Don Leon’s
Winter invites us into quiet and stillness — snow days with a good book, moments to reflect on the year behind us, and, of course, food. Comfort food for the body, and for the soul.
Here on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, we’re blessed with a mountain and a valley of restaurants ready to add a layer of warmth to the season. Here’s a roundup of some of the dishes and places that have brought us comfort over the years. All from restaurants open this winter season.
Madison’s Restaurant
Let’s start with the liquid ambition that fuels our mornings: coffee. Both Buck’s Coffee in Cashiers and Calders Coffee Cafe in Highlands pour a remarkable bean with a remarkable story (see our September issue for the tale of Café Campesino). At Buck’s, don’t miss their melt-in-your-mouth pastries.
And while coffee may be the default drink for sleepy eyes, it’s Calders’ Matcha Latte that has truly stolen my heart — and my mornings.
Los Vaqueros
New to the Plateau’s coffee scene is Duck Hawk Provisions, where you can grab a brew and a bite on your way out or stay and linger with friends. And I would be remiss not to mention the Coffee Bar at Outpost Inn, where ordering a cup and settling in by the fire feels like winter’s own small, perfect luxury.
Before the day gets away from us, there’s nothing like a comforting breakfast to set things right.
The pancakes at Zookeeper’s Bistro are pure morning comfort, fluffy, golden, and exactly the sweet start a winter day deserves.
The High Dive
And then there’s Don Leon’s, known mostly for its lunch lineup (and truly, don’t miss the Brunswick stew), but their breakfast deserves equal praise. Cheesy grits and flaky biscuits deliver Southern comfort at its finest.
The loaded tater tots at The Ugly Dog Pub are a favorite, crispy, golden, and piled high with melted cheese, bacon, and jalapeños. It’s comfort food with a spicy edge, perfect for sharing…or not. And The High Dive’s fried chicken sandwich is golden, juicy, and hits all the right soul warming notes.
Cashiers Celtic Table
On a cold Plateau night, nothing wraps you in comfort quite like a perfectly baked pizza, and how lucky we are to have so many options for pie perfection
Four65, with its woodfired ovens, turns out some truly delicious creations. My personal favorite is the Mountain Fungi, and don’t over look their root vegetable soup, it’s hearty winter magic in a bowl.
My daughter swears by Highlands Pizza Place’s Highlands Hottie, its hot honey drizzle adding just the right amount of warmth to a winter evening.
Zookeeper’s Bistro
And then there’s Slabtown Pizza, where house-made dough and your ever changing cravings make their BYO a guaranteed win. Choose every topping your soul desires.
The oyster po’ boy at The Village Pantry made such an impression this summer that it deserves a winter mention — crispy, briny, and unforgettable.
Mexican and TexMex bring their own kind of sunshine — bright, warm, and wonderfully comforting.
Highlands Burritos
The cheesy chimichangas from Los Vaqueros are spot on, and the guacamole at Casa Amigos deserves its own spotlight. The shrimp fajitas at Las Margaritas warm both the table and the soul in one smoky, satisfying sweep. And the tacos at Highlands Burritos are a fresh, flavor-packed tribute to simplicity done right. (Check out their taco recipe in our May issue.)
The daily burger specials at 4118 Kitchen + Bar never fail to please the palate. But for me, it’s the flavor‑forward grilled cauliflower tacos that bring all the joy.
The Greystone Inn
And then there are the days when only something smoked and sauced will do.
At On the Side BBQ, the pulled pork sandwich delivers everything you want in a Southern bite, tender, and tangy,
Highlands Smokehouse’s smoked ribs are deeply seasoned and fall-apart tender. And whatever you do, don’t skip their house-made Green Goddess dressing — put it on anything. You won’t regret it.
At Grand Olde Station, the chicken and waffles are a standout with crispy fried chicken over golden waffles, topped with fresh berries and a drizzle of syrup. Sweet and savory at its best.
Highlands Supper Club
The corned beef and cabbage at Cashiers’ Celtic Table is a cold weather classic — rooted, restorative, and perfect for winter’s quieter days.
At Primary Restaurant + Bar, the Black Angus bone in ribeye is everything a winter evening calls for — bold, tender, and deeply comforting.
Oysters may not be top of mind when it comes to comfort food, but at the intimate bar at Highlands Supper Club, paired with a beautiful rosé and the hush of winter outside, they become something quietly special.
Grand Olde Station
At The Greystone Inn, winter comfort comes with a velvety Angus Beef Tenderloin. Elegant, earthy, and exactly what the season calls for. Add lake views and candlelight, and you’ve got a moment worth lingering over.
When winter demands comfort for the sweet tooth, Madison’s Restaurant at Old Edwards rises to the moment. Pastry Chef Lauren Bland’s desserts shift with the season, but trust me — whatever she’s crafting is worth the indulgence. Your taste buds will absolutely thank you.
Las Margaritas
And no conversation about Plateau desserts is complete without The Baked Bunny. Their chocolate pie is nothing short of extraordinary (bonus: it’s gluten free!)
Cold days have a way of making a good glass of wine feel especially right. At High Country Wine & Provisions, you can’t go wrong with Davis Family’s Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. As our wine expert Marlene Osteen puts it, “it’s elegant with dark fruit flavor, a perfect example of the best of Russian River in one complex wine.”
Over at Highlands Wine Shoppe, be sure to pick up a bottle of Aedes Etna Rosso. Marlene emphasizes, “it drinks like a mountain‑born Pinot Noir with a whisper of smoke — light on its feet but deeply rooted.”
Slabtown Pizza
And on those snowy days when your soul insists on a blanket, a movie, and pajamas (or not), the Plateau still has your back.
The Kitchen Carryaway & Catering, Rosewood Market, Duck Hawk Provisions, and The Village Pantry, and all offer cases packed with take-home deliciousness. The kind of comfort food that turns a quiet night in into a full-blown winter celebration.
Menus change, we get it. And a few of the dishes we’ve highlighted may not be there when you order. No worries. Just pick the dish that calls to your heart. It, and the restaurant, won’t lead you astray. Wherever you find your comfort, I’m wishing you good tastes, lots of laughs, and the kind of warmth that lingers.
Favorites Count: 0