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You Should Try These Burgers From Restaurants Around Atlanta

2024-03-22T12:42:03-04:00

The General Muir

Atlanta restaurants are loaded with great burgers, from double-stack cheeseburgers to burgers topped with kimchi, jerk sauce, or crispy pastrami

Atlantans love a great burger and are fiercely loyal to the restaurants serving their favorites, sometimes refusing to venture out and try other versions of the meat patty sandwich. That’s a shame, too, because Atlanta and its sprawling metropolitan area offer a wide variety of burgers, from thick, single beef patty classics topped with cheese, lettuce, and tomato to monstrous meaty creations crammed between a grilled cheese sandwich or topped with kimchi, jerk sauce, or crispy pastrami. Here are a just few outstanding burgers to try around Atlanta right now.

Don’t see a favorite burger listed here? Send the details to atlanta@eater.com for consideration on the next update.

An Eater’s Guide to Dining and Drinking Around Atlanta

2024-03-21T12:06:56-04:00

Gigi’s Italian Kitchen in Atlanta’s Candler Park neighborhood. | Sydney Foster

A highly opinionated guide on Atlanta’s best restaurant and dining options

Despite having the largest metropolitan area in the Southeast at just over 6 million people, and the world’s busiest airport (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International), Atlanta is mostly overlooked by outsiders obsessed with Southern food and culture. Charleston has Lowcountry cooking and scads of storied historic buildings along its streets. Nashville has hot chicken and its famed music row. And New Orleans gave birth to the American cocktail movement.

Atlanta doesn’t feature the same culinary buzz associated with those aforementioned destinations, but residents of the city and its sprawling metropolitan area know the secret behind the dining scene lies within the sheer diversity of restaurants and the fostering of ATL’s fierce entrepreneurial spirit. There’s more to Atlanta food than Southern fare. And now Michelin is even taking note, with the debut of the first ever Atlanta dining guide in October 2023.

Welcome to ATL

As Delta Air Lines in Atlanta blossomed in the 1960s, and more businesses set up shop in ATL, the populations of the city and its burgeoning metropolitan region have boomed. This flood of people from elsewhere led to the unfair reputation of Atlanta being a “transplant city” without any culinary culture of its own. It’s true that there isn’t one ancient, unique dish locals point to as a mascot of sorts. Instead, Atlanta offers myriad examples of foodways and fusion foods. The global pantry influences many restaurants in Atlanta, as people from all over the world move here to take advantage of job opportunities in the tech and creative fields and north Georgia’s temperate climate. The latter also means Atlanta offers a robust outdoor dining scene and a patio season that often begins in March and stretches into early December.

As for food, expect to find restaurants around Atlanta serving everything from Filipino, Indian, food from countries throughout the African continent, and Sichuan to soul, Southern, and Colombian dishes and plenty of great barbecue and wings. With that, welcome to ATL or the A. Just please don’t call it “Hotlanta”.

Where to Start on Eater Atlanta's Best of Maps

Owens and Hull

Hot Restaurants: These are the hottest restaurant’s right now around Atlanta. The list includes barbecue from Owens and Hull, upscale Mexican from Pata Negra Mezcaleria and Punk Foodie’s pop-up incubator at Ponce City Market.

Essential Restaurants: Updated quarterly, the Eater 38 is chock-full of excellent dining recommendations. The list includes longtime Atlanta staples, restaurants with loyal followings, and cult favorites locals love. The Eater 38 reflects Atlanta’s impressive diversity. This includes restaurants like Gullah- and Lowcountry fare from Virgil’s; takes on classic Italian-American dishes at Gigi’s; traditional French and Alsatian cuisine from Cafe Alsace; the epic tasting menu from fine dining stalwart Bacchanalia; Atlanta-proud Southern Belle, and James Beard award winning restaurants the Deer and the Dove and Miller Union.

Barbecue: Barbecue is a very big deal in Atlanta and, deservedly, requires its very own essentials list. While there are smokehouses all over the metro area, Atlanta’s best-of barbecue lists have been dominated by two names: Fox Bros., featuring Texas-style brisket at beef ribs, and Heirloom Market, which mixes Southern-American and Korean flavors. But this list is filled with tons of really great barbecue joints.

Classic Restaurants: While Atlanta’s newer restaurants tend to capture most of the spotlight, these classic dining institutions continue to stand the test of time.

Southern: Which foods fall under the “Southern” umbrella varies by region in the South. Check out this list of Southern restaurants throughout Atlanta. There’s also Southern restaurant staples like the meat and three and Atlanta diners.

Soul Food: What’s the difference between soul food and Southern food? The phrase “soul food” was first coined in the 1960s, seemingly meant to describe the honest-to-goodness, comforting foods often prepared at home by African-American Southerners, with many dishes rooted in survival and the African diaspora. Here are a few restaurants to try.

Restaurants Near the Airport: Whether you’re a local looking to grab a bite in the area or a weary traveler heading off the highway or staying in a hotel, great food can be found at restaurants in cities and neighborhoods around Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Pop-Ups: Atlanta’s restaurant pop-up scene is one of the best in the country and serving some of the most creative and innovative dishes found anywhere in the city and metro area. Here’s where to start.

Matt Wong

Folks come in early for Home Grown’s signature comfy chicken biscuit.

Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants: Despite its reputation for wings and barbecue, Atlanta also features a thriving vegetarian and vegan dining scene. Start with these lists of Atlanta vegetarian and vegan restaurants.

Wings: Atlanta knows wings, and there are plenty of great places around town offering flats, drums, and even that tiny extra part that some people eat as if it actually held meat. These Atlanta restaurants are leading the wing pack.

Beer: Now that Georgia’s beer laws have been brought into the 21st century, drinkers can actually buy beers directly from breweries, by the glass in taprooms or up to a case to go. Here’s a list of the best breweries to check out right now.

Cocktails: Despite numerous hurdles caused by the pandemic, bars are slowly coming back online in Atlanta. Here are a few of Atlanta’s newest drinking destinations and libation pop-ups.

Hotel Bars: As more Atlanta hotels focus attention on upping the drinks game, greater emphasis is being placed on cocktail and wine lists meant to attract both locals and ATL tourists. Grab drinks at one of these hotel bars around Atlanta.

Breakfast: Atlanta isn’t lacking in restaurants serving up a variety of takes on the morning meal. Eater’s breakfast map is filled with some of metro Atlanta’s best bets for biscuits, pancakes, bacon, eggs, and, most importantly, coffee to kick the day off right.

Brunch: In a city like Atlanta, where folks like to have a variety of dining options on the table, there’s one surefire way to remind people that ATL is indeed a Southern city — all-day brunch restaurants. Check out these restaurants serving brunch all day and Atlanta restaurants with fresh new versions of brunch.

Coffee: This city’s love affair with coffee means there are plenty of quality independent shops to seek out around Atlanta. Check out these essential Atlanta coffee shops.

Fried Chicken: Atlanta isn’t lacking great fried chicken at restaurants, from platters served at southern and soul food restaurants that have been in business for decades, to original takes by relative newcomers on ATL’s fried chicken scene.

Busy Bee Cafe

LGBTQ Bars: Atlanta is the capital of the queer South, and the city’s got the gay bars to prove it. Here are just a few LGBTQ bars and restaurants to consider around Atlanta.

Patios: Atlanta’s lengthy warm season sees the city enjoying outdoor living and al fresco dining nearly ten months out of the year. That also means Atlanta is full of great patios like these. Consider these rooftop patios with serious views, a covered patio for when Atlanta’s weather is less than pleasant, or these patios offering outdoor fireplaces and fire pits.

Neighborhoods to Know

Blandtown/Underwood Hills/Westside Provisions

This burgeoning area of town includes a slew of great restaurants found at spots like Westside Provisions District, such as West Egg Cafe, Cooks and Soldiers, and Taqueria Del Sol, and emerging complexes like the Interlock and Star Metals on Howell Mill Road. But get beyond this dense dining district in northwest Atlanta to check out other award-winning restaurants like Miller Union, Star Provisions and Bacchanalia, and Twisted Soul Cookhouse and Pours, and the area’s bustling brewery scene in Blandtown and Underwood Hills. Drop by the new food hall, Chattahoochee Food Works. Maybe consider ending an evening out at the iconic blues bar Northside Tavern.

Ryan Fleisher

Mission and Market in Buckhead

Buckhead

This neighborhood isn’t as trendy as it once was, but Buckhead is still home to some of the best high-end restaurants in Atlanta. Atlas, located in the St. Regis hotel, is high-priced, but the exquisite menu makes it a refuge for those who miss traditional fine dining. After receiving a fresh coat of paint, Gerry Klaskala’s Aria feels updated while continuing to serve well-executed European cuisine mixed with Southern ingredients. Then there’s the newer additions to the Buckhead dining scene like all-day restaurant and wine bar Le Bon Nosh, Mission & Market, and Little Alley Steak. Consider Storico Fresco for classic pasta dishes and plenty of Italian wine.

Ryan Fleisher

The charola platter with crab legs, langoustines, shrimp, clams, and fried fish at Mariscos La Riviera Nayarit in Norcross

Buford Highway

Buford Highway isn’t a single neighborhood or its own municipality. It’s a four-lane highway stretching from the tip of Brookhaven just north of the city of Atlanta to Duluth in the northern suburban county of Gwinnett filled with restaurants and markets representing nearly two dozen countries from around the globe. In other words, Buford Highway is a gourmand’s paradise featuring foods from nations like Vietnam and Korea to Mexico and Colombia. Deciding where and what to eat along Buford Highway can be overwhelming so, Eater compiled this list of essential restaurants to try. It’s just the tip of the culinary iceberg along this road. There are also upward of 20 marisquerias (Mexican seafood restaurants) around metro Atlanta to explore, too. Make sure to explore the restaurants found on streets adjacent to Buford Highway, including the food court at Atlanta Chinatown and Plaza Fiesta.

Ryan Fleisher

The Iberian Pig in Decatur

Decatur

Located directly east of the Atlanta city limits, this municipality boasts a charming downtown and some of the metro area’s finest bars and restaurants all within a few blocks. An ideal evening starts at Kimball House for some of the best cocktails and the best oyster selection in town, or at Victory Sandwich Bar for light snacks, beers, and Jack and Coke slushies. Grab a seat at James Beard award-winning restaurant the Deer and the Dove for crispy rabbit legs fried in fermented buttermilk and grilled octopus and shrimp terrine. Or dig into Italian food at the White Bull just off of Decatur Square. For Spanish tapas pop over to Iberian Pig on the square. Head to critically acclaimed restaurant Chai Pani for Indian street food or dine on pub grub paired with beer at Brick Store Pub. Maybe consider this food crawl as your introduction to the Decatur food scene.

Ryan Fleisher

Fireworks display at Centennial Park in downtown Atlanta

Downtown

Downtown Atlanta is home to the city’s biggest tourist attractions like the Center for Civil and Human Rights, College Football Hall of Fame, and Georgia Aquarium, not to mention the towering transformer that is Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the revamped home of the Atlanta Hawks, State Farm Arena. While the area caters mostly to office dwellers, college students from Georgia State, and tourists, there are plenty of off-the-beaten-path dining options like Dua Vietamese, Aamar Indian Cuisine, and Mediterranean dishes from Aviva by Kameel. For those looking for dinner and a view, make a reservation at the iconic SunDial Restaurant or rotating rooftop restaurant Polaris. Trader Vic’s in the Hilton Downtown is a must-visit for those seeking stiff tiki drinks like the Fogcutter or original Mai Tai.

Ryan Fleisher

Shrimp and crab gravy at Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen

East Point/College Park/Hapeville (Tri-Cities)

Newcomers to Atlanta, as well as those who work in or travel to the city, may have heard of the towns of East Point, College Park, and Hapeville referred to as the “ATL Airport District.” But longtime residents still call it the Tri-Cities. Its namesake high school and assortment of landmarks were made famous on albums by former East Point residents André 3000 and Big Boi, the duo behind Outkast. The Tri-Cities are filled with some of metro Atlanta’s best kept secrets. There’s Hattie Marie’s Texas-style barbecue, Bole Ethiopian, and Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen and Bar in College Park. Volare brings Southern-French fancy to Hapeville. Check out this neighborhood guide for more great restaurant options written by longtime East Point resident and Atlanta journalist Mike Jordan.

Ticonderoga Club

Ticonderoga Club inside Krog Street Market

Inman Park

Atlanta’s first streetcar suburb has been home to some quality dining options for quite some time, but the neighborhood has exploded with development in recent years. Krog Street Market, with its food stalls and craft beer bar, is almost always packed at peak hours. Krog Street Market features a few Atlanta dining scene veterans, including chef Todd Richards and his soul food stall Soul: Food and Culture and the team behind Ticonderoga Club, serving a mix of Asian, Southern, and New England fare paired with creative cocktails. Elsewhere, BoccaLupo turns out Atlanta’s best pasta, and Sotto Sotto is a go-to for multi-course Italian feasts. Diners will forget about Chipotle forever after one bite at Bell Street Burritos, which also has locations in Buckhead and Tucker. And, tucked away on Lake Avenue is a quaint breakfast and lunch spot named Julianna’s serving Hungarian-style crepes made from an old family recipe.

Ryan Fleisher

Staplehouse Market includes a daily menu of sandwiches, bowls, light bites, and pastries, including its famed chicken liver tart

Old Fourth Ward

No Atlanta neighborhood has seen more change due to BeltLine-related growth than the Old Fourth Ward. O4W is home to Ponce City Market, which features restaurants and food stalls from Atlanta chefs such as Anne Quatrano, Linton Hopkins, and Hector Santiago in the market’s Central Food Hall. Further up the road on Ponce, the Hotel Clermont includes fine dining at Tiny Lou’s above where the ladies dance at the Clermont Lounge. Further east, check out the restaurants and bars within the Edgewood Avenue dining district, including a location of Slutty Vegan, Edgewood Pizza, Our Bar ATL, Joystick Gamebar, and Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room & Ping Pong Emporium. Pop by Staplehouse for a bottle of wine and incredible dishes from chef Ryan Smith and his team. There are also a slew of dining options all along the Eastside Beltline trail from Ponce City Market to Krog Street Market, and beyond. But, be sure to seek out other spots around the area, including Glide Pizza at Studioplex, sandwich shop and market LottaFrutta, and restaurants in neighboring Poncey-Highland like Southern Belle, Fishmonger, and El Ponce.

Ryan Fleisher

Little Bear on Georgia Avenue in Summerhill.

Summerhill

A neighborhood founded by former enslaved people just after the Civil War, later becoming home to the majority of the city’s Jewish population in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Summerhill has long been a place for Atlantans to strike out on their own and open successful businesses. That entrepreneurial spirit continues today with the latest generation of restaurant and business owners here in the neighborhood and along its burgeoning Main Street: Georgia Avenue. Head to Summerhill for clever takes on Thai food at Talat Market or chef Jarrett Stieber tapping into his Jewish roots with hints of Sichuan spice at Little Bear, along with a variety of casual restaurants serving pizza, fried chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, and barbecue. There’s beer and bites and even a beer garden from brewery Halfway Crooks, soft serve ice cream at Big Softie, and coffee and fresh pastries form Little Tart Bakeshop. New restaurants open here every year, including Mexican restaurant D Boca N Boca and Southern National from former One Flew South chef Duane Nutter and restaurateur Reginald “Reggie” Washington.

West End/Westview

Surrounding I-20 on Atlanta’s southwest side lie the neighborhoods of West End and Westview, home to Atlanta’s historic Black colleges Clark Atlanta University, Spelman, and Morehouse. The neighborhoods are filled with plenty of great dining options, including many of the city’s best vegan and vegetarian restaurants like Soul Vegetarian as well as casual spots like D Cafe and Slutty Vegan for its line-inducing meatless burgers. Check out bar and restaurant Bogg’s Social and Supply. The Lee + White complex in West End is anchored by several local food and beverage purveyors, such Wild Heaven Beer and El Tesoro, Best End Brewing, Hop City Craft Beer and Wine’s Boxcar gastropub, and locations of ASW Distillery and Monday Night Brewing.

Reservations to Make in Advance

Popular restaurants Aria, Spring, Bacchanalia, Miller Union, Gunshow, Lazy Betty, Lucian Books and Wine, and edomae-style sushi restaurant Mujo all require advanced booking. Consider one of these restaurants when looking to splurge on a night out on the town.

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Where to Find Atlanta’s Best Cantonese Food

2024-03-21T11:35:51-04:00

Clams in black bean sauce at Oriental Pearl | Susie Chow

All the classics from barbecued meats to stir-fried greens and whole steamed fish

Just as the culinary landscape of the United States varies from the deep-fried comforts of the South to the fresh, seafood-centric dishes of the Pacific Northwest, Chinese cuisine showcases a vast diversity of cooking styles across the country. One of the better known styles is Cantonese cuisine, originating from China’s southern Guangdong Province. Renowned for its understated elegance, the hallmark of Cantonese cooking lies in its emphasis on fresh ingredients, mild seasonings, and subtle refined flavors; a stark contrast to the bold, pungent, and spicy flavors of its northern counterpart, Sichuan cuisine. Cantonese cuisine’s nuanced style is further enhanced through the delicate techniques of steaming and stir-frying, which accentuate the natural flavors of the ingredients.

Curious about where to find the best Cantonese food in Atlanta? Here are seven tried-and-true Cantonese restaurants in Atlanta.

Oriental Pearl

5399 New Peachtree Rd, Chamblee

Oriental Pearl is also known for its extensive Cantonese menu with a wide range of dishes, from all your favorite dim sum to Cantonese-style filet mignon and salt and pepper squid. One dish that is particularly noteworthy is the clams in black bean sauce: tender, juicy clams are stir-fried with a rich, aromatic black bean sauce that’s salty, earthy, and umami. Generous amounts of garlic and ginger brighten up the dish for a quintessentially Cantonese experience.

Canton House

4825 Buford Hwy, Chamblee

Canton House, a longstanding bastion of Cantonese cuisine in Atlanta, is known for its dim sum. However, the restaurant’s Cantonese roots also shine in one of their most popular signature dishes: lobster with ginger and green onions. In true Cantonese style, succulent lobster tails are simply flash fried in garlic, ginger, and green onions to bring out the natural flavors of the lobster for a distinctive Cantonese flavor profile.

Bobo Gardens

5181 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville

Bobo Gardens is a longstanding and cherished Cantonese spot in Atlanta and particularly excels in one of Cantonese cuisine’s most revered dishes — stir-fried greens. Cantonese restaurants are often judged by how well they can execute this simple yet delicate dish. Here, the stir-fried snow pea shoots with garlic excel, the water spinach — which was, until recently, banned in Georgia due to its invasive nature, and could only be ordered off-menu.

Susie Chow

Water spinach and garlic

Ming’s BBQ

5150 Buford Hwy NE, Doraville

Ming’s BBQ in Asian Square is known as “Atlanta’s Original Cantonese BBQ” and is revered for all their barbecued meats and classic Cantonese fare. Order the roast duck with rice for a classic Hong Kong-style Cantonese lunch, as well as the char siu rice. Char siu is typically pork shoulder or loin marinated in a blend of honey, five-spice powder, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil, then slow-roasted to achieve a distinct smoky flavor. The meat is tender and juicy, and served sliced with a sweet soy glaze that’s unmistakably Cantonese.

Susie Chow

Char siu rice at Ming’s BBQ

Susie Chow

Roast duck rice at Ming’s BBQ

Hong Kong BBQ

5385 New Peachtree Rd, Atlanta

Susie Chow

Dry beef chow fun at Hong Kong BBQ

Located in the Chinatown food court, Hong Kong BBQ offers an assortment of classic Hong Kong-style Cantonese dishes (along with some Malaysian favorites). The dry beef chow fun at Hong Kong BBQ particularly stands out as a popular Cantonese dish reminiscent of the bustling dai pai dongs (outdoor food stalls) across Hong Kong. The secret to this dish’s distinctive charred flavor lies in the use of a super hot wok, which imparts the coveted “wok hei” (breath of the wok) flavor to the dish. This smoky essence adds a distinct depth and character to the dish that’s not easy to replicate outside of Asia.

Best BBQ Cantonese Cuisine

2300 Pleasant Hill Rd, Duluth

Susie Chow

Siu yuk roast pork at Best BBQ

Embracing the essence of a classic Hong Kong diner, the offerings at Best BBQ are a true homage to traditional Cantonese cuisine, particularly with their standout siu yuk (roast pork). This dish is celebrated for its exceptionally crispy skin achieved through slow-roasting scored pork belly seasoned with salt, sugar, and five-spice powder. The resulting meat is moist and flavorful, and with the perfect balance of sweet and savory — one of Hong Kong’s most beloved dishes.

Royal China Restaurant

3960 Venture Dr, Duluth

Known as one of the best dim sum restaurants in Atlanta, Royal China offers a classic Hong Kong restaurant experience with its on point decor (think gold chandeliers and comparable bling), and a notably comprehensive menu. Optimized for large functions and wedding banquets, Royal China delivers one of the most quintessential Cantonese dishes — steamed whole fish. Exceptionally fresh, the fish is delicately steamed, whole, with just ginger, scallions, and soy sauce to preserve the texture and natural flavors. This is a true Cantonese classic done to perfection — with a genuine Cantonese restaurant atmosphere to boot.

Anonymous Manifesto Alleges Misconduct at Atlanta Steakhouse Marcel

2024-03-20T15:44:30-04:00

Marcel dining room | Marcel

The accusations against leadership at the restaurant include alleged racism, sexual harassment, and safety violations

An anonymous individual has posted a detailed online manifesto accusing Westside steakhouse Marcel and its parent company Ford Fry’s Rocket Farm Restaurants of several serious transgressions that allegedly took place at the restaurant.

The website, which is not attributed to a specific person or group, detailed these allegations, which range from accusations of racism toward nonwhite staff members, inadequate pay for workers, sexual harassment, and corrupt management, in a more than 4,000-word blog titled the Manifeste du Restaurant Marcel. The document also includes photos, which they allege show food safety violations, among other issues.

The document claims that Marcel employees had attempted to address these concerns internally, but had been largely ignored by human resources.

“We even created a petition, with many staff signatures, that was ignored. Sometimes, we were met with appeasements meant to pacify dire concerns, but more often, we were met with deliberate apathy,” the blog reads. “Human Resources would prefer these issues were handled silently and compliantly and therein lies our core issue- racism, corruption, abuse all transcend the confines of private discussion.”

Eater Atlanta reached out to Marcel and Rocket Farm Restaurants for comment; the restaurant group said in a statement that it is reviewing the allegations. Rocket Farm Restaurants’ statement is below:

“We are saddened by these allegations. Our people are the backbone of our company and we’ve always been steadfast in our commitment to fostering a safe and fair work environment for all. We are following up on every accusation to confirm we understand each concern to protect our team. From what we know so far, we can confidently say that many of these points are inaccurate and any concerns we were alerted to were previously addressed. Our team is our family, and we take these matters incredibly seriously. As we actively discuss with our people, we will do everything possible to ensure every voice is heard.”

Marcel opened at 1170 Howell Mill Road in 2015. At the time, it was Atlanta-based chef Ford Fry’s (Superica, The Optimist, Little Sparrow, etc.) eighth restaurant. Fry now owns more than 20 restaurants across the country, 13 of which are in metro Atlanta. Marcel has maintained critical acclaim for almost a decade for its food, atmosphere, and service. Last year, it was added to Atlanta’s Michelin Guide as a Michelin-recommended restaurant. Fry’s latest restaurant, Little Sparrow, opened in October 2023 and added Bar Blanc upstairs the following month.

Fry sent an apology to the Marcel staff via email on Tuesday, March 20, encouraging them to reach out directly with concerns. “It makes me really sad to think that any one of you has ever felt not comfortable talking to your leaders, and I am so sorry if this was your experience,” he said in the note.

Update: March 21, 2024, 10:11 a.m.: This article was updated to include an apology from Ford Fry sent after publication.

18 Atlanta Restaurants and Pop-Ups Worth the Splurge for a Special Occasion

2024-03-20T14:33:42-04:00

Lazy Betty’s roasted beet salad | Andrew Thomas Lee

Whether celebrating a birthday, graduation, anniversary, or recent promotion, restaurants often play a central role in marking a special occasion

Whether celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, graduation, new job, or a recent promotion, restaurants often play a central role in marking a special occasion or life achievement. The following list features Atlanta and metro area restaurants and pop-ups in which to splurge on a lavish meal, some with wine pairings or personal attention from the chef. Don’t forget to make a reservation first.

Don’t see a favorite special occasion restaurant listed? Send Eater Atlanta an email via the tipline.

Sub Out French Fries for Tater Tots at These Atlanta Restaurants

2024-03-19T15:14:44-04:00

The Macho Totcho tater tot nachos | The Nook

From crispy and classic Tater Tots to platters of tots covered in Brunswick stew and melted cheese

Not all fried potatoes come in French fry form. There’s also the golden fried goodness of Tater Tots. Whether taking down a platter of loaded tots as a meal or pairing those potato nuggets with a burger in lieu of fries, these Atlanta restaurants and bars take Tater Tots very seriously.

Don’t see a favorite restaurant for tater tots listed? Send Eater Atlanta the details via the tipline.

Disclaimer: Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; the latest data about the delta variant indicates that it may pose a low-to-moderate risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here. It is highly advised people wear masks indoors or in crowded situations, regardless of vaccination status, to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Buckhead Will Get a New Option for Fresh, Halal Fare

2024-03-19T12:24:47-04:00

Aviva by Kameel

Plus, a Beltline street food spot will reopen after two years

Aviva By Kameel, a healthy, fast-casual Middle Eastern restaurant, will open its third location in the redeveloped Buckhead Landing shopping center at 3330 Piedmont Road. Other tenants in the development, which hopes to launch a 55,000-square-foot Publix later this year, include Piu Bello, Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, and Burtons Grill & Bar.

Aviva By Kameel first opened in The Hub at Peachtree Center in 2012, and opened a second location at the Collective at Coda food hall in Midtown in 2020. Founded by Kameel Srouji, Aviva By Kameel champions hormone-free, halal meat and local ingredients.

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A post shared by Aviva By Kameel Mediterranean (@avivabykameel)

The Beltline location of Hawkers Asian Street Food is reopening April 1, after a two-year hiatus caused by a mechanical exhaust issue. The revamped location will offer exclusive menu items, such as a Sichuan tonkatsu ramen, Penang poutine, Singapore chili crab bao, and curry “empanadas.” The expanded food selection also includes frozen cocktails, soft serve in flavors like toasted rice, pandan, ube, and Thai tea, and a selection of Hong Kong-style barbecue.

The Beltlike Hawkers space will also feature an expanded patio with games and ping-pong tables, a noodle bar with views of the kitchen, and increased ADA accessibility. Hawkers originally opened in Orlando in 2011, and also has a location at Ashford Crossing in Dunwoody.

Nick Leyva

Chicken lo mein at Hawkers

Venezuelan restaurant Arepa Grill will open a full-service restaurant in Roswell this summer. The new restaurant, which will assume the former Casa Robles location on Oak Street, will have an expanded menu. Arepa currently has two locations on Buford Highway.

17 Atlanta Restaurants for Ordering a Hot Bowl of Queso

2024-03-18T14:21:15-04:00

The Queso Truck

From bowls of hot queso blanco to skillets of chorizo-filled queso fundido

There are days when nothing seems to beat a bowl of hot melted cheese served with a side of fresh tortillas or chips — maybe paired with a margarita or a refreshing agua fresca on a sunny patio. Queso comes in many variations at restaurants around Atlanta, some with kicks of heat from jalapeños, meaty versions containing chorizo, or melted cheese bowls topped with pico de gallo. From bowls of straight-up queso blanco to skillets of chorizo-filled queso fundido, here are a few Atlanta restaurants to consider for when that queso craving hits.

Don’t see a favorite bowl of queso listed? Email Eater Atlanta via the tipline.

Mini Pizzas Are On the Menu at Chastain Park’s New Italian Neighborhood Spot

2024-03-18T12:54:18-04:00

Cassie Wright

Expect antipasti, pizzettes, and pasta against a slightly moody backdrop

Pendolino, the first restaurant from industry veteran Kevin Maxey’s KRM Hospitality, opens for dinner tonight at 4600 Roswell Road.

Maxey, who has nearly 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry (including New York restaurants like Gramercy Tavern and Craft, as well as the Ford Fry Group and Superica locally), has nursed the idea of a neighborhood Italian restaurant for a long time. While researching olive oil varieties, he stumbled across Pendolino’s name (Pendolino is a variety of olive) and stuck it in his back pocket for if he ever opened an Italian restaurant.

Maxey got his start in French restaurants, but developed a penchant for Italian cuisine working for Tom Colicchio at Gramercy Tavern. “A lot of what we were doing there was really inspired by Italy and the simplicity of sort of Italian food,” he says.

Cassie Wright

Pendolino interior shot

Maxey originally envisioned an edgier space, but pivoted to neighborhood Italian after encountering the location in Chastain Park. The space reminded him of a nearby Superica location and how the locals used it — different groups of customers came in blocks, from early dinner all the way to the later-night bar hour. “And so I [thought], we can do the same thing, it’s the exact same neighborhood,” Maxey says. “It’s the same people and it’s the same sort of level of casualness and attention to detail.”

The space, designed by Kirby Caldwell, captures a touch of moodiness through its juxtaposition of materials and colors. Creamy shades of white on the wall and marble floors are bisected by deep purple and sage upholstery and tile and darker mill work, while the windows are framed by a soft, coastal blue.

“We’re not trying to transport you to Italy,” Maxey says. “We want you to stay in Atlanta and Chastain Park. It’s a nod to the Italian way of doing things, but also sort of celebrating what we can get here in the South.”

Cassie Wright

A closer look at Pendolino’s seating

Pendolino’s menu is arranged into a trine: antipasti, salads and sides, and entrees. Antipasti options include marinated olives with Pecorino, barbecued octopus with olive oil crushed potato salad, pickled celery, and charred pepperoni, and a pink snapper crudo with Meyer lemon, toasted nuts, and lightly pickled sea fennel.

The 10-inch pizzettes, which are cooked at 725 degrees in a Pavesi oven from Italy, are also found here. They’re crispy at the bottom, puffy and sort of chewy on top, with a little bit of char throughout. Pendolino’s current roster of pizzettes includes a vegetarian pizzette made with garlic, crema, spinach, and mushrooms and a fennel sausage pizzette with spring onions and green olives.

For salads, think the chicory carbonara — escarole, radicchio, Treviso chicory, a Guanicale vinaigrette made with cured pork cheeks, garlic, and white balsamic vinegar, with Pecorino and cooked eggs folded inside.

Cassie Wright

Some of the food and wine offerings at Pendolino

The entree selection with offer four to five pastas — examples include ravioli stuffed with ricotta and Swiss chard with roasted zucchini and squash blossoms, served in a light butter sauce — and more classic entrees, like steaks and seafood from the Gulf.

For dessert, expect a spumoni semifreddo, steamed Meyer lemon cake, and a tiramisu made with salted marsala caramel and whipped mascarpone.

Maxey will also offer staples that aren’t traditionally Italian — the prime beef burger with gorgonzola, balsamic glazed onions, and fries; New York strip steak marsala with roasted mushrooms.

The chef wants diners to know they can come to the restaurant for great Italian food but also rely on the place to “have a great burger and fries and a simple roasted steak done really well with a little bit of a touch of Italy to it,” he says.

4600 Roswell Road, Atlanta

Pendolino

Pendolino’s dinner menu

Pendolino

Pendolino wine list

Pendolino

Pendolino’s dessert menu

15 Atlanta Restaurants Serving Flavor-Packed, Next-Level Egg Rolls

2024-03-18T11:37:23-04:00

Cajun Boy with jambalaya rice, crawfish tails, red beans, and shrimp and andouille sausage topped with remoulade sauce. | Eggroll Boyz

Egg rolls stuffed with everything from lobster and Philly cheesesteak to jambalaya and cookie dough

Deep fried in floury dough and stuffed with everything from pork and shredded cabbage to Philly cheesesteak, the egg roll has become one of America’s most popular comfort foods. Often found on menus at American-Chinese restaurants, the origins of the egg roll are murky, with some experts stating its creation dates back to 1930s New York and two Chinese chefs claiming it as their own creation as a take on the spring roll. Others say the egg roll was first created in southern China, a product of traditional Cantonese cuisine.

Regardless of its origins, the egg roll continues to dominate the comfort food landscape in the U.S., served on menus at Chinese restaurants and counter-service joints to old-school diners and takeout windows at food trucks. Check out these Atlanta restaurants for must-have variations on the egg roll.

Don’t see a favorite egg roll listed? Send Eater the details at atlanta@eater.com.