Talk of the Town

By B.J. Knippel

October 6, 2005 08:11 AM | Link to this

Canoe is by far the best restaurant in Atlanta—the service is excellent, the ambiance perfect, and with their new executive chef,Carvel Grant Gould,the cuisine has reached and surpassed the previous menu. It is the perfect example of southern and international flavors blended for a delightful sensory experience. Thank you, B.J. Knippel

By Jody

October 6, 2005 08:57 AM | Link to this

The best restaurant in the Metro area is Slovakia Restaurant off the Marietta Square. Exceptional service, exquisite dishes, and a truly authentic European dining experience. The atmosphere and service reminds me of the casual dining of Rome, Italy.

By Patrick Jenkins

October 6, 2005 11:11 AM | Link to this

A very surprising pick. I like Pura Vida, but their food has been hit or miss and atmoshere is not that good. As for the Va Highlands area, I think LaTavola and Vine are much better restaurants overall than Pura Vida — and either one would have been a better pick. They both have great food, great atmosphere, great wine list, and great service. Seem to be the more appropriate qualities to name a restaurant of the year.

By dale leake

October 6, 2005 12:17 PM | Link to this

I can’t imagine a top 50 restaurant list for Atlanta that does’nt include Pano &Pauls,Atlanta Fish Market,Chops or Buckhead Diner. The crowds lining up to eat at these places would agree with me. Tell Meredith to take a break from Buford Highway and visit some really really good places before hyping some of the places she mentioned .She seems to have a problem with the Buckhead Life Restaurants. As someone who has travel extensively,I consider the Buckhead Life group all first rate and deserving of a better rating than many on her list.

By Jeff

October 6, 2005 02:01 PM | Link to this

I think Meredith has done a great job of picking out some quality restaurants in the area. Just because there is a line out the door doesn’t equate with quality(there is a line out the door at Outback for example) I have eaten at Pura Vida several times and have always left impressed with the meal and the atmosphere. Keep up the good eats.

By Jenni

October 6, 2005 03:15 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe you are telling everyone about my little secret! Pura Vida is a great spot to catch some good tapas and the best mojito in town. Now I am going to have to call ahead for reservations.

As far as “restaurant of the year”? I would have gone with Tierra…using the qualifications you have listed.

By Kevin Wagoner

October 6, 2005 03:22 PM | Link to this

Interesting choice, indeed. Limiting your list to fifty restaurants in a city with the depth of quality of Atlanta is tricky. You definitely missed some of the best spots in town in order to make room for diversity. I’m not sure how a five star restaurant can lose out to a lesser rated one for Restaurant of the Year. Also not sure how a couple of the very expensive restarants on your list ended up with only two or three dollar signs…what did you eat there…snack mix at the bar. One place you definitely missed the boat on was Restaurant Eugene. Lots of blue hair, sure, but certainly deserving of high praise. Three stars?

By Mike S

October 6, 2005 04:14 PM | Link to this

I have eaten two very enjoyable meals at Pura Vida. Both were family celebrations. All the tapas were exceptional creations. Especially enjoyed the variety of fresh seafood items. Calamari, tuna tartar and crab choices pleased us all. Added surprise was the tasty cup of coffee after. Bought a bag to take home at the bar.

By Tina

October 6, 2005 05:19 PM | Link to this

It’s nice to see a smaller, lesser known restaurant get the recognition it deserves rather then one of the usual suspects (Rathbuns, Seegars, Jöel etc)we always hear about.

I have been to Pura Vida a few times and have always had a wonderful experience. Great food, great drinks, great atmosphere!!

By BPJ

October 6, 2005 06:10 PM | Link to this

Overall, it’s a good list. I agree with the comment that, with the depth the Atlanta restaurant scene now has, it’s hard to pick 50. For me, the most conspicuous omission is Veni Vidi Vici. Harvest and Dish might have made my list also. I haven’t been to Pura Vida yet, so I can’t comment on that.

By Bobby

October 6, 2005 08:04 PM | Link to this

I love that Pura Vida was named best restaurant! It’s nice to see that the little guy in the crazy Atlanta restaurant business can come out on top! It is a very deserved reward for a lot of hard work!

By Jeannie

October 6, 2005 09:03 PM | Link to this

Pura Vida is the best on tapas on my list I have had all the tapas dishes over several times my husband has taken me. The noise level is low, and it’s dimmly light. The help is very helpful. I love going there.

By Tauri

October 7, 2005 12:24 PM | Link to this

Pura Vida….not at all. I have had one horrible expirence with the service. The food is at best underwhelming. I was not impressed by any of the choices made by my group. I would never go back after a bad first impression. That’s why great service and fantastic food have to be consistant. I’m shocked by this choice.

By David

October 7, 2005 01:46 PM | Link to this

Pura Vida is one of my favorite places in the city. The food, service and ambience are great and it doesn’t have the pretensiousness, prices or long waits of the Buckhead Life group restaurants. Now the AJC along with creative loafing are ruining it all with all these awards. CL just listed it as having the best Tapas in Atlanta along with best first date spot. I used to be able to get same day reservations. That will all change now.

By Dan

October 7, 2005 02:12 PM | Link to this

I will have to put Pura Vida on my list But I do like the fact that Buckhead Life restaurants recieved little notice. While they are not bad they are way overpriced and in a town with so many fine restaurants simply middle tier.

By Leanne

October 7, 2005 04:50 PM | Link to this

I didn’t like Pura vida either. I love tapas too. My favorite restraunt would be the tried and true…Canton Cooks off of Roswell. Best “real” chinese and I am American. I see assortment of people there and the restraunt, no matter when, is always full. Try the sea bass! And the Seafood Chow Fun Noodles with or without the sauce. It is good either way. Yum!

By Marty

October 8, 2005 01:41 AM | Link to this

Pura Vida - Fantástico

By atkII

October 8, 2005 08:03 AM | Link to this

Not to sound too similar to everyone else, but I think Pura Vida is a suprise pick, which is what we need. I assumed the food critic would go with the buzz - Rathbuns, Seegers or the over exposed Dinning Room - but having enjoyed Pura Vida, I think, as they say down here, she done good.

By Ginny Ubik

October 8, 2005 01:28 PM | Link to this

Hooray for Pura Vida!!!! I was waiting for someone to notice how wonderful it is. Thank you for spotting the best among so many wonderful places!

By Jennifer

October 9, 2005 08:07 AM | Link to this

I was very disappointed that there were no restaurants from the south metro area listed. It’s like we don’t even exist down here. Newnan in particular has some great restaurants. Try Andre’s Off the Square, The Brickyard, or Ten East Washington.

By ron

October 9, 2005 10:57 AM | Link to this

Pura Vida is Wonderful! The food is creative and affordable and the service staff actually “care”. It has been one of my favorite restaurants for a year now and will continue to be for many more, hopefully. Good choice.

By kat1dawg

October 10, 2005 01:57 AM | Link to this

I think Canoe does have a great ambiance, but I do not think the food that good. Their goat cheese salad was very good, but as for main courses, I would just say so so.

As for the person commenting about Atlanta Fish Market, I would call it a tourist trap. It is fun to go to, but the food, wine selection is only par for the course I would say.

I think for sushi lovers, Goldfish in Dunwoody and Aqua Blue have the most delcious tasting sushi. As for Tapa’s restaurants, I would say Noche in the highlands has the best tasting food and a great cocktails menu. I would recommend the Fried Green Tomatoes and one of the chicken skewer choices. They also have good hummus dip.

As for “coolest or hippest” spots, I would say Loca Luna on Juniper. It is a huge place with salsa bands that play later in the evening and a really neat ambiance.

If anyone wants to go with a Buckhead Life restaurant selection, I would highly recommend Kyma’s on piedmont. Everything I have tried there is fresh and has a rich flavor. Their fish is absolutely to die for and the wine selection is excellent.

As for Pura Vida, topic at hand, I have been meaning to try it! I went to Costa Rica this summer and now love mojito’s and the cuisine over there. After this blog, I will definitely have to try it!

By Bob

October 10, 2005 11:21 AM | Link to this

Cangrats to Pur Vida- I think Pur Vida is a good restaurant. I was more pleased that AJC picked a restaurant that wasn’t the typical- a la Canoe or one of the many good but predictable chains.

By anonymousella

October 10, 2005 02:52 PM | Link to this

“Restaurant of the Year?” Well, based on the criteria used, I can see how you’d arrive there. Pura Vida has certainly improved over the last year or so. It’s a funky formerly low-key place with food that is better now than it’s ever been.

I can safely say that it’s the top tapas/small plates restaurant in Atlanta, if not “RoY.” If you go, try the duck napoleon and the yucca fries.

By ST

October 10, 2005 03:18 PM | Link to this

I’ve had so many bad restauraunt experiences in and around Atlanta, from service to food quality or anoying patrons at nearby tables that I decided, I can cook as good as they do anyway. Quiet table for two is always available, candle lit. The wine is just what we like, everytime. The food is served hot. Desert is fabulous and we dont have to put up with waitstaff trying to entertain or forget about us. So, my favorite restauraunt is my place.

By LCW

October 10, 2005 03:32 PM | Link to this

I haven’t tried Pura Vida - but for the perfect experience everytime - I would go with KYMA. Excellent food, and atmosphere and the service is always stellar.

As for worst, i would choose Rathbun’s. The food is incredible, thats a given, but the service is poor and after a particularly horrific experience there the MGT was too high on themselves to even apologize.

In the south I would choose places with better hospitality, like Restaurant Eugene or Kyma. Two Urban licks is fab too.

By Mary

October 10, 2005 04:28 PM | Link to this

I would have difficulty rating any restaurant the “restaurant of the year” if I couldn’t get in it to try it. Since you mentioned that it is not handicap accessible I don’t suppose I will know how good it is.

By Barbara

October 11, 2005 09:50 AM | Link to this

I have never eaten @the top restaurant of the year and am not likely to as it is designated no wheelchair access. Is it reasonable to name a place the best and not have access?

By Raymond Hook

October 11, 2005 05:34 PM | Link to this

How can any mention of the best restaurant not have Seeger’s as the only choice? His food far outshines any other in the town. Not to say there are other places of quality, but his intellectual cuisine is not matched in the city, and few places in the country. I know it is “nice” to acknowledge a small place with admitted good food, but, it is in no way in the same class as Seeger’s. This is a restaurant for people who want a true experience, not just good food and a fun place.

By Margaret

October 11, 2005 08:52 PM | Link to this

not only is Pura Vida the rest. of the year, it is the best restaurant in atlanta every year. this has been my fiancee’ and i’s secret since it opened a few years back and we knew this day would eventually come. hector is a genius and the wait staff not only know how to serve, but understand what culture and food they are presenting. i have been to every buckhead life joint in this town, and they cannot hold a candle to the precious gem that is pura vida. there are no pretenses, just incredible food and a truly enchanted evening, each and every time. WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!! CONGRATS!!!