I haven't been to Atlanta in ages but we used to take our employees to Ruth's Chris when we attended trade shows in Atlanta. It's not upscale but nicer than average steak house. The steaks are amazing. I do seem to remember that it was noisy though but maybe others can chime in as to if I am remembering correctly.

But you can go to a Ruth's Chris anywhere! Haven't been to Atlanta, except to the airport, but I'm sure someone here, from that area, will recommend something that is a bit more unique/local.

I grew up in Atlanta and my mother still lives there in Buckhead. DD also, and we are all over the board for restaurants. Some of our favorites that may not be in the guidebooks:

Livingstons in the Georgian Terrace Hotel on Peachtree St across from the Fox Theatre. I would heartily recommend a tour of the theatre, which is an architectural marvel and well worth the time. If you can see a show there, even better! Livingstons has good to very good food in a beautiful and elegant setting, and they have the BEST cocktails EVER.

Alfredo's Italian restaurant on Cheshire Bridge Road towards Buckhead is a wonderful family owned restaurant that has provided consistently fine food for over forty years, which is approximately how long our family has been dining there. We just celebrated my nephew's 16th birthday dinner there in August, the most recent of many dinners we've enjoyed over the years. The location looks awful, and the building itself is unassuming to say the least, but the food is fantastic and the wine list is extensive, and the atmosphere is friendly and accommodating.

In terms of "soul food," I can't really recommend anything. For a good quick lunch, there are several Zoe's Kitchens around town with good sandwiches, Greek salads and tabbouleh, that kind of thing.

In Decatur, Brick Store Pub has good pub food and an amazing array of craft beers. Leon's Full Service restaurant is another fun one in Decatur, which is just 15 minutes out of the city via Ponce are Leon. Eddie's Attic is a great intimate concert venue in Decatur as well if you're in that area, which is accessible by Marta trains. I haven't been in several years, but Two Urban Licks is a fun industrial space with (then) very good food and an outstanding bar.

holly-kay, thank you for the suggestion. I ate at the Ruth's Chris in Las Vegas on a business trip several years ago. The steak is good.

chispa, yes we would prefer something more local.

kswl, I was hoping you would chime in. Thank you for the great suggestions! DH has already mentioned going to the Fox Theater. Livingstons and Alfredo's seem perfect for my dad. Leons Full Service will be fine, too.

DH and I are a part of the music community in San Francisco and would love to go to Eddie's Attic or Two Urban Licks. We are already planning another trip without family for things like music and southern folk art. We have family in Florida, so Atlanta is a good stop on the way.

Edited to delete double post.

{{!gwi}}

This post was edited by ljwrar on Sun, Oct 26, 14 at 2:40

There are lots of good restaurants in Atlanta! I'd go to The Optomist or Bachanalia. JCT Kitchen serves upscale southern food. Greenwoods has good southern food, but it's outside the city in Roswell, and that might be further than you want to drive.

Except for Mary Mac's (and it's been eons since I was there!) I haven't been to any of these, but these are some southern/soul food options:

Gladys Knight's Chicken and Waffles
Pashcal's
Mary Mac's Tea Room

Thank you porkandham. So much to choose from! I think I might push for the Optomist. Love the menu. It's also very different from food in SF. I'll send the southern food suggestions to DH and let him choose that one.

Ljwrar, I was hoping someone would suggest seafood--- I don't eat it but it seems like it's high on everyone else's lists.

If you are interested in very fine dining we like two restaurants that might be in your geographic range depending on where downtown you're staying. Both are located in South Atlanta in Chattahoochee Hills: The Farmhouse and The Hill, within a planned community called Serenbe. They are upscale restaurants similar to Baccanalia in that most of the food is grown on their own farm (right on the premises), but are less expensive and have a more casual vibe. The Farmhouse is owned by a couple that owned many restaurants in Atlanta (The pleasant Peasant, Peasant Uptown, Dailey's, City Grill, and a few others) before they sold everything to open Serenbe. The Hill is owned by different people but sources most of their food from the same organic farm.

If by any chance you're going very soon, right now the Serenbe Playhouse is presenting their outdoor play The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which they put on every year at this season. Their outdoor professional theatre is unusual and fun, and the productions have gotten rave reviews from critics and theater goers alike, especially Hair and more recently, Oklahoma. The Headless horseman (actually on a horse, on a dirt road) is really something to see. We are going this weekend for DD's birthday with dinner at The Farmhouse before. If you have any opportunity to see it or eat at one of the Serenbe restaurants you won't be sorry! If you're staying on the south side of downtown it's about as far as Buckhead to the north.

Buckhead Diner! Be sure to get the house-made chips with blue cheese as an appetizer for the table. I can't remember anything else I've ever eaten there, but I never miss the chips with blue cheese. The chips are fresh and warm and the cheese is melting over them.

The last time I was in downtown Atlanta for business, one night we ate at the Pacific Rim Bistro. Very good.

If you want a little kitsch in your day, The Varsity near Georgia Tech. They bill themselves as the World's Largest Drive-In Restaurant. Go for the chili cheese slaw dog. Absolutely nothing healthy about it, but boy do I love it.

Very good suggestions by everyone, just remember that Atlanta is a sprawling metropolis.

No visit to Atlanta is complete without eating at the Varsity! What'll ya have?!?!

kswl, The Farmhouse and The Hill look awesome! Unfortunately, we are looking for nice meals on Monday and Tuesday nights. They are not open those days.

bbstx, Buckhead Diner will be perfect for Sunday night. We'll be tired from travelling and will want a good but basic meal. They have a Niman Ranch pork chop. Interesting to see pork from Marin County near SF all the way in Atlanta.

Pacific Rim Bistro is a no go for Dad. Too much of an Asian influence for him. I'll put it on the list for the next trip.

bbstx and Allen, Varsity is a definite possibility for nostalgia! When I was little, my mom and her best friend would take us kids to Princess drive in in Houston for lunch. I love jogging her memory and listening to her stories!

Give Fogo de Chao a try. They have an incredible salad bar and you can try as many types of meat you want. If you go to the website and view "The Fargo Dining Experience" at the bottom of the page it might help you decide if you would like something like this.

caminnc, Fogo de Chao looks great! There is one in San Jose, so I may keep that one for our next trip "down south".

Look at the menu for Watershed.

Bumblebeez, Watershed looks great, too! The menu has something for everyone in our party. Thank you for the suggestion.

Now to narrow it down and make some reservations.
Thank you everyone for your help.
Lisa

I enjoy eating great food in a 5 star restaurant, but also like to get a real feel for the area. The south is known for it's 'comfort food', so ask the hotel for a few good recommendations of such 'fooderies'. Also,restaurants that are known for growing their own organic produce, and possibly grow it right on the premises in full view!

patty cakes, some of the restaurants mentioned above are known for growing their own produce. Unfortunately, they are not open on the days we will be there. We will definitely have some southern comfort food on this trip.

We are back from Atlanta and your suggestions were great! DH wouldn't let me leave the hotel without the "GW list". We ended up going to JCT Kitchen, Zoe's, and Buckhead Diner. We also had a very casual dinner at Yeah Burger. Their Southern Dog with pimento cheese and Bama sauce with a side of Napa Coleslaw is perfect when you are tired and cranky from traveling and haven't had lunch.

JCT Kitchen was definitely the best meal of the trip.The food was delicious. Dad did complain about the noise, but Mom told him deal with it because she was having a great time. My favorite dish was the fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese. Yes, there is a pimento cheese theme here!

The best part of the trip, besides seeing my parents, was meeting the people of Atlanta. Southern hospitality is alive and well! Made me think about growing up in Houston. Seeing the beautiful trees starting to change colors was just an added bonus.

Thank you all for your suggestions.
Lisa