, like pad Thai, panang curry, or spicy basil chicken stir-fry. The dinner menu expands the choices to include even more dishes with appetizers, soups, salads, and entrées in addition to sushi.
Come to La Parrilla to experience a Southern Mexican food chain. The restaurant serves tableside guacamole service, a delicious Chimi Rica (a crispy rolled flour tortilla filled with seasoned shredded chicken or brisket and topped with cheese dip), and a huge selection of margaritas. Try the shrimp soup, a homemade broth packed with shrimp, mushrooms, Mexican rice, pico de gallo, and avocado slices.
Bella Roma Grill is a family-friendly restaurant that offers fresh Italian cuisine at affordable prices. The owners, Eddie and Zana Hasko, serve their Italian and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine for lunch and dinner indoors or on the outdoor patio. The lunch menu is full of pitas, paninis, and sandwiches, while the dinner menu features Greek and Italian favorites. Luckily, the full menu is offered throughout the day, so you’ll be set whether you’re craving lobster ravioli or chicken souvlaki in the afternoon or if you’re looking for a light sandwich for dinner.
