Mexican Food on the West Side - Taqueria del Sol

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Location: West Midtown
Hours: Recommend checking their website as it varies
Price: $5 - $15
Type of Food: Mexican

Taqueria del Sol is an established favorite on the west side of Midtown, Atlanta's new booming hot spot for restaurants and interior design. Located off of Howell Mill near Georgia Tech, this Mexican restaurant rarely opens without a line of customers out the door. However, do not let this deter you as service is fast and seating is plentiful!

Front of the Restaurant

Once you make it indoors, grab a menu so you have plenty of time to choose a dish before you get to the counter. A few favorite are the fish or friend chicken tacos, and the brisket enchiladas. The restaurant also offers pitchers of margaritas and the option to build your own individual margarita.

An Assortment of Tacos w/Rice

Enchilada

While the food presentation is simple, the quality is excellent. My only recommendation would be making sure the restaurant is open before visiting as they are closed all day Sunday and Monday for dinner and their operating hours vary daily.

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!

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...

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/

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.