Chow down. Drink up. The Taste of Atlanta festival will feature more than 90 restaurants, all serving tapas-size dishes that cost one, two or three Taste Points each. (Taste Points are the event's official currency.) Dishes will not exceed three Taste Points.
With the new ticketless system that uses wristbands, festivalgoers will have a free hand or two to eat, drink and be merry without having to fold and tuck away tickets.
Here’s a sample of some of the palate-pleasing dishes that will be available, listed by points.
One Taste Point
Waffle House: It is virtually impossible to go wrong with waffles at a festival, so this popular chain restaurant will offer two kinds — sweet cream and pecan. Each serving consists of two wedges, which is also known as a whole half of a waffle.
Hugo's Oyster Bar: Enjoy the tastiness of shelled seafood. This Roswell restaurant will offer Gulf oysters served with crackers, horseradish and cocktail sauce.
Andretti Grill: Do dessert any time of day with this Roswell restaurant's house-made brownies.
Two Taste Points
Southern Ground Social Club: Here's a Southern twist on a Caribbean dish with a little Latin influence: a pork shoulder roti taco. Their Creole seafood jambalaya will be available as well.
Noche: Meatball, the Spanish kind known as albondigas.
Woody's CheeseSteaks: This Midtown restaurant brings the Philly favorite to Atlanta. Bite into the original cheesesteak or the loaded version featuring peppers, mushrooms and bacon.
Alma Cocina: This contemporary Latin restaurant will be dishing out pork cheek and butternut squash posole with red cabbage and apples.
Three Taste Points
Bellwoods Social House: Chef Leif Johnson told the story of how his "Gangsta Fries" topped with blue cheese dressing, chili oil, chives and bacon came to be during his interview in "The Hot Seat." Read about it on the Atlanta Restaurant Scene blog on ajc.com (posted Sept. 3, 2015) and sample it at the festival. It's worth every point.
Grand Champion BBQ: Three items will be offered — pulled pork, macaroni and cheese and baby back ribs.
Coast: A Southern classic. Tempt your taste buds with shrimp and grits, served with smoked tomato sauce.
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