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Atlanta is a tea town, make no mistake about it. Sweet tea rules the day in the city’s restaurants, but in the breakfast spots, coffee reign supreme. The city has quite a few spots to grab a cup of Joe so it’s only right that we go to the expert reviewers of TripAdvisor and get their take.
Here are the top spots to grab some coffee in ATL:
Java Lords Coffee House One reviewer said: “This is the coffee house attached to 7 Stages Theater, and the atmosphere is, well, theatrical. The barista who served me an iced latte was a hoot to talk to, offering up suggestions and one-liners at the same time. I sat on what was obviously once church pews and started up at numerous playbills and community flyers. Overall, it was a cool experience.”
Octane Coffee Bar & Lounge One reviewer said: “My life as a flight attendant challenges me to find the best coffee and breakfast in each city that I encounter.
This time I found this in Atlanta and might I say; granola with fresh strawberries on toast brought my taste sense to a whole new level that makes me wanna come back tomorrow before I have to make the flight back to Europe! Even the avocado on toast with eggs sunny side up made this breakfast/brunch the best start on this rainy Saturday. And don’t forget the latté vanilla that I had with this brekkie which completed this food sensation. Worth the drive.”Chattahoochee Coffee Company A reviewer said: “Being by the river here felt like you were far away from the greater Atlanta area. There is nice green space behind the shop and a short trail a long the river. Perfect spot to relax with your drink.”
Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee A reviewer said: “Medium size coffee was only 10 oz. Staff didn’t know prices until they rang it up. Understaffed and Slow… One toaster oven that they use was always full. Our sandwich was still cold when given to us. Turkey sandwich sold for later was soggy and had been in the box a while. Croissants are huge but have way too much butter in them. One customer complained his $5 drink after he drank it was cold and they told him they’d fix it next time.”
Aurora Coffee A reviewer said: “I absolutely adore the names of the coffee drinks, such as The Polar Bear. There is a large selection of tea drinks, both hot and cold to satisfy any taste. And the artwork on the walls adds to the coffeehouse atmosphere.”
Drip Coffee Shop: A reviewer said: “Very good coffee shop; love that it’s the same premium coffee roaster that Dancing Goats uses!!! I always stop in when in the Glenwood Park area. My daughter (13 yrs) had the Vanilla flavored frappe and loved it.”
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The Best. That’s a food you can find in Atlanta is in various places around the city. There are pork chops on the south side that are hard to beat. Steak in Buckhead is impeccable. Barbecue on the east side is No. 1.
But without a doubt, if you want to find an establishment that pretty much has it all: top-notch service, awesome food, great atmosphere and more, there are some staples that are hard to ignore.
Here are the top eateries in ATL, according to Trip Advisor.
#2 of 3,293 Restaurants in Atlanta. A reviewer says: “A wonderful place for fine dining in Atlanta. Having been several times it never disappoints with exceptional service and superior quality steaks. An ample wine list and classy atmosphere make it a perfect location to enjoy fine dining at its best.
Chama Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse
#3 of 3,293 Restaurants in Atlanta. A reviewer says: “This place is a lot better that other places with recognized names in town. The service is awesome! I’ve been here a few times and all the time has been great. Even the valet parking guys are very nice! This restaurant can be compared to Fogo di Ciao, but with more options. An unforgettable experience.”
#4 of 3,293 Restaurants in Atlanta. A reviewer says “Hands down the best Ethopian food we’ve ever had! Couldn’t decide what we wanted to order, so we went with the Vegetarian Platter and the Original Meat Lovers (we picked salmon, lamb, and filet mignon). Amaaaaazing! Every single bite was delicious!!! Highly recommended.”
#5 of 3,293 Restaurants in Atlanta. A reviewer says “Some businesses and companies achieve true greatness: Lexus with cars, Apple with computers. Jaeger LeCoultre with watches. This is one of those places. Truly exceptional. The bone-in filet and porcini-rubbed ribeye were simply first rate – better even than local specialists like Rathbun’s and Bone’s, or out-of-state legends like Peter Luger’s. These folks know what they’re doing. The ambiance and service are first rate as well. Come here when you want the best.”
#6 of 3,293 Restaurants in Atlanta. A reviewer says “I had heard so many good things about this place and was finally able to try it out with a friend on a Friday evening. It did not disappoint. I called on Thursday evening and was able to get a reservation for two on a Friday evening at 6:45 pm. We had on jeans and a nice shirt, but I would probably recommend at least khakis and a nice shirt as a minimum. Make sure you turn on your GPS, because it is a bit strange to find. But, we arrived on time and were promptly seated. The place is very rustic chic, but gorgeous and inviting. We were seated right by a window, but unfortunately, it was dark out, so we could not take in the spectacular views. We started with some Pino Noir and the fried oysters (special) and kangaroo as appetizers. Both were simply amazing. I had never tried kangaroo and I absolutely loved it. Also, they bring several bread options to the table and you have as much as you want. The sourdough was my favorite. For dinner, I had the swordfish, which was delicious. My friend had the monk fish, which was a special. His was delicious, as well. For dessert, I had the popcorn ice cream sundae with cracker jacks. It was beyond amazing and quite a sizable portion. My friend had the chocolate grotto, which was great, as well. The service was spot on the prices were reasonable. I would recommend this place for an intimate dinner or small group. Additionally, they have a small party room that would be great for a higher end work or personal function. This is now truly one of my favorite places in Atlanta and I plan on coming back, soon.”
Got any other top eats? Let us know in the comments
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Crescent Avenue is getting another top-tier eateries. Publico Kitchen & Bar, the South Carolina-based restaurant, is coming to Atlanta.
Michael Duganier, COO of Publico’s parent company All in Restaurant Group, told What Now Atlanta that the Latin fusion eatery was headed to Midtown.
The new space is expected to open in early 2018.
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Colony Square last week launched a partnership with Fooda to bring “restaurant pop-ups” to the Midtown development.
Colony Square has scored a new deal with office lunch outprint Fooda to bring pop-up shop food options to Midtown. Fooda will bring daily eats to the complex from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., according to WhatNowAtlanta.com.
Colony Square is in the midst of planning on a massive redevelopment project that will bring ultimately bring new retail space, a food hall and movie theater to Peachtree by November 2019.
The “Reimagined” Colony Square has been hailed by city leaders as a major cog in drawing residents, tourists and businesses back to Atlanta’s core.
When it comes to restaurants, Atlanta is quickly gaining ground on some of the dining capitals around the United States.
Fast-casual is the dining trend du jour around metro Atlanta restaurants. The concept involves mixing the quick accessibility of fast food with the casual dining experience. Food in Atlanta is also adapting to the various tastes of the migrants that come here to live.
Read more: 5 essential soul food spots in Atlanta
Patrons typically order off a menu board like they would at a burger joint, but the convenience of sitting down to leisurely enjoy their food has made the segment a popular one with the restaurant industry.
The craze hasn’t escaped metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene, which has seen a fast-caz explosion in recent years.
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A stone’s throw from the Braves’ new SunTrust Park stadium, C&S Seafood is the talk of the town. Raw bar, lobsters & classic cocktails in a strip-mall setting with an old-school urban vibe.
This is what one TripAdvisor reviewer said, which we agree with. ” Atmosphere is noisy, but vibrant. Food cannot be faulted. Service is excellent. My seared tuna was cooked to perfection. Parking is definitely an issue, but don’t let that stop you visiting one of the best high end seafood restaurants in the area.
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The newest restaurant in Midtown’s Atlantic Station is the popular salad bar concept, Salata. And it’s good. The eatery opened Sept. 21, 2017, in the quarters vacated by Moe’s, who closed down in mid-January.
Dallas-based Henry Investment Group recently announced that Salata was making a major investment in the area, opening 20 restaurants in the Atlanta market over the next few years.
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Every month, three Atlanta women come together to try the beignets at certain metro Atlanta restaurants.During this monthly ritual, their tastebuds attempt to harmonize. The Beignet Babes are keen to spot any servings not up to par: Is it a true beignet or just something dumped in powder?Otherwise, it’s just a funnel cake. No, an award-winning beignet is fluffy, dumpling shaped and has a perky characteristic to it.
These three metro Atlanta ladies — all from south Louisiana — know when they’ve arrived at good-as-home Cajun cuisine.
Here Are The Best Beignets In Atlanta
These beignets they have in front of them are pretty good, but one of them says the sweetness is not there.
Perhaps the chef’s recipe calls for substituting the real sugar you would expect in the Nawlins delicacy.So where can you have beignets in Atlanta and it’s metro area? Here are the leading restaurants:
A night out on the town more often than not begins in an Atlanta restaurant.
The city’s dining scene is a vibrant space with bold kitchens influenced by the best of worldly cultures interpreted by curious chefs.
Yet each restaurant has its signature dish, it’s edible business card, that leaves its mark on the tastebuds of hundreds of guests per week.
Big Easy Grille
1193 Collier Rd NW Suite D, Atlanta, GA 30318 | (404) 352-2777
Here’s what one reviewer says about Big Easy Grille: “This review is solely for one item, and that’s their beignets. A girlfriend had a birthday and was not able to make it to New Orleans to have the real deal. She told me about this place but said she never tried them. We decided to stop by and have drinks, and of course beignets. Heads up….do NOT bite my head off but these are BETTER than the ones in New Orleans. Don’t get me wrong…NOLA beignets are really good too, but these are lighter. NOLA’s has a denser texture. Also, the Big Easy’s are much smaller so that could be another contributing factor. Either way, we enjoyed them so much that we ordered another round. If you stop by…order you a batch … or TWO.”
Louisiana Bistreaux
1375 Virginia Ave, East Point, GA 30344 | (404) 762-6755
3312 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305 | (404) 941-9545
1496 Church St, Decatur, GA 30030 | (404) 963-1463
Here’s what one reviewer says about Louisiana Bistreaux’s beignets: “This was my first time coming here with a group of my friends. The food was Awesome and so was the customer service. I had the Blackened Tilapia and the Red Velvet Cheesecake. Our waitress Courtney was so down to earth and so friendly. If I could have hired her to work at my store, I would. I love the atmosphere. Will definitely be back!”
Yay Beignet & Bistro
660 Irwin St NE Atlanta, Ga. 30312 | 470-289-1614Here’s what one reviewer says about Yay Beignet: “Yay Beignet is such a vibe! They have perfected the recipe for fried catfish. The catfish and grits were the perfect combination of creamy and crispy. The biscuits are everything you need; flaky, moist, and a perfect companion for the fish. The beignet bites were amazing in both the chocolate sauce and the cinnamon sauce. Last but most important, the people were nice. Good customer service is hard to come by and Yay Beignet’s staff understands the assignment. I can’t wait to visit again!”Copeland’s of New Orleans
3101 Cobb Pkwy SE #220, Atlanta, GA 30339 | (770) 612-3311
Here’s what one reviewer says about Copeland’s of New Orleans, which has crab-stuffed beignets: “We went the second day the dining room reopened. The protocols in place made you feel comfortable. They had excellent social distancing at the tables and markers on the floor and front waiting area. The staff was kind and checked on us several times. Food was good.”
Want more Louisiana-inspired dishes? Here’s where to get crawfish in Atlanta.
At this point, Atlanta cuisine has become indispensable to the South. The largest city in Georgia’s food festivals and culinary events set the tone for the entire Southeast.
Only in Atlanta can the casual observer find specialty food shops, off-the-beaten-path restaurants, farmers’ markets and farm stands all at an affordable price point.
But Atlanta also has trendy restaurants, pop-ups and time-tested landmarks that continue to draw big crowds.
For the latest in metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene, stay with Atlantafi.com.