10

1/7/2008 11:10:00 AM

^ do you have no life?

anywho...on the issue of tapas...eclipse di luna is fantastic...always a good time there

in the highlands, I prefer Pura Vida (on highland Ave between Ponce and North) - really good tapas (you have to get the Croquetas de Yuca and the Empanadas de Picalillo de Pollo) and they make a mean Dark & Stormy there http://www.puravidatapas.com

[Edited on January 7, 2008 at 11:30 AM. Reason : .]

1/7/2008 11:29:51 AM

Maybe I'm uncultured or something, but I had tapas once at a place off Juniper and that shit was so expensive and so small, I thought - what's the point?

So, someone school me.

1/7/2008 1:12:29 PM

well, i guess the first place to start is how expensive is an expensive meal to you? i think it all boils down to relativity...if you think $30-40 a person is way too expensive for a good dinner, then yeah, you're probably not going to like getting tapas.

you generally order 2-3 tapas per person and share around the table...order more if you're still hungry after those are gone. but i think most people who go for tapas aren't looking for a meal that's going to bust their gut

[Edited on January 7, 2008 at 1:42 PM. Reason : .]

1/7/2008 1:40:37 PM

what the hell is a tapas?

and not only is $30-$40 per person expensive, its outrageous. i begin to complain when the check is half that amount.

1/7/2008 6:28:12 PM

I met the owner of Eclipse de Luna, Quattro and some other place, he comes into the Elbow Room all the time, really chill guy, fucking loaded too... but its funny, he comes to a dive bar to go out but he knows idiots will pay a fortune for small portions of trendy food so he makes his money at the tapas places then hangs out in the good old dive bar. I have some cards for free martinis at his places if anyone wants them

1/7/2008 7:23:55 PM

^^well sticking to TGIFriday's a a great choice for you to make...seriously

^well that explains a lot...you consider Elbow Room to be a "dive" bar? seriously? it's a fucking sports bar with 20+ TV's! there are places in the virginia-highlands that are closer to "dive" than that place

and i know I'm sounding like a douchebag when I say this, but when I want to take my lady out for dinner, I could give a fuck what it costs...$80 at a tapas bar isn't even the most expensive place we go...hell, last month I dropped a couple hundred at Rathbuns for a great fucking meal and will do it again next month. but then again I make enough where that's no big shakes

[Edited on January 7, 2008 at 7:42 PM. Reason : .]

1/7/2008 7:38:10 PM

Quote :

"there are places in the virginia-highlands that are closer to "dive" than that place "

exactly... for Buckhead, whats left of it, its a dive bar, moreso than Churchills, Pool Hall, etc.... and the majority of those tvs have come in the last 3 months, before that they just had about 5-6 tiny tvs here and there. And compared to the tapas places its definitely one.

[Edited on January 7, 2008 at 8:06 PM. Reason : d]

1/7/2008 8:05:25 PM

not that this has anything to do with ATL but this last page so far is a bit of a bitch fest (in the pansy ass female sense - not the whiny one) - tapas are great

Quote :

"what the hell is a tapas? and not only is $30-$40 per person expensive, its outrageous. i begin to complain when the check is half that amount."

$30-40 per person isn't expensive at all - especially at a half decent place in atlanta - by all means if you want to stick with applebees then do so - i agree with goalielax for the most part on this - i don't throw down $50 for dinner every night but i don't whine about it when i'm paying a price to have a good meal - i thought most ppl that regularly posted in this thread could afford to do that every once in a while - how can you live in a major city and not know what tapas are especially at 27

1/7/2008 9:08:22 PM

I agree that $30-50 isnt horrible for a good meal, definitely not every night, but I would much rather have a $50 steak dinner than a $50 tapas dinner... tapas is basically for former sushi worshipers who think that sushi is too mainstream now...

1/7/2008 9:14:21 PM

Well, I'm 26, so I'm allowed to not know, snobface!

I mean, I know what it IS, but I don't get the appeal. I get that you spend just as much on a standard meal and maybe get as much food, but I just didn't find it that exciting. Then again, maybe my only experience with it was a bum one and I should give it another shot.

1/7/2008 9:18:07 PM

no, you were right.

1/7/2008 11:00:53 PM

Quote :

"but then again I make enough where that's no big shakes"

that's the thing, i don't.

apparently i'm not trendy enough to know what tapas are, that's how. not in the artsy "i'm too cool for trendy" sense but rather, i just don't know any better.

i despise grizzlebee's and friday's as much as the next guy. there's lots of great places to eat without spending lots of money. there's some great vietnamese and mexican joints up buford highway. and a good sandwich shop over in chamblee.

oh, and i was 27 3 years ago.

1/8/2008 12:15:00 AM

speaking of chamblee, i don't know if you guys have been following the meredith emerson case, but they found her body. http://tinyurl.com/38fg4l

apparently i drive by the suspect's house every day on the way home from work, and live about 5 miles from his address.

[Edited on January 8, 2008 at 12:24 AM. Reason : tiny]

1/8/2008 12:23:01 AM

i don't even think eclipse di luna is that expensive. the tapas are mostly like 4 or 5 dollars each, and 3 of them fills me up. without getting wine or anything, that's less than 20 bucks for a dinner.....

1/8/2008 8:44:20 AM

alright. thread improvement idea - list great restaurants you've been to in atlanta, type of cuisine, and price range. could be helpful for everyone.

McKinnon's Louisianne - Great cajun restuarant in Buckhead. Not typical buckhead, though, it's really old school. and by old school, i mean the youngest patrons are ~65 years old, which is 10 years younger than most of the wait staff. Food is fantastic, ~$18-$25 per entree. Also has a lounge area, where on saturday nights you can listen to old folks croon out some Frank Sinatra with the piano player. Great place for drinking rusty nails and manhattans.

Thumb's Up - diner off of Edgewood, near Inman park. Great brunch!! I would recommend either then chicken and waffles or the catfish. Soulful place. Prices around $4-$10 for brunch entrees.

ok, someone hit me up with others. word up!

1/8/2008 11:56:53 AM

Across The Street - Mexican joint on Highland Ave next to Johnny's Pizza (down on the old fourth ward end). $8-15 for entrees. Fish tacos are pretty damn good...guac is great

Rathbun's - On Krog Street in the Inman Park area. Can be very expensive, so keep it for for nice dates or when parents come to town. You can eat cheaper than that, but the best food (second mortgage menu) is worth it...huge filet's, delicious porterhouses. On a date we got 2 drinks at the bar (martini, vodka-tonic) while waiting, 2 appetizers, I had the 2nd most expensive steak and she had a moderately priced dish, a side dish, a bottle of wine, and a 4-dessert tray. The total bill with tip was over $200, but realize the wine and drinks were about $80 of it (and we could have ordered cheaper). When I went with my parents, we pushed $400 with two bottles of wine. It's not for the faint of heart wallets, but it is a superb dining experience. Haven't been to his new resturant, Kevin Rathbun Steak, but I hear good things. Oh, and they do the steak right...if you like it rare, this is the place to go. http://www.rathbunsrestaurant.com/

Osteria - In the highlands near the Ace Hardware. Pasta dishes around $10. I think it's tuesday night when they have half priced wine bottles, and they have a good selection. Get there early in nice weather to sit on the front porch area.

Pasta da Pulcinella - Peachtree Walk near CosmoLava. Get the Tortelli di Mele (saugage and Granny Smith apple-stuffed ravioli) - delicious. Moderately priced ($13-15 for entrees) and a subdued/romantic atmosphere. http://pastadapulcinella.com/home.html

Gotta head to a meeting...will have more later.

1/8/2008 12:58:44 PM

^^ love McKinnon's


The Real Chow Baby is fun, despite the stupid name, over off of Northside. Its like Bali Hai but better, and all you can eat, interesting sauces/combos

1/8/2008 4:39:05 PM

^ yeah, mkinnon's is great because the food's fantastic and the atmosphere is such a change of pace from the normal places in town.

^^ rathbuns is good too, had a few work events there and str8 stuffed myself.

one more:
reuben's deli - downtown off of auburn avenue, good place to get sandwiches for lunch if you happen to be downtown. best deli i've been to in atlanta, and having lived in philly i'm now a freaking hoagie snob.

1/9/2008 11:01:26 AM

I used to work downtown and would eat at Reuben's Deli once a week. That place is the best.

The places that I regularly eat at are:
-Taquieria del Sol, El Azteca, and La Parilla (this one is right near my house so it's easy) for Mexican
-Mellow Mushroom and Fellini's for pizza
-Orient Express (in Vinings) for sushi

I eat Mexican food out like twice a week so that takes up the majority of my dining-out-time....I also don't like to travel far and those places are close to where I live

1/9/2008 1:50:45 PM

Little Bangkok - a Thai/Chinese restaurant on Cheshire Bridge. It's incredible.

R Thomas - a "healthy" organic restaurant, open 24 hrs, on Peachtree Rd.

J Alexanders - an upscale chain that serves excellent steaks for their price, on Peachtree Parkway (hwy 141) in Norcross/Duluth. Their service is top notch.

1/9/2008 2:34:52 PM

They just opened a new J Alexanders on Ashford-Dunwoody where the Houston's used to be (about half a mile past perimeter mall).

Love El Azteca...go the one on Ponce during nice weather and enjoy the outside seating.

The Geisha House has really good sushi and a great atmosphere, but it's a little on the expensive side (in Atlantic Station).

I also like Harry and Sons in the Highlands for Thai/Sushi.

Taco Mac is probably my favorite place to go for sports...usually wind up at the one in Decatur as I have a lot of friends that live on that side of town.

How could I forget Nakato for hibachi! http://www.nakatorestaurant.com/ on Cheshire Bridge...large parties + private rooms + sake bombs = great success

1/9/2008 3:26:36 PM

oh yeah i go to R. Thomas a lot too, it's delish

Taco Mac is good to watch sports, but its like everytime I go there, we get some surly waitress that gives us poor service....

1/9/2008 4:00:03 PM

http://www.greaturbanrace.com/index.html

the wife and i are doing this when it comes to ATL in march

1/9/2008 10:17:27 PM

Com - great Vietnamese place, really similar to the old Dalat vietnamese place at mission valley. its located in a stripmall behind the chevron about a block up on buford hwy from the corner of clairmont and buford. meals are usually ~$10 plus tip

Pho Bac - awesome place to eat on a cold day. delicious pho served almost boiling hot, you add your own veggies and it all cooks at the table. free hot tea. located in the asian strip mall across from the CDC on the corner of buford hwy and chamblee-tucker rd. ~$7.00 + tip

El Norteno - the absolute best mexican place. they cook chicken/pork/beef out back on a charcoal grill. authentic mexican dishes and freshmade salsa/chips bar. i reccomend the smoked chile sauce. prices are super cheap. a breast/wing with lettuce, tomato, rice, beans, tortillas, and drink is $5.33 with tax! located across the street from Pho Bac and they have at least one other location on Indian Trail (i think) up in gwinnette.

highland tap - great food and atmosphere, but a little too much on the pricey side for me. most plates were around $20/person. they serve steak, pork, lamb, etc. They used to have a special for monday night football, i think it was $2.00 for a beer and a hotdog. haven't been there in forever, i don't know if they still do it. located on the corner of N. highland and Virgina, across the street from taco mac.

Don Chey's noodle house. Sort of an american take on the vietnamese cuisine. basically various salad + noodles in a bowl combinations. ~$10 two locations that i know of, one on N. highland ave, the other is over by emory, i don't know the name of the road. ponce, maybe?

don't forget about yakatori-jenbei over on cobb parkway mentioned earlier in this thread.

another vote for r-thomas. good food, and its a neat place to go when the folks come into town. especially if they aren't accustomed to the artsy eclectic crowd.

[Edited on January 9, 2008 at 10:59 PM. Reason : .]

1/9/2008 10:53:25 PM

so, where do you bitches live? not too specific... haha

1/10/2008 12:06:07 AM

inman park

another place to eat...Vortex in Little Five. One fo the best burgers in Atlanta. You'll know the place...the front door is the mouth of a huge friggin skull

1/10/2008 10:41:30 AM

yeah, they are good, the line can be a bitch sometimes though, bartenders there are really good too

1/10/2008 10:59:47 AM

I live near 75 between Northside and Howell Mill...

1/10/2008 1:20:29 PM

so i'm bored for a few mins here at work, so for eateries I thought I'd cover lunch in Vinings for those of you around that area. I enjoy the following places for off-site lunches

La Paz - mexican place above mellow mushroom

NY Deli (either in Vinings or down Atl Rd just inside 285)

Bella's Pizza (on Atlanta road...go on Paces Ferry till it dead ends in Atl Rd and make a right...in the first little shopping center there next to a liquor store)...$6 bucks will get you two huge slices of pizza and a soda at lunch.

Five Guys Burgers - in the West Village development on Atl Rd just inside 285

Muss & Turner's - great sandwiches in the moxied commercial/residential area at the corner of Cumberland Pkyw and Atl Rd http://www.mussandturners.com/

1/10/2008 3:51:55 PM

i live in the highlands. with, you know, all the yuppies

my only real issue with the highlands is that there's nowhere to grab a sandwich or hoagie when i'm all hungover on a saturday morning. i'm gonna see if the owner of reuben's deli will open something nearby for me.

brunch/lunch at murphy's is pretty darn good, though - just not the type of place you go to alone smelling like alcohol from the night before.

1/10/2008 7:53:28 PM

go to the majestic

1/11/2008 10:51:07 AM

^ majestic is kinda bad. i mean, it's fine for while you're drunk, not for when you're hungover though. word!

1/11/2008 3:06:08 PM

meh, it's a greasy spoon diner...if you're dying for a sandwich, Neighbor's has decent ones and reasonable prices during the day

1/11/2008 7:23:31 PM

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and i have to fly to DC tomorrow and already hate flying as it is

1/12/2008 11:19:43 AM

its snowing, like whoa

1/16/2008 7:12:35 PM

yep...yet another reason to hate the south...it's less wet than a rain shower and traffic was absolutely fucked...took me onver an hour and a half to get from vinings to inman park

1/16/2008 7:34:51 PM

hope that shit has calmed down by the time I fly home tomorrow

1/16/2008 10:11:32 PM

yeah my 30 mile drive took me 1:45 - i watched enchanted on the way home not a bad movie

how is Hand in Hand in the highlands? probably heading out there for a friend's bday on friday

1/16/2008 10:30:35 PM

my drive up to kennesaw was actually easier this afternoon because of the snow ha

hand in hand is awesome

1/16/2008 10:35:06 PM

is that the place beside neighbors? its not bad, can get really crowded sometimes.

1/16/2008 11:11:08 PM

i like hand in hand too. just watch out, the liquor drinks are a bit expensive. it's like $6.50 for a bourbon and coke. that's high for the dirty south!

1/16/2008 11:34:55 PM

yes it is chop!

1/17/2008 8:29:26 AM

i like hand in hand...but Limerick Junction is better for an "irish" bar...especially with live music there

I'd go to Atkin's Park befire Hand in Hand...thou it's more crowded there, they do make the best damn White Russians in Atlanta

1/17/2008 11:27:52 AM

restaurant recommendations

- totally second the pasta da pulcinella recommendations. went there for my birthday and it was fantastic.

- bambinelli's - Italian place in tucker near north(lake?) mall (the one not in alpharetta). its like the food your italian grandma would make, its fantastic

- brickstore pub - huge beer selection, recommend the chicken salad melt. very crowded on friday and saturday nights

- Imari sushi - this was my favorite sushi place, but last time i drove by it, it had a different name so I am not sure if its under new management and is as good. Its a small hole in the wall, but very nice inside and excellent service. have never been a big fan of harry & sons. its on peachtree rd in the shopping center that is across the street from Justin's

- Carroll St Cafe - in cabbage town owned by the same people who own Apres Diem. Similar menus, but I like the space better - also highly recommend the Espresso-tini

- Radial Cafe - for brunch fantastic food

Also, I went to Verve last night for an event and had a pretty good meal there....dont know what its like on normal nights though (in regards to crowds etc)

Looking for recommendations on some good Vietnamese places and Indian places. I've been to Swapna up in Cobb a couple of times, and its fine, but I have had better.

1/22/2008 5:55:32 PM

too much driving, if I cant walk to it or drive about 5 minutes shit aint worth it most of the time... although I do love me some Swapna

1/22/2008 8:27:36 PM

went to harry and son's for sushi this past weekend before hand in hand - so far the best sushi i've had in ATL and i've been to about 10 different places now - service wasn't anything to write home about but the 7 and 7s were made good while waiting 20min. for our table and with a bottle of wine the overall price was very reasonable

1/22/2008 10:13:45 PM

mmmm. 7 and 7s

1/22/2008 10:31:31 PM

Really? I've never been to Swapna because it looks like a hole to me. I found a great place that was supposed to be in East Atlanta around Flat Shoals, but I could never find it

1/23/2008 12:43:21 AM

oh it is a hole, its a dump, but good food... best part is thats its buffet. Not so much for the volume of food that you get but more that you have a bigger variety to pick from since they change their buffet items daily. Also helps to try shit you normally wouldnt, if you dont like it, fuck it.

1/23/2008 5:52:30 PM