Atlanta & Charleston Help
Heading to SC next month after flying into Atlanta....any suggestions for dinner in or around Atlanta that won't take me too far out of the way (headed to Charleston)?
Not looking for anything over-the-top fancy though ambience is important. Great wine/beer list is a must. Spicy food is always welcome! Not into trendy this or newest that.
Once I'm in Charleston, what about lunch/dinner there?
Thanks.
Stevo
Mar 24, 2003 04:47PM
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SteveO:
We're going to Charleston this weekend. Will let you know how the places we've selected are - 2 DINNERS - 2 LUNCHES - 2 BREAKFASTS. But, I can mention a ton of places that were already mentioned by various Hounds - Take your pick...I guess:
SNOBS, FISH, 39 RUE DE JEAN, BOULEVARD DINER, HANKS, ALICES, CAROLINA'S, MAGNOLIA'S, BOATHOUSE ON EAST BAY INLET, 82 QUEEN, FULTON 5, CHARLESTON GRILL, PENINSULA GRILL, HOMNEY GRILLE, MCCRADY'S, JUSTINES, THE WRECK, BAKER'S CAFE, THE SEA BISCUIT, AND THE ANCHOR LINE.
Scroll down and you may find lots of info on Charleston. Just trying to save you some time.
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If you're really directly heading to Charleston after a meal in ATL, then you should eat in College Park, which is right by the airport. There's Oscar's for fancy, and the Brake Pad for neighborhood-y pub grub.
If you're staying the night, then that opens up the realm of possibility quite a bit. There's lots in downtown ATL or Decatur (generally headed east roughly parallel to I-20).
Tell us more.
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Ye Old Colonial in Madison is a good chowhound kind of choice. They serve traditional southern fare in a renovated old bank building. It's simple and hearty.
Madison is located between Atlanta and Augusta off of I-20.
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Probably will be staying the night in Atlanta and then head out for Charleston early the next morning. Oscar's sounds good but what about Woodfire Grill or the Vietnam House? Will I go craZy trying to find them? Brasserie le Coze?
Thanks for the help.
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If you're staying intown and they don't shut down the connector (I-75/85 through downtown) for bridge construction, you should be able to get most anywhere pretty easily. Check out the AJC website for updates. And if you know the tricks for getting on/off, West Peachtree (going N) and Spring St (going S), along with the 75/85 Access Road are an effective bypass.
My lone experience at Woodfire was good- my wife went back for a 'wine tasting' that turned out to be very little wine and a lot of cheese (at a hefty entrance price). She didn't think the tasting was a good value. If that's in your sights, there are lots of other high-end places that are similarly priced, like Floataway Cafe. And you're not far off from Bacchanalia, Joel, or Park 75.
Vietnam House was good also, but I'd recommend going with more than 2 people- a lot of the dishes are family-sized, so you want to be able to enjoy more than one.
Other places for the spicy include Penang (Malaysian) or Tamarind (Thai). If you really want to go low-budget and laid back, you can't beat Taqueria del Sol.
As for the getting there, pick up a map and make use of Yahoo/Mapquest to find out locations.
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Thanks, everybody!
Staying at the Marriott in Buckhead and have decided to nix the drive to Charleston and head straight to Aiken (staying at the Willcox and will have two dinners there before leaving Sunday a.m.).
As for Atlanta, now I'm torn between the Brasserie and Penang, leaning toward Penang....
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If I have the right one, you'll be right near Lenox Mall. You shouldn't have any construction problems in getting to the hotel, unless you have to get there from the airport after 8PM. Brasserie le Coze is across the street, and Penang is away from the construction.
Easiest way to get to Penang is to head N on Peachtree (which turns into P'tree Industrial) for several miles until you get to Chamblee Tucker (you'll pass N Druid Hills, Dresden, Ashford Dunwoody, and Clairmont on the way). Hang a R onto Chamblee Tucker and follow it under the MARTA tracks and past Dekalb Airport on your R. When you come to Buford Hwy, take a R and then an immediate L into the strip mall. Hoa Binh market will be a the back of the U-shaped strip. Penang is the tiki-looking place in the LH corner by the market.
On the way back, you could cruise down Buford to see the sights (he he) and then turn R on N Druid Hills, then up the hill stay straight where you can bear R, and just follow this on until it gets you back to Peachtree by Galyan's and Circuit City/Borders. Hang a L there, you'll be by Phipps and just N of Lenox.
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Ted:
I cannot believe somebody else besides us is going to be in Aiken - We're stopping there overnight on the way to Asheville. We're going to stay at The Sandhurst Estate.
Another Hound mentioned a terrific BBQ place near Aiken - It's near a Buy-Lo? Perhaps that's the place you are speaking about?
Do you know anything about the town? Our B&B? I have made reservations for dinner at a local place that the B&B owner recommended. She seemed pretty knowledgable. The restaurant she recommended is Malia's.
Oh, she also mentioned the dining room of the hotel you are staying at. She went on to say that the owners of The Wilcox Inn are trying to get some type of gourmet accredition (Mobil?)so it sounds very positive for your two meals.
Would appreciate any info you can tell us about Aiken.
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Whoa there, chief. I've been to Aiken, but I'm not going this weekend. We definitely thought it was a cute downtown, and there were some nice cafes there. Can't remember the name of the one where we ate.
I'm including a link to the location for Carolina BBQ. It's 10.5 miles down the road (and right at the entrance to the Savannah River Site).
Link: http://rd.yahoo.com/maps/insert/extma...
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I'm the one spending two nights at The Willcox...I don't know anything about Aiken but you should check out the April issue of Travel & Leisure. Very horsey and genteel, from what I can tell.
Stevo.
Link: http://www.travelandleisure.com
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I LOVE Brasserie Le Coze, but beware it is in the mall. You can dine on the "terrace" with a lovely view of the Nieman Marcus parking lot.
Personnally, I don't mind...and the car-watching is spectacular. There is a Marta stop at the mall, but I guess you are renting a car. Lenox Mall is VERY easy to find.
I assume you are familiar with B le C's lineage. I have never had anything there that wasn't impeccable. It's not cutting-edge, but it's not staid either. Nice moules for app. I've also had something(?) stuffed with chicken livers that was great. Most recent meal was a PERFECT piece of Cod, very delicate so fresh, where the hell did they get it, I can never find cod in the store?
I don't know your situation, but there is a nice bar with a television on in an area completely separate from the dining room. A person whose SO was shopping could waste a little time there.
Let me know if you need some good French jokes to tell the waiter ;=)
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Your instincts and research are spot-on.
Let's get to implementation:
Woodfire Grill. Its a can't miss for salads, chicken, sirloin of beef, whole fish, chocolate desserts and cheese. Plenty of fair priced wines $20-$30. Very relaxed. Figure about $45-50 pp whole hog, less than $27 for entree and one other course. PS--the pizzas are good too.
Vietnam House. Agree with previous posts. One of our favorites, just the thing if you need a simple din-din with a 'Clear' soup after your flight. If so, suggest menu #C-9, small, enough for two big eaters. Not difficult traffic-wise to start here, then proceed to Woodfire grill for dessert and drinks
But don't rule out Penang--we were there last weekend, for the umpteenth time. The Atlanta outpost is consistently great. Get a Roti Canai or Roti Tellur, a chicken satay, a Seafood Tom Yum Soup (no noodles), Crispy Squid, Char Kway Teow noodle dish, Lady Finger Belacan (aka okra sauteed in shrimp paste). Pick from among these -- they are all proven winners. Stuff yourself and a couple of beers out the door at under $50, probably under $40 since you will have no use for leftovers staying in a hotel.
Directions:
Its understandable that not everyone revels in Mapquest/Yahoo 'ralley' type directions. If you will post where you are staying, will be glad to help out with directions and counsel as to how to avoid needless traffic.
One more item:
Try to stop at the Bread Basket, midway on your trip. Its a Mennonite run place, great for lunch and pie.
Here's a link below to past post, which contains specific directions:
Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...
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I love the Hominy Grill for lunch, and I imagine it's good for any meal. HG is always my first stop in Charleston.
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Since you're going to Aiken, I really enjoyed Carolina Barbecue in New Ellenton, which is just down the road from Aiken.
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