The List

I am one - one of many, I'm sure - who claims that food is one of life's greatest treats. It is one of many factors that distinguishes countries, cultures, and people; it is also one of the only tangible distinctions, second only to physical borders. Yet, despite it's ineffable role in culture, it is really the only cultural aspect over which no one fights. Unlike land or religious beliefs or politics, food is benign; despite vast differences between people and locations, disparities in cuisine are accepted, even welcomed by outsiders. Cities across the world are renowned for their foods -Chicago has the deep-dish and the hot dog, Philly, the cheesesteak - yet the Atlanta dining scene is relatively esoteric outside of the perimeter. The truth, however, is that Atlanta has some of the best restaurants in the country - of the cities I've visited, at least. My goal is to discover those restaurants, eat at them, (hopefully) enjoy the experience, and share it with you.

Below you will find the list. It consists of 54 restaurants (I may add some more along the way), each chosen for a specific reason. A lot of research has gone into this list, and, as you will see, no pattern, random search, or algorithm was used to choose the restaurants on it. This list is, in the most basic form, a research project. After reading reviews (both user-generated and professional), studying menus, asking around, and (sometimes) passing by restaurants that have caught my eye, I chose 54 restaurants that, in my opinion, epitomize the diversity, class, and/or uniqueness of cuisine. Some are fancy, others just greasy spoons, but each is bound to be excellent, and I am ready to try them all.

--Dan

The List

Name		Cuisine		Attire		Price
10 Degrees South		South African		Dressy		$$$
4th & Swift		American		Dressy		$$$
57th Fighter Group Restaurant		American		Casual		$$
Anis		French		Casual		$$
Aria		American		Dressy		$$$$
Babette's Café		Breakfast & Lunch/French		Casual		$$
Bacchanalia		American		Dressy		$$$$
Bistro Niko		French		Casual		$$
Bocado		American		Casual		$$
Café Agora		Mediterranean/Turkish		Casual		$$
Café Bombay		Indian		Casual		$$
Cakes & Ale		American		Casual		$$$
Canoe		American/Seafood		Dressy		$$$
Chat Patti		Indian		Casual		$$
Craftbar		American/Bar		Dressy		$$$
Dogwood Restaurant		Southern		Dressy		$$$
Ecco		Modern European		Dressy		$$$
ENO by Zaza		Italian/Wine Bar		Dressy		$$$
Enoteca Carbonari		Italian		Casual		$$
Fat Matt's Rib Shack		BBQ		Casual		$$
Feast		American		Casual		$$
FLIP Burger Boutique		Burgers		Casual		$$
Fox Bro's Bar-B-Q		BBQ		Casual		$$
Hal's On Old Ivy Buckhead		American/Traditional		Dressy		$$$
Haven		Southern		Casual		$$$
Holeman & Finch Public House		American/Gastropub		Casual		$$
Home		Southern		Dressy		$$$
La Grotta Ristorante Italiano		Italian		Dressy		$$$$
P'cheen		International/Pub		Casual		$$
Panita Thai Kitchen		Thai		Casual		$$
Papi's Midtown		Cuban		Casual		$
Parish		Cajun/Creole		Casual		$$
Park 75		American		Dressy		$$$$
Park Tavern		American		Casual		$$
Parke'rs on Ponce		Stakehouse		Casual		$$
Pasta Da Pulcinella		Italian		Casual		$$
Pasta Vino		Italian/Pizza		Casual		$$
Portofino		Italian		Casual		$$
R. Thomas Deluxe Grill		American		Casual		$$
Rathbun's		American		Dressy		$$$
Ria's Bluebird		Southern/Breakfast/Lunch		Casual		$
Room		Stakehouse/Sushi Bar		Dressy		$$$$
Shaun's		Southern		Casual		$$$
Sotto Sotto		Italian		Dressy		$$$
South City Kitchen Midtown		Southern		Casual		$$$
Straits		Asian Fusion		Dressy		$$$
Sushi House Hayakawa		Sushi/Japanese		Casual		$$$
Top Flr		American/Wine Bar		Casual		$$
Toulouse		French		Casual		$$$
Trader Vic's		Hawaiian		Casual		$$$
Wahoo! A Decatur Grill		American/Seafood		Casual		$$
Wisteria		American/Southern		Casual		$$$
Woodfire Grill		American		Dressy		$$$