Whether you are jet-setting to China or taking a 2-hour road trip, the same travel advice is given to every adventurer: don’t be a tourist, be a local. The most seasoned traveler will tell you their best culinary adventures have resulted from taking a wrong turn and taking a chance on a meal from a hole-in-the-wall dive.

          So before you cross the country for an elaborate meal, be the local and check out these restaurants in your backyard. All Things Chocolate and More, Melody’s Coastal Café, and Bubba’s Bistro have been named in Georgia’s “100 Plates Locals Love,” an article highlighting the best restaurants in all of Georgia.

          Everything is better with chocolate! All Things Chocolate and More are the best chocolatiers serving the patrons of Richmond Hill and its surrounding areas since 2011. Whether you are searching for some simple milk chocolate or cream-filled cannolis, they’ve got you covered. Speaking of covered, did we mention their chocolate covered strawberries, cream cheese, and bacon? The team at All Things Chocolate always keep a stash of free samples ready that will have you begging for more.

          From crispy fried green tomatoes to good old Po’ Boys, Melody’s Coastal Café has the classics any respectable southerner could ever want. Ohio natives, Ron and Kelli Lash, have truly proven themselves in creating delicious southern cuisine, so much so, that it has been dubbed a local institution.

          Along the winding back roads of Highway 17, Bubba’s Bistro is a hidden treasure of Richmond Hill. Owners Mark and Corie Thomas have blended their rich southern family recipes with jazzed-up culinary presentations to create their unique bistro. Similar to a rural European brasserie, you’ll enjoy tasting iconic southern favorites and inventive meals. And we can debate if you’ll find a better Shrimp and Grits experience anywhere else in the low country.

          So, keep these three local establishments in mind when you start thinking about a place to eat. We feel certain you’ll be satisfied with your choice.

Photos courtesy of All Things Chocolate and More, Melody's Coastal Cafe and Bubba's Bistro.