I was perusing accessatlanta.com the other day (for like the second time ever) and I noticed an article on the "Best of Atlanta". Based on reader nominations and votes they compiled a list of the best restaurants, locations, and other superlatives. While some of them seemed to be dead-on, I felt that they made a few "errors". So I decided to do a similar column, based on a single vote: my own. After all, my vote is more important than all of those others as it is.
Anyways, I've included only the categories that I felt most passionate about. If you have comments or alternatives in any category, I'd love to hear them!
| Best Pizza: Pepperoni's Tavern |
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| I've only been to this tucked-away sports bar several times, but it only took once to realize that they were hiding a very good secret. Located in a strip mall in Alpharetta, Pepperoni's wins this category by stressing quality over quantity. All of their ingredients are perfectly fresh, from the liberal amounts of cheese down to the hand-sliced pepperoni, italian sausage, or crisp vegetables. The Meat Lover's pizza is a veritable feast of dead animals - it is truly a wonderful sight to behold. The only mark against Pepperoni's is that it is quite pricey, especially for specialty pizzas. For a one-topping, you're looking at about $8 for a personal or $20 for a large. For a specialty pizza, it's a lofty $12 for a personal or about $30 for a large. While the taste makes it worth it, it's not your typical cheap pizza dive. The decor is fairly standard sports bar fare, complete with pool tables and even one of the old-school table-style Pac-Man arcade games. The wall of 60-inch widescreen TVs is also a nice touch. |
| Runner-Up: Mellow Mushroom |
| Best Calzones: Giorgio's |
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| Just about everyone who has gone to school at Georgia Tech knows about this little dive. Though it's located in a strip mall off Collier, several miles from campus, it seems to be very popular with the students, and with good reason: they make the best calzones in town (and some pretty darn good pizza, too). There's nothing particularly revolutionary or distinctive about their style, but there's something about it that gives it an edge over all the others. Try one for yourself and see. While some may dislike the atmosphere, I think it adds to the experience. It is a total dive; as in, you better check your chair before you sit down to make sure it's not about to break. Favorite decorations include the Golden Tee arcade machine (an absolute staple), 13-inch discolored TVs with fuzzy reception, and of course, the huge Melrose Place promo poster of Heather Locklear's face with the caption: "Mondays are a bitch". Plus, the staff is awesome: a couple of delightful foreign guys (Russian? Italian? Swedish? Probably all of the above) are always on-hand for good service and a joke or two. |
| Best Italian: Ippolito's |
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| This cozy, local chain of restaurants is a perfect mix of the essential Italian elements: good food, good service, and a warm atmosphere. Portions are deceptively large, reasonably priced, and graced with that homemade goodness, as if the entrees came out of the kitchen of Mama Italy herself. Salads are large and fresh. And did I mention the rolls? Big, soft, and doused in butter and garlic, they might just be the best of their kind anywhere (assuming you are OK with receiving a complimentary angioplasty after eating one). Everything I've had there has been excellent, ranging from the standard fare (lasagna, chicken parm, etc.) to their more signature dishes (veal, stuffed shells, etc.) The wait staff has always been highly attentive and extremely friendly. It also has just enough of a romantic touch to be a decent date location. Add in its very reasonable price range and you get the perfect combination of great taste and unbelievable value. |
| Runner-Up: Maggiano's |
| Best Chinese: House of Chan |
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| This is the one restaurant which completely blows away all of its competition. There is nothing bad to say about this delightful little Chinese restaurant. Nestled (yet again) near the back of a small strip mall off Cobb Parkway, finding it is no small feat; but it is always worth the effort. The menu offers a wide selection of dishes, from the traditional Americanized-Chinese offerings to a whole host of more authentic choices. While it tends to be more expensive than your typical chinese restaurant, my experience has taught me that everything there is good. Everything. I usually don't branch too far out on a menu, usually sticking with 3-4 things that I really like at a restaurant. But at House of Chan, I'm tempted to get something different every time, just to see if I can find something that's not good. They haven't let me down yet. Their house-specialty sweet-and-sour, something I will never order at any other Chinese restaurant, is absolutely fantastic, perhaps the best anywhere. And the staff is top-notch, better than most five-star restaurants I've been to. A server is never far away, food is always out quickly, requests are always handled with a smile, and your drinks will never, ever be empty. You can't help but leave the restaurant satisfied, not just because the food was so good, but due to the warmth and appreciativeness of the waiters. The max capacity is probably about 50, making for a very intimate dining atmosphere. Despite this, it is an acceptable and enjoyable place to take groups. In fact, I think they really enjoy groups; whenever we've gone in larger numbers, we get the royal treatment, and always end up with some kind of free dessert. As far as I'm concerned, House of Chan is everything a restaurant should be. |
| Runner-Up: P.F. Chang's |
| Best BBQ: Tie - Slope's, Fatt Matt's Rib Shack |
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| This was the hardest choice to make, and rather than make it, I wimped out and called it a tie. But I think that is the right call, because I love these restaurants just about equally, but for completely different reasons. Slope's has several family-owned locations around town, while Fatt Matt's Rib Shack can be found right off Piedmont in Midtown. First, let's talk food: If you're looking for ribs, I'm sure you can guess where you're going to want to go: Fatt Matt's does the best ribs in town, bar none. A half-slab is a slice of heaven. That is their specialty, and you shouldn't even bother ordering anything else there. Slope's, on the other hand, tends to dominate in the other categories, especially if you're looking for pork. Their BBQ pork sandwich/plate is extremely tasty, especially with the house sauce drizzled liberally on top of it. Now, let's talk sides. Once again, Fatt Matt's is famous for one thing: Rum baked beans. And I assure you they are to die for. Not to be completely outdone, Slope's makes some mean baked beans, probably the second-best I've ever had. But Fat Matt's gets the edge in that staple category. However, if just about any other side item is your style (especially Mac/Cheese or Green Beans), head down to Slope's. They have the best Mac & Cheese in the land. To top it all off, if you go to Slope's on Saturdays, they make fresh, tasty cheese biscuits which they hand out to the tables for free. Slope's wins in the service category hands-down. They strive hard to maintain their down-home style, and so far they are succeeding. It seems as if the entire staff is related, and if they're not, they certainly act as if they are. You are always greeted with a smile and a welcome when you enter the door. Orders are taken by name and delivered promptly and cheerfully. And little handwritten notes scattered throughout the restaurant (such as "This is a Cell-Phone Free Zone" at the front, or the "Sweet"/"Unsweet" signs on the tea) can't help but make you feel at home. Fatt Matt's, on the other hand, lets the food do the talking. The staff is pretty impersonal, especially the helpers who deliver the food. Good luck getting a smile or an "enjoy!" out of one of them. When it comes to atmosphere, Fatt Matt's gets the edge, if only due to the live blues bands that play there at night. It makes for a wonderfully authentic BBQ experience. However, if you plan on doing any talking, you might want to sit outside where you can hear the band and still think straight. If it's not painfully clear already, I love both of these restaurants and could not bear to rate one of them below the other. |
| Best Burgers: Fuddrucker's |
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| It might be cheesy, but I'm going with the popular burger chain on this one, and I'm sticking to it. Fuddrucker's does everything just about right. Large, cooked-to-order burgers of various sizes; tons of specialty burger offerings; and options on your type of meat, if you're looking for something a bit leaner. The toppings area is always full of fresh vegetables and interesting options such as jalapenos, melted cheese, and BBQ sauce which allow you to make your burger as normal or crazy as you want. If you're looking for an alternative to the big beef patty, their salads are just as good and just as big as the burgers, if not bigger. And the real sleeper items are the desserts; the Fudd Brownie Blast, at under $5, will blow your mind. |
| Runner-Up: Ted's Montana Grill |
| Best Deli / Sandwich Shop: Jersey Mike's Subs |
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| This is another recent discovery for me, and I've become a total convert. It doesn't take much to succeed in the deli business; the key is the quality and freshness of the ingredients. This is where Jersey Mike's shines. The meats and cheeses are fresh-sliced on order, which always means a tasty sandwich. They have a ton of different sandwich combinations, and the toppings are just as fresh as the meats and cheeses. How can you go wrong with a #13? Ham, cappicuolo, prosciutto, pepperoni, salami and provolone - might as well be the food of the gods. If cold subs aren't your thing, they also do a very meaty and very excellent meatball. Polish that off with one (or three) of their small-yet-delicious homemade cookies and you're bound to be happy. |
| Runner-Up: Firehouse Subs |
| Best Chain Restaurant: Carabba's Italian Grill |
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| The crowning achievement of a chain restaurant should be to generate the consistency across stores while developing the atmosphere of a stand-alone restaurant. This is exactly what you get at Carabba's, a tremendous Italian restaurant. Right off the bat they start excellently, bringing out a warm, plain loaf of Italian bread, and then pouring olive oil onto a plate over top of spices for your dipping pleasure. Entrees are pretty typical Italian fare, with the occasional signature dish. But everything I've had there is fantastic, especially the Pollo Rosa Maria - two chicken breasts, stuffed with prosciutto and fontina cheese, and covered with a lemon-butter-mushroom sauce. The garlic mashed potatoes are to die for, and I'm sure they have excellent desserts, but I wouldn't know because I never have room for it after finishing the meal. The staff has always been attentive and often times has been very friendly and interactive. Every time I've been to Carabba's I've had an excellent meal and a good time. |
| Runner-Up: Macaroni Grill |
| Best Fast Food: Boston Market |
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| It's almost not fair to include this in the "fast food" category, but I figure that if I can go into a Boston Market, place an order at a counter, and have a plate of hot food 30 seconds later, that's just about the definition of fast. Boston Market is really a cut above other fast food restaurants, offering homestyle meals at reasonable prices (although more expensive than other restaurants in its category). Choose your meat, add a couple sides, tack on the free cornbread, and you have a full meal in under a minute. The rotisserie quarter-chicken is always a favorite, the turkey is a pretty good choice as well, and I've even heard positive things about the meatloaf. But to me the signature choice is the ham, not only because it is really tasty, but because they top it off with some of their sweet fried apples for free. If I've got a half-hour to eat somewhere, and my choices are "quarter-pounder with fries", "chicken nuggets with onion rings", or "fresh-sliced ham with sweet potatoe casserole and green beans", I think the choice is obvious. |
| Runner-Up: Chick-fil-A |
| Best Ice Cream: Bruster's |
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| Though I've only been here once, that was enough to know that Bruster's is the king of ice cream in Atlanta. This nationwide chain, recognizable by its small stores with walk-up counters, combine fascinating flavor options with a rich, creamy ice-cream recipe. Bruster's website claims that they offer 140 flavors, in addition to seasonal and local flavors only available at your location. It is a popular hangout for families and younger kids, and with good reason. Scoops are reasonably priced and hefty in size. You can probably get a different flavor each time you go and never repeat. |
| Runner-Up: Jake's |
| Best Smoothies: Smoothie King |
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| Planet Smoothie might as well not exist as far as I'm concerned. Smoothie King is aptly named, as it reigns supreme over all other smoothie joints. Their smoothie menu is large, varied, and tasty across-the-board. For the super health-conscious, they have numerous vitamins and supplements which can be added to any Smoothie. For my money, a large Super Punch Plus is just about as good as it gets. |
| Best Southern Cooking: Cracker Barrel |
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| Once again, it may be cliche, but Cracker Barrel deserves to sit atop this category. What's not to like? From the homemade biscuits and cornbread, to the vast countrified menu, including fantastic fried chicken, country-friend steak, and chicken-and-dumplins, to the huge list of veggies (all of which are superb), Cracker Barrel has it all. And I haven't even discussed breakfast yet. You name it, they do it right; eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, pancakes, waffles, grits, biscuits and gravy... I could go on for miles. It also gets bonus points for being a chain, since I can count on getting some down-home cooking even when I'm travelling cross-country. In fact, whenever I was living in Minnesota and travelling to Wisconsin for Taekwon-Do events, one of the highlights of the trip was hitting the lone Cracker Barrel in central Wisconsin, just to get a little taste of home. If the food's not enough, you've got to love the kitschy gift shop, full of various odds and ends, some tacky (John Deere silverware) and some awesome (old-timey candies). If you're still not sold, there's always the triangle peg game at the table where you can prove that you're not an "Eg-no-ra-moose". |
| Runner-Up: Bobby and June's |
| Best Movie Theatre: AMC Barrett Parkway |
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| It might be a drive for those not in the Marietta/Kennesaw area, but if you appreciate a good movie theatre experience, this is the place to go. A 24-movie megaplex, it's just about guaranteed to have the film you want to see at the time you want to see it. Despite the theatre's size, I've never seen massive crowds there, and never had trouble getting tickets for a big show (though I still prefer to order tickets online before going to the theatre). It is a new theatre, meaning it has state-of-the-art audio/video, and perhaps most importantly, the clientele is not full of troublemakers or rednecks. You can expect to go there and have a peaceful movie-watching experience, free from yelling audience members, or random projectiles. It also has nice stadium seating and high-quality rockable movie seats with high backs and liftable arm rests. I'm sure that one day Barrett will devolve into a crappy theatre like all the rest, but for now, it is the best moviegoing experience in town. |
| Best Sporting Arena: Phillips Arena |
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| This is a pretty easy decision, seeing how Phillips is the cleanest, nicest, and most intimate of the sporting arenas in town. The home of the Thrashers and Hawks is a very hip and fun place to watch a game. Given its size and stadium layout, there's not a bad seat in the house. As the newest of the stadiums, it has better facilities, seats, and concessions. I think it is ironic that a perennial basement-dweller like the Hawks have such a nice place to play while the resurgent Falcons are stuck with the aging Georgia Dome. |
| Best Radio Station: 96 Rock |
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| This is not really a hard choice, since I don't like listening to country or hip-hop, which is just about all you can find on the radio here in Atlanta. Up until a year ago I would have said "None" for this category, but 96 Rock has really grown on me. We'll ignore for the purpose of conversation the early-morning proramming, because morning talk radio sucks, and everyone else does it, so I can't hold it against 96Rock. But they tend to play a nice, varied selection of classic rock, especially in the evening hours. For a while I would go out running during the 7PM-8PM hour, and it seemed like every day was a fantastic hour of radio; I never heard the same song more than once a week, yet the selections of artists and tracks were top-notch. However, there is a big mark against 96Rock right now, which is their recent addition of Braves radio. I'm tempted to write an entire article on how much this pisses me off, that the one classic rock station in Atlanta is dominating their airtime with freakin' baseball for half the year. Oh well - the fact remains that, when 96Rock is playing classic rock, they are at the top of the radio station food chain. |
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I am going to kick you ass for dissing on the Braves. You communist bastard.
Posted by: Matt Davis at June 22, 2005 8:58 AM
One week back from his honeymoon and he's already making hate speech. See what marriage does to people? Sheesh. I mean, I know you hate the fact that Stephanie wears the pants in your family now, but don't take it out on me buddy.
There is certainly a place for Braves radio, it's just not on an FM Classic Rock station. Put it on AM, for heaven's sakes! As far as I'm concerned, that's the whole point of the AM band.
(By the way, I hope you guys had a great time...)
Posted by: Shaun at June 22, 2005 9:05 AM
Here's another one to add to your list:
Best Cajun Resturaunt:
Henry's in downtown Acworth.
We went with the Chastains a couple years ago and now we can't stop going. Seafood, steaks, pork chops, gumbo, cornbread, all done Lousiana style. The head chef and owner swings by your table at least once during the night to check on you and sometimes even brings treats from the kitchen. Better get reservations or you will wait for an hour plus. Worth the drive all the way out to Acworth.
Posted by: Jeff H at June 22, 2005 9:21 AM
i have to disagree with you on a couple of those...jake's definitely tops bruster's...bobby and june's blows away cracker barrel...and carabba's doesn't hold a candle to macaroni grill...
Posted by: nat at June 22, 2005 7:11 PM
I knew I'd be hearing from you on a couple of these, especially Jake's and Macaroni Grill. Unfortunately for you, I'm right on both counts. Jake's is quite tasty but they are somewhat lacking in variety. And Macaroni Grill would be better, if it weren't for the staff... (just kidding!) Actually the place has been growing on me lately, but I tend to like Carabba's menu just a bit more. And I'm the only unbiased one in this conversation, so I must be right...
As far as Bobby and June's goes - you caught me off guard with that one, but you're probably right. I've only been there once (I think you were there) and it was quite amazing. I need to go back for a return trip soon...
Posted by: Shaun at June 25, 2005 12:20 AM
Whoa. So I mentioned to Aaron that you had listed your favorite restaurants in categories on your blog... and he proceeded to guess correct answers, including your runners-up, for all categories. He said that your definition of a fast-food restaurant is wrong though, but knowing that, he was successful in guessing Boston Market. Really creepy.
Everybody's has great pizza too. It would win hands-down if you had a "best bread pudding" category.
Posted by: Ashley at June 26, 2005 9:33 PM
Hey Ashley, thanks for reading. I guess Aaron's feat is mildly impressive, but what he neglected to tell you was that he's a big fat cheater. We talk about food at work all the time, and I think we've had a separate conversation for just about every category, so he knows where I stand. The only ones that I would be surprised that he guessed would be a couple of the runners-up: Jake's and Bobby and June's, simply because I don't think we've ever discussed either of those.
Who knows, maybe he's clairvoyant. I've been searching for years for something he does well - maybe we've just found it...
Oh, and I don't think I'll be having a "best bread pudding" category anytime soon, because I can't stand the stuff. All I can think about when I eat it is soggy bread. But then again, I've only had it once or twice, and I'm willing to accept that maybe I've just never had "good" bread pudding. But I doubt that's it. Aaron knows all about my distaste for bread pudding too, we've definitely had this conversation before!
By the way, I really like your website. I've been a closet reader for awhile now but haven't ever posted a comment. I'm sure I'll get around to it soon though...
Posted by: Shaun at June 26, 2005 11:25 PM