The subject of a recent Best of the Big A poll — the best hangover breakfast — could be preventative or curative, depending on the time or place. Preventative places are open into the wee hours and provide soak-it-up stuff to ward off the evils of excess. Curative places soothe the already ravaged body and mind and may even offer a wee bit of the hair of the dog. Here are a few to hunt down.
Fado Irish Pub
279 Buckhead Ave., Buckhead, 404-841-0061, www.fadoirishpub.com
As a hangover cure, the traditional Irish breakfast — a groaning mass of eggs, Irish sausages and bacon, black pudding, white pudding, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms and bread — has its own decadent appeal. That’s particularly true when it’s served up with a pint. At Fado, all that can be had day or night.
The Original Pancake House
5530 Windward Parkway, Alpharetta, 678-393-1355, www. originalpancakehouse.org (multiple metro locations)
Of course, pancakes are a highlight of the restorative menu here — everything from the fluffy-light buttermilk, buckwheat and sourdough to banana, blueberry, pecan, coconut and even bacon. On the savory side, the house-made hash is an impossibly rich blend of corned beef, potatoes, onions and cream.
Majestic Diner
1031 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta, 404-875-0276, www.majesticdiner.com
Though it’s gotten all gussied-up, the “Nighthawks” atmosphere of Atlanta’s original 24-hour dive diner is still something Tom Waits or Edward Hopper would appreciate. Pork chops and eggs with grits and toast will do the trick. But for the early morning masochist, there’s the Ponce Picnic, a deluxe cheeseburger with a chili cheese dog.
Waffle House
2264 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta, 404-634-9414, www.wafflehouse.com (multiple metro locations)
Waffle House is everywhere, and open all the time, but somehow the Cheshire Bridge location seems ready-made for hangovers. Scrambled eggs and cheese with raisin toast, hash browns scattered, smothered and covered, or a pecan waffle with a side of bacon are just a few of the familiar remedies to be found when you need them most.
R. Thomas Deluxe Grill
1812 Peachtree St., Atlanta, 404-872-2942, www.rthomas deluxegrill.net
Prevention or cure, go for vegan dishes, or a big burger, or bacon, eggs and home fries, served anytime. Surrounded by a riot of flowers, lawn ornaments and exotic birds in psychedelic cages, one of the quirkiest landmarks of the Atlanta dining scene is open 24/7 in a space that’s basically one big patio.
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