These are our and our "Foodie" friends' recommendations for restaurants based on what
is good that is close by (Emory/Druid Hills, Decatur, Little Five Points, Kirkwood, and Virginia Highlands),
what has the best food city-wide, nice environments where you can eat outside, and the best
of the ethnic restaurants (which are often in points north or northeast in Chamblee/Buford Highway).
L=serving lunch, O=outside dining available, NA=no alcohol served. If no phone number is listed that
means that the restaurant does not take reservations.
Decatur
Restaurants in Decatur are usually casual, simple, low cost, and often have great beer on tap or great patios. To get there,
turn right on Ponce (going East), stay right after going under the railroad bridge onto Ponce to go to Decatur.
Watershed 406 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, 404-378-4900 Southern upper scale cuisine, good food,
nice interior. (L) The Marlay House 426 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, Irish Pub with great beer and authentic
Irish Pub food run by a native Dubliner. (L,O) Taqueria del Sol, 359 W. Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur 30030, sophisticated tacos, whatever that means. (L,O) Cakes & Ale, 254 West Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur 30030 (404) 377-7994, local food made from scratch The Brick Store Pub, 125 E. Court Sq, Decatur (in central square). Best selection of on tap beers in US,
try "Belgian Room", also English pub fare. (L) Carpe Diem 105 Sycamore Pl., Decatur, sit outside and eat eggs benedict. (L,O) Cafe Lilly, 308 W Ponce De Leon Ave Ste B Decatur 30030 (404) 371-9119, Mediterranean
(lunch weekdays and Sundays) Farm Burger, 410b W. Ponce de Leon, Decatur GA 30030, organic and creative burgers, sit at picnic tables. (L) Taco Mac, 240 W. Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur 30030 (& multiple locations), Buffalo Wings, sports bar,
great beer on tap. (L,O)
Decatur has many bars and restaurants. See a complete list of Decatur restaurants here
Virginia Highland/Poncey Highland/Candler Park/Oakhurst
These are four different neighborhood hubs all within a mile. All have casual indoor and outdoor places to eat that serve lunch and dinner.
The Virginia Highlands neighborhood has many indoor/outdoor restaurants and bars, Thai restaurants, several
upscale Italian and Spanish, as well as pub fare. Go west on Ponce and turn R. on Highland.
Hand in Hand, 752 N Highland Ave NE, Atlanta 30306 (L,O), British pub food (L,O) Neighbors Pub, 752-C North Highland Ave, casual, sit outside (L,O) Panita Thai is a close-by Thai in Virginia Highland with an outdoor garden area and real Thai food,
1043 Greenwood Ave NE Atlanta 30306 (404) 888-9228 (L, O). La Tavola, 992 Virginia Ave NE Atlanta GA (404) 873-5430 good Italian food in Virginia Highland,
Sunday Brunch (O) Noche, 1000 Virginia Ave NE, Atlanta GA 30306 (404) 815-9155 Good Spanish in Virginia Highland, outdoor
seating on back deck, lunch on weekends (L,O)
To park for Noche or La Tavola or any of the other restaurants and bars that have adjacent decks in the back,
after passing Virginia Ave. take your first left to go around behind the building where there is parking
for those, places as well as other pizza places, oyster bars, sports bars, etc.
Go west on Ponce and turn left on Highland to go to the Poncey Highland neighborhood, with
Sotto Sotto, 309 N. Highland Ave NE (404) 880-9559 Atlanta 30307, excellent Italian fine dining, and Fritti, 309 N. Highland Ave NE (404) 880-9559 Atlanta 30307, Italian pizza like you would have it in Italy (L,O)
Go south on Ridgecrest and turn right on Mclendon to get to Candler Park, where you can sit outside and eat pizza at Fellini's (L,O), or go to Flying Biscuit, 1655 McLendon Ave Atlanta 30307 and stand in line for the best breakfast in town, Southern style (L).
Go south on Ridgecrest and turn left on East Lake and keep going a half mile until you get to the Oakhurst neighborhood where there are several bars and restaurants including;Mulligan's Bar and Restaurant (L,O), Universal Joint, 906 Oakview Rd Decatur 30030 (L,O), Mojo Pizza (L) and Kavana Cafe (L).
Fine Dining: Emory/Druid Hills/Inman Park
These adjacent restaurants owned by chef Kevin Rathbun in the Inman Park neighborhood (2 miles away) are
amongst Atlanta's best: Rathbuns, 112 Krog St, Atlanta 30307 (404) 524-8280, great dining. (O) Krog Bar , 112 Krog St, Ste 200 Atlanta 30307 (404) 524-1618, Mediterranean Wine Bar & Tapas (O). Kevin Rathbun Steak, 154 Krog St, Atlanta 30307 (404) 524-5600.
Others close by include Floataway Cafe 1123 Zonolite St NE (tucked away near Emory) best restaurant within 2 miles. (404) 892-1414 Sotto Sotto 313 North Highland Ave NE, Atlanta 30307 (404) 523-6678
Fine Dining: Other Points Atlanta
Best restaurant in the city is Quinones at Bacchanalia, (404) 365-0410 (Saturday nights only) which is the fixed price version
of Bacchanalia, (404) 365-0410, at the same Westside location, 1198 Howell Mill Rd, Atlanta 30318.
The owner of Bacchanalia has a couple of other restaurants in the star provisions group.
These include Abattoir which means "French slaughterhouse" 1170 Howell Mill Rd, Atlanta 30318 (404) 892-3355 (O) and Floataway Cafe 1123 Zonolite St NE (tucked away near Emory). (404) 892-1414 Holeman & Finch Public House, 2277 Peachtree Rd Atlanta 30309 (404) 948-1175, stays open late (Sunday brunch) La Pietra Cucina, 1 Peachtree Pointe, 1545 Peachtree St NW (Spring St) Atlanta 30309 (404) 888-8709, best Italian in the city, lunch weekdays (O) Aria, 490 East Paces Ferry Rd NE, Atlanta 30305 (404) 233-7673, modern American in Buckhead Fogo de Chao (Brazilian steak), 3101 Piedmont Rd Atlanta 30305 - Buckhead (404) 266-9988, lunch weekdays Restaurant Eugene, 2277 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta (404) 355-0321, established restaurant with great reputation. South City Kitchen, 1144 Crescent Ave, Atlanta 30309 (404) 873-7358, great Southern food in Midtown (L,O) Canoe (on the Chattahoochee, most romantic for dinner, outside dining) 4198 Paces Ferry Rd. (770) 432-2663,
Lunch weekdays and Sunday. (O) One Midtown Kitchen, 559 Dutch Valley Rd, Atlanta 30324, (404) 892-4111, good food with view of park, from the same restaurant group that owns several restaurants with similar atmospheres including the nearby Two Urban Licks, 820 Ralph McGill Boulevard NE, Atlanta 30306 (404) 522-4622, which is a loud happening kind of place. Empire State South, 999 Peachtree St, Atlanta 30309 (404) 541-1105, New Southern cuisine (L, O) Miller Union, 999 Brady Ave, Atlanta 30318 (678) 733-8550, New Southern Cuisine, lunch Tuesday-Saturday (O)
Patio Dining
Fritti, 309 N. Highland Ave NE (404) 880-9559 Atlanta 30307, Italian pizza like you would have it in Italy (L,O) Horseradish Grill, 4320 Powers Ferry Rd., Atlanta 30342 (404) 255-7277, Upscale Southern dining,
weekday lunch, Sunday brunch (O) Krog Bar , 112 Krog St, Ste 200 Atlanta 30307 (404) 524-1618, Mediterranean Wine Bar. (O) La Tavola, 992 Virginia Ave NE Atlanta GA (404) 873-5430 good Italian food in Virginia Highland,
Sunday Brunch (O) Mali is a close by good restaurant with outdoor patio dining, 961 Amsterdam Ave NE, Atlanta 30306,
(404) 874-1411, lunch weekdays only. (O) Noche, 1000 Virginia Ave NE, Atlanta GA 30306 (404) 815-9155 Good Spanish in Virginia Highland,
outdoor seating on back deck, lunch on weekends (L,O) Rathbuns, 112 Krog St, Atlanta 30307 (404) 524-8280, great dining. (O) South City Kitchen, 1144 Crescent Ave, Atlanta 30309 (404) 873-7358, great Southern food in Midtown (L,O) Sun in My Belly, 2161 College Ave NE Atlanta 30317 (404) 370-1088, great breakfast and brunch
a couple of blocks away (L,O) Ray's on the River, 6700 Powers Ferry Rd, Sandy Springs GA 30339 (770) 955-1187, view of Chattahoochee River,
lunch weekdays and Sunday. Canoe (on the Chattahoochee, most romantic for dinner, outside dining) 4198 Paces Ferry Rd. (770) 432-2663,
Lunch weekdays and Sunday. (O) Empire State South, 999 Peachtree St, Atlanta 30309 (404) 541-1105, New Southern cuisine (L, O) Miller Union, 999 Brady Ave, Atlanta 30318 (678) 733-8550, New Southern Cuisine, lunch Tuesday-Saturday (O)
More casual with outdoor dining and also have lunch
Hand in Hand, 752 N Highland Ave NE, Atlanta 30306, British pub food (L,O) Neighbors Pub, 752-C North Highland Ave, casual, sit outside (L,O) Front Page News, New Orleans style food and drink in outdoor patio garden. Two locations:
Little Five Points location, 351 Moreland Ave Atlanta 30307 (404) 475-7777 or Midtown at 1104 Crescent Ave, Atlanta 30309
(404) 897-3500 (L,O) Park Tavern, 500 10th St NE, Atlanta GA 30309 (404) 249-0001, patio overlooks Piedmont Park,
lunch weekends only (L,O) Einstein's, 1077 Juniper St Atlanta 30309, casual Midtown outdoor dining (404) 876-7925 (L,O) Carpe Diem, 105 Sycamore Place, Decatur 30030 (404) 687-9696 Casual French (L,O) Baraonda, 710 Peachtree St NE #200, Atlanta 30308 Real Italian pizza and trattoria food,
lunch weekdays & Sundays (L,O) Der Biergarten, 300 Marietta St NW Atlanta 30313, downtown beer garden on terrace, lunch weekends (L,O) Six Feet Under, seafood and Southern food and drinks on a rooftop patio (L,O). Two locations:
Grant Park: 437 Memorial Drive SE, Atlanta 30312 (404) 523-6664; westside, 685 11th St, Atlanta 30318 (404) 810-0040
Atlanta has great ethnic food. A lot of it is in Buford Hwy and Chamblis. Here are the best.
Indian:
Cafe Bombay on Briarcliff, 1622 Woodcliff Dr NE, Atlanta 30329 (go north on Briarcliff, in a strip mall just north
of N. Decatur Rd). (L) Mirch Masala, 1713 Church St, Decatur GA 30033(L) Zyka, 1677 Scott Blvd, Decatur (L,NA) Saravan Bhavan, 2179 Lawrenceville Hwy Ste V, Decatur 30033, Southern Indian (vegetarian) (L) Himalayas, 5520 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Chamblee GA 30341 (L)
Japanese:
Shoya Izakaya, 6035 Peachtree Rd. Suite A-101, Doraville GA 30360 (770) 457-5555 Miso Izakaya, 619 Edgewood Ave, Atlanta GA 30312 (678) 701-0128 Sushi House Hayakawa, 5979 Buford Highway NE #A10, Atlanta 30340 (770) 986-0010 Best Sushi in Atlanta Hashiguchi Jr., 3400 Around Lenox Rd NE, Ste C520, Atlanta 30326 (404) 841-9229, lunch weekdays Yakitori Jinbei, 2421 Cobb Pkwy SE, Smyrna GA 30080 (770) 818-9215, lunch weekdays
Korean:
So Kong Dong, 5280 Buford Hwy NE #C, Atlanta 30340 (L,NA) Woo Nam Jeong Stone Bowl House, 5953 Buford Hwy Ste 107, Atlanta 30340 (678) 530-0844 (L) Dan Moo Ji, Nukoa Plz, 3230 Steve Reynolds Blvd, Duluth GA 30096 (L,NA) Iron Age, 2131 Pleasant Hill Rd, Duluth GA 30096 (678) 334-5242, open 3 pm
Ethiopian:
Desta Ethiopian Kitchen, 3086 Briacliff Rd NE Atlanta 30329 (Inside Williamsburg Shopping Center) (404) 929-0011 (L) Queen of Sheba, 1594 Woodcliff Dr NE, Atlanta 30329 (404) 321-1493 (L)
Mediterranean:
Cafe' Agora, 262 E Paces Ferry Rd NE, Atlanta 30305 (404) 949-0900 (L) Cafe Lilly, 308 W Ponce De Leon Ave Ste B Decatur 30030 (404) 371-9119 (lunch weekdays and Sundays)
Mexican:
El Taco Veloz, 5670 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta 30342 or 3245 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd. Suite C, Chamblee 30341,
drive through or picnic table (L,NA) Taqueria el Rey del Taco, 5288 Buford Hwy NE Atlanta 30340, lunch only (L) El Senor Taco, 4005 Buford Highway, Ste H, Atlanta 30345 fish tacos (L) Taqueria del Sol, 359 W. Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur 30030 (L,O) Holy Taco, 1314 Glenwood Ave SE (Hass Ave), Atlanta 30316 (404) 230-6177 In nearby East Atlanta
and not as "basic" (L,O)
Chinese:
Chong Qing Hot Pot, 5385 New Peachtree Rd, Chamblee GA 30341 (L,O,NA) Canton Cooks, 5984 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta 30328, (404) 250-0515 (L) Bo Bo Garden, 5181 Buford Highway NE, Doraville, GA 30340 (closed Sunday) (L) Peter Changs, 645 Powers Ferry Rd, Sandy Springs Ga 30339 (678) 766-8765 (L, O) Mings Bar BQ, 5150 Buford Hwy NE #300, Atlanta 30340 (L,NA) Chef Liu, 5221 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta 30340 (L,NA)
Vietnamese:
Pho #1, 4051 Buford Hway NE #A Atlanta 30345 (L,NA) Quoc Huong, 5150 Buford Hway NE Atlanta 30340 (L,NA) Lee's Bakery, 4005 Buford Hway NE Atlanta 30345 (L,NA) Co'm Vietnamese Grill, 4005 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta 30345 (L,NA)
Thai:
Tamarind the best in town. 1197 Peachtree St NW Ste 110 (14th St) Atl 30309 (404) 873-4888, lunch all days but Sat. Nan Thai is from the same owners but more upscale, nicer dining room. 1350 Spring St NW, Atl 30309,
lunch weekdays (404) 870-9933 Mali is a close by good restaurant with outdoor patio dining, 961 Amsterdam Ave NE, Atlanta 30306,
(404) 874-1411, lunch weekdays only. Panita Thai is a close-by Thai in Virginia Highland with an outdoor garden area and real Thai food,
1043 Greenwood Ave NE Atlanta 30306 (404) 888-9228 (L, O).
Italian:
Antico Pizza, 1093 Hemphill Ave NW, Atlanta 30318, best pizza, sit on picnic tables, BYOB (L,NA) La Pietra Cucina, 1 Peachtree Pointe, 1545 Peachtree St NW (Spring St) Atlanta 30309 (404) 888-8709,
best Italian in the city, lunch weekdays (O) Fritti, 309 N. Highland Ave NE (404) 880-9559 Atlanta 30307, Italian pizza like you would have it in Italy (L,O) Baraonda, 710 Peachtree St NE #200, Atlanta 30308 Real Italian pizza and trattoria food,
lunch weekdays & Sundays (L,O) Sotto Sotto 313 North Highland Ave NE, Atlanta 30307 (404) 523-6678 Amalfi, 292 South Atlanta St, Roswell GA 30075 (770) 645-9983, authentic Italian trattoria, home-made gnocchi,
etc. Closed Sundays
Cool Burgers
Yeah! Burger, 1017 N. Highland Ave, Atlanta 30306 (L) Grindhouse Killer Burgers, 209 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta 30303-3012, lunch only, closed Sunday (L,NA) Flip Burger Project, 1587 Howell Mill Rd, Atlanta 30318, run by a Top Chef winner (L) Farm Burger, 410B W. Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA, organic burgers, built by you (L)
There are good pizza places like Everybody's or Savage in Virginia Highlands, Decatur, and Little Five Points.
There are a number of Thai and burger places in Virginia Highlands and Decatur.
