Zesto's and Little Five Points (Atlanta, Decatur: live, restaurants, bus)

[AllenKarber]

Hello,

I've much heard much about Zesto's,and my wife and I would like to eat there when we're on vacation. Is it any good? My wife and I are big fans of Drive-in type restaurants,and we're big cheeseburger fans too.

Also, what do you think about Little Five Points in general? The two areas of Atlanta we've heard the most about are L5P and Buckhead. We went to Buckhead two years ago and loved it.

The main thing of course is the safety of the area.

[rswlguy]

Howdy ... I used to enjoy going to "Deco" Zesto on Ponce de Leon near Monroe/Boulevard. I don't know if it is still there or not? The old one on Piedmont Road near Lindburgh is gone.

It WAS a fun place to go once in awhile.

I don't live near there, so perhaps one of our good folks nearby on this board will answer and advise & accomodate!

Best 2 U !!

[George Chong]

You should go to the Zesto's on Ponce. The one on Moreland really doesn't have much seating - it only has bar seats. It's not a drive-in, more like a diner.

Ponce de Leon
544 Ponce de Leon
Atlanta, GA
404-607-1118
Welcome to Zesto Atlanta!

If you go to Little 5 Points - I would have a burger at The Vortex. The Vortex Bar & Grill

Little 5 Points is quit colorful and there are always lots of people around so you should be just fine.

[uncle_el]

Originally Posted by George Chong

You should go to the Zesto's on Ponce. The one on Moreland really doesn't have much seating - it only has bar seats. It's not a drive-in, more like a diner.

Ponce de Leon
544 Ponce de Leon
Atlanta, GA
404-607-1118
Welcome to Zesto Atlanta!

If you go to Little 5 Points - I would have a burger at The Vortex. The Vortex Bar & Grill

Little 5 Points is quit colorful and there are always lots of people around so you should be just fine.

i'd agree on both points, ponce location for zesto's and a burger at the vortex (they have a ton of different options/styles, as well as a ton of stuff besides burgers, all of which are pretty good).

[ashbowl]

Zestos is alive and well on Piedmont near Lindbergh BTW

[rackensack]

The food's essentially equivalent at any of the Zesto's locations -- decent if unremarkable drive-in burgers, fries, etc., with well above-average soft-serve ice cream offerings (including the Arctic Swirls, my family's favorite). For the most interesting atmosphere/experience, the Ponce location has to get the nod -- the building generated lots of interest and positive attention when it opened in the early 1990s, and it's still a fun place to visit, though it is showing its age a bit in places. I haven't been in the L5P location in years, but it's probably the best reflection of what the older Zesto's locations were like -- last I was there it was much like what I remember from the old North Decatur road location (at North Decatur and Clairmont, behind where the new Evans Fine Foods was built). The Piedmont Road location across from the Lindbergh MARTA station is back to being a Zesto's now, after having been converted by the same family into a "Burrito Brothers" concept several years ago -- it's now something of a hodge-podge of classic drive-in looks and remnants of the Southwestern accents from the Burrito Brothers era. They never stopped serving Zesto's ice cream treats at that location, though many people didn't realize that.

I haven't actually been in the location in Jonesboro (I believe it's still there -- was last fall when I was down that way), so I can't comment on it.

All in all, I'd recommend the Ponce location for tourists, unless you're planning to spend time in L5P anyway. If you're relying on MARTA to get around and have a limited amount of time, the Piedmont location might be a good choice as it's directly across from Lindbergh station -- if you have more time, however, it's pretty easy to get to the Ponce location and back by taking the #2 Ponce de Leon bus from North Avenue station.

[plessthanpointohfive]

I agree with going to the one on Ponce. It's not far from L5P so if you're wanting to spend time in L5P you won't have to go far. But, George is right...the one in L5P is more of a kiosk than anything. If you want a good burger in L5P go to The Vortex...

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by ashbowl

Zestos is alive and well on Piedmont near Lindbergh BTW

The building is there, but it's not Zesto...it's a burrito restaurant, and apparently scheduled for demolition in the Lindbergh Center master plan.

[rswlguy]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

The building is there, but it's not Zesto...it's a burrito restaurant, and apparently scheduled for demolition in the Lindbergh Center master plan.

Thanks ... thought I'd missed something. Last time I drove by I just didn't see the sign. Wasn't it across from the old "Gold Club"?

The Zesto on Ponce was the "diner" style we called "Deco Zesto". Always a hoot after hours.

AS WAS the Dunk 'n Dine (a.k.a. Drunken Swine) on Cheshire Bridge. Think that is gone as well

Fun to reminisce about who/what/when and where!

[AllenKarber]

Is the Vortex friendly to "touristy" types? My wife and I are in our mid-to-late thirties,and I think we're still pretty cool. If we will be out of place or looked down on for being uncool,I don't want to go.

I did check out the Vortex before I posted this topic. I had heard about it so I checked out it's site. Looks cool!

Oh,and I've heard Ponce De Leon is not a good place to be!