Archive for the 'Atlanta' Category
Pig N Chik
PIG N CHIK
4920 Roswell Road, Fountain Oaks Shopping Center
5071 Peachtree Industrial Blvd
Skeptics may shy away from eating BBQ in a strip mall. The guys at the Pig N Chik have set out to prove them wrong. From pork to chicken to beef, all meat options are moist and smoky, with the sauce on the side for you to add. Portions of sides and entrees alike are generous. For the strong of gut, the “Redneck Nachos” are a standout menu item; a pile of crinkle-cut fries are covered in pulled pork, cheddar cheese, and BBQ sauce. They are a decadent (and affordable) heart attack in a basket.
Sotto Sotto
SOTTO SOTTO
313 North Highland Ave. Atlanta, GA 30307
The sleek and chic space at Sotto Sotto portends both the superior food and the coolness of the service. If you are willing to overlook a staff that may or may not care about your experience, the fare is worth the trip. Sotto Sotto offers the city’s only perfect risotto; Risotto Mantecato–with caramelized onions and aged balsamic–is divine. Other menu favorites include the seared scallop starter and the whole roasted fish. Be sure to save room for dessert; the chocolate soup is the love child of creamy hot cocoa and a melted candy bar.
CANTON COOKS
by Natalie Dietz
CANTON COOKS
5984 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone 404-252-0322
If you have to wait for a table at Canton Cooks, be sure to shop the dishes of those already eating. Many of their best offerings aren’t actually on the menu, so if you spot something that interests you, ask your server. Favorites include the many pan-fried noodles, salt-and-pepper pork chops or squid, and the Chinese style wonton soup. Open all the time, Canton Cooks is perfect for lunch or eating off too much going out. Don’t be discouraged by their strip mall location; this is the city’s most authentic Chinese offering.
Genki
GENKI
3188 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA 30035
(404) 844-8319
Despite its traditionally Japanese fare - including rice and noodle bowls as well as sushi - Genki is best if you usually order your sushi with extra ketchup. Ignore the small, tough nigiri and go for the most Americanized of the maki selections. Items like the super crunch, with cream cheese, avocado, salmon, remoulade and teriyaki sauce come off well, as do the broth-heavy noodle bowls. Don’t come here expecting authentic Japanese; do come here expecting a drum-and-base crowd, friendly service and a few hits in the food department.
SOUL VEGETARIAN - Vegetarian & Vegan
By T. Murray
SOUL VEGETARIAN - Vegetarian & Vegan
652 North Highland Ave., N.E.
(404) 874-0145
879 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd.
(404) 752-5194
Run by the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem, Soul Vegetarian is a learning experience for the culinarily curious as well as the spiritually prone. If you’re inclined to say yes to fresh produce, gluten and soy protein and no to preservatives, processed salt, additives, artificial colors or unnecessary fat, Soul Vegetarian is your dream restaurant. Located in Atlanta’s Historic West End, an area that is seeing growth as developers swarm in to capitalize on land and residents who want to live “in the city,” Soul Vegetarian has held its ground for years. A right of passage for local college students at Atlanta University Center (AUC) and an alternative to the meat laden fast food restaurant that line the surrounding blocks, vegetarians and the “veggie curious” should give this place a try. Need something to wash down all that healthiness? Try Soul Vegetarian’s famous “Soy Shakes,” available in a variety of flavors.
La Tavola
by Natalie Dietz
LA TAVOLA TRATTORIA
992 Virginia Ave, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30306
(404) 873-5430
La Tavola is a refreshing look at Italian cuisine, reminding the diner that there’s more to this complex cuisine than spaghetti and meatballs. Featuring dishes typical of Southern Italy, the menu offers both light dishes like swordfish picatta and rich favorites like manicotti with beef, veal and pancetta. In addition to their dinner menu, La Tavola also has an Italian-inspired Sunday brunch, which is a coveted commodity in Intown neighborhoods. Egg “cannelloni” and frittata exemplify this Fifth Group restaurant’s creative mix of quotidian brunch and Italian elements. At any meal, be sure to save room for any of their dolci offerings, as they are all house made and the perfect ending to your experience.
THE ATLANTA FISH MARKET
by Natalie Dietz
THE ATLANTA FISH MARKET
265 Pharr Road, Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 262-3165
Aptly nicknamed “The Big Fish” in reference to the 2-story copper fish statue that graces the front of this bustling restaurant in the Buckhead section of Atlanta, it could easily be applied to the large portions and massive crowds that stream into this seafood haven daily. Featuring just about every type of fish you would ever want to eat, an extensive oyster bar and large wine list, the Fish Market is known as being one of the most reliably good meals in the city. The professional staff and courteous management remember the regulars and treat newcomers to everything a regular would deserve.