I’ll refrain from including the whole metro Atlanta area, but I refuse to be limited to Tucker proper just because that’s the post office that delivers my mail – another few hundred yards and it’d be in the Norcross mail delivery area, and such boundaries are pretty meaningless.
American/Homestyle: Norcross Station Cafe. Fairly straightforward food, with a decent range of options, makes it a good place for groups of people, particularly since they deal pretty well with kids. A good thing, since part of the appeal is that it’s in the old Norcross train station, and is decorated with train paraphernalia. On a weekday, you’ll typically get two or three freight trains roaring by a mere 25 or 30 feet away – and at dinner time, Amtrak’s Crescent rolls through on its way from New Orleans to D.C. The ribs are decent, the chicken fingers much better than most, the burgers, steaks, and such are quite acceptable. My wife’s a fan of their fried onion strings. Not fine dining, and there’s better quality food just across the street at Dominick’s, but worth a visit, particularly with out-of-town guests. Food quality has been a little bit spotty of late, however.
Runner-up in this category would be the Blue Ribbon Grill at Northlake. It’s not cool, it’s not hip, and it’s not retro. It’s also not bad at all, and you almost never have to wait for a table, which counts for quite a bit in this market.
Italian: Dominick’s. Across the street from Norcross Station in downtown Norcross. Family-style Italian done pretty well – obscenely large portions, the usual pandering to American sensibilities and notions of what Italian food is supposed to be, but generally good food well prepared.
Mexican: Frontera. I’m sure there are better Mexican places around the Tucker/Norcross area, since the Hispanic population in the area is booming, but as chains go, it’s not bad – I do like that it’s a local chain, and I see the owner (Norberto Sanchez) in our usual location (the one at Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Britt Road) fairly regularly. I only wish that the carnitas weren’t quite so hit-and-miss; sometimes they’re fabulous, sometimes they’re just good, and on one or two occasions, they’ve been downright bad. Everything else seems to be fairly consistently good to very good. In default of someplace else, I have no problem recommending it – I’ve probably eaten there 200 times in the ten years I’ve worked and lived in this area, and typically go at least once a week with the family these days.
Pizza: Mellow Mushroom. A chain (see Charleston info above), but at least one that started out locally, with at least three locations in the Tucker/Norcross/Lilburn area. If you don’t want Domino’s, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut, or Donato’s, this is your only real option.
Seafood: by default, I guess Pappadeaux, though it pains me to say it. I just don’t know of anyplace that’s any better that can be considered to be in Tucker or Norcross. Slocum’s qualifies, I suppose, and would get the nod from me at least within the more limited range of seafood items they offer. Plus the steaks are excellent.
Since others have added categories:
Thai: My preference is for Siamese Basil, since it’s a great value, is a relaxed, informal place, and is never crowded. And the food is uniformly excellent. Others would argue for Thai Restaurant of Norcross, right across South Norcross-Tucker Road. You won’t go wrong with either.
