ATLGuide
The 6 Best Places To Eat In Atlantic Station, Ranked
photo credit: Sarah Newman
Atlantic Station has the gall to have its own zip code. Sure, it was once a shining citadel on 17th, but now the OG mixed-use development largely plays host to throngs of teens, tourists, and people searching for Cirque du Solei. There are better restaurant options in nearby West Midtown, but on those rare occasions when we find ourselves driving into this color-coded underground parking hell, these six spots provide meals that make dining in this eat-and-play community tolerable.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Sarah Newman
#1
Sri Thai is the best spot to grab a meal in Atlantic Station if you’re sans kids. Straddling the edge of this Midtown retail and dining district, it’s one of the few restaurants that makes us forget we’re in Atlanta’s largest teen hangout zone. That might be because the lively, bright red dining room is packed with couples sharing a bottle of wine and groups of adult friends divvying up sushi rolls. Plus, the overwhelming variety of solid Thai dishes (get the well-seasoned Pad Thai with thin noodles) and Japanese offerings (try the solid Caribbean sushi roll with grilled scallops) is well worth the hassle of getting lost in the parking deck.
photo credit: Tabia S. Lisenbee-Parker
#2
Azotea is newer to the Atlantic Station dining scene. The real appeal here is snagging a frozen margarita at their rooftop bar as cute string lights blow in the breeze. As a bonus, the upbeat Latino dance and electronica music blocks out the sounds of upstate shoppers arguing about where the hell IKEA is. Pair your drink with chips, creamy queso, and a salsa trio that includes a spicy, toasted pumpkin seed salsa that we’d make a return visit for. Then choose from ten solid taco options (our preference is the lightly battered Baja fish with shaved cabbage, pickled red onion, and a creamy morita mayo) that taste better accompanied by a warm breeze.
photo credit: Amy Sinclair
#3
This family-owned Atlanta chain started in 2012. Now, more than a decade later they’ve expanded to three locations (Atlantic Station, Buckhead, and downtown). And when we need food fast, NaanStop is the best option for a quick meal in the area. We dig the CYOA theme as you move down the counter-service line selecting proteins (like lamb or chola) and toppings (like spicy cabbage slaw and the sweet chutney). So it’s the perfect setup to pop in for a bowl filled with chicken tikka masala, and get out well before free parking expires.
photo credit: Sarah Newman
#4
When the allure of newness faded and colonies of teens took over the mixed-use complex, it was difficult for restaurants to sustain a fanbase. Atlantic Grill remains the oldest non-chain restaurant still standing—mainly because it's a solid, reasonably priced spot for a bite to eat. Sports bar enthusiasts will feel right at home here with leather booths, a large bar, and multiple TVs on every wall. The menu ranges from extremely casual (standard chicken tenders) to more sophisticated (lamb lollipops). But we usually settle somewhere in between with decent fried chicken on a bed of pimento mac and cheese that has more cheese than actual noodles (and we’re not complaining).
Atlantic Station didn't need another sports bar (Yard House and Atlantic Grill had been open here for years). But Hobnob, a fairly recent addition to the scene, sets itself apart with a rooftop exclusively for the 21 and up crowd, themed nights hosting karaoke and trivia, and a giant ground-level patio. And true to its name, the restaurant is the perfect spot for adults in the area looking to “hobnob." The food is standard pub fare. Their towering cheeseburger a reliable choice. But get the dish that’s unique to this location—a monstrous fried chicken sandwich topped with bacon and dripping with pimento cheese and coleslaw that you won’t regret ordering.
photo credit: Sarah Newman
#6
After emerging from Dante’s little known tenth circle of hell (the Atlantic Station parking deck), we often have the sudden urge to crack something. Cue Angry Crab Shack. While the triple-digit price for the two-person Shack Mixed Bag is steep, one bite of the tender crab legs, potatoes, and corn doused in the spicy trifecta sauce (lemon pepper, garlic, and Cajun) makes it easier to stomach. A place that requires bibs and plastic gloves to eat your meal already signals a more casual vibe. But heavy-handed cocktails like the rum soaked Hurricane combined with pop/R&B tunes and the sounds of crab claws cracking makes this a rowdy, fun dinner spot.
