Italians, Celebrities, and Pizza - Antico

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Location: Midtown
Hours: Monday - Saturday - 11:30 a.m. - Until out of dough  (yes, their website really says that)
Price: $17-$20 per pizza
Food Type: Italian/Pizza

Antico has become a Midtown phenomenon. I had my first taste of it when a friend brought me a leftover slice. While the slice was not bad, I did not feel it was fair to judge the restaurant based on it. So, as part of an amazing day of going away celebration for this same friend, I decided to check it out. Located right in the middle of Homepark by Georgia Tech, Antico has no trouble keeping a steady flow of customers. In fact, the day I was there, the owner mentioned he had turned down a take-out order from a movie director as the restaurant would not have been able to accommodate its usual patrons and also fill the order.Antico is almost always packed with customers patiently waiting to share a long table with other patrons or choosing to stand in the back and eat standing up so their food does not go cold. That being said, if you feel uncomfortable eating around strangers or consider standing while eating to be improper, Antico does allow you to order their pizzas to-go.

Upon entering the building customers are greeted by the ordering counter which is cleverly lined with an array of Italian pastries and desserts anyone with a sweet tooth will have trouble just passing.

If the counter doesn't distract you, there is also the refrigerator filled with European style bottles of water to purchase with your meal and even more desserts.

Once you make your way past the desserts, you can pick-up a menu and order at the counter. The menu is very straight forward and when ordering, I highly recommend you split a pizza between 2-3 people as the slices are extremely large and each pizza has about 8 slices. 

At the restaurant our group of six people decided to split 2 different types of pizza. The first one we ordered was the Pomodorini, a pizza with fresh cherry tomatoes, bufala, garlic, and basil. The second pizza ordered was the Lasagna containing meatballs, ricotta, and romano. After ordering we went and stood in the large room where the chefs cook the pizza. We watched them hard at work preparing the pizzas to the tune of slightly corny Italian music as we waited for one of the long metal tables.

We were early enough to be able to secure a table before our pizza arrived on a giant metal tray with a pizza cutter.

Pomodorini

Lasagna

Out of the two pizzas, the Lasagna was the overall favorite. It had excellent flavor and we had no trouble demolishing it. The Pomodorini was well made, but not the best choice as the cherry tomatoes made it hard to eat and it did not have a distinct flavor.

Overall, I would highly recommend Antico, but be sure to go early in order to beat the dinner rush - unless you wish to take your order to-go...

Authentic Korean - Han Il Kwan

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Location: Chamblee
Price: $8 - $20
Food Type: Asian - Korean

Han Il Kwan is another treasure hidden along Buford Highway - the keeper of most authentic Asian cuisine. Housed in a traditional-looking Asian building, this Korean restaurant has a much nicer facade than many of its counterparts.

Upon entering the restaurant with a friend, we were quickly seated and served our drinks. There is a variety of tea or traditional Asian beer that can be ordered with your meal, but we opted to focus on the food. After ordering our main courses, we were greeted with a variety of free appetizers. These unique dishes ranged from traditional Kimchee to potatoes in a sweet sauce. 

Spicy Vegetable

 Sweet Potatoes

Lotus Root with a Sweet Sauce

Crunchy Green Vegetable

After munching on our appetizers for a bit, our main dishes arrived. The rice dish I had chosen came out on a sizzling platter while my friend's choice, a tofu hot pot, was served in a clay pot. 

The rice dish had a mixture of flavorful vegetables. The dish is also served with a runny fried egg. This allows the yolk to be broken and soak into the rice, adding flavor to the entire dish.

The hot pot was spicier than the dish I had chosen. It contained a mixture of tofu, vegetables, and meat. If you are looking for more flavor in your meal choice, I would definitely recommend the hot pot instead of the rice dish.

For those who enjoy Korean Barbecue, Han Il Kwan also serves it and while I did not try it myself, it smelled incredible! Barbecue can be ordered for one or for groups of people. It will also be served with an array of appetizers and side dishes.

All-in-all Han Il Kwan is an excellent experience all around. If you love Korean food or are feeling adventurous and want to try a new place this is where you need to go.

Dim Sum and Peking Duck - Royal China

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Location: Chamblee
Hours: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. daily
Price: $10-$20 per person
Food Type: Asian - Cantonese

Royal China is an authentic Chinese restaurant located in Chamblee between Buford Hwy and Peachtree Industrial on Chamblee Dunwoody Rd. The restaurant is frequented by Asians and Americans alike and is known for its Saturday and Sunday Dim Sum (think Tapas but with Asian food or a bunch of small appetizers that you get to order off of carts that come to your table). If you are planning on going to Royal China for Dim Sum, expect to wait up to 30 minutes for a table. To avoid the long lines, show up at 11 a.m. or risk less variety and show up after 1 p.m..

A less known fact about Royal China is that they serve an excellent Peking Duck. Peking Duck is a specialty where an entire duck is taken and turned into four to five dishes. I highly recommend trying it on a special occasion, just make sure you have 4-5 people with you. If you want to order the Peking Duck, do not just show up at the restaurant, instead call them first at 770-216-9933.

The process you will witness is as follows:

The chef shows up with all the ingredients on a cart and prepares your meal at the table. This ensures freshness and lets the customer know they are not being cheated.

The first dish is completed, a sweet doughy pancake wrapped around thinly sliced duck meat and vegetables and finished with a sweet plum sauce:

The next dish is another duck wrap, but this time it comes in a thin pancake:

Next, you will be served a noodle dish that the remainder of the duck meat is cooked into:

Finally, the duck carcass is used as flavor for a soup:

For those who enjoy more vegetables with dinner, I would recommend ordering a side of Bok Choy stir fried with garlic:

Overall, Royal China is an excellent Chinese restaurant. Dim Sum and Peking Duck are just two examples of the more traditional dishes served there. If you are adventurous or love Asian cuisine, this is the place to go in Atlanta!

A Spanish Villa, a Mural, and 99 cent Margaritas - Los Reyes

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Location: Kennesaw
Hours: Lunch & Dinner Time
Price: $5.00 - $10.00
Food Type: Mexican

Driving up to this restaurant you begin to think you are in a foreign country. On the outside Los Reyes looks like an giant Spanish villa with a fountain and patio out front and windows accented by shutters and colorful floral flower boxes. Upon entering the restaurant the first thing you will notice is the giant mural depicting an old Aztec myth. It is a beautiful piece of art that can be admired throughout your meal. 

Once you tire of staring at the wall, you can admire the starlit ceiling or the fact that customers are seated in what appears to be a courtyard.  

Unfortunately, while the atmosphere at Los Reyes is amazing, the food is only decent. Patrons are greeted with complimentary chips and salsa. For those who enjoy spice, the salsa has none, but if you enjoy mild salsa this is the place for you. For the main course I tried their enchilada and taco combo while a friend had their quesadilla rellena. Both were edible, but not extraordinary. While we did not order it, the dish that appeared to be the most popular and enjoyable throughout the restaurant was the Sizzling Fajitas.

Taco & Enchilada:

Quesadillas:

For those who enjoy a good alcoholic beverage with a meal, Los Reyes does have excellent margaritas. Once a week on either Tuesday or Thursday evenings they offer 99 cent margaritas. If drinking is not your cup of tea, but entertainment is there is a live mariachi band every Friday from 7 pm - 10 pm and Mexican dancers every Saturday from 7 pm - 9 pm. All in all, if you live near Los Reyes I would recommend trying it at least once, but if a commute is needed, venture to another Mexican restaurant.

Skulls, Crazy-eyes, and Burgers - The Vortex

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Location: Midtown
Hours: Mon.-Wed. 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.
            Thurs.-Sat. 11 a.m. - 3 a.m.
            Sun. 11 a.m. - Midnight
Price: $10-$15
Food Type: American

With 2 Atlanta locations - the original in Little Five Points and the other on Peachtree St. in Midtown - the Vortex has been serving burgers to customers in Atlanta for over a decade. Started in the eccentric part of town, Little Five Points, The Vortex quickly became known as the burger joint with a giant skull outside its doors. While the original location still has its memorable landmark, The Vortex's 2nd location has a tamer entry way to greet customers.

Long lines are common at The Vortex, particularly for larger parties and at dinner time Thursday - Sunday. It is highly recommended that you call in advance if you have a big group. I also recommend you read the restaurant's list of rules which covers everything from smoking and payment options to no whining and keeping the restaurant an idiot-free zone! For the full list check out the rules page of their website: http://www.thevortexbarandgrill.com/

If you are with a large group and waiting for a table, the bar is an excellent place to rest. The Vortex offers a wide range of beers including local favorites such as Sweetwater and Terrapin. For those in desire of something stronger, the bar does also serve liquor.

Once seated, take some time to read the menu cover-to-cover. You may want some extra time to go through their rules if it is your first time visiting the venue. When it comes to appetizers, the Mucho Mas Nachos are an excellent dish to share with the table. For the main course, you would be wise to order a burger.

Tasmanian Devil Burger

The Vortex is famous for their Elvis Burger, a burger patty covered with peanut butter, bacon, and fried bananas. It may not sound appetizing when you hear it, but it comes highly recommended. For the less adventurous folks, there is the Vortex Cheeseburger or the Big Blue Buffalo Burger. However, if you are really up for a challenge you can order the $25.95 Super-Stack Heart Attack Burger consisting of three grilled cheese sandwiches stuffed with 2 fried eggs, 2 half pound sirloin patties, 10 slices of bacon & 8 slices of American cheese and yes, you can get condiments to go with that as well.

Overall, The Vortex is an Atlanta restaurant you must experience at least once in your lifetime and its ambiance and atmosphere will certainly make it memorable.

Spice up your Life! - Spice Market

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Location: Midtown
Hours: Check out their website: http://www.spicemarketatlanta.com/
Price: $20 - $30 per person
Food Type: Upscale Asian Fusion

Located in the W hotel in Midtown, Spice Market is a wonderful place to celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary. Diners are greeted by an extremely hospitable and attentive staff as they walk into the dimly lit dining room. I was there for a birthday celebration and after being seated, the entire table was greeted with complimentary champagne (for those under 21, a complimentary dessert is offered instead). An appetizer consisting of baked chips and a savory dipping sauce (see picture below) was also provided on the house.

Before perusing the dinner menu, we decided to order a couple of celebratory drinks from their unique drink menu. We decided on the Pineapple Mojito (left) and the Passion Fruit Wiskey Fizz (right). Both were excellent, but the Pineapple Mojito is definitely a summertime must try!

Spice Market's meals are served family style and sharing is highly recommended by the servers. Something to be aware of when ordering is your level of tolerance for spicy foods. Patrons who are used to eating traditional Indian curries or Wasabe should not change their dish choices if the waiter says the meal will be too hot as Spice Market definitely caters to the average American spice levels.  Our meal began with two appetizers: Black Pepper Shrimp with Sun Dried Pineapple and Citrus Calamari (pictured below). The Black Pepper Shrimp was my favorite dish of the evening and is highly recommend while the calamari had a bit too much batter, but great flavor when paired with the red chilies.

For the main course we ordered Cod with Malaysian Chili Sauce, Spicy Shanghai Noodles with Chilled Silken Tofu, and Red Curried Duck. The Shanghai Noodles took first place in our table's competition for best entree. The Cod came in 2nd as it was extremely well cooked and had an excellent sauce. The Curried Duck took 3rd as it fell apart in your mouth, but unfortunately had a sauce that lacked flavor.

The Cod:

Shanghai Noodles:

Red Curried Duck:

Overall, Spice Market is an excellent restaurant when it comes to service and atmosphere. I would highly recommend it for drinks and appetizers, but find it over priced when it comes to the quality of food served.

Laughs All Around - Dad's Garage

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Location: Midtown
Ages: Teens & Adults
Hours: Visit their website for show times: http://www.dadsgarage.com/calendar/

Laugh until you cry, pure ridiculousness, and audience involvement are some ways to describe the environment at Dad's Garage. Founded in 1995, this warehouse housed theatre group has been entertaining Atlanta for 15 years. The shows are reasonably priced at $13-$15 and every once in a while they host PWYC (pay what you can) nights.

If you attend a Thursday showing of Improv Revolution be prepared for adult humor and exciting competition as actors compete in various improv games. If Improv is not your cup of tea and you prefer an actual show, Dad's Garage is performing "Spoon, the Musical" the entire month of July at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. For a description of the musical visit: http://sa1.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/TicketRequest?eventId=198936&presenter=DADS&venue=&event=

Last, but definitely not least, is their longest running show, TheatreSports. If you are looking for audience involvement, this is the show to be at. You will yell, scream, give suggestions, and hopefully laugh. In this show, improv artists are divided into two teams who compete against each other in a series of improv games. In the end, the judges decide who wins. TheatreSports is performed every Saturday night at 10:30 p.m..

Breakfast All Day - West Egg Cafe

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Location: Midtown
Hours: Mon.-Fri: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. & Sat.-Sun.: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Price Range: $7 - $12
Food Type: Breakfast/Baked Goods

Breakfast all day is a statement few can refuse, but it's even better when combined with fancy coffee and freshly baked goods. Welcome to West Egg Cafe, located on the corner of Howell Mill and Brady Avenue not far away from Atlantic Station and the GA Tech campus, this restaurant is keeping breakfast enthusiasts in midtown extremely happy.

After parking in the free deck next door, patrons will walk up to the glass facade that houses the cafe. As a customer you can choose to order coffee and a pastry to go or choose to be seated indoors or outside on the patio. The restaurant has a modern feel with a high school theme. Menus come in file folders, old science desk are used on the patio, and the silverware appears in an old library card box, but do not worry, the food is nothing like that found in your old high school cafeteria!

When ordering from the menu keep a couple of things in mind. First, West Egg is well known for their Egg Sandwich served with a side of soup. Second, if you're in the mood for something lighter, their Coca-Cola Cupcake has won them a few awards. Otherwise, order anything your palate desires and you are not likely to be disappointed. My personal pick: two eggs with black bean cakes and a choice of potatoes or grits.

For guests who do not enjoy eating breakfast at 8 pm, West Egg offers a dinner menu in addition to their all-day breakfast menu. Customers can choose from southern staples such as Pig & Grits or Chicken & Dumpling Pot Pie. Furthermore, many of their breakfast accompaniments such as Fried Green Tomatoes or Black Bean Cakes can be ordered as an appetizer instead. The key thing to remember: save room for dessert...

http://www.westeggcafe.com/

A Persian Paradise - Fanoos Persian Cuisine

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Location: Sandy Springs
Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. 
            Fri.-Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Price Range: Lunch Buffet: $12.99 (weekdays) $14.99 (Sunday)
                     Dinner: $14 - $20 per entree
Food Type: Persian


Fresh bread, fabulous food, and fun, fun, fun are the thoughts that come to mind when describing Fanoos Persian Cuisine! Located in Sandy Springs off of Roswell Rd. and just north of I-285, Fanoos is an exciting place to bring large groups of friends and family. 

Monday to Friday I highly recommend the lunch buffet which features salads, fresh hummus, nan bread made fresh in the restaurant, a few types of rice, lamb, chicken, vegetables, and unlimited baklava for dessert! The meal can also be paired with a cup of Persian tea or one of their many bottles of wine.

Friday and Saturday nights the fun begins! Fanoos features live belly dancing both evenings on their stage. The dancers also wander around the restaurant keeping customers entertained. Large parties can choose to have their meal in traditional Persian style by having a seat on one of the many raised platforms that contain cushions and a low table. This is also the perfect setting to try one of the many flavors of hookah offered at Fanoos. Patrons may choose from regular flavors such as blueberry and banana or they can opt for a more exotic taste by ordering caramel or mojito.

Whether it be for the atmosphere or the traditional food, Fanoos is definitely a well-hidden gem that all fun-loving and adventurous diners should try.

http://www.fanoospersiancuisine.com/hookahs.html

Ludacris Style Dining - Straits

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Location: Midtown
Hours: Sun.-Wed. 5 p.m.-10 p.m. & Thurs.-Sat. 5 p.m.-11 p.m.
Price Range: $12 - $24 per dish
Food Type: Asian Fusion (Singaporean)
 

Known to many in Atlanta as Ludacris's restaurant, Straits blends fine dining with family-style cuisine in the form of Asian fusion. Located on the corner of Juniper St. & 5th St. patrons are greeted by an adorable, well decorated patio.

Around 6 p.m. on a Saturday evening, the restaurant is relatively empty and my party of 6 was quickly seated, but reservations are recommended on weekends for large parties.

Begin your dining experience at Straits by looking at their extensive and unique drink menu. Their cocktails are around $10 a piece and feature exotic items such as a Lychee-tini or a Blueberry Red Bull.  These drinks can be accompanied by some exciting appetizers! I highly recommend their Samosas and the Starfruit and Mango Salad. Samosas, a flaky pastry filled with a vegetarian curry, are served four on a plate, but can easily be split in half if your party is larger. In contrast, the Starfruit and Papaya Salad brings a more mild and sweet flavor to the table adding a light and refreshing twist to the meal.

Moving into the main course it is best to remember that although Straits is fine-dining, the food is meant to be shared! Order two to three dishes depending on your party size. One of my favorite entrees is the Half Chicken and Vegetables. Shown in the picture below, this succulent dish pleases most pallets. Consisting of crispy skin lightly covered in a sweet sauce on the outside, and meat that falls apart with the smallest pull on the inside,  this chicken dish will quickly be devoured by all carnivores at the table.

Last, but not least, the final course, dessert, is a requirement. Choose from Sweet Potato Creme Brulee, The French Kiss, Peach Cobbler, Pineapple Bread Pudding, or Sorbet. My personal favorite is the Pineapple Bread Pudding, featured below followed by the Creme Brulee.

Swimming With Fish, Whales, and Sharks - The Georgia Aquarium

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Location: Downtown
Ages: All
Hours: Visit http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/plan-your-visit/ as the times change year-round.

THE OBVIOUS
The Georgia Aquarium is one of Atlanta's finest tourist attractions. Located on the Northern end of Centennial Olympic Park, it is easy to access and an exciting place for children and adults alike. Considered to be one of the largest aquariums in the world as it contains more than 8.1 million gallons of water, the aquarium is home to all types of aquatic life ranging from beluga whales to Georgia's own loggerhead sea turtles. The aquarium offers six separate exhibits as well as a 4D theater showing Deepo's Undersea 3D Wondershow. Be prepared for large crowds during the summer season and on weekends and if you want to skip the lines you can always purchase tickets in advance online just go here:http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/acb/stores/1/category.aspx.  

The Unknown
What very few visitors know is the Georgia Aquarium offers a Free jazz concert (with the purchase of a day visitor's ticket) every Friday night May - September from 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.. During the concert, the aquarium offers specialty picnic baskets that you can order in advance. For jazz and fish lovers this could be the perfect date!
Visit http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/explore-the-aquarium/events-and-programs/jazz-journeys.aspx to learn everything you need to know and enjoy!

Penang Restaurant

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Location: Chamblee

Hours: Mon.-Sun. 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Price Range: $8 - 15 per dish

Food Type: Asian (Malaysian & Thai)

Penang is one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Atlanta and I have yet to introduce the restaurant to a friend who does not fall in love with it! Located on Buford Hwy., the road known in Atlanta for its authentic and international cuisine, Penang offers customers excellent Malaysian and Thai dishes that please most pallets. 

Begin your dining experience with one of their flavorful appetizers. For those who find themselves dousing their mouths with water when it comes to spice, there are the non-burning dishes such as Satay (Chicken or Beef grilled on stick with a peanut dipping sauce) or Penang Popia (a non-fried vegetable spring roll also served with a peanut dipping sauce). For the more adventurous there is the Roti Cani (a light fried bread that is dipped in curry sauce) or the Satay Tofu (Tofu stuffed with cucumber and a spicy peanut sauce). 

Moving into the main course, the choices are more difficult to make. As a dinner guest you must decide if you want to enjoy a couple of noodle dishes or if you want to settle on rice for the evening with a few plates to share. When it comes to noodles, the Penang Char Kway Teow is a must try, but beware of its spiciness! For those who prefer a more mild noodle I would recommend the Hokkien Char Mee. If you decide to order rice and have a family style meal I would recommend the following dishes:

• Sarang Burong - nicknamed the bird's nest because it looks like one this dish is made of friend taro shaped like a nest and filled with chicken, shrimp, and vegetables.
• Kari Sayu - a vegetable curry with lots of flavor and great for soaking into rice.
• Lamb Rendang - a spicy lamb dish that melts in your mouth.
• Volcano Spare Ribs - these tasty sweet and sour ribs will show up at your table still on fire!
• Mango Chicken - mango and chicken cooked together in a sweet and sour sauce and served in the mango peels.

Last, but not least, you must try dessert. Penang offers two Malaysian specialties: Peanut Pancake and Ice Kacang. The first is a sweet peanut sauce wrapped in a thin, crispy pancake. It can easily be shared amongst the whole table. The second is the Malaysian version of a snow cone, but instead of flavored food coloring you get red beans, corn, palm seeds, and Chinese jelly topped with a sweet syrupy sauce. 

Now you have the scoop on one of the finest Malaysian/Thai restaurants in town. Let me know what you think of it!

Centennial Olympic Park - The Fountain and the Local Music

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Location: Downtown Atlanta

Ages: All

Hours: 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.

THE OBVIOUS
There's no better place to start a journey through Atlanta than Centennial Olympic Park. Located in the center of the city and created during the 1996 Olympics the park has much to offer. Children and adventurous adults enjoy running through the fountains in the summer heat, couples and college students enjoy picnics on the long lawns, and visitors from around the world take pictures and read the inscriptions on the thousands of engraved bricks.

THE HIDDEN
What many people do not know is Centennial offers two local concert series. April through September the park hosts musicians from noon - 1 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. It's a great place to enjoy lunch while taking in some relaxing tunes! See which artists are playing this week by visiting: http://www.centennialpark.com/events/man.html.

Furthermore, every Wednesday evening, April through September, the park hosts a concert series called Wednesday WindDown from 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.. Artists who have played in the past include Phil Davis and Joey Sommerville. Consider it a wonderful way to avoid Atlanta rush hour and relax instead! If you want to check-out the upcoming schedule visit: http://www.centennialpark.com/events/wwd.html.

Removing the Blindfold

When people across the United States and around the world discover I'm from Atlanta they often ask me one of three things:
1) Atlanta, that's the city where all the rappers come from right?
2) Isn't that where Coca-Cola's headquartered?
3) Didn't you host the Olympics a while ago?

While all of these rhetorical questions are either true, or somewhat true in the case of #1, Atlanta is so much more than these three statements. What the world fails to realize is Atlanta is also a cosmopolitan and vibrant city full of history, culture, and an exciting assortment of cuisine! It is a city begging to be explored starting with its most obvious tourist attractions such as the Coca-Cola Museum, and ending with its unique and well hidden restaurants. So, I invite visitors and native Atlantans alike to follow me on a journey through the best Atlanta has to offer and hope in return each of you, new or old to the city, will discover everything Atlanta has to offer.