Atlanta's Food Scene (prices, vacation, pay)

[JPD]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

The topic of this thread piqued my interest, and in turn I stumbled upon what I found to be a well-considered article on the subject:

Commentary: When it comes to dining, Atlanta should look inward - Atlanta Magazine

That's an interesting article, but the author's perspective on Atlanta food is warped by the fact that he stuck to $$$ restaurants and completely ignored the $ and $$ restaurants. And it just happens that the $ and $$ restaurants are exactly where you go for the types of food he says we're lacking.

[testa50]

KSM and PCM aren't contributing much to the top end offerings, but add a lot of depth. Having options like Urban Pl8 that are affordable and very high quality food dispersed all throughout the city really add a lot to the scene, nevermind how the top 20 chef driven restaurants in a couple cities stack up against one another.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by JPD

That's an interesting article, but the author's perspective on Atlanta food is warped by the fact that he stuck to $$$ restaurants and completely ignored the $ and $$ restaurants. And it just happens that the $ and $$ restaurants are exactly where you go for the types of food he says we're lacking.

I reread the article, JPD, and while I think she made a lot of interesting points, I think you made a very good point as well. A dearth of black restaurant owners and chefs in Atlanta? Really? She apparently didn't know where to look.
My all-time favorite Atlanta critic has to be Christiane Lauterbach, because she loves to ferret out the exact kind of eateries of which you speak.

The Woman Who Ate Atlanta

[Spade]

Originally Posted by Hokiehaven

New Orleans won't be beat anytime soon, but I suppose that's an old food city.

I would say Atlanta and Austin would be up there for southern foodie cities, presuming Austin counts in the south and for it's size it's right there.

I went to Charleston and it was ok, wasn't as impressed as other places I've been.

Austin isn't even the best in its own state. Let alone the best in the region.

[JPD]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

I reread the article, JPD, and while I think she made a lot of interesting points, I think you made a very good point as well. A dearth of black restaurant owners and chefs in Atlanta? Really? She apparently didn't know where to look.]

I guess I should reread it as well, since I assumed the author was male. Must be the image of a man dining that gave me that impression. My other post was overstated. Contrary to what I said, the author did mention some cheaper restaurants, but the main focus seemed to be higher end fine dining restaurants and not, say, Home Grown, Wyatt's, Colonnade, and other places that are of Atlanta, and not just in Atlanta.

Thanks for the Lauterbach article. The Bitter Southerner does tremendous work, so I look forward to reading that later.

[Hokiehaven]

Originally Posted by Spade

Austin isn't even the best in its own state. Let alone the best in the region.

To even compare the largest metros in the country and regional cities isn't exactly fair. The sheer size of a place like ATL is just too much for Charleston or Austin, though I think Austin is heavily underrated.

[Ant131531]

Originally Posted by Hokiehaven

To even compare the largest metros in the country and regional cities isn't exactly fair. The sheer size of a place like ATL is just too much for Charleston or Austin, though I think Austin is heavily underrated.

Houston is the one that's heavily underrated in the state of Texas...not Austin...Houston has an incredible amount of food options that are very diverse and a lot of that is due to just how ethnically diverse the entire metro is, something Austin completely lacks.

If anything Austin is OVERRATED in many aspects these days. I never once heard someone say Austin has a great food scene, but I've heard people surprised at how great Houston's was. Austin has a great bar and live music scene, but it's not known for it's food scene.

[Stormhammer]

My largest gripe with Atlanta's food scene is the lack of $ places that are open late, that *aren't* some sort of gastropub bar, where appetizer prices run into the teens - Chamblee seems to be the mecca for tasty food that can be grabbed up till 2am for a decent dollar, but beyond that, I've found a lot of places just disappointing for what I pay for.

Granted, I'm a huge fan of street tacos for cheap from say, El Ray del Taco, and I might be spoiled at being able to get them at 1am if I should so feel inclined.

Also having been to San Francisco a few times this year... yeah. I think I've been spoiled on being able to get street tacos and elotes late at night while high as a kite.

[arjay57]

I am okay with the food scene here.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

New Orleans' food scene holds its' own against about any city in the world, clearly, but it doesn't seem to have the innovative spirit that it once did. That's where Atlanta seems to have the edge these days.

My wife and I briefly vacationed in New Orleans recently. We found that unless you like seafood or want to pay insane prices for a half plate of food, New Orleans isn't that exciting food-wise.

Originally Posted by JPD

That's an interesting article, but the author's perspective on Atlanta food is warped by the fact that he stuck to $$$ restaurants and completely ignored the $ and $$ restaurants. And it just happens that the $ and $$ restaurants are exactly where you go for the types of food he says we're lacking.

Exactly the way I look at it. I pretty much never, ever eat at $$$ restaurants. There is simply no food I find good enough to spend $50 a plate on. Of course, since I don't like seafood or game, that pretty much also negates most of those types of places. If I'm going to spend $50 on a plate of food, I don't want it to look like this:


I want it to look like this: