DINING OUT
11 a.m.- 11 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays.
Boiled peanuts and pickles, $2-$5; corn dogs, hot dogs and sausages, $4.50-$8.50; pork burgers and deli sandwiches, $5-$12; fries and tots, $2.50-$8.
17 N. Avondale Plaza, Decatur. 404-500-1785, www.pallookaville.com.
On Halloween, Atlanta deep-fried corn dog master and TV personality Jim Stacy opened Pallookaville Fine Foods in Avondale Estates with partner John Gianoulidis. The soda fountain and deli is a brick-and-mortar spinoff of Stacy’s carnival food truck, with an evolving menu that features burgers, sandwiches and a full bar with adult “shaketails.”
The look: From the outside, Pallookaville blends with Avondale's distinctive row of Tudor-style buildings. Inside, though, Stacy's world of eccentric comic art and collectibles is displayed all over the walls and in glass cases in the dining room, where the seating is a crazy-cozy hodgepodge of tables, chairs and booths.
The scene: Those who have seen the tall and tattooed Stacy in action might be surprised by the vibe at his restaurant. On a recent evening, a host wearing a white shirt and tie seated guests, while friendly servers in '50s-style diner attire waited on tables of neighborhood families and couples.
The food: "World Famous" corn dogs top the menu with variations like a beef frank ($4.50), Italian sausage ($5.50) or dill pickle ($5.50). "Ham" burgers are 1/4-pound ground pork and bacon patties served in single, double, triple or quadruple sizes ($5-$14), on an egg bun with lettuce, tomato and griddled onions. House-cured corned beef or pastrami shows up in a Reuben served with a house-cured half-sour pickle, also available as a side ($2/$3). Russet fries or tater tots ($2.50/$5) can be customized with toppings like cheese curds and gravy.
The drinks: The busy bar does double duty, dispensing beer, wine and cocktails, along with custom sodas and hand-dipped shakes. On the beer menu, look for Wild Heaven Ode to Mercy ($7) and Three Taverns Single Intent ($7) in the bottle, and Bell's Two Hearted ($5) and Sierra Narwhal ($8) on draft. Vanilla, chocolate or strawberry "shaketails" ($8-$14) are spiked with the likes of Luxardo Maraschino or Pennsylvania Dutch Pumpkin Cream.
The extras: The Pallookaville food truck will continue to show up at fairs and festivals. For events, there's a special catering menu, and for a fee, the Fryinstein monster mascot will come out to entertain.
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