Pack Mentality: Atlanta. Best eats and best places to get buzzed.

[AzzurriDawg4]

Sure, it is a bit premature, but we will simply do another one for Nashville or Jacksonville or wherever else we may land. <div>
</div><div>So here are my favorites:</div><div>
</div><div>Food: Bones (steak), ONE Midtown Kitchen, Two Urban Licks (one of the coolest restaurant atmospheres I have experienced - in the old Atlanta Post Office bldg.), The Varsity, Fatt Mac's (barbecue).</div><div>
</div><div>Nightlife: I like all the college-type bars around Buckhead, like Park Bench, East Andrews, Fado, Moon Dogs - and there is no question I will be at Hole in the Wall at some point in the wee hours. </div><div>
</div><div>If anyone finds some decent New Years Eve deals/promotions, post them here too. Cover charges are going to be high and it is going to be tough to get into a lot of places at the time we will be arriving from the game. </div>

 

[RobbieRandolph]

All my ATL buddies say Midtown is the new Buckhead in terms of bars and restaurants.

Somehow, this will be my first time partying it up in ATL.

 

[ckDOG]

My addition to the list: Somebody needs to go to the Vortex and take down this bad boy:

That's the double bypass burger. What you are seeing is a beast of a burger. No clue on the patty size. It's large - obviously. Cheese, fried egg, bacon. Sandwiched between two GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES - both on texas toast.

They have other burgers that are equally as good but not as debaucherous. And a good beer selection. Can't really go wrong with that place if you want a good burger.

 

[AzzurriDawg4]

But when I started dating my wife, she was living in Buckhead (in 2005-06) so we went out there all the time. Midtown suggestions would be great. I am sure a lot has changed since then. We were regulars at Park Bench and Hole in the Wall at that time. Good live music at Park Bench usually and then a great late night dance club at Hole in the Wall. <div>
</div><div>Edited to add: we did go to NYE at Park Tavern in midtown one year and it was a lot of fun, but it was a hosted party (like the Phoenix Club parties in Jackson).
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[Maroon Blood]

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[GABully24]

Eats- Toconfirm what Azzuri said, Bones is fantastic, but very expensive. If you go there be prepared to spend a hundred bucks. Gordon Biersch and Vortex are fantastic for both eating and drinking. Hudson grill has several locations around ATL as well, and is a really good sports bar.

Night Life:

Buckhead vs. Midtown

Buckhead-I personally prefer buckhead over midtown. It seems like to me the crowd and thebars themselvesare a little more laid back. East Andrews, Churchill's, 5 Paces, The Pool Hall, Fado, Peachtree Tavern, Moondog's, and Hole in the Wall are all fun bars and within walking distance from eachother.

Midtown- Still a fun place to go, but I feel like you need to be more dressed up and willing to spend more money to go out here. The places I am really thinking of when I say this are Opera and Cosmo- Lava. My favorite 2 bars in midtown Flip-Flops ( Whenver I go there I feel like I am at a fraternity party with a bunch of hot drunk 19 and 20 year old girls. So obvioulsly it's awesome) and Front Page News, which is just a cool laid back bar to hear some good live music.

 

[821505]

Near CNN Center and Cenennial Park. It is in Ted Turners headquarters building. Great steaks and burgers. Great if you want to try Buffalo steaks.

 

[JesterB]

nm

 

[FISHDAWG]

Ruths Criss is in the Embassy Suites and within walking distance to the dome .... STAY AWAY FROM UNDERGROUND ATLANTA at all cost

 

[vandaldawg]

No problem with the nicer restaurants. There are a billion great options. Can hardly begin a list. (for a wide variety of atmosphere's and price points: Six Feet Under, Carroll Street Cafe, Highland Tap, Going Coastal, La Taviola, Brickstore Pub, Moe's & Joes, George's, Ma Li's, Taqueria del Sol, Flip, Graveyard, Midway Pub, The Earl)

I just need to stop. You can throw a rock in Virginia Highland, Little Five, Midtown and East Atlanta and not go wrong. Note: dive bars have AWESOME food. In some cases, the more frightening looking the place, the more unexpectedly great the food is. The Highlander, The Earl, etc. Also "GastroPubs" have made a big fuss in Atlanta in recent years. Bookhouse, and on in Little Five which have great food and great beers.

Go to the Varsity if you need to check it off your list, but it's really ****** food with shitt portions and incredibly annoying crowd. I would put Fox Brothers (Little Five), Maddies (further down Ponce in Decatur), and The Local WAY ahead of Fat Matt's for Barbecue. There are several great options for

And Buckhead is fine if you don't mind the 24 hour douche-athon. I never go there. The Local on Ponce happens to be across the street from the Clermont Lounge. Just saying. You can barhop in Virginia Highlands and East Atlanta and have an excellent time. Downtown Decatur square as well for a nice collection of watering holes, fine dining to casual and a Marta stop goes right into the plaza in the middle of them all.

There will be lots of under the radar stuff to do on NYE that won't kill you with the stickershock.

 

[MStateFan22]

Absolutely love the food there. Family and I found that place about 5 years ago, and now I go there everytime I'm in Atlanta.

 

[AzzurriDawg4]

These "off the radar" NYE options. I love the Highlands - great live music, some cool blues bars - just not sure if the places I have been there are prime NYE spots. I am all for avoiding douchebaggery - and (at least when I frequented the area years ago) those places like East Andrews, etc., were good spots.

 

[BehrDawg]

Bones is handsdown, the beat bone-in ribeye you will ever eat. Gordon Biersch is a great microbrewery/restaurant.

Just be ready to drop a Benjamin per head at Bones.

 

[sardis]

Great Italian food with lots of atmosphere, you can order off the menu or just tell them to bring food, a unique experience for everyone I've taken there over the years!

 

[vandaldawg]

Midtown has sucked up some of the douchebaggery that used to dominate Buckhead.

I forgot about Northside Tavern. It's a little off by itselfish (although the Westside is steadily up and coming), but I'll tell you, it's a dirty, good time - every time. Great blues and people partying like nobody is looking. Good fun.

I would definitely think in terms of villages instead of particular bars. Commit to East Atlanta, Little Five, Poncey Highlands, Va-Hi, Midtown or Buckhead and just stick there for the day. They all have restaurants, bars etc. that are worth your time and money. Just tough to move between them without a fair amount of effort.

 

[skint]

is the best steakhouse in Atlanta.....by far!!<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-spacere"> </span>