Sometimes a food truck just won’t do. If you need to take a break from the crowds and lines of Music Midtown, consider a meal at one of these restaurants. All are a walk or quick drive away.
Empire State South
Hugh Acheson’s Midtown restaurant can be counted on for its great beverages, mellow lighting, fun crowd, hyper-seasonal menu and a certain twangy Southern weirdness in every dish. Longtime chef de cuisine Ryan Smith has moved on, replaced by Josh Hopkins, a fine local chef who promises to keep the course.
999 Peachtree St., Atlanta. 404-541-1105, http://empirestatesouth.com/.
Watershed on Peachtree
Louisiana-born chef Joe Truex presents fresh takes on Southern classics, infusing international influences. Be sure to try the deconstructed jambalaya. Each ingredient receives a different treatment — the smoky rich andouille gets grilled, plump oysters fried, shrimp butter-poached. It comes layered over a puddle of soulful etouffee with crab and crawfish tails.
1820 Peachtree Road N.W., Atlanta. 404-809-3561, http://watershedrestaurant.com/.
Tantra
If you name your establishment Tantra, it suggests a little hanky-panky, right? Or, at the very least, a costly session with a specialist. The atmosphere is decidedly date-night sexy, with some framed Kama Sutra art to underscore the theme. The kitchen travels through the spice route with abandon, touching on Indian, Persian and Middle Eastern flavor elements.
2285 Peachtree Road, Atlanta. 404-228-7963, www.tantraatlanta.com.
Vortex Bar and Grill-Midtown
The laughing skull with the whirlpool eyes, so prominent at the Vortex in Little Five Points, may be missing from the facade of the Midtown location. But the “no-nonsense” attitude is the same. And the rowdy, biker bar decor, snappy service and huge craft and import beer selection are here, too. The menu features funky takes on pub fare, including nachos and Buffalo wings.
878 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-875-1667, www.thevortexbarandgrill.com.
Lure
No shortage of intriguing ideas here. The wonderful drinks list encompasses hand-bottled cocktails, punch bowls and an appealing wine list. The inside bristles with urban energy, while Midtown’s best new patio meanders about, offering many quiet corners to while away a warm evening. Then there’s the menu — a showcase of innovative modern cooking, international flavors and sustainable seafood awareness.
1106 Crescent Ave., Atlanta. 404-817-3650, http://fifthgroup.com/.
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