Your opinion on BEST Brunch in ATL? (price & location not a factor)

[joond1]

Ok Folks,

There have been a few brunch posts on the boards, but most deal within a certain price or in a certain location. Let's pull out the stops and hear where you think is the best brunch in the city, price and location not an issue (although let's try to keep it inside the perimeter UNLESS there is one amazing place OTP you MUST suggest). It's slowly becoming one of my favorite meals to have at Atlanta restaurants, and I want to hear where the experts on these boards think the best of the best is!

I'll start by saying I never think you can go wrong with Murphy's...
Parish is pretty good too...
And I tried 4th & Swift's new Sunday brunch the other weekend and it was stellar (I'm learning to expect nothing less from that restaurant... consistently great food).

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4th & Swift
621 North Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

[EpicuriousChivalry]

Bottomless Mimosas, and Bloody Marys...rooftop patio...Close to the highway, and Marta!

Republic Social House
437 C Memorial Dr, SE
Atlanta, GA 30312-2277

[ILessthan3food]

I would have to say Holman and Finch on Sundays. They serve their famous burger all day. No need to wait until 10. They also rotate their menu so it's not always the same. They're my favorite restaurant in town. Going tonight probably. It's not a buffet so no need to worry about food sitting out for hours. If you've read Kitchen Confidential or worked in the industry you know what I'm talking about.

[ted]

I dig Holeman, too. I inevitably overdo it on rich stuff and suffer the consequences later. Also have a buddy in AL that I have to send cell photos of the deviled eggs to make him jealous.

I assume the buffet comment is in response to my suggestion of Local Three. FYI, this is about as far from the 'buffet' concept you have in your head as can be. The buffet line- it's in the kitchen. That's the former kitchen of Joel, which was likely the most expensive one ever installed in ATL when it opened. The line is maybe 4 feet from the stoves, with the chefs replenishing small plates and platters frequently (every few minutes when we were there on Father's Day). There were maybe 4 or 5 of each small plate sitting there. It was a fabulous bargain, even at $25 a head (IIRC, since I didn't pay).

Oh, and don't forget that you can't get your bottomless anything on until 12:30PM on Sun in GA.

[EpicuriousChivalry]

@ted...You are right about two things.
1.) 12:30 on Sunday ...fact!
2.) Joel's kitchen was the BEST in the south, not just Atlanta for like 5 years...Fact!

***Chefs at these trendy spots are selling Atlanta Diners the scraps that usually were ground into meat glue, pink slime, hot dogs, and burger meat...like for instance....
sweetbreads, or hanger steak, or chicken liver pate.**** & most importantly...Short Ribs*****
EVERY chef knows that the neck, entrails, and the bottom hanging meat from ANY animal.. is not for human consumption...unless Joe Rogan is there with a briefcase!
Same thing with fish scraps & call it spicy tuna, or imitation crab sticks for California rolls!!!.

My second suggestion is Marlow's tavern..bottomless drinks, and all you can eat brunch.

[ted]

Huh? Short ribs aren't "for human consumption"? I pretty much draw the line at whether it tastes good or not, and all of the above taste just fine to me (sweetbreads, short ribs, chicken liver pate, etc). Brisket probably falls in that category, too.

That position is just so far out there I'm still shaking my head in disbelief. What do you think the Yumbii guys (your rec in another thread) are making the gogi for their tacos from? Short ribs.

[EpicuriousChivalry]

@ted This is a opinion website..
I think you mistakenly grouped two of my sentences together, that I meant to be read separately...so I understand why you flipped out on short ribs.

Without coming off as an A-hole..I wanted to explain myself.

Short ribs come from the shoulder, and are used for burgers, tacos, e.c.t.
Hanger steak is from the plate, and is used for burgers, tacos, e.c.t.
Chicken Liver is a chicken by-product (like blood, bones, heart, and gizzard)
*not for human consumption* if a chef told you to eat chicken gizzards...would you?
Sweetbreads...I shouldn't tell you this, but chefs can serve you a ton of weird appendages, and put "sweetbreads" on the menu with no further information.
This list includes testicles,ballz, tongues, ears, stomach scraps, and the list goes on...
**NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION*** GOOGLE sweetbread if YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME & READ THE WIKI Definition...

Educate yourself !

[carolinadawg]

Some people (humans) like to eat (consume) testicles, tongue, ears, etc.

[EpicuriousChivalry]

eat it then!

[ted]

If you don't want to be misinterpreted, then do a better job with the keyboard.

I think the majority of places that are serving sweetbreads (Holeman, e.g.) are serving the thymus gland, not random parts. And even if they were, if they're well prepared and tasty, then I don't care. Chicken liver pate is like heaven, oh and it's a great source of iron too. Yakitori chicken hearts= yum.

Oh, to be young and cocky again. The original subject was brunch, that's why the random opinionating about animal parts gets my hackles up.

[EpicuriousChivalry]

@ted...
I understand! here is the picture, that I am trying to paint.........
Both of these restaurants are owned by the same person..right? Hugh A.
*
Empire State S. = Atlantans scarfing down trout mousse, sweetbreads& pate.
*
5&10 =(in Athens) 3 course Prix-Fixe menu with suggested wine pairings for$45
*
The difference is that... 5&10 won the James Beard Award this May & does not serve trout mousse, sweetbreads, or pate.
<I'm going to shut up now.. I made my point 3 X >

[carolinadawg]

Hugh Atchison is an outstanding chef, and both ESS and 5&10 are great restaurants. And I've never had trout mousse, sweetbreads or pâté at ESS.

[ted]

Continuing the thread resurrection:

We had brunch on Father's Day at Local Three and really enjoyed the buffet (truffled scrambled eggs, short ribs, shrimp and polenta 'grits', etc).

[atlfoodie]

Rosebud in Virginia/Highlands & Corner Cafe in Buckhead.

[hominidx]

Thumb's Up in Edgewood - often crowded, though.

Park's Edge in Inman Park
Roxx on Cheshire Bridge
The Porter in L5P
Gato Bizco in Candler Park
Ria's Bluebird, Stone Soup in Grant Park
Great other places mentioned already

[samlev]

Local Three does a very good Sunday brunch.

[abmayer]

I had Park 75's Sunday Brunch buffet a few months ago, and it was delicious. Park 75 is in the Four Seasons Hotel in midtown. They had a great selection for all different tastes, my husband especially enjoyed their seafood station. Along with the seafood station, they had a omelet station, hot breakfast items (the biscuits were great!), a waffle/crepe station, a salad/antipasti station, fresh pastries and HF bagels, soups, and I think the had a small asian style station. I love dessert and their options looked amazing, but I was too full from trying everything else!

Another spot that is great for a late (less breakfast style) brunch is Holeman and Finch, and on Sunday, it is a little less crowded and you can try their burger (they only have it on the menu during Sunday brunch, the rest of the time you have to wait with the masses at 10 PM).

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Four Seasons
7130 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30340

Park 75 Restaurant at Four Seasons Atlanta
75 14th Street, Atlanta, GA 30309

[hposey]

Chequers Seafood Grill near Perimeter Mall. Been going there for years. Lots of seafood items as well as the usual brunch fare. You must try the bread pudding with rum sauce on the dessert station.

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Chequers Seafood Grill
236 Perimeter Center Pkwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30346

[roysteve]

With price no object, the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead is hard to beat. So many choices you can't even taste them all. Last time i was there, Jeff Foxworthy was at the next table with his family

[Katj]

The BEST Brunch I have ever had is at the Ritz Carlton Buckhead. It is excellent.
I have a a very good brunch at Parker's on Ponce and Atkins Park. Murphy's has always been really good too!

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Atkins Park Restaurant
794 N. Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

[Zusie]

Flying Biscuit -- I have to get the grits every time I go.
Radial Cafe

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The Flying Biscuit
1084 Johnson Ferry Rd, Marietta, GA 30068

[ebennettatl]

My favorites:
1. Murphy's
2. Flying Biscuit (the original one in Candler Park)
3. Babette's Cafe

Honorary mentions go to Java Jive and Thumb's Up, although both only take cash so I don't visit either very often.

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The Flying Biscuit
1084 Johnson Ferry Rd, Marietta, GA 30068

[bimmertimmer]

I was in ATL this past Sunday. Wanted to have brunch at 4th& Swift, but they closed Sunday and Monday for the holiday. We went to Rosebud (where Indigo Coastal Grill used to be when I lived in ATL). Had the corn muffins and shrimp and grits. Tasty. I would recommend it. Had a couple of small pltes and coctails at 4th&Swift Sat. night and then on to The Iberian Pig for dinner. Liked both very much. Yea Atlanta.

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The Iberian Pig
121 Sycamore Street, Decatur, GA 30030

[mikek]

I love Highland Bakery. It is awesome and you can make a nice pastry plate out of the mini-desserts.

Lately, my new favorite has been Local Three. $18 all you can eat. Walk through the kitchen, and the chefs constantly are making batches of the 12-18 items. If it is up there, grab it, if not, they will make a fresh batch. A fun and delicious experience.

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Highland Bakery
655 Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312

[laurendlewis]

I can't believe I went 10+ yrs in Atlanta without going to Highland Bakery until about 2 months ago - DELICIOUS! Highly recommend but, as with all brunch places in Atlanta, go early.

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Highland Bakery
655 Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312

[bimmertimmer]

Don't know about Highland Bakery's brunch, but their lunch is the worst I have eaten anywhere. I ordered the white chicken chile (always on the menu, so one would assume it to be a signiture dish.) and it looked like it came out of a can, No roasted tomatoes or chicken or cilantro. Just awful - sent it back. it was replaced by the sweet potato soup which looked like baby food out of a jar. Let's see what would mix well with sweet potato soup - brandy, cream, bacon, nutmeg, nope - a bridge too far. Not even salt and pepper. If you can't make soup, you can't cook. Nasty, just nasty. They wil never get another dime from me and I can find better bakeries.

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Highland Bakery
655 Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312

[bobstripower]

ritz carlon buckhead--i know they still do Easter et al, but dont know if they still do a regular Sunday Brunch

[POY]

They do and it is excellent. The dessert table had crepes filled with pumpkin that were the best ever. Great recommendation

[laurendlewis]

Sun in My Belly is great too

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Sun in My Belly
2161 College Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30317

[abbyloving]

Seconded.

[rcburli]

Don't know where the best is but I had an excellent brunch at Empire State South.
Other places I've been and enjoy for brunch:
Babettes
Canoe