Getting High At Lunch in Athens

On a clear spring day, the rooftop restaurant of the Georgia Theatre is a perfect place for lunch. It's sunny, but not yet hot, and the large umbrella-ish cover provides shade to those who want it. The views of Athens, with trees in flower, are inviting.

And the food--now provided by the Branded Butcher, whose main restaurant is next door on Lumpkin--is delicious. The prices are affordable, the dishes are interesting and the execution is just yummy. I longed to be a bovine with multiple stomachs so I could have eaten more food.

On the beautiful day my friend and I ventured skyward, we both ordered the smoked tofu tacos. I don't know if the tofu was organic, but the tacos were especially good. Was it the pickled onions that gave them their zing? Or the siracha aioli? Beats me. Whatever it was, I'm ordering the tacos again.

A guy sitting near us ordered the burger--they feature grass-fed beef here, thanks very much. When he got it, he took one bite and was hooked. That dude didn't look up or speak to anyone at his table until he had finished inhaling his food. If the burger is as good as his behavior suggested, I'm ordering it as well.

I was smart enough to get the Local Lettuces as a dessert. With every bite, I felt my brain expanding and my I.Q. score going up at least 25 points. I imagine it was the chive viniagrette. The lettuces were crisp, the other salad doodads were good and there were actual slices of parmesean cheese doing the heavy lifting. 

The menu isn't just a place for Ladies to Lunch. The Branded Butcher Rooftop Restaurant also makes their own bratwurst, cheese dogs and fries. But of course, there's an interesting twist to the slaw for your slaw dog--it's got fennel as well as carrot.

We didn't get any of the side dishes, but they sounded good. Pimento goat cheese, white bean hummus, deviled eggs, fingerling potato salad. Sounds kinda picnic-ish, don't they? Hey, that could be my next lunch from the Branded Butcher: a picnic!

The Branded Butcher Rooftop is open from 11:30am until the Georgia Theatre closes.