Hookah, Baklava, and Martinis - Divan

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Location: Buckhead
Hours: Sunday & Monday: 6:30 pm - 12 am
            Tuesday-Thursday: 6:30 pm - 1 am
            Friday & Saturday: 6:30 pm - 2 am
Price: $20 per person minimum if smoking hookah
Food Type: Middle Eastern

Pull up to a small two story house on Piedmont and prepare to be greeted by a valet who, on weekends, will ask if you have a reservation before he will park your car. As long as you answer yes, you will enter the two story house, give your name, and immediately be seated by a host or hostess. If you do not have reservation expect a minimum wait of 45 minutes on weekends.

When calling for a reservation there a couple of key things to keep in mind. First, you will need to decide if you want to have dinner or if you just plan to go for hookah and drinks. If you are eating dinner and have a party of 4 people or less I recommend asking for a table on the ground floor as you will have a little more room. If you have a larger party I would see if you can secure the private dining room upstairs. If your only desire is to smoke hookah, drink, and perhaps share an appetizer or desert ask to be seated in the blue room upstairs. This room seats four parties of 2-4 people and consists of padded benches riddled with comfortable cushions and small tables - the perfect lounging atmosphere.

Divan has an assortment of Middle Eastern food to choose from. One option is to start with an appetizer of hummus, add a main dish in the form of a lamb kabob and finish with pistachio-almond baklava. Another option is an appetizer of Crab Risotto Croquettes, a main dish of Basil-mint caramelized Scallops and an Italian Doughnut for dessert.

The restaurant/lounge also has a wide range of specialty cocktails to choose from - my favorite is the Pomegranate Martini. However, if you have fallen into the roll of designated driver for the evening, Divan offers Turkish Coffee and a variety of tea.

If you are looking for a chill night out on the town with friends or a great restaurant for a date give Divan a call and make a reservation.

Roast Duck, BBQ Pork, and Pigs Intestines - Ming's Bar B Que

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Location: Chamblee
Price: $8 - $15 (cash only!!!)
Food Type: Asian

Ming's Bar B Que is a Buford Highway staple and my family has been eating here for as long as I can remember. Whether you are looking for a relatively cheap quality meal or want delicious and fresh bbq pork or roast duck to add to a meal at home, Ming's is the place to go. Patrons know the meat served at Ming's is fresh because it is hanging in the entrance window for all to see upon entering. Step-up to the counter to order to go or go ahead and seat yourself in the small and informal restaurant. However, before you sit down make sure you read the list of specials - hand written and posted on the wall daily.

When looking at the menu be open to trying new things. Ming's serves authentic cuisine ranging from recognizable dishes such as Roast Duck and Beef Chow Mein to more adventurous dishes such as Pig's Blood Rice Congee or Fried Intestine. To get you started, I will let you know a few of my personal favorites.

On a cold winter day there is nothing better than a big heaping bowl of rice congee. For the less adventurous I recommend ordering Thousand Year Egg and Pork Rice Congee (if you don't like it you only lose $3.25 and the eggs are not actually 1,000 years old). For the more adventurous try the Abalone and Chicken Rice Congee. I would also recommend asking for the fried bread sticks to tear off and soak in your congee. The bread has a consistency similar to churros and adds a bit of crunch to the rice soup. Congee does not contain many vegetables so opting to add a side dish of green vegetables that you can toss into your congee is recommended - when doing this ask the waitress for a recommendation instead of ordering off the menu.

If you are not in the mood for congee, try one of their noodle dishes. The Chow Fun with Beef and Singapore Pan Fried Noodle are two of my all time favorites. Another option is to order a bowl of steamed rice and a combination plate of Ming's fresh roast bbq duck and bbq pork (a combination plate will cost you $8.50 and there is enough for two people to share).

Overall Ming's Bar B Que is an excellent and authentic Chinese restaurant. Be sure to swing by it the next time you are on Buford Highway.

A Doughnut Experience Unlike Any Other - Sublime Doughnuts

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Location: Midtown
Hours: Tuesday - Friday: 6 am - 6 pm
           Saturday: 7 am - 6 pm
           Sunday: 7 am - 3pm
Price: $2 - $5
Food Type: American

For the longest time I thought that no doughnut in Atlanta could match a fresh, warm, and gooey Krispy Kreme doughnut but, upon visiting Sublime Doughnuts, I was proven wrong. Located in Midtown Atlanta, up the street from Antico and across from Georgia Tech, Sublime Doughnuts gives specialty cupcake stores a run for their money.

Upon entering the store you will be greeted by the sweet smell of fresh doughnuts as well as a smiling employee. Behind the counter are rows of fresh doughnuts. It is best to go in the morning because by closing time very few doughnuts remain and once full trays will look like this:

Multiple visits to Sublime Doughnuts are highly encouraged as you will need a chance to try a variety of doughnuts. A few of my favorites are:

Strawberries 'N Cream Doughnut - a regular doughnut stuffed with fresh strawberries and creme
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Doughnut - there are actual pieces of a Reese's cup on top!
Red Velvet Doughnut - red velvet cake in pick-up and eat doughnut form

It should come as no surprise that these doughnuts were so delicious I was unable to get a picture before they were demolished! Which means the next time your sweet tooth kicks in you should head to 10th street and check out Sublime Doughnuts and if you are a college student you can even get a discount with a student ID.

Doughnuts and Hamburgers Combined - Cypress Street Pint and Plate

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Location: Midtown (6th & Cypress St.)
Hours: Monday-Friday - 11 am - 2:20 am
           Saturday: 10 am - 2:20 am
           Sunday: 10 am - Midnight
Price: $10-$15
Food Type: American

Tucked away behind the Biltmore at the intersection of 6th Street and Cypress Street, Cypress Street Pint and Plate offers the area a friendly neighborhood bar frequented by residents and office workers alike. The bar has a spacious patio which includes a fire pit to keep patrons warm during the winter. Inside there is a spacious bar surrounded by high top tables as well as a side room which is great for large parties.

During my visit I found myself in the side room that overlooks the bar with a party of 20+ which mostly included aerospace engineers. Despite the large number of people our server was extremely accommodating and friendly bringing in extra chairs when more people arrived and giving us a second table in the room for overflow.

Cypress has a large selection of local, domestic, and imported beer. The bar also serves wine and mixed drinks. When it comes to food, the burgers are a must try. The most recommended burger is the Sublime Burger - two Sublime Doughnuts sandwiching a burger patty served with a side of french fries.

If doughnuts and hamburgers mixed together are not your cup of tea, there are many regular burgers to choose from. You can even request ciabatta bread instead of a regular bun.

If you do not enjoy eating hamburgers there are other options on the menu that are just as tasty. I highly recommend the chicken tenders and fries (usually there are more fries on the plate but I could not resist eating some before I took a picture).

One thing to keep in mind is that the venue is best in the warmer months when the patio can be used. However, the bar area does have the capacity to fit a decent sized crowd. Overall, Cypress Street is a great bar for happy hour, dinner with a large group, or a chill night of drinking. Just don't forget to try the Sublime Burger!