Best Neighborhood for Food Lovers

As the Beltline’s Westside Trail opens and the developers descend upon Atlanta’s WEST END, many longtime residents feel wary, and rightfully so. The historically Afrocentric enclave has long been a nucleus for education, spirituality and culture, welcoming an array of religious groups and arts and wellness communities since the late 1960s. New development inevitably begets gentrification, and the community has a lot to lose. In the early ’90s, the West End became home to Soul Vegetarian, a vegan soul food cafeteria led by the local chapter of the Hebrew Israelite Community of Jerusalem. The restaurant became a catalyst for newer plant-based concepts, and today the neighborhood boasts half a dozen meat-free eateries within walking distance of each other, including Tassili’s Raw Reality for raw yet hearty wraps, Healthful Essence for Caribbean classics and KarbonStar Vitality for house-made soups and vegan pizzas called “Sizzlas,” and more.

photo by: Joeff Davis/ CL File

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How many new and noteworthy restaurants can one neighborhood hold? INMAN PARK is testing the limit. Now one of the city’s most culinarily robust hamlets, food lovers have more options than they know what to do with. From the impeccable Italian gem that is Bocca Lupo to Krog Street Market’s food hall filled with goodies, this area is now a bona fide destination for locals as well as visitors. Bread & Butterfly is the European bistro we want to linger in, and Beetlecat is the nautical port to throw one’s anchor. From quirky, often unexpected dishes at One Eared Stag to traditional Spanish tapas at Barcelona to pristine nigiri and sashimi at MF Sushi, there is a little something for everyone. And there are drinks, too! AMER and Ticonderoga Club are unique hidey-holes gaining national attention. Craving dessert? Head to Little Tart Bakeshop or Jeni’s Ice Cream at Krog Street Market. Regardless of what you’re in the mood for, Inman Park is in, man. www.inmanpark.org. less...

We have Decatur envy. The small epicenter of downtown Decatur is home to some of the most creative and downright delicious restaurants and bars in town. It’s been a longtime beer geek destination thanks to the fabled Brick Store Pub, which opened 16 years ago. The last several years have seen a steady procession of new (and equally destination-worthy) watering holes joining in the Decatur fun. All within a few blocks of each other you’ll find Paper Plane’s retro-vibe cocktail den, the beer/cocktail dual threat of Leon’s Full Service, and the neighborhood cocktail bar nearly perfected at the Pinewood Tippling Room. And don’t forget Mac McGee’s impressive collection of more than 350 whiskeys. (The pub’s list is heavy on bourbon, Irish, and Scotch varieties, so, you’ve been warned.) As for eats, try the tender chicken with smoky gravy at Paper Plane or stop by the Iberian Pig for crispy eggplant fries, tender pork cheek tacos, and other tasty tapas. You’ll find contemporary Italian cuisine at No. 246 (try the meatball), elegant, farm-driven fare at Cakes & Ale, and tasty bar food and sandwiches at Victory Decatur. The rich and diverse Your Dekalb Farmers Market beckons down the way for all the food lovers who can resist eating and drinking out seven nights a week. www.decaturga.com. less...

There’s an unspoken exodus happening on Buford Highway. What was once our city’s destination for anything and everything ethnic has become the birthplace of our ethnic scene, bound to be left for fairer fields. As the years go by, you’re likely to find more Korean in Duluth. More Indian in Decatur. And now, more Mexican in Tucker, where you can’t drive half a mile without spotting at least three taquerias. Good taquerias. Great taquerias. Standouts to get you started on your very own weekend taco crawl include Taqueria Los Hermanos, Taqueria San Pancho, and El Taco Naco. You may be the only English-speaker there, which bodes well for the flavor of that taco you’re about to scarf. less...

OK, we get it Decatur: You love beer. You love food that goes with beer. We love beer and beer-related bites as well. But variety is the spice of a neighborhood, and No. 246 has provided you with some much-needed diversity. Of course, Decatur has long been a bastion for upscale food, from (the closed and moving out of the ‘hood) Watershed to Cakes & Ale, but 246’s modern, mature Italian has gone a long way toward making Ponce de Leon Avenue feel like a real restaurant row that could justifiably be referenced as one of the most exciting culinary areas in town. Lunch at 246 is a special treat, particularly the juicy indulgence of the porchetta sandwich, which may be our favorite thing between sliced bread these days. No. 246 didn’t put Decatur on the culinary map, but it sure made it a destination that’s harder to miss. 129 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur. 678-399-8246. no246.com. less...