Having this basically be my first time in Atlanta (the last time I visited was over a decade ago) I was excited to see the city again. A vibrant city with an amazing food scene, I feel like I ate my way through most of the it. Some of the highlights were:
The Varsity – I imagine this is a fast food staple for Atlanta as evidenced by its presence in the airport. I ate at the establishment near Georgia Tech and for a city that looked relatively quiet on a Sunday afternoon, the place was packed with people. 2 chili dogs, fries, and a peach sweet tea later, I walked out a very satisfied customer. One question. What is sweet tea? We don’t have that out on the West coast but I couldn’t believe how sugary that drink is. I didn’t get very far into finishing my drink before I could feel the cavities overtaking my mouth.
Vortex – Another burger joint that was a great place to hang out. I naturally had a burger called the cardiac arrest and yes, it was good. I guess there are a few locations but it’s certainly an interesting spot.
Busy Bee Cafe – Probably the big surprise of the eateries I visited. Located a little off the beaten path in a small strip center, I almost walked right by it. However, stepping inside, the place was packed for the lunch crowd and rightfully so. Of course, being my first time, I had to get the fried chicken with greens and cornbread. Easily the best fried chicken I’ve ever had.
There were certainly a few other places that were fantastic. In my short few days in Atlanta, I could have easily stayed to eat and experience some more the city has to offer. But old eating habits are hard to change and by the time I got back to SD, I was in dire need of a salad.