Best Of Atlanta 2015 Oral Pleasures (Header)

Oral Pleasures

What a bizarre time in history to be alive. We can have almost anything delivered to our doorstep. We maintain many of our relationships through screens. Entertainment is endless and instant. Books, TV shows, movies; we scarcely have to wait for anything anymore. Everything is on demand. Everything is on our time. And yet, despite all the advances and all the conveniences modern life affords, why do so many of us seem to have so little time these days?

Technology has given us a way out of countless human interactions. But they still haven’t figured out a way for us to eat the same meal together remotely. An evening filled with food and friends is not an item on a delivery menu. Food is arguably one of the last holdouts of human interaction. It doesn’t matter how much money you have or where you’re from, you have to be present to eat. Maybe that’s why the allure of restaurants endures. Chefs create meals we can’t replicate or summon at will. You have to drive to a restaurant and sit down and order. Like in the old days, you have to wait. Restaurants force us to delay gratification and suspend our overloaded lives if only for the duration of a single meal.

As time lurches on, our minutes become increasingly valuable. We’re connected 24/7. Even when we take time off, we’re never truly away. We answer emails from bed soon after we open our eyes, we eat lunch at our desks. All those times that used to be reserved for rest and relaxation are disappearing. Eating together — at home or in a restaurant — is some of the only genuine leisure time we have left.

This year, Creative Loafing’s dining squad wanted to highlight establishments that have stood the test of time and restaurants we believe have what it takes to stick around. For us, the best restaurants favor quality over quantity and are vigilant in their consistency. Restaurants such as Mamak (Best overall restaurant), where you can close your eyes and point to a dish and be certain something great will show up to the table. Not just one time, but week after week after week. In Buckhead, the lavish new Atlas (Best fine dining) redefines what fine dining can be in Atlanta while the Colonnade (Best restaurant frozen in yesteryear) just three miles south continues to chug along, serving tried-and-true Southern food as it has for nearly 90 years.

Ain’t nobody got time for a bad meal.

— Stephanie Dazey, Food Editor

Best Georgia Beer Development BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Wrecking Bar Brewpub (Featured)

Best New Restaurant BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Dish Dive (Permanently Closed)

Best Cheap Eats BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

El Progreso #14 (Featured)

Best Chinese BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Masterpiece (Where to Eat Recommendation)

Best Cocktails BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Kimball House (Featured)

Best Coffee House/Coffeeshop BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

The Warhorse Coffee Shop (Permanently Closed)

Best Restaurant BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

MF Sushi

Best Local Do-Gooder BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Tipple + Rose Tea Parlor and Apothecary (Permanently Closed)

Best fine dining BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Atlas (Featured)

Best Hotdog BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Doggy Dogg (Permanently Closed)

Ad536 Proof Bakeshop Mag Credit Mia Yakel 05

Best Bakery BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Proof Bakeshop (Permanently Closed)

Best Overall Restaurant BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Mamak (Featured)

Best Restaurant BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

The Colonnade (Where to Eat Recommendation)

Best Restaurant to Bring the Kids BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

One Eared Stag (Permanently Closed)

Best Bartender/Mixologist BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Lusca - PERMANENTLY CLOSED (Permanently Closed)

Best Georgia Beer Development BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Senate Bill 63

Best Take-Out Food BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Pijiu Belly

Best Wine List BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Vine & Tap (Permanently Closed) (Permanently Closed)

Best Ramen BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Qing Mu (Permanently Closed)

Best Chinese BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Ah-Ma’s Taiwanese Kitchen (Permanently Closed)

Best Indian BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Masti - Indian Street Eats (Featured)

Best Ramen BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Wagaya - Westside (Where to Eat Recommendation)

Best Desserts BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Le Fat

Best Desserts BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Watershed on Peachtree (Permanently Closed)

Best Desserts BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

The General Muir

Best Desserts BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick

Miller Union (Featured)