Atlanta Food Recommendations

[Santamarina]

Hey all. Just found out I'll be heading to Atlanta, GA for a conference the end of this month. It's been over 25 years since I was last in town and I'm pretty excited. Specifically, I'll be in Alpharetta (looks like N/NE of ATL). I've checkout out the Georgia threads in Restaurants, BBQ Joints, Steakhouses, but the newest post was a year ago.

Wondering if the food scene has changed in the last year – I know it has where I live – old places close, new places open, amazing places now have mediocre food, others have stepped their game up in the last year, etc.

Do you have a recommendation for the Alpharetta, GA area? Not limited to barbecue...I'm up for ANY kind of restaurant I should not miss!

[jfmorris]

Watching closely. I am from Marietta, a few miles west of Alpharetta, and while I was in Alpharetta on business a couple of years ago, its been 28 years since I lived over there, so I am at the mercy of Google when it comes to knowing where to eat over there.

If you were in Marietta, one place I liked that still seems to be around for BBQ was called Williamson Brothers, and I can buy their sauce in the grocery store here in Alabama, so think they are in business still. But as you point out, a place I liked in the late 80's and early 90's for BBQ may not be great here 30+ years later...

EDIT: One place that I loved in the Sandy Springs area that we ate at all the time when I was in college in the mid 80's was called the Three Dollar Cafe. They appear to still be in business, and had THE BEST buffalo wings I ever had. So if wings are something you like, I recommend their hot buffalo wings:

http://www.threedollarcafeatlanta.com

We also went back in my college days quite often to the original location of The Mellow Mushroom (pizza), back when it was a single location with a screen door and about as many flies as black olives in summertime... best pizza ever. I've had the pizza at the chain locations in recent decades, but its just not the same as the original Mellow Mushroom back in the 80's...

[hoovarmin]

A chili burger from The Varsity with fries. 100%.

[hoovarmin]

jfmorris the FO is a must as well, and I must say that you know how to wine and dine a lady! Me and my grandfather used to eat there on Saturdays before home games at Grant Field during football season. A true classic.

[Purc]

What'll Ya Have, What'll Ya Have ..? I too love the Varsity. I always would stop there when driving through downtown ATL. I would always have onion rings and a peach or apple fried
pie and extra raw diced oinions.
Also, did you ever watch them peel and cut the onions?
I remember when Ga Tech won the National Title in football, CNN interviewed a Tech student about the Varsity and he said that...Even the ice cream is greasy !
jfmorris hoovarmin

[hoovarmin]

Purc and jfmorris Maybe we need an Atlanta meet-up one day.

[au4stree]

I’m a fan of Fox Bros BBQ. If you want white table cloth, Canoe. Varsity has been mentioned, it was good, take some Tums! 😂.

If you really want a good meal, go see the Braves at Truist Park, nothing better than a hotdog and cold drink at the ballpark.

[Santamarina]

That was the first thing I checked. Sadly, the Braves are on the road that week.

[Draznnl]

My wife and I had lunch at Fox Bros. on DeKalb Ave. on Friday. It was some of the best barbecue I’ve had outside Texas. Here are a couple of pics.

She had the sausage sandwich


I had the brisket and ribs combo with beans and brisket chili.

[Sid P]

I dropped the ball on getting you the DAS BBQ info, but I’m glad you found a great spot. Sorry about that.

[Draznnl]

No problem, Sid P it turned out that Fox Bros was practically around the corner from us.

[Sid P]

Another vote for Fox Bros. The brisket, ribs, and sausage were excellent, and I always give extra credit for tater tots. I apparently forgot to takes pics of the food, but my bro/Atlanta tour guide posed for a pic.


We’ve been to Das BBQ’s West Midtown location three years in a row, and the meat and sides are superb. This pic is from their website, but I can vouch for the brisket, ribs, sausage, and mac & cheese.

[Purc]

Another fan of Fox Brothers BBQ, not a fan of Williamson BBQ but they are always busy.

Lots of good places in Avalon: Oaks Steakhouse, MF Sushi, Lil's sushi, Superica Mexican, South City Kitchen, Antico pizza, Rumi's Kitchen

In downtown Alpharetta: Butcher and Brew, Coalition, Smokejack BBQ, Jekyll Brewing and in Roswell, Dreamland BBQ

This is just a starting point that you can look at on the web. My son lives in Milton and these are some of his favorite places. I have been to several with them. I did not include places in Milton. FYI Milton at one time was part of Alpharetta. As always YMMV.

If you want to play on new simulators for golf, soccer, basketball, hockey, football, cricket, pitching, lacrosse etc there is Fairway Social in Alpharetta.

[klflowers]

Not BBQ, but the Marrieta Diner is a destination type place. The food is ok, it is just a huge, semi famous place.

[klflowers]

Purc several times

[jfmorris]

I grew up about 4-5 miles east of the Big Chicken, right off of Hwy 120 (Roswell Road in the county outside the city limits in that direction). It started life as a local chicken place in the 50's that my parents at ate. By the time I was old enough to remember, the mechincal chicken was frozen in place, and it was a KFC. They rebuilt it around 1990 from the ground up, and it just isn't quite the same. The original one the eyes revolved and the comb went up and down.

[Murdy]

My wife used to go to that area for business. I still have a Big Chicken coffee mug she brought back for me.

[Santamarina]

Thanks, everyone! Really appreciate all the suggestions. I’m gonna have trouble narrowing it down!

The conference I’m attending released this list of local recommendations. Again…not enough days for all this food!

Antico Pizza
Butcher & Brew
Chicken Salad Chick
Crust Pasta and Pizzeria
House of Hummus
Jerusalem Bakery & Grill
JINYA Ramen Bar
Koi Kaiten Sushi
Mama’s Pizza
Maple Street Biscuit Company
Pure Taqueria

If you have any additional input on these places I’d be thankful. Again, I appreciate you all for the solid recommendations you’ve already given!

[au4stree]

I’ve eaten at Maple Street in Chattanooga, it’s a solid breakfast/brunch location. Chicken Salad chick is not bad, they’re a chain started in east Alabama (I think). There are multiple locations in my area, always crowded at lunchtime.

[Starsky]

I don't know if you watch the show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives but he's been to some places in Atlanta that looked awesome. You could probably find them on their website

[klflowers]

What au4stree said. I agree on Maple Street, but I am not a huge fan of Chicken Salad Chick. They had a location in the building my office is in so I had just about everything on the menu. I though the food was average except for the pimento cheese. It was excellent. I believe Crust is a pizza chain, I have eaten there once I think, but it didn't make a huge impression on me.