Nacoochee Village Tavern & Pizzeria

When you've had your fill of schnitzel, this is the pizza stop on the road south of town. The Village Tavern sells itself as "Real Pizza, Real People, Real Good," and the menu backs that up with house focaccia, meatballs somebody named Paulie is apparently famous for, and a pimento cheese credited to Nadine Wardenga.

It sits in Nacoochee Village, the quiet stretch of the valley between Helen and Sautee, so parking is easier than downtown and the pace is slower. It also makes a natural lunch stop on a loop that includes the Nacoochee mound, the Habersham Winery and the Old Sautee Store.

These hours come from the tavern's website, which hasn't been refreshed in years, and the site says daily specials are suspended. Call 706-878-0199 before you make the drive.

Pizza comes plain or as a specialty pie, by the slice or in 12, 16 and 18 inch sizes, and any pizza can become a calzone. There are gluten-free crusts in 10 and 14 inch sizes. The specialty list is the fun part: The Carnivore piles on sausage, meatballs, pepperoni and hot cappicola ham; The Popeye pairs sauteed garlic spinach with ricotta and roasted garlic; The Sweet Green is fresh tomato, mozzarella and basil and pine nut pesto.

Outside the pizza, the hoagie list is long, and it's worth a look if someone in your group wants a sandwich. Hoagies, "Cosmos" (hoagies with warm meat and melted cheese) and paninis come on house focaccia, a traditional hoagie roll or a wrap, with house baked potato salad or Zapp's chips.

The website lists prices, but they may be out of date, so ask when you order. Full menu on villagetavernpizza.com.

The tavern says it pours regionally brewed craft beer in styles that rotate with the seasons, so ask what's on when you sit down. If beer is the point of your trip, our beer guide covers the other taps around Helen.