Atlanta dining and wine stores

D

Doug Padgett

Doug Padgett
I was reared in Atlanta, but haven't a clue about interesting places to eat or disorderly-friendly wine stores. We'll be back visiting family this Christmas and the trip will cover our anniversary, so we're trying to take advantage of the convenient baby sitting services offered by Jojo and Big Daddy Doug.

Any recommendations for interesting fine dining and wine shops?

Many thanks.
 
The steak place is Bonz..in Buckhead...found a '97 Chave Rouge on the list for ~100 a year of two ago...Pearsons Wine (near the intersection and East and West Paces has reportedly "re-invented" itself....in prior years they had some good Burgundies and interesting Alsatian offerings (also good Scotch)
 
originally posted by drssouth:
The steak place is Bonz..in Buckhead...found a '97 Chave Rouge on the list for ~100 a year of two ago...Pearsons Wine (near the intersection and East and West Paces has reportedly "re-invented" itself....in prior years they had some good Burgundies and interesting Alsatian offerings (also good Scotch)
Click to expand...

Thanks to you both. I'll take a look.
 
I moved here from the Bay Area 22 years ago. When I'm in the mood for good wine I head to the airport.

We have a couple of tolerable restaurants, some of which even have wine available. Are you really gonna be in Atlanta or will you be in the 'burbs? If you're in town I could recommend a joint or two but if you're OTP I'll just shut up now.
 
You don't know the half of it. We had a referendum on repealing the prohibition against sale of alcohol on Sundays not long ago. Not surprisingly, it passed with a 60% majority. Also not surprising, Guv'nuh Bubba Perdue vetoed it after saying:
Some things rise to the level of referendums such as, I felt, the symbol, the flag that represented Georgia, which I felt rose to that level. But you cant do government really by referendum. ...

Think of it this way... It really helps you plan ahead for the rest of your life -- buying on Saturday, rather than Sunday. Time management.
Click to expand...
You could make this shit up but who'd believe it?
 
Nam, a very small Viet Namese place in a shopping center where the food is about as good as you'll ever eat. (Find address on Google)
Or if feeling adventuresome, head out to Buford Highway and stop anywhere there are no whites in line. Pretty dazzling array of ethnic restaurants.
Best, Jim
 
Ok, I've never been to Atlanta, so take this for what it is. I was clicking through a link on Eater which was about the top 40 chefs under 40. Two were in Atlanta and both sounded pretty good. Maybe the locals there can yay or nay them. One was Bookhouse Pub the other was Woodfire Grill. Both are doing the farm-to-table thing and the second one is the guy on Top Chef's restaurant. If I were going to Atlanta, they seem to be restaurants I'd want to check out.
 
originally posted by Erwin Dink:
Some things rise to the level of referendums such as, I felt, the symbol, the flag that represented Georgia, which I felt rose to that level. But you cant do government really by referendum. ...
Click to expand...
You could make this shit up but who'd believe it?
Click to expand...
I'd love to see him take that stance on gay marriage.
 
originally posted by Erwin Dink:
I moved here from the Bay Area 22 years ago. When I'm in the mood for good wine I head to the airport.

We have a couple of tolerable restaurants, some of which even have wine available. Are you really gonna be in Atlanta or will you be in the 'burbs? If you're in town I could recommend a joint or two but if you're OTP I'll just shut up now.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Erwin and all. I'm really going to be in close-in Sandy Springs, so yes, OTP, but barely. From where we are it's a pretty easy trip into town. So I'm interested in anything northside, Buckhead, downtown, intown, midtown, west side, east side, Decatur, Inman Park, Little Five Points, Morningside, whatever as long as it's good and pleasing to long-suffering spouses. Please do let me hear what you have in mind.

Jeff and doc: Thanks again for your suggestions. Bone's the steakhouse looks interesting but maybe too beefy and clubby for her, I imagine. (Also, I think Bonz is a bbq joint in Smyrna--and unless Smyrna has changed, please no Smyrna).

Thanks again.
 
originally posted by Erwin Dink:
You don't know the half of it. We had a referendum on repealing the prohibition against sale of alcohol on Sundays not long ago. Not surprisingly, it passed with a 60% majority. Also not surprising, Guv'nuh Bubba Perdue vetoed it after saying:
Some things rise to the level of referendums such as, I felt, the symbol, the flag that represented Georgia, which I felt rose to that level. But you cant do government really by referendum. ...

Think of it this way... It really helps you plan ahead for the rest of your life -- buying on Saturday, rather than Sunday. Time management.
Click to expand...
You could make this shit up but who'd believe it?
Click to expand...

Erwin, sounds like you got to Atlanta just after I left. Things apparently haven't changed much. Though once upon a time you did have this weird aspect to the liquor laws that seemed to allow virtually all night drinking.

On another note: I have been shocked and dismayed by the corkage fees I've seen--40 bucks seems pretty normal. If this is any indication of how things are, it is indeed bad. Anyway, I guess we do need a good wine list.

I rarely get to any wine stores in Atlanta--Pearson's I'm familiar with from my high school days. I generally tote a bunch of wines down even for short trips, but chambers st. says they'l ship to Atlanta, so I may do that this time.
 
originally posted by Florida Jim:
Nam, a very small Viet Namese place in a shopping center where the food is about as good as you'll ever eat. (Find address on Google)
Or if feeling adventuresome, head out to Buford Highway and stop anywhere there are no whites in line. Pretty dazzling array of ethnic restaurants.
Best, Jim
Click to expand...

Thanks, Jim. I love Buford Hwy--wish I could get there more often. This seems to have started in the 80s I guess and its become a real treasure for foodies. I'll look for Nam.

Thanks again.
 
originally posted by lars makie:
Ok, I've never been to Atlanta, so take this for what it is. I was clicking through a link on Eater which was about the top 40 chefs under 40. Two were in Atlanta and both sounded pretty good. Maybe the locals there can yay or nay them. One was Bookhouse Pub the other was Woodfire Grill. Both are doing the farm-to-table thing and the second one is the guy on Top Chef's restaurant. If I were going to Atlanta, they seem to be restaurants I'd want to check out.
Click to expand...

These look like they have great potential, especially the woodfire grill. Thanks Lars.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
originally posted by Erwin Dink:
Some things rise to the level of referendums such as, I felt, the symbol, the flag that represented Georgia, which I felt rose to that level. But you cant do government really by referendum. ...
Click to expand...
You could make this shit up but who'd believe it?
Click to expand...
I'd love to see him take that stance on gay marriage.
Click to expand...
Surprise, surprise. On that one he took exactly the opposite stance.
 
originally posted by Doug Padgett:
originally posted by lars makie:
Ok, I've never been to Atlanta, so take this for what it is. I was clicking through a link on Eater which was about the top 40 chefs under 40. Two were in Atlanta and both sounded pretty good. Maybe the locals there can yay or nay them. One was Bookhouse Pub the other was Woodfire Grill. Both are doing the farm-to-table thing and the second one is the guy on Top Chef's restaurant. If I were going to Atlanta, they seem to be restaurants I'd want to check out.
Click to expand...

These look like they have great potential, especially the woodfire grill. Thanks Lars.
Click to expand...
I can vouch for Woodfire but haven't tried Bookhouse yet.

Nam is fabulous but I'm not sure how traditional it is -- a friend who spent some years in Hanoi wasn't impressed but his was a minority opinion amongst our group.

We *are* fortunate to have some good restaurants and some of them even have decent wine lists. Eating out is one of Atlanta's most common social activity. Still, having lived in the Bay Area and having dined in several countries I am largely unimpressed with almost everyone's limited wine lists here. The higher end restaurants will have good choices but many restaurants disappoint - as do most wine stores. To make matters worse, we are one of the most restrictive states for getting wine shipped in (that's changing but s l o w l y).

Speaking of food... I'm opening a bottle of Bone-Jolly Rose and and getting ready to throw a piece of salmon in skillet. I'll put up some specific restaurant suggestions later or tomorrow.
 
originally posted by Erwin Dink:
Nam is fabulous but I'm not sure how traditional it is -- a friend who spent some years in Hanoi wasn't impressed but his was a minority opinion amongst our group.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty finicky about pho as well (and for a similar reason), but good food is good food. I'm going to try to get there.

We *are* fortunate to have some good restaurants and some of them even have decent wine lists.... I'll put up some specific restaurant suggestions later or tomorrow.
Click to expand...

I think I've generally been impressed with Atlanta food options--on those few occasions when we get anywhere but the Varsity or Harold's or Slope's. I just don't know much about it. And the wine scene is a total mystery. Anyway, when you get chance....

Thanks.
 
originally posted by Doug Padgett:
originally posted by Erwin Dink:
Nam is fabulous but I'm not sure how traditional it is -- a friend who spent some years in Hanoi wasn't impressed but his was a minority opinion amongst our group.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty finicky about pho as well (and for a similar reason), but good food is good food. I'm going to try to get there.

We *are* fortunate to have some good restaurants and some of them even have decent wine lists.... I'll put up some specific restaurant suggestions later or tomorrow.
Click to expand...

I think I've generally been impressed with Atlanta food options--on those few occasions when we get anywhere but the Varsity or Harold's or Slope's. I just don't know much about it. And the wine scene is a total mystery. Anyway, when you get chance....

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure you won't find pho at Nam. For that you'll want to go to Buford Highway. Co'm is supposed to be great but there are many great pho restaurants on that strip.

Here are some other general suggestions:

Foodie Stuff:

www.topflr.com

www.repastrestaurant.com (a favorite of ours)

www.dynamicdish.net

www.starprovisions.com (Bacchanalia is EXPENSIVE and a little snooty but
quite good (we don't go there))

www.sottosottorestaurant.com (four choices here, all good, Beleza is the
most interesting and trendy - they have amazing original drinks)

Southern Stuff:

www.fatmattsribshack.com

www.sonsplacerestaurant.com

The next one has no web site. She's the burger nazi (Seinfeld reference).
Slow and rude service (feature not bug) and probably the best, biggest and
most decadent burgers in the South. She was written up in the Wall St
Journal not long ago.

Annie Price Restaurant
1615 Memorial Dr SE
Atlanta, GA 30317-2001
(404) 687-9207

Indian

www.bhojanic.com (one of the more authentic)

If there are any specific styles you prefer let me know. This is just a drop in the bucket.
 
More...

www.mfsushibar.com

www.serpasrestaurant.com

www.rathbunsrestaurant.com

www.twourbanlicks.com (not recommended for vegetarians)

www.puravidatapas.com

www.theshedatglenwood.com (another favorite -- we eat here more than anywhere else -- modest menu and wine list but the food is local (mostly), fresh and very good. Wednesday night is "slider night" with a host of choices for $3.)

www.onemidtownkitchen.com (another of our faves -- wine list changes a lot and I love that you can buy half glasses or bottomless from three different price tiers)

Here's a local food guide for Atlanta which includes some restaurants...

Loading…

www.georgiaorganics.org
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top