Pimento cheese has been called the pâté of the South, and Georgia takes that title seriously, spreading it on everything from Texas toast to croissants to fried green tomatoes. The best versions rarely come from fancy dining rooms, because they usually show up at counter-service delis, small-town sandwich shops, and even a 19th-century general store in the North Georgia mountains.
This list covers seven of those modest places, stretching from Savannah to Sautee Nacoochee, with stops in Athens, Atlanta, Roswell, Martinez, and Thomaston along the way. Each one earns its spot with a specific reason to go, whether that is a jalapeño twist, a grilled cheesy classic, or a sandwich that still holds together two hours after it leaves the counter, so save this one for your next lunch run or road trip.
1. Mosh Pit Eats, Martinez, GA
Any sandwich shop with a menu item called Cowboy from Hell clearly has a sense of humor. Mosh Pit Eats in Martinez backs up its rock-inspired name with some of the most talked-about pimento cheese in the Augusta area.
The star here is the Cheese Please. It is a massive helping of pimento cheese piled between two thick slices of Texas toast, and it is exactly as hearty as it sounds.
Want a little heat? The jalapeño pimento cheese adds a kick that makes the classic spread feel brand new.
The rest of the menu keeps things interesting too. The chicken salad has its own loyal following, the Buffalo Soldier wrap is a popular pick, and the Southwest Veggie Wrap is part of a full vegetarian lineup.
Save room for a brownie, since desserts are a big part of the draw.
This is a casual, counter-service stop on Old Evans Road with free parking, a kids’ menu, and takeout if you want to eat on the go. Most lunches land in the $10 to $20 range.
Plan around the schedule. Mosh Pit Eats is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 11 AM to 3 PM, and it is closed Sunday and Monday.
2. The Country Cupboard & Deli, Thomaston, GA
Here is a practical test for a great sandwich: can it survive a two-hour drive home without turning soggy? The sandwiches at The Country Cupboard & Deli in Thomaston pass that test, which says a lot about how carefully they are built.
Thomaston is a small Upson County town, and this deli fits right in as a modest local fixture. It focuses on sandwiches but also carries dessert pastries and dry goods, so it doubles as a quick shopping stop.
Pimento cheese is the headliner. One of the favorite builds pairs it with bacon on a croissant, a combination that turns a simple spread into a full, satisfying lunch.
There is also a salad bar, plus full vegetarian and vegan options, which makes this an easy place to bring a group with different tastes. High chairs are available, and outdoor seating gives you another option on nice days.
Service is counter-style with no table service, and reservations are not taken. Parking is free and usually easy to find.
Timing matters here. Hours run 11 AM to 6 PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, with an earlier 5 PM close on Wednesday.
The deli is closed on weekends, so this one works best as a weekday lunch plan.
3. Old Sautee Store, Sautee Nacoochee, GA
Few sandwich counters come with a museum attached. At the Old Sautee Store, you can grab a pimento cheese sandwich inside a 19th-century general store filled with displays of historic goods.
The building sits on GA-17 in Sautee Nacoochee, a small mountain community in North Georgia. It works as a deli, gift shop, and museum all at once, so a lunch stop easily turns into a slow browse.
Do not expect a long menu. The pre-made sandwich selection is short and simple, with bologna, turkey, chicken salad, and pimento cheese as the main choices.
That short list is part of the charm. The chicken salad and pimento cheese are the two that get recommended most often, and both fit the old-fashioned setting perfectly.
I would save this one for a mountain road trip, when you want something easy to eat that also gives you a reason to stretch your legs. Kids tend to enjoy poking around the historic displays while the adults pick out snacks and souvenirs.
The store is open every day. Hours are 10 AM to 5 PM Sunday through Thursday and 10 AM to 5:30 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Saturday afternoon is the busiest stretch, while weekday mornings are much quieter.
4. Marti’s at Midday, Athens, GA
In a college town full of trendy restaurants, one of the most dependable lunches in Athens comes from a cheerful weekday counter on Prince Avenue. Marti’s at Midday has built a reputation on Southern classics, and pimento cheese sits right at the top of that list.
The pimento cheese sandwich comes with house-made pita chips, and those chips have nearly as many fans as the sandwich. Fresh fruit often rounds out the plate, and portions are generous.
Chicken salad is another big reason people line up. The curry chicken salad is a standout, and the ham sandwich tastes like it came straight off a holiday baked ham.
Salad lovers have options too, including The Big Salad, Martha’s Salad, and a Greek salad. Mother’s Chicken Gumbo Soup and a chocolate chip cookie make easy add-ons, and the tea selection is a nice bonus.
Beyond the food, Marti’s supports local high school sports teams, which gives it a real neighborhood connection.
Arrive with a little patience, because there is usually a wait and reservations are not accepted. Takeout is a smart move if you are short on time.
Marti’s is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 3:30 PM and closed on weekends. There is outdoor seating, dogs are welcome outside, and parking is free.
5. The Fickle Pickle, Roswell, GA
Some people plan entire day trips around one sandwich, and the Ooey Gooey at The Fickle Pickle is that kind of sandwich. Folks have been known to drive an hour and a half just to get one.
The Ooey Gooey is a grilled pimento cheese sandwich, and it lives up to its name. It is rich, filling, and best suited for anyone who truly loves pimento cheese.
The setting is half the fun. This gourmet Southern cafe and deli operates out of a quaint Victorian house from the 1890s on Canton Street, right in the heart of historic Roswell.
Of course, a place called The Fickle Pickle had better deliver on pickles, and it does. The homemade fried pickles are the house specialty, and there is even a Pickle Bowl for true fans.
If you want something lighter to balance out all that cheese, the menu includes a Fried Green Tomato Salad and an Asian Salmon Salad. Sweet potato fries are another popular side.
The cafe is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 3 PM and closed on Sunday. Fridays and Saturdays get busy, so a Monday or early Tuesday visit is the calmer choice.
Parking options include a free lot, free street parking, and a paid lot. A little in-store shopping is available too.
6. Pritchard & Co., Savannah, GA
Longtime Savannah diners will recognize a familiar connection here. Pritchard & Co. carries forward the legacy of the well-loved Starland Café, now in a new home on West Broughton Street.
This locally owned cafe focuses on seasonal, thoughtfully prepared food. Ingredients are high quality, and the kitchen works with local partners to keep the menu grounded in the region.
For pimento cheese fans, the order to know is the Pa’s Pimento sandwich. The pimento cheese on it is the kind that makes people rethink what a basic sandwich can be.
The overall style leans toward elevated comfort food, so expect familiar flavors with extra care put into every layer. It fills a real gap for anyone who has been hoping for a strong new sandwich shop downtown.
The coffee deserves a mention as well. Pritchard & Co. works just as well for a morning coffee stop as it does for lunch.
Hours are generous compared to most spots on this list. The cafe is open every day from 9 AM to 9 PM, which makes it easy to fit into a busy Savannah sightseeing schedule.
Parking is paid street parking, as is typical for Broughton Street. Dogs are welcome outside, and curbside pickup, takeout, and delivery are all available.
7. Home grown GA Restaurant, Atlanta, GA
Breakfast and pimento cheese might not seem like an obvious pair, but Home grown GA Restaurant makes a strong case for it. This Memorial Drive favorite works pimento cheese into nearly every part of the menu.
You can get it the classic way on Texas toast. It also shows up with salmon cakes, folded into an omelette, and piled onto fried green tomatoes.
The setting is a laid-back, retro country diner, and the food follows suit with locally sourced breakfast and Southern fare. Think biscuits and gravy, cheese grits, BBQ shrimp and grits, and chicken and gravy biscuits.
There are some playful surprises too. The GA Peach Sloppy Joe is a vegetarian dish billed as award-winning, and the menu also includes breakfast enchiladas, breakfast tacos, and fried pickles.
Families will find high chairs and a kids’ menu, and there are full vegetarian and vegan options for mixed groups. It is the kind of down-home place that feels like Sunday breakfast at a relative’s house.
Home grown GA is open every day from 8 AM to 2 PM. Weekend mornings are the busiest, and there is usually a wait since reservations are not taken.
Parking can be tricky, with a mix of free and paid lots and street spaces. A weekday visit makes everything easier.
Enjoyed this story?
Add Fast Food Club as a preferred source to see more of our reporting on Google.