Guide to Taste of Atlanta 2015

• 4th and Swift*

• Alma Cocina

• American Food & Beverage*

• Andretti Grill

• Article 14

• Arepa Mia*

• Asante

• Atlanta Braves All-Star Grill

• Bangkok Station

• Barcelona Restaurant & Wine Bar

• Bartaco

• Bellwoods Social House

• Bhojanic

• Bite Bistro and Bar

• Boneheads

• BurgerFi

• Buttermilk Kitchen*

• Clark & Schwenks Seafood & Oyster Bar

• Chai Pani

• Cibo E Beve

• CineBistro

• Coast (Johns Creek)

• Colletta*

• Common Quarter*

• Community Smith

• Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse

• D.B.A. Barbecue

• Desta Ethiopian Restaurant

• Diner

• Egg Harbor Café

• El Felix*

• Fado Irish Pub

• FLIP Burger Boutique

• Foundation Social Eatery

• Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q

• Grand Champion BBQ

• Gu’s Dumplings

• Gusto Wood Fire Grill

• Gypsy Kitchen

• Gyro Brothers

• Hard Rock Café

• Hugo’s Oyster Bar

• Jim ‘N Nick’s BBQ

• Johnny Rockets

• Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall*

• Maggiano’s Little Italy

• Makan

• Max Lager’s Wood-Fired Grill and Brewery

• Max’s Wine Dive

• Mediterranean Grill

• Morelli’s Ice Cream

• Noble Fin*

• Noche Vinings

• Oak Steakhouse*

• One Eared Stag*

• One Flew South*

• Polaris*

• Portofino*

• Ray’s New York Pizza

• Righteous Que

• Rosebud

• RReal Tacos

• Saltyard

• Smokebelly BBQ

• Smoke Ring

• Southern Ground

• Sprinkles

• St. Cecilia*

• Sugar Shack

• SunO Dessert

• Takorea

• Tassili’s Raw Reality

• The Atlanta Grill at the Ritz-Carlton*

• The Barrelhouse

• The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill

• The Café at the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead*

• The Melting Pot

• The Original El Taco

• The Southern Gentleman

• The Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View*

• Thirteen Pies*

• Thrive

• Tin Drum Asia Cafe

• Trader Vic’s

• True Food Kitchen

• Twin Smokers BBQ

• Twisted Soul

• Veda Juice

• Village Tavern

• Waffle House Inc.

• Watershed

• White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails*

• Woody’s CheeseSteaks

• Your Pie

• Zola Italian

The 14th annual Taste of Atlanta kicks off on Friday, Sept. 25, at Tech Square in Midtown and runs through Sunday, Sept. 27. This year, the event will feature more than 90 dining destinations with food and drink from establishments both inside and outside the Perimeter. There are several new additions to the festival including Community Smith, Noble Fin, Southern Gentleman and Ladybird Grove and Mess Hall.

Here are a few helpful things to know about this year’s festival:

Location: The festival is at Tech Square on Fifth Street from Techwood Drive to West Peachtree Street and on Spring Street from Biltmore Place to Armstead Place. The closest MARTA Station is the North Avenue Station. If you prefer to drive, visit www.parkingpanda.com to purchase guaranteed parking in advance.

Hours: Noon-7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, and noon-6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. Hours for the VIP experience — a chance to enjoy exclusive restaurants not found in the main festival — are 12:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27. The kickoff party, the Bucket List Bash, is 7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25.

Tickets: General admission is $25 (plus fees) in advance and includes 10 Taste Points. VIP admission is $75 (plus fees) in advance and includes access to the VIP Grand Tasting Experience with beer and wine by Hop City; 10 Taste Points and a souvenir tasting glass. You need a separate ticket for the kickoff party on Friday, Sept. 25, from 7:30-10:30 p.m. (VIP entry is at 6:30 p.m.) Tickets are $75 for general admission and $90 for VIP entry (fees not included).

Tickets are on sale now at www.tasteofatlanta.com. Or check the website for a list of local retailers selling tickets. If tickets are still available, you can buy tickets at the gate for $35 general admission and $85 VIP admission. Children 13 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. This year, tickets are in the form of wristbands. You can pick up your wristband on Sept. 23, 24 or 25 at the Early Will Call Tent located at West Peachtree and Fifth streets from noon-6 p.m. On festival days, pick up your wristbands at Will Call beginning at 11 a.m.

Taste Points: This is the official currency of Taste of Atlanta, and you need them to purchase food and drinks from vendors. This year, 10 Taste Points will be pre-loaded onto wristbands when you purchase tickets. You can add additional Taste Points ($1 each) from a home computer or mobile phone in advance or at Taste Point Banks on site with debit card, or credit card or cash.

Good to know: Aside from eating, you can enjoy a range of different experiences at Taste of Atlanta. A live cooking stage, the Eat GA Stage, will feature locally sourced Georgia products (think peanuts). The Carnival's Kids Corner is designed with young attendees in mind, and the Taste of Atlanta VIP Grand Tasting Experience by Hop City Craft Beer & Wine is like a festival within the festival, offering more than 100 varieties of craft beer and 40 wines to sip while you enjoy the eats.

For more information on Taste of Atlanta or to purchase tickets, visit www.tasteofatlanta.com.