NFT Travel Guides: More Food in Atlanta

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One of our travel guides partners, Not For Tourists, has several unique
offerings on their website this week. Check out the following
highlights from their Atlanta correspondents...

 

 
Patio For Miles, by Josh Green

Einstein's

You know a restaurant's onto something in relentlessly evolving Atlanta when it claims a history dating way back to, say, 1991. That' practically Mesozoic in The Big Peach. Einstein's--the pretty, stony café/lounge at the corner of Juniper and 12th--is old school like that, and understandably so. Einstein's spans the length of three interconnected 1920s bungalows in the heart of Midtown, literally in the shadows of the city's cosmopolitan revolution. The gigantic outdoor patio--nearly a quarter-block long--offers ample seating and spectacular views, even as the grabby brunch herd stomps in on Sundays.

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Ciao. Chow. Chain. Italian, by  Beth Linder

Italian Oven Restaurant

Italian food doesn't get much better than the goodness of baked pasta. Not your average boil-in-a-pot-for-ten-minutes, Tuesday night dinner plan, but cheesy, corningware-cooked carbs with a kick. That's right--I'm talking about The Italian Oven's famous Pastapalooza dish. This hybrid creation came into fruition by mating pasta noodles with lasagna layers and serving them piping hot with a salad (whose special house dressing sweeps the garden variety competition). The real challenge of the evening, however, is not to fill up on their amazing endless garlic bread loaf. It may be small, but this baby packs in the flavor with true homemade doughiness. Honestly, eat here just for the bread. Throw your Atkins book at the nearest cat-walking waif and rebel against the low-carb lifestyle. Sure, you'll gain five pounds from your dinner, but each buttery, melt-in-your-mouth slice is worth another hour at the gym.

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Let Them Eat... Everything, by Beth Linder

Star Diner

A mood can fluctuate as quickly as our stock market. And sometimes, while battling the gods of indecisiveness in your own personal Thunderdome, you just can't decode the cryptic message of your stomach's current craving. Rather than satisfy your inner three-year-old with the solution of eenie-meeny-miney-mo, satisfy your hunger by steering your car in the direction of Star Diner. Here, every food group known to man is covered. No comfort food is overlooked. Surprisingly, quality meets quantity and no portion is too big for any patron (seriously, don't even consider ordering appetizers): Burritos meant for Bigfoot. A tuna melt for a Titan (quite possibly my top-rated of all time since summer camp). Mega-meatloaf. The sheer volume of your dinner is a worthy opponent of a Thanksgiving meal. If you still have room, make way for a dessert that'll challenge Brando to bring it on. Here it is: a cake the size of a continent. At this size, you'll consider its $65 price tag a fair trade. Leftover lunch the next day is undoubtedly a given, and next time you visit, plan ahead by borrowing your mom's old maternity pants.

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My (Organization's) Pleasure to Serve You, by Katherine Dean

Dekalb Farmers Market

Most Atlantans are well aware of the wonder that is Your Dekalb Farmers Market and will happily make the tedious journey out Ponce if they are not fortunate enough to call Decatur home. They flock to YDFM for the mountains of crisp produce; case upon case of sumptuous, glistening meats; an intimidating selection of fish--both live and ice-packed; and a multitude of freshly baked breads. They'll even put up with the unruly weekend crowd in order to wander the market's crowded warehouse aisles in search of the perfect imported chutney. But if these things are all that draw you to YDFM, you have not yet experienced the glory that is the hot food bar, in which case you are missing out big time. Just because the queue sometimes snakes out beyond the bathrooms is no reason to ignore the scrumptious friend chicken, ever-so-tasty samosas, or 50 cent tea. Next time you're stocking up on cashew butter, puttanesca, and veal knuckles, give the pay-by-the-pound line a whirl. Just remember your greenbacks. It's cash only.

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Like A Dog's Dinner, by Katherine Dean

Vickery's

I'm not one of those odd folks who insist on taking their canine companion everywhere they go. But if I were, I'd take him to Vickery's. These people love dogs so much they frame and hang dozens of photos of local pooches. And, from what I'm told, they don't frown on bringing your mutt with you while you dine. Those creature comforts aside, Vickery's Glenwood Park (yes, it's the little sister of Vickery's on Crescent) is a nice watering hole and restaurant featuring choice vittles with a Southern flair. The bar boasts an amazing selection of liquor, beer and everything in between. If you're feeling adventuresome, go for "The Mullet," a house special High-Life and Jagermeister martini. Food options include a pretty amazing Cuban and hand cut fries that are so good you might greedily inhale the whole plateful. Or, as I did, you might share them with Billy or any other of the friendly regulars you're certain to meet at Vickery's.

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To see more Atlanta highlights, please see

http://notfortourists.com/Atlanta.aspx

 

Check out their website - they have free downloadable guides, maps, gear, and of course, the travel guide books. Not to mention, they are pretty funny people. I am always laughing when I visit their site, or read their newsletter.

Not For Tourists has offered a coupon for Wandering Educators - please use the coupon code: WE for a 10% discount.

 

To visit Not for Tourists, please see:

https://www.notfortourists.com/