America's Best Vegetarian-Friendly Small Cities

#9 Athens, Georgia

This gorgeous Southern town has a thriving vegetarian scene, anchored by The Grit. This restaurant is so popular that it has its own vegetarian cookbook. Mouthwatering menu must-haves include the Golden Bowl (The Grit's famous tofu cubes over brown rice), the enormous Big Daddy Burger, and the Mondo Burrito. The Bluebird Café is another great place for lunch, with sandwiches, stir-fries, and other tasty dishes. The Bluebird also offers vegetarian selections at breakfast. Although Rooster's BBQ primarily peddles flesh, it also offers a veggie burger and a great vegan Brunswick stew. The Mellow Mushroom's tofu hoagie, sans the cheese and mayo, is a good bet. Definitely try Barberito's vegan burrito, which is bursting with rice, beans, tofu, salsa, lettuce, and guacamole.

If you find yourself on the University of Georgia campus, the school's dining service offers a huge variety of delicious vegan options, including Indonesian Sweet and Sour Tempeh, Harvest Burgers, Thai Seitan, veggie dogs, and classic red beans and rice. For a hip hangout that plays cool music, head to Transmetropolitan, where you can enjoy terrific vegan pizzas, tofu panini, and vegan calzones. Farm 255 provides friendly service and tasty food infused with fresh local produce, and Bombay Café's Northern Indian lunch buffet can't be beat. If you're bar-hopping, head to The Globe Bar for veggie burgers, fries, chili, and soups.

Top Tip: Vegetarian Bulldogs at the University of Georgia eat very well, thanks to the extensive vegetarian-friendly menus in the dining halls. With these healthy dining options, the university not only provides delicious food, it also sets students up for a lifetime of good health.

Next >