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View Poll Results: Better for foodies
Washington D.C 52 56.52%
Atlanta 40 43.48%
Voters: 92. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 11-12-2020, 02:15 AM
 
Location: Atlanta
9,818 posts, read 7,923,077 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ebck120 View Post
The seafood is better in the DC area too because of the Chesapeake Bay =) It's not as famous as BMore but there is definitely a seafood culture with open seafood markets etc.
Atlantans have a voracious appetite for seafood, and we have multiple distributors that truck in fresh-caught daily from both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. We also have immediate access to mountain trout and catfish. Like all major Metro's, the top end sushi places fly it in daily from Tokyo.

In my experience, Atlanta takes this - with the exception of the yummy and amazing Chesapeake crabs that DC has.
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Old 11-12-2020, 05:53 AM
 
27,188 posts, read 43,876,617 times
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Clearly as usual on C-D many are unaware of the scope of what the DC Metro has to offer and while Soul Food may differentiate Atlanta in this instance, it can't touch DC on overall quality and depth of diversity. Also as previously mentioned Atlanta's core around downtown is something of a food desert for visitors with not a ton of riveting options.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...ity-in-america
https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/was...dining-history
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/d...nts-in-dc.html
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/washin...ood-scene-2016
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/dcs...re-this-summer
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Old 11-12-2020, 07:19 AM
 
Location: Atlanta
9,818 posts, read 7,923,077 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kyle19125 View Post
Clearly as usual on C-D many are unaware of the scope of what the DC Metro has to offer and while Soul Food may differentiate Atlanta in this instance, it can't touch DC on overall quality and depth of diversity. Also as previously mentioned Atlanta's core around downtown is something of a food desert for visitors with not a ton of riveting options.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...ity-in-america
https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/was...dining-history
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/d...nts-in-dc.html
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/washin...ood-scene-2016
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/dcs...re-this-summer
Then you obviously haven't been keeping up with the reality of the scene here, as is usual on C-D in relation to Atlanta. Midtown is immediately adjacent to Downtown, and can hardly be described as a 'food desert' by anyone with a brain.
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Old 11-12-2020, 07:49 AM
 
Location: That star on your map in the middle of the East Coast, DMV
8,128 posts, read 7,552,695 times
Reputation: 5785
Quote:
Originally Posted by kyle19125 View Post
Clearly as usual on C-D many are unaware of the scope of what the DC Metro has to offer and while Soul Food may differentiate Atlanta in this instance, it can't touch DC on overall quality and depth of diversity. Also as previously mentioned Atlanta's core around downtown is something of a food desert for visitors with not a ton of riveting options.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...ity-in-america
https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/was...dining-history
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/d...nts-in-dc.html
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/washin...ood-scene-2016
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/dcs...re-this-summer
Most would agree that DC clearly takes the "downtown" or (urban core) restaurant dining experience of the two cities pretty easily. But I think Atlanta holds it's own in the match up overall since we have to compare more than fine dining. The local Atlanta food scene is solid, and the suburbs hold their own. I'd give DC an edge, but the two are on par.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Lepton7 View Post

Curious what actual chefs would choose between the two. I know the common perception of "food cities" does not always match what those in the culinary industry think.
Celebrity chefs opening restaurants would go to DC/DMV region overall:

https://www.iexplore.com/destination...elebrity-Chefs

https://www.capitalregionusa.org/art...ef-restaurants
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Old 11-12-2020, 08:02 AM
 
719 posts, read 492,580 times
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Side Note: I was in Atlanta on Saturday visiting my wife's parents and we ate at a really good spot called Thumbs Up Cafe....hole -in-the wall perfection!
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Old 11-12-2020, 09:39 AM
 
195 posts, read 195,112 times
Reputation: 212
Quote:
Originally Posted by JMatl View Post
Atlantans have a voracious appetite for seafood, and we have multiple distributors that truck in fresh-caught daily from both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. We also have immediate access to mountain trout and catfish. Like all major Metro's, the top end sushi places fly it in daily from Tokyo.

In my experience, Atlanta takes this - with the exception of the yummy and amazing Chesapeake crabs that DC has.
Yeah Atlanta has better seafood than most people realize. Though D.C wins for their crab cakes.
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Old 11-16-2020, 10:59 AM
 
Location: Dallas, TX and wherever planes fly
1,907 posts, read 3,227,961 times
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DC for the win just because of the diversity of offerings!
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Old 11-16-2020, 02:46 PM
 
Location: DMV Area
1,296 posts, read 1,217,690 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JMatl View Post
Atlantans have a voracious appetite for seafood, and we have multiple distributors that truck in fresh-caught daily from both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. We also have immediate access to mountain trout and catfish. Like all major Metro's, the top end sushi places fly it in daily from Tokyo.

In my experience, Atlanta takes this - with the exception of the yummy and amazing Chesapeake crabs that DC has.
Sorry, I have to give the seafood category to DC due to its proximity to the Chesapeake and the Atlantic Yeah, there are distributors who bring in fresh caught seafood to Atlanta, but its just not the same (lived in both cities). The access to a waterfront crab shack in Maryland along the Chesapeake not too far from DC feels a lot more authentic and tastes a lot fresher than say, going to Marietta Fish Market (a favorite of mine) or The Oceannaire. Also, having lived in Mississippi, both suck for Catfish.

I will say that Atlanta is better for Cajun/Creole seafood than DC is. We don't even have Pappadeaux up here...It boils down to if you prefer Old Bay vs. Tony Chachere's on this, lol.
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Old 11-16-2020, 04:09 PM
 
27,188 posts, read 43,876,617 times
Reputation: 32235
Quote:
Originally Posted by JMatl View Post
Then you obviously haven't been keeping up with the reality of the scene here, as is usual on C-D in relation to Atlanta. Midtown is immediately adjacent to Downtown, and can hardly be described as a 'food desert' by anyone with a brain.
Midtown is hardly "adjacent" to Downtown. Stepping out of your hotel at Peachtree Center and walking nearly two miles to Midtown isn't convenient, nor is a taxi or Uber considering it's supposed to be an urban environment. There is very little around Downtown Atlanta otherwise. Stepping out of your hotel on K Street in Downtown DC for comparison offers tons of options within a few blocks.
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Old 11-16-2020, 06:30 PM
 
2,814 posts, read 2,280,800 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roanoke2 View Post
More density doesn't necessarily mean that. Atlanta has lots of variety for food in Buckhead and some of its suburbs.
While population density, doesn't guarantee more variety. It is closely correlated with density.
"Holding constant population, increasing a city’s population density by 1% increases a city’s cuisine count by an additional 0.16-0.21%."
https://nathanschiff.com/cities-and-...m-restaurants/

That makes intuitive sense. DC/Arlington/Alexandria have roughly twice the population of Atlanta in a smaller land area. Assuming this area also has roughly 2 times the restaurants, it is isn't like there will be 2 of every restaurant, so you will have more variety.

There are of course other factors that driver variety: population diversity, foreign born population, affluence/spending power, commuters, tourists, etc. But, all of those measures will likely favor DC as well.
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fa...rgia/PST045219

Anecdotally, on quick google searches seems to indicate DC's urban core provides more options for harder to find cuisines, Afghani, Laotian, Burmese,etc. That isn't to say DC is on par with NY or even SF/Chicago. It clearly isn't. Or that Atlanta is all IHOPs and southern restaurants. Clearly it isn't. But, push comes to shove, I would say DC has a better urban "foodie" scene.

Last edited by jpdivola; 11-16-2020 at 06:46 PM..
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