Atlanta
Local Tastes
2008 10Best Bet - Award Winners
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DOWNTOWN. Open since 1947, Busy Bee is a soulful soul food landmark that's mastered the art of Southern cooking. Turn a gluttonous eye to such classics as chitlins and ham hocks, or let your mouth water while waiting on a healthy portion of fried chicken with two vegetables and gravy. Sweet potato pie and Georgia peach cobbler top the dessert menu. The sheer numbers at lunch may be daunting, but a meal here is well worth the wait.
ROSWELL. Locals swear by it, and visitors find the urge to return to it irresistible. Greenwood's on Green Street inspires such a following thanks to chef Bill Greenwood's vegetable-laden, down-home recipes and his dedication to all-fresh ingredients. Southern mothers turn green with envy at his meatloaf, fried chicken, and pork chops, but what truly makes Chef Greenwood stand out is his uncanny ability to make vegetables like black-eyed peas and collards the feature of any entree.
BUCKHEAD. Hal's pulls off the seemingly impossible by mixing upscale dining and live jazz, blues, rock and roll, or big band music with a welcoming, down-home approach to customer service. Some longtime patrons even have drinks named after them! As appealing as the mixture is, though, it's the food that keeps people returning. Enjoy a wide range of carefully prepared dishes, including filet mignon au poivre, pasta asciutta, snapper with artichokes and mushrooms, and swordfish steak.
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs shot to mega-stardom on the waves of his many talents, but his dream of owning a restaurant was directly molded by something more tangible – grandma's cooking. His Justin's Restaurant brings her Southern Caribbean cookery to the masses with dishes like Cornish hen jambalaya, gravy covered pork chops, and an ample seafood pan roast. A destination to see and be seen. N.B. Monday night is the busiest night of the week, and the restaurant stays open extended hours due to popular Martini Monday specials.
MIDTOWN. Founder Mary McKinsey couldn't open a restaurant to feature her Southern recipes in 1945 simply because women weren't allowed to own restaurants at the time. So, she called her place a "tea room" and started dishing out the down-home fare that would eventually make her famous. Menu items include chicken and dumplings, fried chicken livers, chopped sirloin, and barbecue ribs, along with 35 hot and cold side dishes to complete any meal.
Barbecue is like a Southern spin on "whodunit" novels – once you taste a great recipe, you'll go to any length necessary to find out who made it and how. Smokejack, in the heart of intimate downtown Alpharetta, serves pork and beef barbecue equally well. The menu also includes cornmeal-fried catfish, 14-hour sliced brisket, and bacon-roasted turkey, along with sides like deep-fried pickles and white cheddar cheese grits.
MIDTOWN. In a region as traditional as the South, it's refreshing to know that people like chef Dean Dupuis are still finding ways to inject contemporary tastes into long-established dishes. South City's menu features treats like crisp-fried catfish with crab hushpuppies, barbecue tuna, pan-roasted Georgia trout, and fried green tomatoes with goat cheese. For something slightly more in line with Southern customs, try a charred rib-eye with a sweet corn and scallion salad.
MIDTOWN. A mixture of Low Country cuisine, plenty of seafood, and international accents characterizes the menu at Sweet Lowdown. Local favorites include cornmeal-dusted fried grouper, shrimp and grits, and fried calamari. You'll also find ahi tuna with wasabi creme fraiche and grouper ceviche tacos. Any main dish, however, is simply a prelude to Southern dessert mainstays like Deep South Pecan Pie and Wild Turkey Cappuccino. For dinner and a movie, call to see what's playing on the monthly Indie Film Night.
MIDTOWN. It's not fancy. It's not intimate. It's not even very healthy food. But ask any long-time Atlanta resident about The Varsity, and their taste buds will bypass brain cells and steer the car to the "world's largest drive-in." From chili burgers, seasoned fries, and hot wings to grilled chicken sandwiches and slaw dogs, The Varsity attracts celebrities, Washington politicians, and sports heroes to its doors. Indulge once and no matter where you're from, The Varsity's tasty food will haunt you till you return.
MIDTOWN. What makes Woodfire Grill an Atlanta favorite is a little more sophisticated than good cornbread. Instead, chef Michael Tuohy concocts tantalizing Northern California dishes using only the freshest local ingredients from organic farmers. Though the menu changes with the seasonal availability of ingredients, reliable favorites include wood-grilled Sonoma artisan duck breast, cured fresh ham, and pan-roasted Puget Sound king salmon. Maybe you stumbled upon it during your travels. Perhaps a friend told you to go. Maybe you live in the city, and it's your special place. However you've come to know it, it's that one special restaurant that just defines the city. You know the ones you love; now, we'll tell you the treasures in other cities. Discover established eateries with distinct character, hole-in-the-wall diners, or high-end, chef-run establishments. We'll let you know what locals like and give you a leg up on what's best and brightest.
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Maybe you stumbled upon it during your travels. Perhaps a friend told you to go. Maybe you live in the city, and it's your special place. However you've come to know it, it's that one special restaurant that just defines the city. You know the ones you love; now, we'll tell you the treasures in other cities. Discover established eateries with distinct character, hole-in-the-wall diners, or high-end, chef-run establishments. We'll let you know what locals like and give you a leg up on what's best and brightest.
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