Posted-And-Mailed: yes User-Agent: MT-NewsWatcher/3.1 (PPC) Lines: 98 Message-ID: X-Complaints-To: [email removed] X-Abuse-Info: Please be sure to forward a copy of ALL headers X-Abuse-Info: Otherwise we will be unable to process your complaint properly. NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 21:11:52 EDT Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 21:14:51 -0400 Xref: usenet.INS.cwru.edu rec.food.restaurants:55558 > Hi everyone, > > I'll be attending a conference in Atlanta this June, with a meeting at > the Hyatt Regency. I'd like to take some folks out to dinner before the > meeting, so I'd appreciate recommendations for restaurants within a > block or two of the Hyatt. > > With thanks, > > Kevin Furniss > [email removed] That immediate area is almost a dead zone for the latest and greatest good eats, however there are a few decent selections within reasonable walking distance - two good lunch places (City Grill, 50 Hurt Plaza and Mumbo Jumbo, 89 Park Place), two expense-account style power meat palaces (Dailey's at 17 International Blvd., and Morton's of Chicago at 303 Peachtree St.), an okay brewpub with archtypical bar food (Max Lager's at 320 Peachtree St.) and some extremely touristy places (Trader Vics and The Abbey for example, however, it would be against my principles to reveal the addresses!). There is one standout in the area, Nikolai's Roof (255 Courtland, atop the Atlanta Hilton). It went into a severe decline over the past 15 years or so, but has made a roaring comeback in the past year. "High Russian al la the Romanovs," and my choice for your walking distance situation. For distance comparison, the Hyatt Regency is at 265 Peachtree Street. I personally do not care for the Sun Dial, atop the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel at 210 Peachtree St., but I have heard mixed reviews from others (I find the food bland, uninspired and overpriced, but the view really is magnificent. They charge $4 for the ride up to look-see if you don't eat!). You will most likely be directed here if you ask the hotel concierge for recommendations. Now, if I may make a suggestion, spring for the overpriced cab ride (hint: if you drive by a really big rocky hill with a carving on the side, the cabbie is taking the scenic route!) and endulge yourself in one of our better places: - Baccahanalia, 1198 Howell Mill Road. Price fixe "California nouvelle" but much better than that lame description. Worth every penny, and my favorite Atlanta fine dining experience. The cheese selection alone is worth the trip, and there's a grocery store attached (Star Provisions) where you can pick up a little midnight noshing. - Food 101, 4969 Roswell Road. Your basic Americana, but wonderfully done. Just like Mom used to make, if Mom graduated from the CIA. - The Palm, 3391 Peachtree Rd., in the Swissotel. American style high powered steak house (again), but done right this time. - Seeger's, 111 W. Paces Ferry Rd. Guenter Seeger's little place, always interesting, ecelectic leaning towards French-Asian fusion, mostly. - Canoe (4199 Paces Ferry Rd.) or the Horseradish Grill (4320 Powers Ferry Rd.). Both are yuppied out the the very max, but I have a weakness for the new American cuisine both serve - especially the peanut crusted trout at the Horseradish Grill. Canoe has a wonderfully serene view of the Chattahoochee River (just don't swim in it!), as well as a magnificent Black Pepper ice cream. - Aromi Gelato Italiano, 1025 Virginia Ave. (in the heart of the Virginia-Highlands neighborhood, a great place to eat and explore). Oh, God. The single best sweet dessert I have ever put in my mouth - a couple of dozen flavors of authentic Italian gelatos made fresh on premise daily. Don't go for the pink "big" bowl (about the size of an old-fashioned ice-cream cup) unless you are really, really hungry; this is the richest food on the planet. If I may make three other suggestions, first, look for a green newspaper box and get a (free) copy of Creative Loafing. It comes out on Wednesdays and the food reviews are good for affordable, Asian leaning places (Cliff Bostick's comments are a hoot as well!). Secondly, pick up a copy of the Friday Atlanta Journal-Constitution (50?), the food reviews are in the Weekend Preview section, usually the second and third pages. John Kessler is arrogant, pretentious and I believe unfairly ruthless in his reviews, but he does know where the Beautiful People are hanging out, if that's your bag (hint: he loves BluePointe, near Lenox Mall on Peachtree St. in Buckhead. I wouldn't go back there on a dare, the youngly rich with money to burn fru-fru factor is simply off the scale). He tends to review places on the high, bleeding-edge style range. Thirdly, may I suggest my own book, the Insiders' Guide to Atlanta, 5th Ed.: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0762711256/qid%3D1003356871/sr%3D8 -1/ref%3Dsr%5F8%5F3%5F1/104-3387765-2551165 Not my best work, but it'll help you with some more suggestions, all across the board in price and quality ranges, and I could use the .27? royalties!
Atlanta, GA