I figured I'd contribute to the information age, so here's a list of some of my favorite bars, pubs, and restaurants, both in and out of Atlanta. To put this page into perspective: Atlanta is slap-full of restaurants. From scrap to fine-dining, there are so many local places, there isn't a need to even look twice at the fast-food chains (including McPubs, McBierHausen, and McFancies).
I used to focus on pubs, because I am a food fan, a music fan, and a beer fan. But recently, I've branched out to include good restaurants which I recommend to visitors. Accordingly, my definition of a "good" pub is one that shows quality in at least two of: (Food, Beer, Music); "good" restaurants need only provide good food, with extra credit for mom'n'pop, and local establishments. I've included map links and favorite selections where possible. Listings are in no particular order.
Do you have a favorite pub? Tried a place and liked it (or didn't)? Throw me a clue!
![[B]](icons/beer.gif){kind=icon}
Good/Cold Beer Selection |
![[D]](icons/date.png){kind=icon}
Great for Dates |
![[L]](icons/lunch.png){kind=icon}
Good Lunch Spot ![[NS]](icons/nosmoke.png){kind=icon}
No Smoking| Nu-Way Wieners (Macon, GA) | Fincher's Barbecue (Macon, GA) | The Flying Saucer (Multiple Locations) | Vandy's Barbecue (Statesboro, GA) | Green Top Cafe (Jasper, AL) |
| Old Venice Pizza Co. (Oxford,MS) | Ajax (Oxford,MS) | Old Taylor Grocery (Taylor,MS) | Pascual's Manale (New Orleans, LA) | Wedge Pizza (Denver, CO) |
| North Market (Columbus, OH) | " Brewpub X" (Columbus, OH) |
> North River Tavern Sandy Springs.
The Tavern went independent (from Taco Mac) earlier in 2005, and I couldn't be happier. Last I checked, they still close at 4am, making the Tavern a must-visit for second- and third shift. It's still on my favorite wings place, although they've added a few new items since going indy.
My Picks: "Taqueria-style" tacos, Wings! (best with Paulaner Hefe draft)
The Brick Store, Decatur .
This split-level, european-style pub on Decatur Square contains two distinct sections: the original, "english" section, with horseshoe bar and two-story ceiling, and the close-quarters "belgian" section, upstairs and next door. They serve some of the best beer in Atlanta, and some really, really good pub food to match.
My Picks: Brunswick Stew.
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Fado, East Village.
I'd rather eat breakfast here than Waffle House, and not just because Fado has the best pint of Guiness in town, which happens to go very well with said breakfast. Sadly, I didn't see salmon boxty (my 2nd-favorite item) on the menu on my most recent visit.
The bar itself is a treat; it's divided into 5 or six sections, each with its own theme (the Atlanta location is the bar that demos the various themes available to investors looking to bring Fado to their city), and there are are nooks and crannies throughout the place.
Once a constant Irish/English music venue (including The Charms, The Buddy O'Reilly Band, and Harry O'Donoghue), Fado has adapted to include cover bands and musicians. They also provide live feeds for the various English and Irish football leagues (especially English Premier League).
Update: Sadly, the original Fado location has been bulldozed as part of Buckhead Village's "makeover". Supposedly, Fado will be reopening near its original location, but I haven't heard any news since then. The back bar "horseshoe" will be missed.
My Picks:"All-day" Irish Breakfast
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Atkin's Park, Highlands.
Since the 1920s, in one form or another. The current incarnation is a restaurant+bar that concentrates on its menu. That attention results in the best pub food in Atlanta, and it's open past 2am. The (smaller) late-night menu stays the same, but the dinner menu is seasonal. The little table in the corner by the window is on my short list of quality hangouts. The draught is cold, and the bar is old.
My Picks: Crab Cakes w/ Corn Salsa, Gumbo, Pecan-encrusted trout.
Red Light Cafe, Midtown.
If you're more interested in dinner than music, go elsewhere for dinner, then come back. This is a music bar; and just about all kinds of music and performance art has been played here. Check their website for details. Note: Speculation on my part, but I think Red Light has the longest-running rental Internet connection in Atlanta. I remember their Internet PC back in '96, and it was still there, last I checked.
My Picks: Beer, Music.
Fellini's, several locations.
Great (floury) pizza and cold beer, with a kind of "urban folk art" feel to the joint. Good salads, too! Cash only, open late (1 or 2am).
My Picks: Fellini's White (pizza) with a side salad.
La Fonda, (several locations).
Fellini's Carribean cuisine cousin. Well, you seldom find one store without the other next door, anyway. Similar ad-hoc feel, darn tasty dishes and sandwiches.
My Picks: Chicken and Rice (Arroz y Pollo).
Willy's Mexicana Grill, several locations.
I never remember where this chain came from, but they have the single best chain burrito and taco in Atlanta. Period. Made to order, with grilled, marinated, chopped meats. Inferior burritos (especially Moe's) hide in fear and pray Willy's burritos don't find out where they live.
Osteria 832, Virginia-Highland.
This restaurant/pizzeria is sparse, cool, and relatively inexpensive for the quality of pizza offered -- thin crust, thin topping, neapolitan-style 12-inchers that combine with an appetizer to make dinner for two. Capers, italian sausage, and red peppers on a pizza? why not? Note: PBR bottles are served here. Also, fresh-baked bread is great for sopping up hangovers.
My Picks: Pizza Lombardia, most daily specials.
Moe's and Joe's, Highlands.
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Serving Pabst, since 1947. Happy 60th! And not just Pabst. COLD, DRAFT, PBR at the Temple of Pabst, illuminated by the Great Red Neon Pabst Sign. Burgers cooked up right, sufficiently greasy fries, 50+ 60 years of graffiti, and I think enough yuppies have wandered in to prompt installation of a Guiness tap (a good thing, IMO).
My Picks: Like I said: burger, fries, Pabst. ;-)
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Everybody's Pizza Highlands.
One of my favorite pizzas in Atlanta; open since 1979. They use whole ingredients, have an extensive list of toppings, and serve up nice draft pints. But forget all that. You want to go here for the homemade bread pudding, which is good enough to make you switch from beer to milk. Update: I absolutely do not understand the hate I've caught this year for mentioning this place. It's like Atlanta is full of pizza snobs now.
My Picks: Any pizza, Bread Pudding!
> Limerick Junction, Highlands.
Irish pub, I haven't tried the menu yet, but they have one of the best pints of Woodpecker (which I realize is English, and don't really care) in town. It's a small, cozy bar, great for the solo acts that appear almost nightly.
Kool Korners Grocery 14th and State Sts.
This sandwich stand, located in an otherwise abandoned corner store on 14th Street, looks non-descript on the outside, run-down on the inside, and makes the best cuban sandwich in Atlanta. Accept no substitutes. Open lunch hours only, Monday-Saturday, AFAIK.
Mellow Mushroom,
(several locations).
"Give Pizza Chance!" Pizza, hoagies, beer, and karma, since 1974. They're franchising out, but if you want the best of the chain, come to Atlanta and take a ride on the Mothership. It's about as close as you can get to an organic pizza and beer joint. Corn meal lends a sweeter flavor (and different texture) to their crusts. Several locations have a good draft selection. They have extra-good pizza at the Dunwoody and Brookhaven locations, but Friday and Saturday evenings are usually packed, so prepare for a wait. They serve slices only at lunch.
Update: Sadly, the earliest-remaining store (Sandy Springs -- Roswell @ Mt. Vernon) was replaced by a shiny new store down the street. I'll miss the grittiness.
My Picks: Cosmic Karma (Pizza) minus tomato, plus pepperoni, Greek Salad.
Oscar's Villa Capri, Dunwoody
I still haven't found an Italian restaurant (besides Ipp's) in Atlanta,that makes homemade bread (If anyone knows such a place, email me), but this place bakes their bread on-site, which is a big improvement. But forget the bread. The dinners are awesome, entirely worth the price. They've got the best Italian food in north Atlanta, and it's a great place to take a date.
My Picks: Grouper Vesuvio IV, Grilled Provolone.
> Famous Pub (and Sports Emporium). Atlanta
Famous Pub is the best sports bar in Atlanta. Why? Real Fans. What else can you say about a bar where people bring their gloves to watch the baseball games? And, they have right tasty burger and sandwiches, just stay away from the chili. They also have a wide (and actively maintained) beer selection, and plenty of pool tables and dart boards, so you can compete in one game while watching another.
My Picks:Pub burger, pub fries, good beer, amen.
The Highlander.
One of the coolest bars in Atlanta; accept no substitutes. They put Adult Swim on the TV, have plenty of cold beer, and fry the only tater tots I'll actually eat.
My Picks: Reuben w/ tots and a side of Sealab 2021. Too bad!
> Summit's Wayside Tavern, Sandy Springs, GA
This former Taco Mac went private a few years back, when the Sandy Springs franchise owner bought ownership of his store. The food is still measures above the remaining Taco Mac chain, and the 100+ draft beer selection is still cold. It's neon-colored, loud, with an abundance of TVs. It's a good place to watch about three or four games at once, and a great place for some inventive pub-grub.
My Picks: Wings, Chili-cheese fries, Noodle Bowls.
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Eddie's Attic, Decatur
They have cold, good beer, and warm, good food. But there's plenty of time to enjoy those things after an early acoustic show (or before a late show) in the separate (and non-smoking) music room, in this bar that is dedicated to the acoustic musician (and occasional comedian ;). This is also a great place to watch Braves games in nice weather. Book your tickets in advance on their website, if you can.
My Picks:Anything with music.
> Smith's Olde Bar, Midtown
One of the best, if not the best, music pubs in Atlanta. Again, good pub food, but make sure to eat before the music starts upstairs, because you can't take food into the music room. The shows usually start around 9:30-10:00, so you'll have plenty of time to finish that burger. Usually. They get LOUD here, and like to stay up late. Warning: They don't serve draft beer upstairs.
My Picks:Again, anything with music.
Satay House. Alpharetta
Malasian, Thai, Indian, and Chinese dishes, with a little style. It's consistently good, go-to-the-well quality food for the hackers that work in the area, and an excellent place to bring a date. It looks like folks have discovered Satay House, but you can still have the place to yourself by 8:30pm or so.
My Picks:Beef Rendang, Basil Catfish, Spicy Veggie Fried Rice, Roti Canai
The Independent.
Upstairs from Apre Diem, and Full of win. This pool hall, formerly known as Dupree's, was bought and slightly remodeled by White Wolf Game Studios, who were in turn bought by MMO-game company from Iceland. Got it? good. Pool, darts, daily tournaments of some kind (pool, darts, cards), an expansive bar, and board games on the shelf. They have a deep-fryer, and they know how to use it. Permanent smoke-in aside, this place is chock full of win.
My Picks:Fried Twinkie. [See? look at that: more win.]
8,001 real Taquerias. All over Greater Atlanta.
They're all over Atlanta; Real taquerias (as opposed to Moe's taquerias), serving up real (double soft-shell, chunk meat) tacos at a shopping center near you. These places almost always dish out quality food on the cheap.
My Picks:Soft-shell Tacos!
Wright's Gourmet Shoppe. Dunwoody.
This is a 2nd generation sandwich shop and bakery, carrying on from the Tampa original. They produce the best sandwiches on the north side, if not the whole city. Their muffaleta is a work of art. Also, fresh-baked cakes and homemade salads. Note: If you're going to get sandwich and a slice of cake: bring a friend to split the cake, it's that rich. Open til 4PM weekdays, 3PM saturday. Be prepared for a line, but it's worth the wait.
My Picks: Muffaleta, any salad, any cake.
The Bagel Palace, Toco Hills.
This New York-style deli-bakery is open for breakfast, lunch, and brunch hours. If you're missing your egg cream or latkes, go here and get your fix. :) The bakery produces quality breads, cakes, and cookies; I usually find myself picking up a dozen of the latter on the way out.
My Picks:Chicken Melt bagel, Cookies!
The Royal Oak, Perimeter Pointe.
Yes, that little hole in the wall next to the movie theater, which serves as neighborhood pub for Dunwoody, and after-movie stop for couples. The live music is history now, but the beer is still cold, and the space is still cozy.
The recently upgraded menu was worth the wait; they (and the other four sibling bars) are trying out new items, a few that I haven't seen elsewhere. This is a good thing. The Doozie (bacon-onion-cheese burger) is still a staple, and the all-wood finish is still warmer than it used to be. This is still a smoking establishment, not for the faint of breath.
My Picks:Fish-n-Chips, Black-n-Blue burger, Lamb Tikka, Tuscan chicken sandwich
Cafe Intermezzo, Dunwoody, Buckhead.
Hail to the Schlag! Intermezzo's a 1am (2am Fri/Sat), euro-style coffee shop, serving the northside for 25+ years now. Great desserts (brought in from various places around the U.S. and world), ok food, great coffee and wine. You're at even odds to find a backgammon game on the patio. This is one of the prime places to bring a date (especially before or after dinner), and it's micro-sized bar is one of the best places on the northside.
My Picks: Turkey Deluxe (havarti,apple,croissant), Southwest Chicken Salad, a "Beethoven" (honey+schlag coffee), any tea, any dessert.
Apres Diem, Midtown.
A wonderful cafe at 8th and Monroe, next to Garden Hills Cinema and the Highlander, underneath The Independent. A swanky-cool lounge, and a long, tight bar. Great food (especially the weekly/nightly specials), good drinks and desserts. Live jazz or techno DJ, at least two or three nights a week. Open until 2am weekends, midnight otherwise.
My Picks:Anything on the specials list.
George's, Virginia-Highland
I finally got into this place recently, and yep, their burgers are top-notch. Not only that, they will put Atlanta teams on the TV: Falcons, Braves, Hawks, Thrashers.
My Picks:Turkey Burger, Blue Cheese Burger.
Woody's, Piedmont Park: Virginia and Monroe.
You know that sandwich shop you have to drive around when you're trying to turn onto Virginia from Monroe? The Philly Cheesesteak is alive and well in that shop, and it's definitely worth the stop. This two-man operation sits at the intersection the corner of Virginia and Monroe. Meats sliced on site, custom-built, paper-wrapped cheesesteaks and other sandwiches, homemade milkshakes.
My Pics: (a) Extra meat, extra mushrooms, hold the ketchup and mustard (pictured); (b)Extra cheese, hot peppers, hold the ketchup.
Nu-Way, Macon, GA.
Forget about the Varsity (and Skyline, for that matter); "I'd go a long way for a Nu-Way." The Coney Island hot dog is alive and well in middle Georgia. Grilled redhots, with fine-grain chili and onions. It's worth taking a cooler down to Macon once a month.
My Picks: Two Chili Dogs, two Slaw Dogs, fries, flaky-iced Coke, Amen.
Fincher's, Macon, GA.
Middle Georgia's best barbecue. Vinegary, pulled, mashed pork barbecue, the way it ought to be done.
My Picks:'CUE!
Vandy's, Statesboro, GA.
Best 'cue in East Georgia. (No. "Georgia Southern" is not in South Georgia. Read a map, people.) Dry-pulled or chopped, with a mustard-based sauce. Brunswick Stew and Potato Salad on the side.
My Picks: 'CUE!
Green Top Cafe, Dora, AL.
Best 'cue in Alabama, 26.4 miles north of Birmingham on U.S. 78, on the left, uphill from the Sugar Shack, downhill from the Booby Trap (congrats on your Supreme Court case, btw.). I'm not sure how they do it, but the 'cue is served hot, pulled, chopped, and dripping. Served with buttered, toasted rolls, and real sweet tea.
My Picks: 'CUE!
Old Venice Pizza Co., Oxford, MS.
Tasty individual pizzas, with a large list of toppings to pick from, and nice olive oil and herb bread starters. Awesome! No draft beer here, but they've got PBR, so they're ok. They also seem to have an adequate selection of wines. This is one of those sit-down places with some character.
My Picks: Any pizza, especially "Daddy Crawdaddy" (crawfish, tomato, and cream cheese).
Ajax, Oxford, MS.
Four or five doors down from from Old Venice. Home Cookin' Done Right. Sadly, the mac-and-cheese is a vague shadow of its former self, and is only served at dinner. Everything else on the menu is great, in that pepper-spicy sort of way. The fried dill pickle slices (w/ thousand island) make for great munchies.
My Picks: Fried Pickles, Meat Loaf, Fried Okra, Mashed Potatoes.
Taylor Grocery, Taylor, MS.
You'll find the Grocery 7 miles south of Oxford, at the end of Old Taylor Rd. And when you find the Grocery, you will have found Catfish Done Right. And steak, and wings, and sides, and an occasional musician. It's down home, homemade, and fitting. Taylor Grocery is also one of the last chances to get Real Sweet Tea before you cross the Mississippi River, and officially out of Sweet Tea Territory. Open Thur.-Sun, and I think some lunch hours on weekdays. (last I checked).
My Picks:Grilled Catfish Fillet, Cole Slaw, Hush Puppies.
Pascual's Manale, New Orleans, LA.
Fancy-Fine dining in the Big Easy...Incredible barbecued shrimp. That's real Gulf Shrimp, not those glorified Sea Monkees that you get inland. Served heads-on in bowl of spiced butter. There's a reason for the bibs you're given as this meal is served. Also, melt-in-your-mouth New Orleans-style bread pudding (w/bourbon sauce).
Wedge Pizza, Denver, CO
I ran into this place by accident while driving aimlessly around downtown Denver, ordered some slices, and they were better than I thought slices should be. So I went back for a calzone, and confirmed the incredible quality of their dough. Handtossed, probably homemade, the dough was supple, textured, and low-rising. I don't know if they're a chain, but this store was definitely worth the stop.
North Market, Columbus, OH.
North Market is a single-building collection of various mom-and-pop counters. Various ethnic blue-plates, local produce, local and imported meats, cheeses, wines, and dry goods. I wouldn't stop in Columbus without visiting.
My Picks:Just go there and explore!
Brewpub X, Columbus OH.
I can't remember the name of this brewpub, located between the convention center and North Market. It's all homebrew, it's independent, and the beer is top-notch. The kitchen is good enough to match the brewing, and the menu seems to consist of of homemade takes on "standard" pub fare.
My Picks: The menu and beer selection varies seasonally. YMMV.
Flying Saucer, Multiple locations.
I'm only familiar with the Little Rock store of this Dallas-based chain of pubs; the beer selection is top-notch, as in "microbatch/borderline homebrew" selections, in addition to the standard selection of small-, mid-, and large- scale brews. As far as the store goes, it's wide-open feel and extended tap line makes this store an important part of the Riverfront district.
My Picks:
Upcoming: Fritti, Alon's, Tap