The last time I was in Atlanta I got a lot more attention than I expected for some of my nighttime antics out on the town. If you know what I’m talking about, great. If not, well, that’s also great. That’s not what I’m here to write about.
The last time I was in Atlanta I had a lot of fun, and I was introduced to a couple of great restaurants I’d never been to before. It was a taste of the Old South followed up by the new. I’m heading back to Atlanta tomorrow to celebrate Thanksgivngukkah with my family, and it got me thinking about the places I like to go when I’m in town. Here’s where I went the last time I was in Atlanta.
Old Vinings Inn
Shrimp & grits at Old Vinings Inn
You might recall back in July that I wrote a series on how to break into freelance writing. I wrote at length about the book The Well Fed Writer by Peter Bowerman, an Atlanta-based writer. Well, I sent him an email after I published the series thanking him for the impact he had on my career, and guess what? We had brunch together in September the last time I was in Atlanta. We met at the Old Vinings Inn, an adorable historic cottage with a large covered porch shaded by a canopy of oak and cedar trees. We sat outside and enjoyed the mild fall weather.
Looking at the menu, the first thing that signaled I wasn’t in Miami anymore was that brunch cocktails were a mere $7. The choices ranged from typical brunch libations, Mimosas and Bloody Marys, to classic Southern cocktails, like Sazeracs, Mint Juleps and Pimms Cups. The second thing was the mouth-watering dishes, like fried green tomatoes served with goat cheese and bacon aioli, crab cakes with cream corn, chicken and biscuits and shrimp and grits served with andouille, okra, corn, Creole beer broth and a soft poached egg. That’s Southern comfort food at its finest. I couldn’t resist the eggs Benedict with country ham, fried green tomatoes and Hollandaise.
Here’s a tip, when in the South, definitely order the fried green tomatoes (and the cheese grits).
3011 Paces Mill Rd., Atlanta 770-438-2282
Parish: Food & Goods
The Market at Parish: Food & Goods
Later that afternoon, I met up with one of my best friends from high school and college Joannah in trendy Inman Park. Through the years since I moved away from Georgia, I’ve always been able to count on Joannah to introduce me to cool Atlanta spots, and this time she took me to Parish: Food & Goods. Part-sit down restaurant, part-grab and go market and coffee shop, it has a totally laid back vibe with ample outdoor seating. We opted for the casual market located downstairs to catch up. While they serve a delicious local and seasonal menu of sandwiches and salads, we enjoyed hot tea and a chocolate croissant. I’d love to return and give the restaurant on the main floor a try.
240 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta 404-681-4434
To any of my Atlanta readers, what are some of your favorite restaurants and bars? Where should I go the next time I’m in Atlanta?
Images courtesy of Old Vinings Inn and Parish: Food & Goods
