Some friends and I did a Buford Highway Crawl. Each week we would go to a restaurant on BH, starting with the first (after corporate blvd), then continuing to the next restaurant down the following week. It was a blast and I learned about some great restaurants. Some in particular are Abbay (Ethiopian), Panahar (Malaysian) and Bien Thuy (vietnamese, and apparently a mafia joint now). There are several others but the names escape me.

DeKalb Farmer's market is the bomb.

Ditto Six Feet Under.. Fish Tacos!

I used to hang out at 97 Estoria quite a bit. Back when it had a different name which I forget. The hipster vibe was more in control back then I think.

I also declare ditto on MJQ and The Local. The Local is very chill and simple. MJQ is fun but very dirty. I'm 31 and am unlikely to go back there anytime soon, but it was the [censored] when I was 25ish.

There's another one on Crossville Road. Probably not as good as the old one, but still f'ing great pizza either way.

[quote}
To start, I'll talk about Whole World Improv Theatre. They do two shows Friday and Saturday (and have an apprentice show sometime during the week) that costs $21-$24 depending on when you buy. A group of friends and I went a little while ago when someone's boss got them free tickets and it was a lot of fun. Small venue on Spring St. between 16th and 14th with plenty of parking for like $2 by the Shell station.

There's a small bar inside (well, beer and wine) and you're free to drink in the theatre. And actually, it's not really a theater, just some stadium seating with couches so you might end up sharing a couch with somebody you've never met before. Pretty cool vibe overall.

[/quote]

I like WWT, but I prefer Dad's Garage. I like the atmosphere better there, it's more shabby (yes, that's a good thing in this case) and I find their structure and actors to be better (IOW: funnier).

I was sad when the Echo Lounge closed. But East Atlanta is still a great area to go out drinking. The East Side Lounge is OK, though it's probably a lot different. I used to go often when it was the Fountainhead. I really miss the Heaping Bowl, too. The Earl has one of the best hamburgers on the planet (according to WSJ, the top three burgers in the US are all in Atlanta. The other two are Ann's Snack Bar and the Vortex).

Speaking of the Vortex, that's another fun place. It feels like a dive bar decorated by a motorcycle gang. Cheap drinks and the burgers are insane. They have a huge selection, including the coronary bypass burger and a wicked good black bean burger.

The Star Bar is good times. It's another dive bar type club that has great local/indie rock.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Martini's at IMAX is fun (Fernbank Museum). It's upscale and expensive, but qualilty. The drinks are solid and it's fun to drink in an ancient history museum. On other days it's decent museum, but not very large.

I will refrain from mentioning more restaurants. There are so many, but as mmbtone said, it will probably derail the thread to do so!

A,

Where did you come from? 2.5 years and 190 posts? Read the last 50 or so posts in this thread and come hang out: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showfl...e=0#Post6047489

As for top restaurants in US being in Atlanta, the #3 taco joint is here: Taqueria Del Sol. There are 3 spread out across the city, but when you go make sure to get the Shrimp Corn Chowder. I promise you it's one of the best things you'll ever taste.

Yeah, I was a lurker for a long time. Nearly all of my posts are in the last 2-3 months.

Shrimp Corn Chowder? I am stunned by the realization that I have been ignorant of this for so long. I will check that out.

I just PM'ed FFK for the addy. See you there.

Eddie's Attic in Decatur. Definitely check out Bobby Yang when he plays there - usually plays it several times a year. A great place to listen to live music.

Oh man let's not even get started on Decatur. I had Taqueria Del Sol yesterday...fish tacos FTW. The Brickstore is an awesome place to try 100's of different beers and their food is pretty good. Jake's ice cream is literally the best I've ever had.

Are any of you guys going to the Decatur beerfest on the 20th? I am for sure, $30 all you can drink for 5 hours and a lot of great beers (not generic Bud Light crap.)

Good idea!

I second Eddie's Attic. They have an "open mic night", that's about the least open I've ever seen. There's a sign-up sheet months ahead, and everybody who gets on is really good. It's the normal folky, singer-songwriterish open mic stuff, but without all the usual sloppy tuning and forgotten lyrics. I think 'Open' Mic Night is on Mondays.

This isn't really a "restaurant" per se, but Sawicki's on Ponce is an awesome butcher/fishmonger/etc. with tons of great variety. Lynne will order anything you want, and is a blast to talk to about food.

The Glory of all Glory in Atlanta is at the Northside Tavern. Live Blues every night featuring my hero on Sundays and Tuesdays. If you know what's hot you'll use the web to find out how to get there.

-Bill

God damn, I ain't been nowhere.

For what it's worth, when I have friends in town I take them on the TRIPLE CROWN OF ATLANTA that consists of first, Nothside Tavern, second, the Clermont Lounge, and third MJQ. All three places are top notch but a little divey...meaning no pretensiousness at all.

Of course there are all sorts of treasures in Little Five Points. I love The Vortex! Best burgers ever and you can get tater tots too.

The best place for authentic Italian pasta dishes in town is Pasa Figo. My Italian friends won't eat pasta anywhere else.

More to come as I think of them.

-Bill

It's amazing how much fun stuff there is to do in Decatur now, and 10 years ago it got mentioned with College Park and East Point.

Willy,

I drove past Northside Tavern a lot when I lived off Defoor, but I never went in. Obviously I will have to change that.

Also, your "TRIPLE CROWN OF ATLANTA" is kinda similar but not really to an event a group I used to do with a group of friends of mine about 6 times a year. Every now and then the stars aligned and you could hit 3 fun/cheap drinking opportunities in 8 hours.

The Triumvirate

1) Sweetwater Brewery Tour - This used to start at 4:20 on Mondays and Thursdays but has since moved to an impossibly late 5:30 start. It cost $6 to get a 16oz glass and 3 tickets for any beer you wanted. Then the fourth beer cost you a $1 tip to the nicest beer girl.

2) Braves Game - Only 7 o'clock or later home games need apply here. $5 walk up tickets and $2/person parking. Not a bad deal, which is important when you're paying $8 a pop for the beers in the stadium.

3) Peachtree Tavern - Bonus points for a Monday because you could then do karaoke, which is a blast here. The requirement here is house shots, which will vary from $2 to $5 a pop depending on the day, bartender, and how much you complain about the ridiculousness of $5 house shots.

When I went to Atlanta I ate at Fat Matt's Rib Shack. I highly recommend it.

I have been wondering where the good karaoke places are. Last time I went was to the Crazy Horse in Cabbagetown (which is no longer around).

I also have never been to Northside Tavern.

This thread delivers.