Gooey burger at Spirits Tavern DAHLONEGA For Sean Fritchle, the executive chef of the Mountain Top Lodge , it’s hard to beat Dahlonega . He’s called the area home since he was a child, having left a couple of times only to come back. Now he and his wife are raising a family there. “The weather’s nice, the people are great. There’s really good community,” says Fritchle. When he and his wife go out for dinner without the kids, they head to Spirits Tavern , a bar on Main Street known for its elevated American fare and live music. Standout dishes include the trash pile (a bunch of tater tots topped with chopped beef, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese) and cocktails like the blood and fire sour with bourbon, blood orange puree, and lemon juice. When Fritchle goes, he orders the gooey burger, topped with a trio of cheeses (white American, pepper jack, and gouda), mac ‘n’ cheese bites, and secret sauce. Don’t forget a side of tater tots accompanied with comeback sauce for dipping. 10 GEORGIA DISHES FROM TOP: SPIRITS TAVERN, DAHLONEGA | SPIRITS TAVERN; ROUNDABOUT DELI, DAHLONEGA | EXPLORE GEORGIA Maestro sandwich at Roundabout Deli DAHLONEGA Owned by husband and wife team Greg and Marsha Cornelius, Roundabout brings a nostalgic vibe to Dahlonega . Vinyl records plaster the walls in the petite space where the deli counter stands front and center. “In the morning, they do biscuits and breakfast pastries and croissants and cinnamon rolls,” says Fritchle. “Then they flip over to sandwiches.” The sandwich menu is tight and includes cold sandwiches, a hot section, and a “Cubano Corner” section with twists on the classic sandwich. Fritchle’s go-to order is the Maestro, their version of an Italian with Genoa salami, ham, capicola, provolone, garlic aioli, lettuce, tomato, and basil balsamic vinaigrette. “It’s heated and super melty,” says Fritchle. EXPLOREGEORGIA.ORG 93
Official State Travel Guide 2026 Georgia Official State Travel Guide: Page 93
