Atlanta Restaurants Roll into Mardi Gras

Party store beads, masks, trinkets and confetti. Bakery cases resplendent with king cakes glazed over in purple, green and yellow. Hurricanes, in glasses. The evidence is clear. Mardi Gras is getting ready to swing through Atlanta like a jazz band on Bourbon Street, and Atlanta restaurants are ready to set the good times rolling.

Fill up on Low Country boil and gracious amounts of gumbo at the Fat Tuesday celebration rocking 10th & Piedmont and G’s Midtown on February 17. James Patrick Morgan takes to the stage with live music at 7:30 p.m.

Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland paves a mighty fine Bourbon Street on Fat Tuesday. Party plans promise live music, drink specials, beads, a parade and Louisiana specialties. Seafood gumbo swimming with shrimp, mussels and andouille sausage is $4 a cup, $6 a bowl. Crispy oysters and spicy remoulade sauce fill fabulous oyster po’boys ($12), and a vegetable muffaletta packs in grilled zucchini, roasted red pepper, artichoke-olive salad, provolone and arugula on ciabatta bread ($10). Steamy crawfish boil bubbles with Louisiana crawfish, andouille sausage, corn and potatoes. If you’re swearing off desserts for Lent (and even if you’re not), celebrate with a colorful slice of Mardi Gras king cake, a fun companion to any New Orleans dish or drink.