Best Take-Out Food

Mitchell Anderson, formerly Ross on the Fox’s “Party of Five,” opened METROFRESH after a stint at Souper Jenny’s in Buckhead. Here, as there, you’ll find hearty soups (try the Tuscan stew) and sandwiches, along with salads, pastas and a few more complicated entrees from time to time. A couple of specials are posted daily. You can eat in, but the food is ideal for carryout since it’s simple. There are plenty of vegetarian options. The close proximity to Piedmont Park makes it an ideal stop before a picnic. less...

After peeking through half-covered windows for months, we were giddy to finally traipse through the gleaming take-out expansion of STAR PROVISIONS, nicknamed Provisions to Go. The menu varies slightly each day, but count on seductively constructed sandwiches like homemade meatball hoagie with buffalo mozzarella; freshly made pizzas; side dishes like cucumber-tomato salad and family-size containers of mac-n-cheese; and entrees like grouper escabeche and beef tenderloin with salsa verde. Of course, jewel-like desserts are also on display (the space was formally the bakery), including a treasure trove of the loveliest cookies in town. Try the star-shaped shortbreads that are pure crumbly heaven, and the deep, dark chocolate meringues that are meant for savoring, not gobbling. less...

A woman we know going through a tough divorce swears the chicken potpie at WHAT A CROCK! saved her sanity. Indeed, the super-rich, flaky-crusted pies are better than a kiss on the forehead from Mom during times when only a hot, bubbling-from-the-oven dinner and Sex and the City reruns will do. Loaded with white meat chicken, potatoes, carrots and peas, the pies are available in quarters or halves for those wishing to exercise more restraint. The more psychically distressed can order whole pies a day in advance to be reheated at home while you hide under your blanket.
406 Church St., Decatur. 404-687-3311.

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