Bernie's Restaurant
A Sautee Nacoochee Valley dinner spot to confirm before you drive, and the open places around it
The short answer
Why the valley is worth the drive
Head south from the Alpine village on GA-17 and the traffic thins out fast. The Sautee Nacoochee Valley opens into pasture and ridgeline, and a dinner here feels like a change of pace from Main Street. If Bernie's is your plan, confirm it's serving before you build an evening around it.
Don't rely on old menus or phone numbers. The restaurant's former website, letsgotobernies.com, now redirects to a parked-domain page, so the Facebook page is the best way to see what's current. You can also call the Helen Welcome Center at 706-878-2181.
Open options in the valley
| Place | Where | Hours | What to order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweetwater CoffeehouseSee website | 2242 GA-17 | Every day, 8 AM-6 PM | Pastries, cheddar biscuits and quiche made in-house daily; bagels, sandwiches; vegan and gluten-free options |
| Old Sautee Store706-878-2281 | 2317 Highway 17 | Check the store's site | Sandwiches, wraps, grilled panini, bakery items and cheeses |
| Nacoochee Village Tavern & Pizzeria706-878-0199 | 7275 S Main St | Sun-Thu noon-9 PM, Fri-Sat noon-10 PM | Pizza and sandwiches with rotating regional craft beer |
Sweetwater has been serving the valley since 1995. Hours change with the season, so call before a special trip.
Make an afternoon of it
Sautee Nacoochee dining questions
Is Bernie's in Sautee Nacoochee open?
Its status isn't confirmed. The restaurant's old website now lands on a parked-domain page, and its Facebook page doesn't show current hours or a menu. Check the Facebook page for a recent post, or ask the Helen Welcome Center at 706-878-2181, before you plan a dinner around it.
Where can I find a sit-down dinner in the Sautee Nacoochee Valley?
Nacoochee Village Tavern & Pizzeria at 7275 S Main St serves pizza and sandwiches with regional craft beer, and it's open until 9 or 10 PM depending on the day. For a bigger menu, Helen itself is about 10 minutes north.
How far is the valley from downtown Helen?
About 10 minutes by car. Sweetwater Coffeehouse on GA-17 is roughly 4 miles from downtown.
More Helen dining
