A friend and I are going to Atlanta for a couple of days and she asked me to find a good restaurant or two for us to try while we are there. I thought I would see if anyone here knew of someplace they would recommend. In terms of cusine, anything goes, although Italian, Thai, and Greek are favorites. If you have some idea of price range, I would appreciate that info, too.
Thanks!!!
If you’re going to be anywhere near the Emory University or Virginia Highlands areas, you must eat at Everybody’s Pizza. I’ve had pizza in many, many cities and restaurants, and Everybody’s is the best I’ve ever had.
I haven’t lived in Atlanta in ten years or so, so I’m sure most of my other recommendations would be out of date (Frijoleros, Cha Gio); others will no doubt check in with more.
There was a thread a while back … here it is … where I couldn’t remember the name of a diner that has become a “favorite” (we’ve eaten there three times on trips through Atlanta on our way to Florida), and I have since remembered the name of the diner. The place is called “Gorin’s”. This site appears to offer reviews of restaurants, and lists the address as 1170 Peachtree Rd. N.E. It has a shiny silver exterior; I don’t remember it being fine dining, but it’s good for a diner. I remember that they serve “real” cherry and/or vanilla Cokes. (I’m not from the south and wasn’t familiar with this concoction.)
If you don’t go to Gorin’s, or you don’t get any more replies, maybe they other thread will work.
As an aside, Brynda, could I email you about something?
The Euclid Avenue Yacht Club in Little 5 Points used to have the best hamburgers I’ve ever had. I know the place is still open, cause there was a post mentioning it not too long ago, but I don’t know if the burgers are as good as they used to be.
Alton Brown agrees with me that Swallow in the Hollow is a great place for barbecue, the native dish of the South. (Note: restaurant name is properly pronounced “Swaller in the Holler.”
Also, near the airport there’s the Barbecue Kitchen.. I think the extensive side menu of classic Southern veggies (marinated cucumbers and onions, turnip greens, mmmm) are better than the barbecue.
Best deal on Italian is The Roasted Garlic. Their $15 a plate dishes taste like something you’d expect at a $50 a plate restaurant.
Finally, [“http://www.marymacs.com/”]Mary Mac’s Tea Room is kinda touristy compared to the rest, but does great Southern food. It’s just north of downtown Atlanta.
Flying Biscuits is near Candler Park where they serve humungous southern-style biscuits for a dollar. Flaky goodness and utterly delectable. When the Atkins backlash hits they’ll reap the benefits. They serve great shortstack buckwheat pancakes and the like in their on-site bakery, so try those, too.
Most buffet style restaurants are old hat, but the one inside the Dekalb Farmer’s Market in Decatur has a nice one. I stopped off there yesterday and got two huge ears of fresh (I mean fresh, the Market is in the same building) boiled corn for 40 cents each, and a lamb and vegetable samosa for 75 cents each. Most of the other food is sold for $3.99 a pound and the quality overall is simply terrific. Dishes can be as exotic as Haitian Curry Goat to the time they served haggis to comfort foods like . Nice selection of meat and vegetarian dishes. Bonus for those keeping kosher: since most of the staff are African Muslims, they almost never serve pork. You may have to inquire about
No trip to Atlanta is complete without a visit to the world’s greasiest greasy spoon, The Varsity.
I’m at least ten years behind the times on trendy restaurants. The above is for good eatin’ food, not ambiance.
Oops. “You may have to inquire about specific Jewish dietary laws, though.”
It’s been awhile since I’ved lived in Atlanta, and I have a feeling my old eatin’ places aren’t around anymore. Like the Majestic Diner. Or Tortillas on Ponce (I actually know that place isn’t around anymore, but it still deserves a shout-out for the quesidillas alone). Or Junior’s on Georgia Tech’s campus. Or the Hunan Palace on Monroe (across from Grady High) or the Rice Bowl at Lindbergh Plaza.
(Atlantians: Remember “Eats” on Ponce de Leon? That place was the bomb. I think it’s gone too, isn’t it? And what about Gladys Knight Chicken and Waffles? Is that place still around?)
I used to live in New Jersey where you can find a good slice of pizza, but IMHO the Mellow Mushroom still has the BEST pizza EVER. EVER I TELL YOU! There’s one on Monroe Drive (across from Grady High…can you tell where I used to live during college?) and there’s another one in Dekalb County, heading towards Stone Mountain. They also have delightful soft pretzels coated in sugar and cinnamon.
Mick’s is also a favorite of mine, although I haven’t been there in years.
Outside of the city proper, there’s a seafood restaurant called Papa Dos (sp?). I believe it’s in Marietta. My parents practically live there, the food is that good.
I still get really sad every time I remember that Junior’s is gone.
Tell me about it. I was just thinking about how I would go to Junior’s for breakfast when I had a big test to prepare for. I’d walk up that big-ass hill, in pre-dawn darkness, just for the french toast and sausage links.
And the fried fish was also good.
Majestic Diner is still there. That’s an institution. I have never set foot in the place.
Junior’s – haven’t heard of it.
Hunan Palace and The Rice Bowl I believe are still there – there’s a couple of each.
Eats is still on Ponce.
Gladys Knight Chicken and Waffles? Sadly, Gone With the Wind. We used to go to Club Nikki’s or 559 in the West End and eat there.
Mellow Mushroom. I was just there Tuesday!
Mick’s is okay.
Papa Dos?? Haven’t heard of it.
When I was 13 my father had to travel to Atlanta on business. It was over the summer, so we all went as sort of a mini-vacation.
I remember eating at a very fancy restaurant called The Abbey. Is it still around? I remember there was a harpist and the server wrapped up my mother’s Beef Wellington leftovers in tinfoil so it was shaped like a swan.
They also made a Caesar salad for us at the table. I don’t eat eggs, and at the time, raw eggs were part of the dressing, so the waiter made a special salad for me without the eggs, except he left out the bacon too. 
the varsity.
**ivylass. ** The Abbey is another famous midtown restaurant. It’s not that fancy, though, but they have the live music and everything.
Covered it, dude.
Mary Macs: Upscale Southern Meat’n’Three
Silk: Upscale fusion, tapas, sushi
Grace 1730: Upscale American
Chowbaby: A Mongolian Barbecue
Varsity: The only real one, next to Georgia Tech. Get the fried peach pie and the frozen orange.
There are three Ruth’s Chris’ Steakhouses in or near Atlanta.
The Longhorn Steaks chain got its’ start in Atlanta.
Surin’s: Thai
I remember we dressed up and it seemed very fancy, at least to my 13 year old eyes. I’m glad to know it’s still around.
To be honest, the only thing I’ve ever eaten there was apple pie ala mode. And it was pretty good.
It’s a wrambling wreck thang. You wouldn’t understand. 
I don’t think the Hunan Palace is there anymore, because the last time I was around those parts a country-western joint (or something that looked like one) was in its place. And the last time I was around the Lindbergh Shopping Mall, it looked like a straight-up bomb had hit it. Nothing was there except for that Waffle House. But maybe it was just had a bad dream?
Good. Maybe I’ll pick up some jerk chicken the next time in town.
I had never considered eating chicken and waffles together until that place went up. I’m sorry to hear they are no longer. But the thought of eating at Club Nikki’s does not sound appetizing. It doesn’t seem like strippers and food go together in a sanitary way. But maybe they do.
It’s good eatin’, but I’ve only gone when someone else was picking up the tab.
Another recommendation: Paschal’s. There’s a place in the airport, and I believe that there’s a stand-alone restaurant downtown. Great Southern food. (And the place has historical [url=“http://www.soulofamerica.com/cityfldr2/atlanta20.html”]significance.)
That would be: significance.
No, no, you’re right. I was thinking apparently thinking of the Hunan Garden Restaurant.
Hee. You must be whooshing me, but we would eat at Chicken and Waffles after we hit the clubs. I like legs, breasts and thighs but everything in its proper place.
I will always miss the original Paschal’s off MLK, the one where Dr. King and SCLC and SNCC had their meetings in.