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 Seafood BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
The Optimist

Best Wait Staff BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Bacchanalia AND Bone’s

Best Chinese BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Gu’s Dumplings

Best Soul Food BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Busy Bee Cafe

Best Soup BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Souper Jenny - Buckhead
And other metro Atlanta locations.

Best Southern BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Mary Mac’s Tea Room

Best Spanish/Tapas BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Barcelona Wine Bar

Best Steaks BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Kevin Rathbun Steak

Best Brunch BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
West Egg Cafe

Best Sushi BOA Award Winner

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

Best Tacos BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Taqueria Del Sol
And other metro Atlanta locations.

Best Tex-Mex BOA Award Winner

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

Best Thai BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Little Bangkok

Best Bartender/Mixologist BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick
Lusca - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

Best Under the Radar Restaurant BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
The Crafty Hog

Best Vegetarian/Vegan BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Cafe Sunflower Buckhead

Best Vegetarian/Vegan BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Cafe Sunflower Buckhead

Best vegetarian dish at a non-vegetarian restaurant BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Fresh Veggie Plate: Bantam + Biddy

Bantam + Biddy


www.bantamandbiddy.com

Best Veggie Burger BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Grindhouse Killer Burgers (5 ATL Locations)
And other metro Atlanta locations.

Best Vietnamese BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Lee’s Bakery

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 Weekly Dining Deal BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Grindhouse Killer Burgers (5 ATL Locations)

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 » Readers Pick
Barcelona Wine Bar

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)

Best Reason to Live in Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Guest Critic
The chef and prolific food blogger shares her findings since moving to Atlanta in 2013

Best Reason to Live in Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Guest Critic
The Atlanta-born wine pro talks ATL food culture past and present

Best Ramen BOA Award Winner

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

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

Best Indian BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick
Masti - Indian Street Eats

Best Ramen BOA Award Winner

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

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

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

Best Desserts BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Café Intermezzo - Midtown
And other metro Atlanta locations.

Best Desserts BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Café Intermezzo - Midtown
And other metro Atlanta locations.

Best Desserts BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Cafe Intermezzo
And other metro Atlanta locations.

Best Desserts BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Readers Pick
Cafe Intermezzo
And other metro Atlanta locations.

Best Italian BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick
BoccaLupo
Soulful cooking and comfortable neighborhood charm are bedrocks of Italian cuisine. Inman Park’s BoccaLupo delivers with its cozy, laid-back dining paired with destination-worthy cuisine. Sporting his ever-present headband, Bruce Logue, former sous chef to Mario Batali, prepares simple and earnestmore...
Soulful cooking and comfortable neighborhood charm are bedrocks of Italian cuisine. Inman Park’s BoccaLupo delivers with its cozy, laid-back dining paired with destination-worthy cuisine. Sporting his ever-present headband, Bruce Logue, former sous chef to Mario Batali, prepares simple and earnest dishes highlighting the season’s freshest ingredients. The restaurant is perpetually packed, and not just for the food. A meticulously selected wine list and an expert craft cocktail menu kick the experience up all the notches. Choose a classic like Bolognese gravy atop tangled ribbons of pappardelle or go for Logue’s ever-changing four-course pasta tasting with additions of uni, stone crab, ramps, and, sometimes, shaved truffles. less...

Best Bakery BOA Award Winner

Year » 2015
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2015 » Oral Pleasures » Critics Pick
The Little Tart Bakeshop
When it comes to pastry in Atlanta, there’s one counter that forever tempts us and confounds our ability to choose just … one … thing. If we could, we’d hand over a Nobel Prize in pastry to the Little Tart Bakeshop, and then we’d stuff our faces with all the heavenly croissants and unreasonablymore...
When it comes to pastry in Atlanta, there’s one counter that forever tempts us and confounds our ability to choose just … one … thing. If we could, we’d hand over a Nobel Prize in pastry to the Little Tart Bakeshop, and then we’d stuff our faces with all the heavenly croissants and unreasonably complex scones and delightfully savory ham puffs and Vidalia onion galettes. And, dear god, if it’s Saturday, yes we’ll take a cinnamon-sugar morning bun. And maybe one of those decadent salted caramel nut tarts for dessert. And then … less...

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