We’re kicking off our “series” in our own backyard, Crabapple. Crabapple is a loosely defined area on the border of Roswell and Milton. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you pass the red roofed silos that served as grain storage for a local farm once owned by the Hughes family. Locals were so smart to preserve these silos and have even created a local park so visitors can see old photos and enjoy the silos up close. I’ve included some interesting links at the bottom of this post if you care to learn about some of the locals for whom the roads have been named. They include two major league baseball players!
We took a long walk up Crabapple Road, passed the silos and entered what is now called “downtown Milton”. City Hall, a small amphitheater and lots of shops and restaurants make up this tasteful area. There are beautiful neighborhoods behind the shops and many of the homes have those gorgeous front porch swings that I’ve always wanted.
We ate lunch at Nest Cafe. There is a second location in downtown Alpharetta-another neighborhood we’ll be visiting! The restaurant is charming and the menu has a lot to offer. We started with beignets which were fantastic-how can they be bad?! I had a made-to-order omelet that was good. Leah had a smoothie that she liked and my son and husband had breakfast sandwiches that we very tasty. My youngest daughter had the “Nest Salad”. I think this was the winner as it was covered with fruit, veggies and sunflower seeds.
There are lots of great boutiques as well. We wandered through stores selling home decor, clothing and art. I especially love the consignment store, Twisted Thread and it’s neighbor Indigo Home & Design.
Helpful Links:
- Nap Rucker-Brooklyn Dodgers Pitcher, mayor of Roswell
- Johnny Rucker-“The Crabapple Comet”, played for New York Giants, featured on cover of Life magazine April 1, 1940
- Great article about Crabapple, old and new
Additional Information:
The area is filled with eateries. If you cannot find something to eat here, you’re not looking! There are cafes serving quick bites and fully-staffed restaurants. Some of my favorites include Vintage Pizzeria, Grand Champion BBQ (can’t speak for the meat, but the mac and cheese is killer) and my numbero uno, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails! We’ve been going to Milton’s since we moved to Roswell when none of this area was developed. Back then, it was Mr. John B’s and the restaurant was housed in the original home of John Broadwell who developed prize-winning Broadwell Big Boll cotton (aka Double-Jointed Cotton). Milton’s is pricey and, quite honestly, as a vegetarian, there aren’t a lot of options. However, the service is impeccable and the setting is second to none. Perhaps they’ll elaborate on their veggie options one day soon.