Great Atlanta Restaurants (Sandy Springs, Roswell, Marietta: live in, eat, health)

[billl]

Here's my list of good to great restaurants to try (no mexican, no burgers):

Flying Biscuit
Tamarind Seed (Thai)
Nikolai's Roof
Nan
Veni Vidi Vici
Kyma
Atlanta Fish Market
Buckhead Diner
Abattoir
Bacchanalia
Floataway Cafe
Bones
New York Prime
Woodfire Grill
Imperial Fez
Nava (if they're still around)
Fox Brothers BBQ (once they rebuild their dining room)

If you're looking further North

Roux on Canton
Swallow at the Hollow
Rice Thai
Century House
Magnolia Thomas
Grace 1720


Those are just some of the ones I am familiar with. Is that enough to get you started?

[billl]

Originally Posted by letitbeirie

If you like Thai, seek out Panita Thai kitchen in the highlands.

Also Thai Chili (Briarcliff) and Tamarind Seed (midtown)

[billl]

Originally Posted by cittic10

OK well maybe you can help me then. Something in the duluth area or points north. I probably already know about whatever is to the north but maybe not duluth. Looking for something on the upscale side, Italian maybe but usually dining with others that aren't into asian or indian or anything that is too unfamiliar to them. No greasy spoon type places no matter how good they may be. What do you recommend? I am already aware of Stoney River.

Stoney River is good, but a bit overrated. It also has the problem that the minute it opens in the evening there's a one hour wait for a table.

I'm not as familiar with Duluth itself (over towards I-85) except for The Melting Pot and a Japanese steak house.

I remember being impressed with Sugo years ago (Johns Creek on Hwy 141 just north of State Bridge), but I also remember that the serving sizes were insanely huge. If you ate "family style" it would probably work quite well.

Ippolitos is usually good, but not upscale.

Are you sure they don't want Asian? Pearl Lian in Johns Creek was always good for us when we went there. But it is most decidedly chinese fare (except for the amazing desserts, which are wonderfully gluttonous American).

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by letitbeirie

If you like Thai, seek out Panita Thai kitchen in the highlands.

I'm not an expert in Thai cuisine, but I think the food at both Pad Thai and Curry Curry in Smyrna is pretty good.

Malaya in Atlanta on Collier Road is quite good also, but that's a mix of Thai and Malaysian.

[Esteban5]

Originally Posted by cittic10

OK well maybe you can help me then. Something in the duluth area or points north. I probably already know about whatever is to the north but maybe not duluth. Looking for something on the upscale side, Italian maybe but usually dining with others that aren't into asian or indian or anything that is too unfamiliar to them. No greasy spoon type places no matter how good they may be. What do you recommend? I am already aware of Stoney River.



I didn't say there weren't plenty. I simply pointed out it is not San Francisco or New York. We have different cuisine.
You obviously couldn't even think of any to list.

Try Altobelis if you like Italian...old school...and a terrific red sauce!

[cittic10]

Thanks to me this thread is finally beginning to answer the OP's question.





















Avoid The Atlanta Fish Market like the plague.




I would also like to add Chequers (note: not Checkers!), Horseradish Grill, The Tavern at Phipps, Lobster Bar ($$$$). Stoney River was mentioned but they made some unfortunate changes to their menu recently and probably won't be back for a while. They continue to cheap it down or so it would seem and looks like a complete changing of the guard when it comes to servers, bartenders and management. It's just not the same.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Adam_Tillman

After living in Atlanta for a few months now, I've noticed most things seem to be Chain style restaurants like an Applebees or Chilis. I have found a few really good surprising restaurants like Zapatas (if you like Mexican), that were really good, but what MUST I try, now that I'm an Atlanta resident. I hear the Vortex has great burgers, and I saw a breakfast place on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, but I did not catch the name... Any suggestions?

The Marietta Diner has been featured on that show. It's very good at any time of day.

I would also recommend the Bone Garden Cantina (owned by the Vortex folks) if you're interested in good Mexican food.

[ATLTJL]

Looking for something on the upscale side, Italian maybe but usually dining with others that aren't into asian or indian or anything that is too unfamiliar to them.

Easy. Luciano's on Sugarloaf for Italian. It's in a shopping center near a Kroger, but don't let the exterior fool you, they've done a very nice job in the inside. Pleasant menu, known especially for creative flatbreads.

Park Cafe in downtown Duluth for American cuisine. Located in an old (probably historic) house with a nice porch when the weather is mild. Very limited menu, but amazing chef and everything is good. There is pretty much always a beef, chicken, and pork represented and often something more interesting like duck as well.

[testa50]

Go to the Decatur Square and pick a place that looks good. Decatur probably competes with the White Provision district for the most concentrated district of good restaurants in Atlanta. There are great restaurants everywhere, but in those two areas there aren't very many restaurants that aren't great. You can't go wrong.

I'd add:

Holeman + Finch
Ten Degrees South
Empire State South
Lunacy Black Market
H Harper Station

...to any conversation about really good restaurants in Atlanta. Most of these are also places the average tourist or out of towner won't stumble upon, either.

[cqholt]

Southern Art
Brick Tops
Sweet Auburn BBQ
The Pullman