To anyone in the north Georgia area:
Made a trip to R.E.M. town tonight to visit a place that I suspect not many of you have heard about. Yes, there's Trader Vic's and S.O.S. But what about OTP? And I mean, waaaaay OTP?
For anyone willing to make the trip to the land of Shiny Happy People, the Tree That Owns Itself, the Double-Barrelled Cannon and Widespread Panic, I submit for your consideration Seabear Oyster Bar.
Located in a building that once housed a Coke bottling plant but is now a charming mixed-use gem just outside the boundaries of downtown ATH, Seabear has a dedicated Tiki Drinks menu and ample free parking. They tell me Tiki Tuesday is the time to come. The Mai Tai features housemade ORGEAT and actual drink umbrellas.
In addition to the titular oysters, the menu also features a variety of seafood and beach-themed fare, including that scourge of the mortgage industry, avocado toast. For those familiar with The National, Empire State South and Five and Ten, this is in the same milieu, but with oysters and Tiki.
Seabear's take on tiki is decidedly ironic and somewhat fratty, but when in Redneck Greece, amirite? So don't expect a fully sincere Tiki experience and you'll be fine. There is a large selection of rums, cachaça, wines and for the adventurous, Aquavit. There is real absinthe service, with the sugar cube and a dedicated cold water tap and everything. And of course brandy; and those inexplicably popular IPAs and bourbons, if you absolutely must.
The full bar is amazing here. They have vegetarian options and take credit cards; they are open 15:00 to 0:00 everyday except holidays, and are well worth the trip. Especially if you are going to spend a day taking in the
jouissance of this town, there are many worse ways to end a day in Dawg Nation than a trip to Seabear.
Seeing as I'm a newbie to these forums, if someone would kindly explain how to post pictures (do they have to be publicly available?), I would gladly oblige.
Also, and I mean no offense to my gold and white-wearing friends who attended the North Avenue Trade School, but: GO DAWGS!
M