BBQ & Southern Comfort Food

Helen is known for schnitzel, but the mountains around it have their own cooking: smoked meat, cornbread, trout and the kind of sides that come in a bowl, not a garnish. The Alpine village has a handful of places that cook that way. Here's who's serving what, with the hours in one table.

Restaurants change hours and menus often. Call ahead for anything you're building a plan around.

Paul's Steakhouse on South Main Street has been feeding Helen for decades; its own site celebrates 60 years. Steaks and seafood are the focus, with ribs and prime rib on the menu, and the outdoor Margarita Deck is where you'll want to sit when the weather cooperates. It's open seven days, 4 to 10 PM, all year.

Cowboys & Angels is the casual, American counterpart to Helen's German restaurants. The menu runs to hand-cut steaks, handcrafted burgers (beef or bison), seafood, Southern comfort classics made from scratch and brunch favorites, plus signature cocktails and bourbons. It has a pet-friendly deck, free parking, and live music through the year; see the live music guide for who's playing where.

Pink Pig Southern BBQ at 663 Edelweiss Strasse bills itself as Southern comfort barbecue; it's a small operation, so call 706-917-4647 for hours before you head over. For wings and rib dinners with pool tables and live music, Monday's Pub on South Main is the local-feeling option.

Just south in Nacoochee Village, Mully's Nacoochee Grill is listed at 7277 S Main St, but its website no longer loads and current hours aren't posted online. Call 706-878-1020 to confirm it's open before you drive out. And if you're up for a road trip, the Dillard House serves Southern Appalachian cooking family style in Dillard, about 70 minutes north; read the Dillard House guide and call ahead for dining hours.