Well, it's been a busy year on the dining scene in Fayette this year. Restaurants have opened and closed; trends have been started and dining choices have expanded.

December finds Foodie in a reflective mood. As I've looked through the past year's experiences, I've decided to bestow my own little list of Fayette's best to the readers as my gift.

The list is, of course, highly arbitrary and based on my own experiences. If you've got a different opinion, be sure and drop an e-mail or a line, and I'll print your picks next month. But until then, here's Foodie's Best Of Fayette:

* Best Restaurant — (tie) Village Cafe and City Cafe, Fayetteville. Both of these restaurants offer a taste of Atlanta in suburbia. Both pride themselves on fresh ingredients and unique menu offerings. I just can't decide.

* Best new restaurant — City Cafe. See above.

* Best barbecue — DuRoc, Fayetteville. The stew and `cue are sublime.

* Best Chinese — Golden Chopstix, Fayetteville. They've been doing it right for several years.

* Best Mexican — El Parian, Fayetteville. Fayette County exploded with a proliferation of Mexican restaurants this year, but for my money, this is still the best.

* Best chain restaurant — Chili's, Peachtree City. This new addition to the dining scene offers good food at a reasonable price.

* Best new spin on an old favorite — Rosemary Cafe, Peachtree City. The new chef is doing wonders with fresh seafood and pastas. If you haven't been lately, go now.

* Best burger — Fuddrucker's, Peachtree City. The huge burgers are cooked to perfection.

* Best soup — Atlanta Bread Company, Fayetteville. The selections change daily and offer perfect comfort food on a cold winter day.

* Best bagel — Manhattan Bagel, Peachtree City. The closest thing to a real New York Bagel in the county.

* Best bread — (tie) Atlanta Bread Company and City Cafe. Both restaurants feature good chewy bread and a variety of choices.

* Best sandwich — Publix deli, Peachtree City and Fayetteville. The sandwiches are all made to order and are little slices of heaven.

* Best to-go meals — Kroger, Peachtree City and Fayetteville. A wide selection of prepared foods gives the harried commuter a chance for a home-cooked meal with little preparation time.

* Best pizza and best Italian food like Mama used to cook — Johnny's Pizza and Subs. The pizzas are delicious and the pasta sauce reminds me of Italian relatives cooking the sauce on Sunday mornings.

* Best restaurant that I still wish was in business — Ventura's Pizza, Fayetteville. Please re-open and bring that great pizza back to town.

What do you think, Fayette County? Tell me your choices, and we'll see how close I am to the pulse of the dining public next month.

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