Eating by the Numbers in McDonough, Georgia

Fast becoming a southern suburb of Atlanta, McDonough, Georgia is growing with leaps and bounds and so is its eating options. There are three main exits off Interstate 75 that will lead you into the heart of McDonough, but you need not venture far from the Interstate to satisfy a food craving. Each exit offers its own unique selection of culinary options. Exit 216 is still growing and heavy with industrial complexes. It tends to cater to the lunch bunch or the Interstate jockeys passing through. Crave those little square burgers? Head west off the Interstate at exit 216 on 155 where Krystals waits on the left to fill the sack. In a Deli mood? You'll see Maximo's on the left with a great selection of fresh made salads and sandwiches. Buffet hound? Get it at Shoney's, again on the left. Need your daily dose of the old diner experience? There is a Waffle House waiting for you on the right.

Looking for the largest selection of fast food? Name your passion off exit 218 where road improvements on 20/81 are making it a quick trip from McDonough to the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Head east for Arby's, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald's, Mrs. Winners, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Wendy's. Head west for the new Chic-Fil-A (my grandchildren's favorite). All are within about ¼ mile of the Interstate. Want to up scale your dining a bit or tone down the calories, but still want to grab and go? At Exit 218 head east on 20/81 and turn left into the Walmart shopping center to try Blimpie, Moe's Southwest Grill, or Quiznos. Turn left on Willow Lane, then right into Willow Plaza for the Tropical Smoothie Café (great wraps and smoothies, one of my personal favorites for lunch). Keep heading east for the China Star, Johnny's Pizza and the Smoothie King on the left. Head west if you like the Southwest sauce at Subway. Exit 218 eat ins include Ruby Tuesday east on 20/81 (on left), take a left into the Walmart shopping center to visit Cracker Barrel (if you've a hankering' for down home country cookin') and Up The Creek (great selection of seafood concoctions)-almost across from each other-Toribios, Applebee's and OB's Bar B Q are just a hop, skip and a jump once you turn right on Industrial Blvd. Straight on 20/81east and up the hill will take you to the Three Dollar Café and Ryan's Steakhouse on the right. Oh, and they just built a new IHOP on the right (French toast anyone?). Feeling adventurous? A new place just opened called Joey's Seafood and Grill, head west on 20/81 and find it on the left at the corner where 20 and 81 split. From the looks of the menu, it has a Cajun attitude. Didn't get your fill of pattie melts and hash browns at exit 216? Not to worry, you have two more chances at exit 218, one east and one west.

Now let's talk exit 221 heading west on Jonesboro Road, one of the newest and fastest growing business areas in McDonough. Fast food equals McDonald's and Chic-Fil-A on the left and Burger King and Wendy's on the right, but that is only the beginning. Golden Corral buffet on the brain? Exit 218 has one on the left. Chili's is your first right. Take the second right and cruise through the McDonough Towne Center to find: O'Charley's, Red Lobster, Hooters, CiCi's Pizza, Gecko Grill (west coast-southwest), Dessert Factory and Longhorn Steakhouse. Are you a Starbucker? You will be happy to know that you can get your cup of coffee inside the Target store. Do you have a Sam's Club card? You can get a hot dog and a drink or big slice of pizza for under $2.00 if you turn left on Miller's Road. It will be on your left. If you get as far as Sam's Club, you will have passed Logan's Roadhouse on the right. Love your ice cream made to order? You are in luck! Just a bit further west on Jonesboro Road on the left is a Marble Slab-try the amaretto with almonds and chocolate chips-oh, la, ah.

What do I not recommend? Hooters (221) - never been, never will, probably because I have them. But, hey, if you guys need to drool over more than your food, go for it-big with the racing fans. Toribios (218), Ruby Tuesday (218), Shoney's (216), Moe's Southwest Grill (218), Red Lobster (221) all get a thumbs down from me-bad experiences, mostly about service or the lack thereof, but some food issues as well. Things that happened convinced me not to return. Maybe you'll be luckier.

What do I recommend? For a great custom burger well worth the $6 or $7-with fries of course-it has to be Chili's at exit 221. You can make a meal out of the starters and don't forget to get a cup of the broccoli cheese soup. O'Charley's (221) gets my vote for potato soup, spinach dip and, oh, those great rolls. If you want to fill your plate, again and again and again, you have three choices in Golden Corral (221), Ryan's Steakhouse (218) and Shoney's (216). Golden Corral has better service in my opinion. Where's the steak? At Longhorn Steakhouse, of course, but Logan's Roadhouse is good too (both at 221). Get the Mongolian Beef at the China Star (218)-big dinner under $8. At the Tropical Smoothie Café (218) order the Popeye's FavoriteÔ wrap when you want to be good and the Chicken Parmesan wrap when its flavor you crave-each under $5. The Berry Blast Smoothie is one of my summertime favorites. If you like a sports bar atmosphere, hit the Three Dollar Café (218) and order the Grilled Ruben-under $8, you'll think you're in Philly. For Calzone, here's Johnny's (218). If you like real pit barbeque, make it OB's (218), one of the longest running eateries in McDonough.

Call me up and say, "How about dinner. I'm buying." I'll ask you to take me to Up The Creek (218). They routinely prepare new dishes and I like to experiment-and, oh, yeah, the food has been consistently good on every one of my visits. If you tell me, "That will bust my budget!" because you know I'll want an appetizer and dessert-as well as something from the bar. I'll let you order take out from the China Star (218) and I'll send you home with the leftovers for your lunch (more than I can eat in a sitting). Oh, we're taking the kids? Has to be Chick-Fil-A, but never on a Sunday. Seems I'm partial to exit 218, but Chili's at exit 221 routinely gets the family vote for the to go dinner, when I forget to take something out of the freezer.

Bon appétit.

Prices are as of 10/15/05.