Table Talk

By KM

May 23, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this

Having lived in NYC I can tell you that the best spots are NOT the chains, but the unique places that you can’t get anywhere else in the world. ATL is great, but there is no place like NYC. I am here and I enjoy what we have and our restaurants. I miss up north though. I even miss the people. They are real. They don’t run and hide. They know. They care. They are the best.

By DH

May 23, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this

For some reason anything that is a success in NYC loses it cool factor here because the people involved here are so corny. NYC has an edge ATL lacks. And this shows in the details. From the cooks, to the servers, to the hosts…Atlanta residents lack OOMPH and real style.

By John

May 23, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this

NY resturants vs. Atlanta? You’re kidding, right?

By John

May 23, 2008 10:57 PM | Link to this

ARE YOU SERIOUS??? Why don’t you Georgians focus on REALLY creating a world class city instead of PRETENDING to be one. And no, I’m not a New Yorker. Californian.

By John

May 23, 2008 10:57 PM | Link to this

ARE YOU SERIOUS??? Why don’t you Georgians focus on REALLY creating a world class city instead of PRETENDING to be one. And no, I’m not a New Yorker. Californian. Ya’ll still have open racism lol.

By Brian

May 23, 2008 11:06 PM | Link to this

Atlanta can’t compare to New Orleans let alone New York……my goodness

By CHRISTOPHER HARDNETT

May 24, 2008 12:38 AM | Link to this

It’s not where you are from. It’s where your at. Go back to New York, California are what ever part of the states you ran from to live here in Atlanta.

By Dave

May 24, 2008 7:13 AM | Link to this

First thing Atlanta needs is to get rid of racist rednecks like Christopher here, and build a REAL mass transit system. Atlanta as much as it tries will never even come CLOSE to being in the same book as NYC, yet it thinks it’s already in the same chapter or on the same page…

By Andy

May 24, 2008 7:27 AM | Link to this

Well Dave you arent from hee I see. If you look at where the MARTA rail lines were built and where our mega public assistance housing complexes use to be they coincide. Why ? The rail was gerrimandered. You have lots to learn about local politics, they only build for who votes for them, not the region.

NYC food is quite different for lots of reasons, namely a couple hundred of years being a major point of entry for immigrants who bring thier own food history and merge it with what they find. Atlanta and the airplane are much more recent.

By Andy

May 24, 2008 7:28 AM | Link to this

Well Dave you arent from hee I see. If you look at where the MARTA rail lines were built and where our mega public assistance housing complexes use to be they coincide. Why ? The rail was gerrimandered. You have lots to learn about local politics, they only build for who votes for them, not the region.

NYC food is quite different for lots of reasons, namely a couple hundred of years being a major point of entry for immigrants who bring thier own food history and merge it with what they find. Atlanta and the airplane are much more recent.

By Andy

May 24, 2008 7:30 AM | Link to this

Well Dave you arent from heer I see and are quick to blame others for your failures. If you look at where the MARTA rail lines were built and where our mega public assistance housing complexes use to be they coincide. Why ? The rail was gerrimandered. You have lots to learn about local politics, they only build for who votes for them, not the region.

NYC food is quite different for lots of reasons, namely a couple hundred of years being a major point of entry for immigrants who bring thier own food history and merge it with what they find. Atlanta and the airplane are much more recent.

By KM

May 24, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this

We all feel comfort in where we came from. That instills a bias and comparison for where we are now. Don’t always have a choice where life plants you at an given time so make the best of where you are. NYC has everything and ATL has as much as it does. Enjoy it. If you have never been to NYC, then ATL is pretty good. I like it. But still long for some of the comfort in certain areas coming from up north. Good food is hard to find here. At least the good food I know of.

By Andrew W.

May 24, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

Being from NY the thing I like about Atlanta restaurants is they are CHEAP!

By WillM

May 24, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

In response to John’s snide dismissal, let’s not get caught up in our adulation of NYC here. Don’t forget F. Scott Fitzgerald’s insight when he looked out from atop the Empire State Bld. and said something to the effect that he’d figured out the secret weakness of the city, that being that the city’s limits don’t coincide with the limits of the world.

So, yes, there ARE actually restaurants outside NYC, some of them actually good ones! ;-)

By Andy

May 24, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

Good food is hard to find here I agree, what we decfine as “good food” we wont agree on. I’m a native Georgian and the influx of strange tastes has for the most part wrecked my ability to get good food within 30 miles of downtown.

Little boxes on the hillside, Little boxes made of ticky-tacky, Little boxes, little boxes, Little boxes, all the same. There’s a green one and a pink one And a blue one and a yellow one And they’re all made out of ticky-tacky And they all look just the same.

You can keep your pre-digested pap wherever you came from, if you dont like what food is here open a resteraunt or go where you can find it.

By Dumbing Down

May 24, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

ATL the “Land of Mediocrity.” I have never lived anywhere that praises mediocrrity like this place! A joke in many avenues. If you’ve lived in other places of substance, you know what I mean. A “Sheeple Town” of immense proportions! And they think they have the markets cornered! A “wannabe city” that is:

“Too busy to get around in traffic.”

By Sanderlin

May 24, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

Whoa! Why do all the negative comments about Atlanta, the south, and NYC have to be interjected here? I’m not a world-wide traveler, but I’ve been to enough places to appreciate all kinds of restaurants (not including chains)—from little out of the way spots with wonderful seafood and oilcloth on the tables to some pricier restaurants in major cities in this country and Europe. Each has its own specialties and unique appeal. (I also have to wonder why some of you stay here if you dislike it so much.)

By Steve

May 24, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

The Only Difference Between New York And Atlanta is about 8 Million People

By Magenta

May 24, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

Having moved here by choice from NY over 20 years ago, I’m of two minds at the way ATL has evolved, especially since the Olympics. But … this is a restaurant thread so I’ll try to stay on topic.

There’s a world of difference between strolling through Manhattan for a few hours and then slipping into an eatery, and attempting to do the same in ATL. The two cities are completely different, in terms of density, climate, attitude, and all of those things matter when you finally sit down to eat.

Down here, you park your car, go in and eat, then get back in your car and go home. Boom. Period. In NY, the dinner is just a segment of the entire evening. There are so many places to go and see there, you just don’t get bored. Atlantic Station attempts to duplicate that, but it will take at least another 100 years of serious trying before anyone who knows NY can close their eyes and pretend that Atlanta has transformed into it.

By joe

May 24, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this

I wish Atlanta would quit trying to be like NY or any other place. However, I fear it may be too late to capitalize on our own strengths as we have paved over them or knocked them down. The media perpetuates this comparison and the sheeple eat it up.

By tmjm3714

May 24, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

I’ll give Atlanta credit. You try, you really do. You get restaurants like Spice Market and Maxim Prime from NYC, and you get places like Geisha House from LA to open up here. Somehow though, something gets lost in translation and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe one of you can help me figure out what it is.

As far as comapring NYC to Atlanta as far as food goes, forget it. From what I can tell, natives here have zero interest in trying anything this isn’t fried or smothered in gravy. I even find the Mexican food sub-par, which suprises me considering the amount of Mexicans in the ATL area (and that’s not a racist comment, just stating an observation).

BTW, why is is that you “natives” get all riled up when someone critiques Atlanta? We’re not saying we don’t like the city itself, we’re saying your culinary choices are lacking.

…A SoFla girl who would give her right arm for some roast pork, a real Jamacian beef patty, or a decent antipasto from an Italian deli.

By Sonny

May 24, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

NYC does not have Waffle House or Chick-Fil-A, but has every thing else and does it better. Atlanta lack hole in the wall restaurants. Atlanta resauranteurs cannot seem to create a delicious menu without consulting an interior designer.

By Edward

May 24, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

Atlanta Restaurants do not have the “same” level of attention to detail and or “career servers”. Many NY establishments actually have “hash marks/and or pins” recognizing years of service similar to the US Navy !They are also knowledgable and familiar with the menu even as it changes ! THey often also have “owner/founder” chefs.

By Frequent Flier

May 24, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this

I am a native Atlantan who married a wonderful man from Long Island, and have had the chance to visit many restaurants in NYC and Long Island. From my observation, the two things that give the restaurant business there the upper hand are:

That being said, I still have yet to find a place in NYC that serves decent grits. The furthest place north of Atlanta that makes a great country breakfast is the Eastern Market in Washington, DC. Just get there early, as the line gets long in a hurry!

By Frequent Flier

May 24, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this

I am a native Atlantan who married a wonderful man from Long Island, and have had the chance to visit many restaurants in NYC and Long Island. From my observation, the two things that give the restaurant business there the upper hand are:

That being said, I still have yet to find a place in NYC that serves decent grits. The furthest place north of Atlanta that makes a great country breakfast is the Eastern Market in Washington, DC. Just get there early, as the line gets long in a hurry!

By nick

May 24, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

I wish that everyone that has something bad to say about ATL will move back to where they came from if you don’t like it leave

By Redneck Convert

May 24, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

Well, I can’t figure out why these NYC restaurants come down here and don’t serve biscuits, grits, and red eye gravy. And you either got to wait in line for a year and pay a fortune or take your chance the food won’t be no good. I wish I could find a place that serves decent country fried steak and mashed potatoes instead of snails and such. This is the South, not some yankee country.

By Midwesterner

May 24, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

I must say (and don’t laugh at me)…Atlanta and NYC cannot compare restaurant wise. As has been said the atmosphere and culture combine to make a mediocre culinary experience at best. I’ll go so far as to say that Atlanta doesn’t even beat out my hometown, Omaha, NE as far as unique places to dine.

By Midwesterner

May 24, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

I must say …Atlanta and NYC cannot compare restaurant wise. As has been said the atmosphere and culture combine to make a mediocre culinary experience at best. I’ll go so far as to say (and don’t laugh at me)that Atlanta doesn’t even beat out my hometown, Omaha, NE as far as unique places to dine.

By Midwesterner

May 24, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

I must say …Atlanta and NYC cannot compare restaurant wise. As has been said the atmosphere and culture combine to make a mediocre culinary experience at best. I’ll go so far as to say (and don’t laugh at me)that Atlanta doesn’t even beat out my hometown, Omaha, NE as far as unique places to dine.

By Brison

May 24, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this

Wait, you’ve got to be kidding! You’re critiquing chain restaurants and comparing NY vs. Atlanta locations????!!

THIS IS WEAK.

By Brison

May 24, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this

To the Midwesterner:

As much as I love Omaha for its people, Joslyn Art Museum, Rosenblatt’s old-time baseball stadium, SAC Museum, and Warren Buffett, her restaurants are NOT the most charming aspect of the town.

Omaha’s restaurants cannot begin to compare with the quality and variety of Atlanta’s restaurants.

For a town that touts Piccolo Pete’s and Gorat’s steakhouses and wine offerings of only “house red or house white”, Omaha has a very long way to go achieve recognition on America’s preferred dining lists.

There are a couple of fairly good restaurants in Omaha, including The French Cafe and V.Mertz. But the vast majority are of the Billy Frogg’s Butsy Le Doux’s, and Spaghetti Works genre and are hardly comparable with Atlanta’s restaurants.

By Chris

May 24, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this

Is it me, or does it seem as though people from other parts of the country always has something negative to say about Atlanta? It is truly amazing that our city has been filled with transplants from all over the world and the small amount of natives left seem to accept them with open arms. BTW, every part of this country has different taste buds and different flavors of food that the locals love, that is what makes this country so unique. So please refrain from comparing Atl to NY. We LOVE our food SOUTHERN STYLE (smothered in gravy and fried). Do not try to change us or our taste buds. Accept the fact that you live in a different city; therefore, you should adapt to our way of life and not vice-versa. Atlanta Natives love our food the way it is.

By Chris

May 24, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this

Is it me, or does it seem as though people from other parts of the country always has something negative to say about Atlanta? It is truly amazing that our city has been filled with transplants from all over the world and the small amount of natives left seem to accept them with open arms. BTW, every part of this country has different taste buds and different flavors of food that the locals love, that is what makes this country so unique. So please refrain from comparing Atl to NY. We LOVE our food SOUTHERN STYLE (smothered in gravy and fried). Do not try to change us or our taste buds. Accept the fact that you live in a different city; therefore, you should adapt to our way of life and not vice-versa. Atlanta Natives’ love our food the way it is.

By KJ

May 24, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this

LOL, I can’t help but suspect this column was borne out of some sort of bet among AJC employees, who are all having a good laugh right about now.

I mean, the intro, which might as well read “ATL vs NYC, HAVE AT IT CARPETBAGGERS AND REDNECKS”, should have clued us in that this isn’t any serious attempt at journalism.

By Stew

May 24, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this

A good meal starts with good bread. As voted the best bakery by the AJC, it is unfortunate Publix cannot bake for area dining establishments. Only in Atlanta would you find the best bakery in a supermarket from Florida. Also the pizza and Chinese food here is a joke compared to the NYC area.

By BPJ

May 24, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this

KJ (8:49) nailed it! We get the Atlanta bashers, then the “Yankee go home” crowd. Sheeesh! New York is the best restaurant city in America (I’m an Atlanta native, so I can say that). But then to disparage Atlanta’s restaurants ,as if there’s nothing special here, is just nonsense. There are plenty of first-rate, chef-driven, one-of-a-kind places here (NY sometimes steals one of our chefs, another sign of how good they are).

I have to disagree with Magenta (10:10am) - not all parts of Atlanta are like that - we often walk to excellent restaurants (& other places) from our intown home). (Oh no, now we’ll start the ITP/OTP thread….!!!)

By Dave

May 24, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this

Do you think they run blogs/articles in NYC comparing “anything” in Atlanta to what they have up in NY? Hmmmm? The “gold” standard was set long long ago…that standard is NYC.

Open any “ATL” dining establishments in NYC lately?…nah. Wonder why.

Even the “ATL” is a rip off of “NYC”…get it?

By The Truth

May 24, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this

Dave, Why do you insist on calling everyone a racist redneck? Yeah, NYC is great for restaurants but so is Atlanta. You’re a rip off of a real human being. Go back to Jersey and take your high taxes with you, moron. By the way, if the south sucks so much tell your northern professional sports teams to stop recruiting our dumb southern athletes. And, stop buying our dumb southern products such as Coke. I don’t see anything great being invented by New Yorkers.

By Get it Right

May 24, 2008 11:20 PM | Link to this

The best thing out of NYC is… wait, nothing good comes out of NYC.

By fair shake???

May 24, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this

Walking to intown restaurants definately does add to the experience and appeal. How many people posting here moved OTP for a larger home than you would be able to afford up north? Nothing wrong with that, but I think you have too much time to become “professional critics” on your drive back out to the burbs.

I have lived in NY and now reside here and can’t dismiss how great the restaurants are in NY. However, there IS local talent in this city, but you’re not gonna find it in a gimiky dup of a NY or LA restaurant.

Get a hotel room one night and try living “IN” the city, walk to a couple of places and have a drink here and an app there! It’s a great way to spend an evening!

It’s like comparing GA wines to Napa, they’ve been producing longer and the results show. The vines have more age, depth, and richer soil to grow from. Much as I’ve seen the wineries improve over my years here (be patient and work with me on this analogy) it’s a “good” product that will inevitably improve over time!

By Andy

May 25, 2008 6:50 AM | Link to this

Really Now, visiting NYC is not knowing NYC,Living there for over 38 years and now here in ATL for the past 17 years I can honestly say there is No Comparison.I’m not saying that there are no good Restaurants here just to few of them. NY is more than Manhattan, whether visiting Little Italy in downtown or Arthur Ave. in the Bronx, Chinatown in lower Manhattan, Various Latin foods in Queens and of course Fine Soul Food in Harlem the choices abound. Atlanta wants to be the NYC of the South but It will never happen.Even though we’ve had a huge influx of Northeast culture your hardpressed to find any Food Stores i.e. ( Deli’s, Food Markets or Specialty Stores) that cater to the Northern Experience. As for Transportation, the only reason MARTA has been stopped from coming into the Northern Counties is as obvious as the nose on your face,RACE and only RACE.

By phil

May 25, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

To hell with NY. I never had one meal there and I don”t care if I ever do. There is plenty of places to eat in ATL. You don’t miss what you never had or care to have.

By NYC=Yesterday's News

May 25, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

To all the folks from other cities who came here to attack Atlanta with ignorant stereotypes:

We could not care less what you think. We are not trying to be the new NYC. As a former New Yorker, I will tell you that NYC is not NYC anymore. Over the past decade, it has turned into the country’s largest mall, inhabited by provincial, rich snobs. Walk around Chelsea these days and what do you see? Pottery Barn, the Gap, Barnes and Noble. The independant stores have died. The rock clubs are vanishing, as yuppie scum drive up rents and demand their quiet in the evening. You can’t even smoke in a bar.

Bottom line is that NYC was the greatest living city in the world. Now, it is a museum city with an economicaly homogenous population.

Atlanta is a great living city where rich people live in proximity to poor people. Where families can actually afford to live, even if they don’t work for a hedge fund. Where a business can actually get started, even if you don’t have Daddy to stake you 500k.

NYC is yesterday’s news. I’ll go there to admire the architecture and see a show.

Atlanta is today’s news. I’ll live and work here because it is a real city.

By Mike

May 25, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

Andy -

Thanks for your bigoted opinion that we are all racists but you.

Why don’t you take your snobby ignorance and drag your sorry a* back up north.

We don’t care what you think.

By Before MARTA Rail

May 25, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

Andy, you are absolutely wrong regarding where MARTA rail runs. I’m fifty-four and remember when the rail system was on the drawing board. I do not know your age. When MARTA was deciding where to run the rails there was so much opposition from some neighborhoods(white neighborhoods)NOT IN MY BACKYARD etc. MARTA chose the least disruptive paths - run the lines parallel to existing freight lnes. The East/West line parallels freight lines. The North/South line parallels freight lines except where tunneling was done under Peachtree St. from Midtown through downtown. Projects had nothing to do with it. Get your facts straight. In the eighties, MARTA wanted to run a spur to Emory through Kirkwood. At the time Kirkwood was undergoing gentrification. The residents in Kirkwood were quite vociferous in opposing it. Andy, if you are not old enough to remember when there was no MARTA rail system, or you were not in the area back then. There is absoltely no way that you know what you are talking about.

By Al York

May 25, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

I like both cities because for their differences

By Irwin

May 25, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

Anyone who thinks restaurants in Atlanta as a whole compare to restaurants in New York is in need of a brain scan. Heck, I am in East Cobb and you can’t find five decent places to eat.

By robo

May 25, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

I would rather eat at McDonalds every day than live in New Yuck City. Nasty place to live populated by nasty people. Even the guttural accented English is nasty. A southern accent, on the other hand is quite musical, especially spoken by a southern lady. Yes, the smart ones move from New Yuck as soon as possible, and because they start feeling lonely for grime and soot, they start trashing Atlanta. That’s because they know they missed out on the birth lottery and ended up being born in crap capital USA.

By Mike

May 25, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

Before MARTA Rail -

Let’s not forget what was happening in NYC at that time. Robert Moses was actively driving black folks out of their neighborhoods using his powers of coordinator of publica housing. Black neighborhoods south of Harlem were intentionally demolished to relocate their tenants out of the city that Moses was “cleaning up”.

New Yorkers like to believe that theirs is a history of tolerance. It ain’t so.

By Mike

May 25, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

“Anyone who thinks restaurants in Atlanta as a whole compare to restaurants in New York is in need of a brain scan. Heck, I am in East Cobb and you can’t find five decent places to eat.”

East Cobb isn’t Atlanta. Try finding “five decent places to eat” in Hackensack NJ. That is a more relevant comparison.

By Angie

May 25, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

I grew up in Atlanta. I am very proud of the growth and changes in our city, even though there are areas for improvement, as in any other city. I have a problem with so many criticism about our city from others. If you have so many problems with how things are in Atlanta, why not return to your hometown where things are so great.

By We R what we Eat.

May 25, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this

The only good eatin in the south is in Atlanta. They have grits. They have fried green tomatos. They have ribs and chitluns. and everything.

Now, I dont know about yawl, but New York only has cold hotdogs from vendors who find the hotdogs in garbage cans and then sell them without licenses to the population of new york who all are suffering from rickets cause they aint gittin their feed on proper like, if’n you be diggin’ what I be a sayin’.

Now, Atlanta has the good food, the tea with the sugar in it, the cokes with the fizz in it, and the biscuits and gravy and chicken fried steak and southern fried chicken, now New York dont gotz nuthin good like that yawl.

Have a coke and a smile.

By Alfreda E Neuman

May 25, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this

The best bumper I ever saw said “If you love New York so much then go home” :-) and it’s true that we don’t care how you did it up north.

By Alfreda E Neuman

May 25, 2008 8:08 PM | Link to this

Even though we’ve had a huge influx of Northeast culture your hardpressed to find any Food Stores i.e. ( Deli’s, Food Markets or Specialty Stores) that cater to the Northern Experience.<<

LOL!!! Why would any one here want to do such a thing?

FYI it’s you are not your.

By Chris

May 25, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this

Lol!

By Lewis Grizzard

May 25, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this

The problem with New York restaurants is they are full of New Yorkers.

By mamaj

May 25, 2008 9:30 PM | Link to this

I am simply amused by all the bashing of Atlanta restaurants and our eating culture by New Yorkers. I am a Georgian born and bred, and there is nothing more comforting than the foods that we have grown up eating, and no amount of criticism by outsiders is going to change that. You all have obviously not become so disenchanted with all of our non-comparable restaurants and food choices enough to leave, and you don’t sound like you have been missing many meals, even with the substandard offerings we have, as evidenced by the energetic snideness of your remarks, so I’ll say we can’t be that bad. You must know, though, that the majority of us don’t really give a @$&! what you think about us, OR our restaurants!

By Suzanne Sugarbaker

May 26, 2008 12:32 AM | Link to this

The best thing about NYC restaurants is not having to valet park. Knowing I have to deal with a valet at the end of a nice meal kills the experience for me. I can park my car every other place in Atlanta, why not at a restaurant?

By KJ

May 26, 2008 3:11 AM | Link to this

Knowing I have to deal with a valet at the end of a nice meal kills the experience for me

Sounds like you lead a difficult life, my condolences.

By The Wizard

May 26, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this

You must be joking! The very best of Atlanta does not compare to mediocre restaurants in the city!! Atlanta restaurants as so faux, you people need to get a grip!!!!

A former New Yorker.

By Sara

May 26, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

I’m from New York and in ATL by choice, and I’ve found a ton of great restaurants here- but they aren’t the chain restaurants! I like NYC and I like ATL too. I don’t understand why people rip on atlanta so much and live here anyway.

The only thing that ATL needs to seriously work on restaurant-wise is the pizza. I have not found a single decent slice here, and I’ve tried about twenty pizza places since arriving- including the locally-recommended ones.

By alex

May 26, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

I hate people trying to turn Atlanta into something it is not. I lived here all my life and I like it just fine. I never been to New York so sadly I can’t comment on the food culture. I know one thing though, with gas prces soring I would rather see a nice New York Deli come down here than a place where I have to buy a $130 Kobe steak. Furthermore, to all you lovely New Yorkers living here; this is not New York and will never be New York, please stop trying to transform our city to something it is not.

By Angela

May 26, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

Bravo, NYC=Yesterday’s News! As a native Atlantan, I appreciate your standing up for us even though you’re not from here.

I’ve spent a great deal of time in NYC and no doubt, it’s an incredible city and always fun, but I don’t care what anyone says—Atlanta not only has a unique charm and pace, but it combines two things not found in other cities (at least from what I’ve found): affordable luxury. The reason all you outsiders come here is obvious to us—you can live the urban life and live it in style, for a fraction of what you would pay for the same lifestyle somewhere else.

As for the comparison in restaurants—it’s retarded to even try and compare our cities at all—the difference in size should be reason alone to avoid that. NYC’s purpose has been different from Atlanta’s. NYC has always been a haven for all walks of life—it’s a ridiculously large melting pot city; of course it has tons of cuisine and mom and pop restaurants! It only makes sense that it would. Atlanta, on the other hand, was merely a commuter city until the Olympics. People just stopped through to go to business meetings. We’re fairly young as far as urban living goes. Food in NY is wonderful but food down here is wonderful too—you just have to know where to go. And if you want unique, hole-the-wall appeal, go to places like East Atlanta, L5P or Virginia Highlands. THere are a lot of great places there. Midtown, in my opinion, has great places too.

But please quit bashing our city—there must be something about it you like, right?

By Angela

May 26, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

Bravo, NYC=Yesterday’s News! As a native Atlantan, I appreciate your standing up for us even though you’re not from here.

I’ve spent a great deal of time in NYC and no doubt, it’s an incredible city and always fun, but I don’t care what anyone says—Atlanta not only has a unique charm and pace, but it combines two things not found in other cities (at least from what I’ve found): affordable luxury. The reason all you outsiders come here is obvious to us—you can live the urban life and live it in style, for a fraction of what you would pay for the same lifestyle somewhere else.

As for the comparison in restaurants—it’s retarded to even try and compare our cities at all—the difference in size should be reason alone to avoid that. NYC’s purpose has been different from Atlanta’s. NYC has always been a haven for all walks of life—it’s a ridiculously large melting pot city; of course it has tons of cuisine and mom and pop restaurants! It only makes sense that it would. Atlanta, on the other hand, was merely a commuter city until the Olympics. People just stopped through to go to business meetings. We’re fairly young as far as urban living goes. Food in NY is wonderful but food down here is wonderful too—you just have to know where to go. And if you want unique, hole-the-wall appeal, go to places like East Atlanta, L5P or Virginia Highlands. THere are a lot of great places there. Midtown, in my opinion, has great places too.

But please quit bashing our city—there must be something about it you like, right?

By DH

May 26, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

ok..im back ( i left the 2nd comment) some interesting comments here.

Being a native NYr of 30 yrs and being here in ATL for the past 10…I speak from experience… Yes we moved from NYC for various reasons, high rent, crime, parking tickets (lol) better ATL weather, etc. But please understand the plight of those of us from Cali, NYC, FL, and the other states. The issue is that in any other city, esp one with 5 million people, you would expect a wider choice of dining establishments. The world is full of different tastes, cultures and diversity. The guy that claimed his taste was screwed up by all the influx of “others” is so unreal he doesnt know it.

We like the clean city, warm weather, business oppourtunities, lower rents and homes, but..BUT we should have BETTER dining here.

I love Atlanta and advise my friends and family in NYC to move down. BUT we need MORE people to OPEN good restaurants. And these do not need to be fine dining, im talking gyro joints, fafalel joints, pizza joints, chinese food joints, philly cheesesteak joints, BBQ joints, deli joints, places with FOCUS AND CHARACTER.* Built it…they will come….*

By bsb

May 26, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this

Christopher needs to learn to spell before he speaks! Cheers

By Doug

May 26, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this

Don’t think it’s fair to compare any city to NYC - at least not in the USA. However, ther are many benefits to living in ATL vs. NYC. Hence, why you (and I)are here. Try having in NYC what you have in ATL! I think I’ll stay here…

Native of Queens

By Sweet Dreams

May 26, 2008 11:17 PM | Link to this

Somewhat frivolous attempting to compare NY restaurants to those of ATL.
ATL will never have the culture or energy of a NY (Philly, Boston, Chicago) - TOO MUCH SPRAWL, and MARTA (as well as city engineers/planners) can never catch-up. I mean, who wants to drive ALL THE WAY intown to a Bones or Hal’s, then have to drive ALL THE WAY back, when they can go the subpar knock-off fine-dining establishment in Alpharetta, Cumming, Lawrenceville, Smyrna, etc.

I’m almost 40 (have lived in ATL all my life)…ATL missed the boat 20-30 years ago when none of the powers that be foresaw the future of a LARGE METROPOLITAN CITY! Sure would be nice to hop a train & cruise into the city from one of the aforementioned metro areas—$4 a gallon is cutting into the dining budget. Looks like the wife’s upcoming b-day dinner will be at Golden Corral - I’m dead.

By GA Boyz

May 27, 2008 2:14 AM | Link to this

I know people from NY think its the best place in the world and so do the people from Atlanta. I’m from Ga but not Atl. Yes I been to NY and all over the wrold. Was in the Navy. You can not compare north cooking to south cooking. There no way you can do it. There is some places over sea NY itself can not touch. The real diff. bewteen NY and ATL is NY is bigger and believe me bigger do not make it better just more crimes. By the way I dont think I want to stay in a city like NY were i got to work 18 hrs out of 24 hrs to make just my rent, and live in a place cool as h*ll almost yr round.

By Lamont Sanford

May 27, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

I’s like them fwied yardbirds down here yonder alots bettah. Piccadilluhs rox!

By Rocki

May 27, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this

Quite frankly i am appalled at all the negative comments about Atlanta and the essence of the city. I have watched atlanta grow just as i have grown and i love my city, my restaurants, my attractions. Atlanta is not NYC, and people not think that we want it to be. I love these Southern roots we have here. its a matter of preferance. to some from the north oatmeal might be the best thing running whereas someone from the south may thing grits is. see there is a difference in what we believe good is and because you are were raised some where else and have acquired a liking to something, do not bash the city i love with your remarks on we will never be NYC. THIS IS ATLANTA, and it will always be. there are plenty restaurants that have me longing to come home when i am away. places that make my mouth water for good home-cooked southern food! You see i have traveled the world, across the sea, and over the water to places some people only see on tv but its clear to me “There’s no place like home”!!!

By Rocki

May 27, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this

Quite frankly i am appalled at all the negative comments about Atlanta and the essence of the city. I have watched atlanta grow just as i have grown and i love my city, my restaurants, my attractions. Atlanta is not NYC, and people not think that we want it to be. I love these Southern roots we have here. its a matter of preferance. to some from the north oatmeal might be the best thing running whereas someone from the south may thing grits is. see there is a difference in what we believe good is and because you are were raised some where else and have acquired a liking to something, do not bash the city i love with your remarks on we will never be NYC. THIS IS ATLANTA, and it will always be. there are plenty restaurants that have me longing to come home when i am away. places that make my mouth water for good home-cooked southern food! You see i have traveled the world, across the sea, and over the water to places some people only see on tv but its clear to me “There’s no place like home”!!!

By Meridith Ford

May 28, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this

Holy smokes. What a rivalry. I was born and raised in Atlanta. I’ve lived in New York. When I put ATL VS NYC as the blog title I was specifically referring to these restaurants, which, unlike what some of you feel — are not chains. For instance, Spice Market here and in NYC are very similar as far as the execution of the menu goes. Both cities have changed so much over the years and no, as a whole they are not comparable. Neither are Miami and San Francisco. That doesn’t make one worse than the other.

By Rave Dome

May 28, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this

Oh Great… now you’ve started up Miami vs San Fran!!! I miss the food in my hometown of Miami, but the food at the Fog Diner in San Fran was incredible.

By Rave Dome

May 28, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

Oh Great… now you’ve started up Miami vs San Fran!!! I miss the food in my hometown of Miami, but the food at the Fog Diner in San Fran was incredible.

By wineking

May 29, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this

ATL vs NYC—- NYC Wins.. most of ATL restaurant try to be defrent, but when all the guests want the same thing to eat steak and potato all the time, open up to something new….let is go the yankee thing is over, it was a long time ago

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