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Atlanta

Cooks & Soldiers: i gratefully thank the Divas of the Savor podcast, Ms Anney Reese and Lauren Vogelbaum, for this recommendation. Years after i had left Atlanta, i was visiting for business along with my wife and i reached out to Ms. reese and Vogelbaum for their Atlanta recommendations. Cooks and Soldiers was on their generously shared Google Maps “hit list” of eateries/bars/gastronomical points of interest. Cooks & Soldiers serves the food of the Basque regions of Northern Spain and Southern France, and they do a damn fine job of it! The menu consists of “pintxos”, Basque tapas, and “asador”, wood-fire grilled larger format dishes. Both sections of the menu are delicious, satisfying, seasonal, and spoiled for choice. The bar also pours delightful libations to compliment the bold and assertive flavors of the food served. Best of both worlds really! No dress code but many are business casual. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Eats: Located on Ponce De Leon and serving what i feel is one of the best Jerk Chicken around is the simply named Eats. i was introduced to the addiction that was Eats while i was living in Atlanta in the late 90s. Memories of the Eats’ jerk chicken, black beans, and rice is still fresh on my mind. The chicken is spicy, flavorful and juicy; the rice and beans a wonderful calming intermission between each eager mouthful of chicken. Do get the collar greens, just a hint of vinegar and a great texture and flavor of dark deep green — were colors to have flavors that is. No dress code, no reservations.
Fat Matt’s Rib Shack: The Fat Matt’s of my memory may have changed (the restaurant and the logo certainly), but the ribs and sauce is still like i remembered. Delicious and deserving of the label “world famous”. When i was a frequent patron of the Fat Matt’s full rack of ribs back in the late 90’s, it was literally an open pit rib shack serving ribs, pulled pork, and an optional slice of white bread. Picnic benches were the seating of choice. The business has grown, especially after a fire in 2017. It now boasts indoor seating and live music. The sign is neon, and the logo that of a smiling cigar chomping pig in a fedora instead of the drawing of the back of a bench bending, crack showing large human wearing a Fat Matt’s t-shirt with a pack of ciggies rolled up in the left sleeve. The important bit though, is that the rib is still hauntingly good… so very good. No dress coat, don’t recommend white (stains easily), no reservations needed.
Mary Mac’s Tea Room: Opened in 1945 by Mary MacKenzie, Mary Mac’s Tea Room (“Tea Room” was the colloquialism at the time for a woman operated restaurant). Today, Mary Mac’s is the only remaining Tea Room in operation. The restaurant is a rambling set of 6 distinct dinning rooms set in a 13,000 square foot space. The décor is thoroughly southern, genteel, and old fashioned. The food is unapologetically and proudly rooted in the culinary traditions of the South. The Fried Chicken is a glorious juicy wonder with a crisp breading that doesn’t weight down the dish. Smother it in the delicious White Pepper Gravy and you have Smothered Chicken, which, aside from being a wonderment within itself, is one of my favorite dishes at Mary Mac’s along with the Chicken and Dumplings and the Chicken Fried Chicken, and yes, Chicken Fried Chicken is quite different from Fried Chicken! Start your meal with a cup or a bowl of the Pot Likker (savory, deeply flavored and very southern pork Collard Green cooking broth) served with Cornbread and make sure you enjoy your meal with a cool glass of Sweet Tea (the English enjoy their tea with milk and sugar, the Chinese enjoy their tea hot, the folks in the South of the Mason Dixon enjoy theirs sweet with a capital S and cooled with ice). Oh, and don’t forget the Fried Okra and Collar Greens! No dress code, reservations for large parties (>8 persons) only.
Vortex, The: Two locations in Atlanta, but my personal Vortex of choice is the one in Little Five Points. The Vortex serves a fine satisfying Burger who’s size will please your eyes and make your stomach quiver in anticipation. It is also the home of the 4 Coronary Bypass Burgers… single, double, triple and quadruple. The single comes in at 3,707 estimated calories and consists of two bacon grilled cheese sandwiches as the top and bottom buns. Between the two grilled cheese sandwiches are 8 oz flame-grilled sirloin patty, slices of cheese, one fried egg, and mayo. Served with fries and tater tots topped with Cheesy-Cheese Goo and bacon bits, this is a daunting burger. i’ve only every seen it, never been one to try it. Their more ordinary burgers are plenty for me and most satisfying. Get the tots, they are addictive. No dress code, call to see if they are taking reservations.
Waffle House: Yes, it is almost a cliché, but what can i say, there is a reason why people talk about Waffle House so much. Hash Browns. Look, sometimes you just want your crispy (or however you may want it cooked) Hash Browns Scattered (base option, just means hash browns really), Smothered (sauteed with onions), and Covered (add a slice of American cheese)! However, sometimes you want your scattered hash browns more elaborately, so here comes the Waffle House with delicious options. Capped (grilled button mushrooms are good for you and tastes great!), Chunked (add grilled hickory smoked ham, you are in the South after all), Country (while you are at it, why not pour over some lovely sausage gravy?), Diced (sure! grilled diced tomatoes? why not?), Peppered (add some zip with jalapeno peppers!), and finally, Topped (well, look here, is there anything that doesn’t go with chili? no? why not Bert’s Chili? chili with beans, Jimmy Dean sausages, tomato, onions and chili goodness). Can’t decide? Just order it “All the way” and enjoy a work out for your heart. Sure, other menu items, like the waffles, are fine, but really, it is the Hash Browns! No dress code, if one is full, drive a block and you can find another one!