Welcome to Dining With the Stars, a feature in which Atlanta notables walk us through their dream food day in the metro area.
We chatted with Michael Parkhurst, captain for Atlanta United. The veteran defender and Rhode Island native has been playing soccer professionally since 2005, getting his MLS start with the New England Revolution. In his career, he’s been capped 25 times by the U.S. Men’s National Team, earned five MLS All-Star selections and was named the MLS Defender of the Year in 2007.
Since moving to Atlanta last year to join the Five Stripes for the club’s inaugural season, Parkhurst has enjoyed getting acquainted with the area’s dining scene. Here are some of his top picks:
Favorite place for breakfast or brunch:
Our go-to anytime we can get out is Buttermilk Kitchen. It’s all local food. There’s organic stuff on the menu, healthy options. I say that and yet my favorite thing on the menu is the cornbread. I’m mostly an eggs and sausage person. I love their French toast. The kids love their fried chicken and waffles.
Buttermilk Kitchen. 4225 Roswell Road, Atlanta. 678-732-3274, buttermilkkitchen.com.
Credit: Becky Stein
Credit: Becky Stein
Favorite place for lunch:
My wife’s and my favorite place is Seed in Marietta. We love that place. We get more lunch dates than dinner dates. It’s quaint. It’s eloquent. It’s friendly people. Everything we’ve tried, food-wise, has been delicious. My favorite is the chicken schnitzel.
Seed Kitchen & Bar. 1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta. 678-214-6888, eatatseed.com.
Favorite place for happy hour:
The only time we’ll do something would be if we were going to a Braves game or something like that. We’d go over to the Battery. But, no place specific; wherever it’s not that crowded.
The Battery Atlanta. 800 Battery Ave., Atlanta. batteryatl.com.
Favorite place for dinner:
Our favorite spot is a little sushi place called Wagaya on 14th Street in Midtown. It’s a little hole in the wall you would drive by and not see. The people are friendly. The sushi is phenomenal, and we love sushi.
Wagaya. 339 14th St., Atlanta. 470-575-5799, wagaya.us.
Favorite place after an Atlanta United home match:
Our go-to spot would be Barcelona on the Westside. We love tapas. It’s easy eating at night, small portions. A little sangria never hurts, as well. That would be after a later game.
If it was an early game, and we had the kids, we’d probably go get pizza at Pizzeria Lucca. It’s over in Roswell. We don’t go to any other pizza places.
With teammates: Fadó, either location. They are supporters of the club. They always have soccer on the TV. Guys will go out from there afterward, but that’s usually when I head home.
Barcelona Wine Bar. 1085 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta. 404- 872-8000, barcelonawinebar.com.
Pizzeria Lucca. 96 Bulloch Ave., Roswell. 470-294-1222, pizzeria-lucca.com.
Fadó Irish Pub. 273 Buckhead Ave., Atlanta. 404-841-0066. And 933 Peachtree St., Atlanta. 404 260-7910. fadoirishpub.com.
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