By LaTria Garnigan
Sunday brunch. A nightcap. Mid-day lunch break. Celebrating with friends. These are all great reasons for a cocktail or two. And wouldn’t you like to know where you can find them in Henry County?
No worries. You may or may not be familiar with a few of these places, but they each have their own unique selection of spirits designed to be exactly what you’re looking for. From ales, to frozen drinks, cocktails and fine wine – pull up a seat and relax.
15th Street Pizza & Pub
The sweetness of strawberries and the smoothness of malt are a flavorsome blend for Samuel Smith’s organic strawberry fruit ale. The 15th Street Pizza & Pub offering is just one of a multitude of drinks available at the McDonough restaurant. I visited at lunch time and decided to pair the strawberry ale with a Caesar salad and Mediterranean pizza. The flavors complimented each other well and the ale was a nice mid-day pick-me-up. While it was a perfect beverage for me, as I’m not a beer drinker, don’t fret. There are 22 beers on tap offered at the restaurant, ranging from Monday Night Brewing, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Sweetwater. And if you prefer a bottle or can, you can choose from 36 varieties; and, not to be left out, there is a list of 20 wines. For the complete list, search for 15th Street on www.taphunter.com.
15th Street Pizza & Pub
2130 Jodeco Road, McDonough
770-507-1478 | 15thstreetpizza.com
Open daily
Tierra Mia
Some drinks are perfect to quench a thirst, and some might be essential to cool down with. And if you’ve picked a spicy item off of the menu at Tierra Mia, then the frozen mango margarita is a top choice to pair with your meal. The sweetness from the mango, rounds out the smoothness from the tequila to provide you with a refreshing cocktail, sip after sip. I didn’t order anything spicy for lunch, but since my bean burrito, cheese enchilada and Spanish rice and plate were very hot, I chose to cool down with this drink. This would be a good opportunity to slow down and savor each sip. In a society where we’re moving at a fast pace, it’s good to sometimes sit, sip and relax with this larger than average cocktail.
Tierra Mia
14 E. Main St., Hampton
470-878-5144 | www.tierramiacuisine.com
Open daily
French Market & Tavern
For over 100 years, The French Market & Tavern building has been a staple in Henry County and most importantly, Locust Grove. The business not only operates a functional market full of home décor and gift items, and an event space – but there’s a robust food and drink side, complete with a sit-down bar. And just as unique as the items for sale in the market, the cocktail menu features several distinctive selections. French Market offers a myriad of mixed drinks with names like the Georgia Peach martini, the Porch Rocker and the Rolling Ladder. Thanks to a wonderful bartender, I chose The Gardener as my afternoon cocktail. The colorful potion was almost too pretty to drink! Mixed with Bombay Dry gin, lavender syrup, fresh blueberries, peach nectar, orange juice and basil leaves – this was a great touch to round off the end of Sunday brunch. The fragrance of the basil hit me first, finished by the sweetness of the lavender syrup. If this drink is any indication, you’ll be in good hands by ordering any of their other signature cocktails. But definitely give this one a try if you’re in the neighborhood. And don’t forget to try out their extensive beer and wine list.
French Market & Tavern
3840 Hey. 42, Locust Grove
770-914-9312 | frenchmarkettavern.com
Closed Mondays
Serafino’s Italian Restaurant
If you’re looking for something a bit more sophisticated, a smooth glass of wine always does it. And at Serafino’s Italian Restaurant, they know their wine. The Stockbridge restaurant has a robust selection of over 50 vino offerings, along with an assortment of national brand beers. The Mettler Farm Vineyards cabernet sauvignon is a go-to for the restaurant. It features notes of purple plums, black cherries, dark fruit and black currant. These range of flavor notes aid this wine in pairing well with a multitude of meat and pasta dishes.
Serafino’s Italian Restaurant
909 Eagle’s Landing Pkwy., Suite 120, Stockbridge
770-961-4410 | www.serafinositalianrestaurant.com
Closed Sundays
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A journalist first, LaTria Garnigan has always had a love of writing and exploring. And combining her love of food and travel is a winning combination. When she’s not looking up recipes or trying out the newest home delivery meal kits, she can be found catching up on her Netflix queue and discussing all things entertainment with her friends. You can keep up with some of her shenanigans on Twitter and Instagram — @SimplyTria.