Fifth Group Restaurants: Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame Member of the Year Finalist

Fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and red pepper coulis at South City Kitchen Midtown has spoken to Southern heritage and big city sophistication since the restaurant first welcomed guests in 1993. Just visualizing it can make your mouth water. In 1996, Bold American Events opened on the other side of downtown Atlanta in a 100-year-old renovated Westside factory…before trendy became a Westside adjective. Over the years, Fifth Group Restaurants has added more in-town dining destinations: La Tavola Trattoria, Ecco, South City Kitchen Vinings, The Original El Taco, Alma Cocina and Lure. The different cuisines offer something appealing to every type of Atlantan. With such draw, no wonder that the restaurant group is an Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame Member of the Year finalist. The 15^th annual Hospitality Hall of Fame celebration will take place on November 12 at The Foundry at Puritan Mill. In addition to honoring Atlanta’s hospitality industry greats, this year’s event will mark the year end celebration of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (ACVB) 100^th anniversary! Join in a night of celebration and remembrance. The ACVB, Atlanta Business Chronicle and the Georgia World Congress Center trio back this prestigious event. Fill a table with 10 guests for $1,250 or purchase individual tickets for $125 each by emailing Ellie Westman Chin at ewestmanchin@atlanta.net. 

Labors of Love -- These Restaurants Are Open on Labor Day

 White Oak Pastures - Photo by Angie Mosier

Not the grilling type? Look no further than these Atlanta restaurants for your holiday weekend.

Alon's Bakery and Market has almost everything you'll need for that Labor Day cookout -- bread, cheese, chips, snacks, desserts, wine, beer, sides and more. Plan to shop before 4 p.m. (They'll close then so their employees can have a little R&R of their own.) 

For burgers, pick up some White Oak Pastures grass-fed and sustainably raised beef or chicken to throw on the grill! Locally, it's available at Whole Foods Markets and area Publix stores. 

Both Atkins Park Tavern locations (Virginia Highland and Smyrna) will be open, with big screens tackling college football games at the Smyrna location. In Midtown, head for Ecco or RA Sushi Bar Restaurant. 

In Virginia Highland, hit The Original El Taco for chips, guac, Tex-Mex and plenty of cold cervezas and margaritas, or settle in at La Tavola Trattoria for dinner centered on regional Italian fare. On the northern Perimeter, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar will serve from the "5 For $6 'Til 7" menu from lunch through dinner hours. 

Around town, both locations of Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food (Buckhead and Sandy Springs) and all Marlow's Tavern locations will be ready for you and your friends, as well as Ray's in the City and Ray's on the River. Please note that Ray's at Killer Creek will close on Sunday, September 2 for renovations and will reopen soon to welcome back guests.

Get a Taste of the Highlands This Saturday!

Photo via Taste of the Highlands on Facebook 

As someone who's lived in the Virginia-Highlands for four years, I have to say it's my favorite part of town. One of the things I love most is that there are so many great restaurants in the area. If you haven't had a chance to try as many as you'd like, you should definitely make your way to the 10th Annual Taste of the Highlands this Saturday, May 19 from 2 - 5 p.m. in John Howell Park. You'll get to sample some of the best menu items from more than 30 restaurants including Fifth Group Restaurants Alma Cocina, Ecco, La Tavola Trattoria, The Original El Taco and South City Kitchen as well as neighborhood favorites Alon's Bakery and Market and Atkins Park Tavern, while listening to live music from bands Sailing to Denver and DejaBlue Grass Band. Proceeds from the event benefit Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, so if anyone tries to judge you for going back for seconds and thirds, you can tell them it's for the kids. The weather forecast is calling for sunny skies for this outdoor event, so go ahead and buy your tickets today before they sell out. You can purchase tickets online before Friday at noon and pick them up at the gate the day of the event. Advance tickets prices are $40 per adult, $25 for students with ID and free for children under 5 years. Tickets will be $50 per adult the day of the event.

Don't Blink-o or You'll Miss Out on Cinco de Mayo Fun

With Cinco de Mayo (May 5) falling on a Saturday this year, you've got every reason to don your poncho and take advantage of all the Mexi-specials around town. Kaleidoscope Bistro & Pub in Brookhaven, known by friends as Kpub, knows how to throw a food and drink fiesta. Starting at noon and continuing on until 3 a.m. on May 6, Kaleidoscope will serve up Mexican favorites such as pulled pork, salsa verde, queso fresco; posole rojo with chicharrones, pork shanks, hominy, radishes and queso Oaxaca; boleos stuffed with carnitas, red onions, pickled jalapenos and carrots; and homemade enchiladas. Wash those tasty dishes down with a $5 blueberry margarita, tequila sunrise, Mexican beers or jalapeno pineapple infused cocktails. The Original El Taco, Fifth Group Restaurant's fun-loving cantina in Virginia Highland, pours on bar bargains, including $12 22-ounce El Jimador margaritas and $4 pineapple-infused tequila shots. Taking the heat out of dishes like the smoked trout taco with sweet lime mayo, red habanero cabbage and yellow pico de gallo are $9 22-ounce Dos Equis Lager drafts in a souvenir cup and $12 buckets of Dos Equis Amber. Another Virginia Highland favorite, Atkins Park Tavern, is embracing the day with plenty of cerveza (beer), tequila, pozole rojo, taquitos, chile rellenos, palomas and margaritas. All three Ray's Restaurants - Ray's on the River, Ray's at Killer Creek and Ray's in the City - are celebrating with $5 margaritas. Wet your whistle with a passion fruit margarita made with tequila, passion fruit purée and lime juice, a pomegranate margarita or a skinny margarita served on the rocks with tequila, orange liqueur and agave nectar. And of course, Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food has two Atlanta locations that are always a great place to celebrate with their signature Swirl or your favorite margarita! With so many fiestas on Saturday, we predict a Sunday siesta in your future! 

Rotten Egg or Eggs-Traordinary? You Be the Judge at This Year’s Featherfest!

Twenty-thousand poultry fans are alighting in Atlanta January 22 - 27. No need to be chicken or take cover. They're migrating through the Georgia World Congress Center for the annual International Poultry Expo/International Feed Expo. Featherfest will draw them out for nourishment on egg-ceptional appetizers and entrées that include poultry meat at more than 50 Atlanta restaurants including Alma Cocina, La Tavola Trattoria,The Original El Taco, Ray's in the City, South City Kitchen - Midtown andSpice Market in the W Atlanta-Midtown. Gather a gaggle of roost mates (flighty friends, too) and flock along to dine then rate the dishes from one "rotten egg" to "eggs-traordinary" at Atlanta.net through January 26. Who knows, you might win an iPod nano for your eggs-cellent opinions.

El Taco Brings Street Food Indoors Next Tuesday

Love street food but can't handle the hot temperatures outside right now? Head to The Original El Taco's "Mi Casa Su Casa" dinner on Tuesday, June 14 at 6:30 p.m. The Morningside restaurant provides a communal table where you can make new amigos while filling up on authentic Mexico City street cuisine. Highlights include the Torta Cubana (an overstuffed sandwich loaded with pork milanesa, sausage and more), Quesadilla Classica, ceviche tostadas, wood-grilled fish skewers with lime, elote (corn roasted with mayo and chili) and refreshing agua fresca. El Taco Chef de Cuisine Scott Keefer will be at the table to talk about the history behind these foods while you dine. Cost is $30 per person (including tax; excluding online service fee and gratuity). Purchase tickets here.

The Original El Taco: 1186 North Highland Avenue, NE; 404-873-4656.

Grab Your Sombrero! It’s Time for Cinco de Mayo!

You’ve still got one day to plan your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Whether you want to hit the town or host your own fiesta, we’ve got some great options for this fun holiday!

Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland will be celebrating all day long tomorrow. Stop by and indulge in the neighborhood eatery’s special Cinco de Mayo selection that includes everything from tasty tacos to tequila! (794 N Highland Ave; 404-876-7249).

The Original El Taco is opening earlier than usual on Cinco de Mayo. Eager señors and señoritas will be glad to know they can arrive at 3 p.m. for El Taco's frosty drink and beer specials and its menu of fresh Tex-Mex favorites. (1186 North Highland Avenue, NE; 404-873-4656)

Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food, with locations in Buckhead and Sandy Springs, is always ready to celebrate with potent, custom-made margaritas, ice-cold beer and all kinds of Tex-Mex specialties from shareable appetizers to sizzling fajitas and the Plato Gordo platter. The Buckhead location boasts a huge patio on Peachtree. Heads up in Sandy Springs where a balcony and patio double the fun. Both Uncle Julio's locations open at 11 a.m. for weekday lunch. If the fiesta is at your casa, call Uncle Julio's to handle to-go or full catering needs. (In Buckhead at 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767. To-go line: 404-974-2991. In Sandy Springs at 1140 Hammond Drive, NE; 678-736-8260. To-go line: 678-736-8261.)

Go al fresco by grilling or stirring up fajitas from New York Butcher Shoppe for Cinco de Mayo. Pick up CAB flank steak ($8.99/lb.), CAB skirt steak ($9.99/lb.) or locally raised all-natural chicken marinated in homemade carne asada marinade ($5.49/lb.). Their fajita kit makes it a meal, adding sliced onions and green peppers, shredded pepper Jack cheese, eight tortillas, homemade black bean salsa, NYBS queso dip and a big bag of tortilla chips for only $11.99! (Dunwoody at 2458 Mt. Vernon Road; 770-399-6328. Sandy Springs at 4969 Roswell Road; 404-303-0704. Alpharetta at 5354 McGinnis Ferry Road; 678-624-0047.)

LOCAL CHEFS PARTY IN THE KITCHEN FOR A GREAT CAUSE

The 7th Annual Party in the Kitchen event at Mason Murer Fine Art is tonight, September 9th, and some of Atlanta’s finest chefs will be on location to help raise funds and awareness for Open Hand, a nonprofit organization that packs and delivers more than 5,000 meals daily across 17 Georgia counties for individuals living with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, HIV/AIDS and cancer. Tonight guests can catch a glimpse into the future of Open Hand since Mason Murer is located right next to the site of their new campus. The evening will include live music, dancing, and food prepared onsite by local chefs Gerry Klaskala of Aria and Craig Sauls of The Original El Taco. Plus, an exciting new addition to this year’s event will be a silent auction, where the grand prize is a meal for a lucky party of 12 prepared in the winner’s home by Peter Kaiser, Gerry Klaskala, Kevin Maxey, Kevin Rathbun, and Shane Touhy! Reserved admission is $150 for a single event ticket or $500 for two Patron tickets (which includes event admission plus access to the exclusive Patron reception at 6:00 p.m. where patrons can meet and greet participating chefs). Event parking is complimentary. Purchase tickets at ProjectOpenHand.org.

Rave On, Food Fans

The Atlanta Food Rave- "Chef Keira Moritz" from The Atlanta Food Rave on Vimeo.

It’s the weekend!  What to do, what to do?

Pacci Ristorante Executive Chef Keira Moritz is one of the five hot chefs keeping things sizzling in the kitchen at The Atlanta Food Rave Experience tonight at the Mason Murer Fine Art Gallery.  The dinner menu is hush, hush until you arrive. (Vegetarians quell those food fears; there are options for you).  Tickets are $55 per person and include the Rave Review Culinary Extravaganza and Challenge dinner feast, an open bar with a collection of signature alcoholic and non-alcoholic specialty beverages, plus complimentary valet parking.  Must be 21 or over to attend.  Tickets available for purchase online only and will not be sold at the door.  The event benefits the Atlanta Community Food Bank and its mission to fight hunger by educating, empowering and engaging Metro Atlanta and North Georgia communities. 

Morningside is putting on a first of what we hope will become an annual summer tradition -- the Morningside Summer Block Party tomorrow.  The "block" lies behind DBA Barbecue and The Original El Taco at the corner of Virginia and Amsterdam avenues.  Gates open at 12:30 p.m., and the party cranks on with a lineup of four bands until 10 p.m.  Keep up the momentum with your El Taco favorites, ice-cold cocktails and Abita beer. Purchase these yums and others from DBA Barbecue and Mali Thai.  Your kids can frolic from 1 - 6 p.m. in the children's area.  Red and Rover?  They have to stay at home.  Tickets are $5 online in advance (plus $0.99 service fee) or $10 at the door; children 14 and under are free. A portion of the proceeds will be donated back to firehouse station #19 in Virginia Highland.

Don't Forget Tequila Day Tomorrow

Just in case your Hallmark calendar doesn't have it listed, we wanted to be sure you didn't forget that tomorrow is National Tequila Day. And it falls on a Saturday this year - score! So just in case you needed a reason to have a shot or a margarita, you are in luck. And, wouldn't you know it, we have a couple of suggestions for you to celebrate this auspicious occasion.

At The Original El Taco, the tequila portion of the drinks menu reads like a who's who of tequilas to be met straight up, face to face. "FroMos" and on-the-rocks margaritas befriend mixed drink lovers by the glass or pitcher and include a variety of tequilas and mixers. Welcome the Original, Palermo Texas, Key West, El Primo, Resales and El Big Boy margaritas to put some "Ole!" in your Virginia Highland visit.

Over in Buckhead and Sandy Springs, 15 types of tequilas and their margarita relatives are equally sociable at both Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food locations. The Swirl, twirling frozen margarita and frozen sangria, is the most popular of the more than 200,000 margaritas and tequila drinks served monthly at Uncle Julio's restaurants nationwide. Popular cousins include the classic frozen, strawberry and Chambord margaritas and the Baja Gold frozen margarita, which mixes Corona with frozen margarita. Uncle Julio's managers go through "tequila training" in Guadalajara, Mexico each fall to do justice to the magical elixir in drinks and recipes.

Feliz dia de la tequila, amigos!

It's Follow Friday - Meet Our Tweep of the Week @intownfriends

It’s springtime and there are few things we’d rather be doing than spending time outside, Terrapin Beer in hand, along with great tastings from local restaurants like Atkins Park, Ecco, La Tavola Trattoria, South City Kitchen, The Original El Taco and at least 20 other Atlanta restaurants! Good thing that A Taste of the Highlands is here this weekend! The 8th annual event returns to John Howell Park tomorrow from 2 to 5 p.m. and it’s all for a great cause – Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Live music from Lexi Street Band and Blue Remedy will keep you happy and smiling while you sample the best the neighborhood has to offer! Follow them on Twitter to get the latest updates on the event, as well as the other fundraisers they do throughout the year. Bonus – if you buy your ticket online before noon today, you can save $10!

Don’t Forget to Make Your Cinco de Mayo Party Plans

You have two days to decide what you’re doing for Cinco de Mayo. Luckily, we here at Atlanta Dish have a plethora of places for you to visit. From tasty taco bars to mouthwatering margaritas, there’s something for everyone.

AltoRex is celebrating with delicious dishes like tamale poppers and taquitos, and drinks including mouthwatering margaritas and Mexican beers. Those of you who visit AltoRex before Wednesday, May 5, can get a special margarita glass to take home. Bring it back on Cinco de Mayo and get your first fill-up for free! AltoRex Rooftop Lounge is located atop Pacci Ristorante at 866 West Peachtree Street NW; 678-412-2402.

In addition to their weekly Chill and Grill patio cookout event, Atkins Park in Virginia Highland will be serving up special Cinco de Mayo dishes like scallop ceviche with cucumber noodles; and jalapenos and crispy pork taquitos with house-smoked pork, tomato and spicy cheese. The Chill and Grill menu (served from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. each Wednesday) also gets into the Cinco de Mayo spirit with items like tender grilled chicken legs with white bean salsa and garden herbs; and traditional elote with cotija cheese and spices. Atkins Park Tavern: 794 N. Highland Avenue; 404-876-7249.

The Original El Taco is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with some sweet drink specials including $18 buckets of Dos Equis Amber or Lager, $6 margaritas, $4 pineapple-infused tequila shots and $3 Tecates. The Virginia-Highland eatery is also serving up some Cinco de Mayo menu items like smoked trout with a spicy masa cake and salsa borracho ($6.50); shredded savory pork tostadas with lettuce and guacamole ($7.50); and grilled chicken with poblano chile-cream over steamed morisqueta ($11.50). El Taco is located at 1186 N. Highland Avenue. For more information or to make reservations for a group of seven or more, call 404-873-4656.

Thirsty Dog Tavern, the newly-opened pet-friendly eatery, is getting in on the Cinco de Mayo celebration by offering a tasty taco bar from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and drink deals like $5 margaritas, $14 pitchers of sangria and $3 Coronas all day long. The Buckhead restaurant will also get the party going with a DJ spinning tunes at 7 p.m. Thirsty Dog Tavern is located at 2110 Peachtree Road NW in the Peachtree Hills neighborhood of Buckhead; 404-367-8482.

Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food is giving Atlantans a great place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year. Diners can dig into Uncle Julio’s delicious dishes like smoky grilled fajitas, sizzling shrimp brochettes and marinated grilled quail. For those looking to sip the night away, guests can take a seat at the beautiful bar and quench their thirst with Uncle Julio’s signature Swirl (frozen margarita swirled with frozen sangria) or choose from more than 15 different tequila options to create their own Cinco de Mayo margarita. The restaurant also offers an array of imported Mexican beers, the perfect accompaniment to all of the menu’s savory selections. As always, guests can choose to enjoy their Mexican holiday meal alfresco by sitting on Uncle Julio’s lively patio. The restaurant has two locations in the Atlanta area: 1860 Peachtree Road NW; 404-350-6767 and 1140 Hammond Drive NE; 678-736-8260.

It’s Follow Friday! Meet our Tweep of the Week – Atlanta Foursquare Day

In case you haven’t heard, TODAY is Atlanta Foursquare Day! Lots of great businesses around the city are celebrating by offering special discounts when you flash your Foursquare check-in.

Follow on Twitter to get the latest updates! There are so many fantastic offers – free beer at Ormsby’s, Atkins Park, and Thirsty Dog Tavern, free dessert at Shaun’s, free margarita at The Original El Taco, discounted bento box at Spice Market, free tent event at the new Pinkberry location this afternoon and lots more! Thanks to the organizers of this special one day event – check out their website for full details for each deal.

I Recommend You Read...

One of Atlanta's favorite food writers, John Kessler, has tackled the project of "30 Restaurants in 30 Days" on his blog Food and More. For the whole month of November, Kessler has taken on the challenge of eating at a variety of different restaurants to keep his loyal readers up-to-speed on what's a hit, a miss and an absolutely not. He has already covered some of my favorites -- Antico Pizza Napoletana, La Pietra Cucina and The Original El Taco. Be sure to follow him on his adventure through the restaurants of Atlanta for your daily dose of cuisine!

Trick-or-Treat

The days of trick-or-treating might be behind you but you're never to old to dress-up and enjoy Halloween. Don't get left in the dark this year -- we've got the scoop on frighteningly fun events going on Halloween night at Atlanta restaurants and bars. So rock that costume and head out on the town.

Boo Bash 2009: A Night of Freakish Fun at RA Sushi corners the crypt on freakin' good times in Midtown from 7 p.m. until 1 a.m. on Halloween night. The hip hotspot features beverages such as a Vampire's Kiss and "Boo Bites" such as the Creepy Cali Roll ($6). Dress out -- RA Sushi gift certificates go to the top three costume contest winners. Horror movie theme songs and Top 40 tracks make up DJ Scott's monster mix. Late night goblins note, RA's kitchen will stay open until 1 a.m. No cover charge. (1080 Peachtree Street at 1010 Midtown; 404-267-0114)

Some good-looking witches have been sighted brooming it out beyond the perimeter to Roswell. Our guess is they're in flight to try for the $3,000 in cash and prizes going out to costumed guests at Aqua blue's 8th Annual Halloween Monster Bash on October 31. The spell-binding evening takes off with à la carte dining from 4 - 10 p.m. and flows until the witching hour with cocktails from the Bacardi- and Dos Equis-sponsored bar and three DJs spinning tunes starting at 9 p.m. If you're spooked by cover charges, be there before 10 p.m. -- $10 cover after that. (1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell; 770-643-8886)

When small things start getting under your skin, do as the skeletons do and party your bones off Halloween night at Marlow's Tavern. From 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. on October 31, guests can order from the full restaurant menu of ghastly good appetizers, enticing entrées and deliciously wicked desserts. $5 cocktails, $500 costume contest and no cover charge all night long make your nearby Marlow's location a hellacious Halloween haunt.

Dress like a boo-rito? A terrifying taco? You don't have to dress Tex Mex but do come creatively costumed to The Original El Taco from 6 until 10 p.m. on Halloween night so you can be photographed for the restaurant's Facebook page costume contest. Photos will be posted, and guests can vote on Sunday, November 1; winners will be announced on Monday, November 2. First place eeks out a $100 dining card, and second snags a $50 card. Costumed kids who come to the restaurant on Halloween between 4 - 6 p.m. will eat FREE! (1186 North Highland Avenue, NE; 404-873-4656)

Costumed characters in Sandy Springs should head to EVOS. Any child who comes to EVOS in costume before 8 p.m. on Halloween night will be treated to a free kid's meal. Adults, you'll get a free milkshake following the same tricks. (5590 Roswell Road, NE; 404-252-4022)

This is no trick. Aria is treating its Facebook fans to 30 percent off their food tab on Halloween night! (490 East Paces Ferry; 404-233-7673)

Tailgating Time is Finally Here!

For all you football fans, we’ve got some sure bets for tasty tailgate fare that will definitely win points….off the field, at least:

- For a healthier version of football-watching food, EVOS trades grease for fresh ingredients and offers burgers, fries, sandwiches and wraps with half the fat.

- Six locations of Marlow’s Tavern serve as convenient gathering spots with hearty American fare and flat-screen plasma TVs. For pre-game food on the run, Marlow’s also offers a to-go menu.

- For a fumble-free to-go menu, Morton's The Steakhouse - Buckhead and Downtown offer only the best with tuna tartare, colossal shrimp cocktail, double-cut filet mignon or New York strip steak and Key lime pie.

- Pacci Ristorante and AltoRex Rooftop Lounge have a couple of options, especially for those heading to nearby Bobby Dodd Stadium at Georgia Tech. Football fans can pick up fare on the way to the game or let the Midtown restaurant cater their pigskin parties. Pacci’s tailgating menu veers off the restaurant’s Italian steakhouse tradition to include sporty favorites like wings, ribs and pulled pork sandwiches. AltoRex Rooftop Lounge opens at 10 a.m. on game days to cure football fever with a healthy combo of open air, wide-screen viewing, fun beverages and good eats including Johnsonville brats, Italian sausages and soft pretzels. All Pacci catering orders must be placed at least 24 hours before pick-up time.

- Panera Bread’s Via Panera catering menu has about as many choices and Atlanta-area locations as a team roster has players. Bring home sandwiches, salads, soups, bagels, breakfast and brunch foods.

- The Original El Taco catering team can roll out an array of tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, the Grande house salad, appetizers, sides and a salsa bar. Orders include napkins, utensils and plates. Pick up or have your chow delivered ($20 delivery charge). Place your order at least 24 hours in advance by email or calling 404-873-4656.

- Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food knows how to plan a football fiesta with food-to-go, party packs and catering. All menu items can be ordered to go – just call Uncle Julio’s to-go line at 404-974-2991. The staff will load up a party pack with your gridiron favorites, or Uncle Julio’s team can set out the linens, chafing dishes and serving pieces; decorate your buffet; and line up plates, utensils, napkins and food. One glance at the catering menu will get your mojo going.

- WaterHaven, in Midtown’s Technology Square, welcomes Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to touch down for brunch before the game on Saturday, September 5. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.; WaterHaven serves brunch from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. They also offer FREE (validated) parking in the AT&T deck at 5th and West Peachtree streets.

- For prepared foods, Whole Foods Market has what you need including hot pizza, breads, deli items, cheeses, sweets and cold beer… you name it.

Where to Go On Labor Day

It’s good to know that even when most of us will be taking a break on Labor Day, some of Atlanta’s top restaurants will still be servin’ up their delicious dishes for us to enjoy. Check out the list below to see who will be open on Monday, September 7 and give yourself a break from cooking in the kitchen.

Ecco: 40 7th Street, NE; 404-347-9555.

EVOS: 5590 Roswell Road, NE; 404-252-4022.

La Tavola Trattoria: 992 Virginia Avenue, NE; 404-873-5430.

Marlow's Tavern: Alpharetta at 3719 Old Alabama Road, 770-475-1800; Kennesaw at 745 Chastain Road, NW, 770-425-8777; Midtown at 950 West Peachtree Street, 404-815-0323; Vinings at 2355 Cumberland Parkway, 770-432-2526; Northlake at 4156 LaVista Road, 678-987-1197; and Duluth at 1950 Satellite Boulevard, 770-622-2033.

Panera Bread: Find a Panera Bread location at http://www.panera.com/.

RA Sushi: 1080 Peachtree Street at 1010 Midtown; 404-267-0114.

The Original El Taco: 1186 North Highland Avenue, NE; 404-873-4656.

Toulouse: 2293 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-351-9533.

Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food: 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767. To-go line: 404-974-2991.

WaterHaven: 75 Fifth Street, NW at the corner of Spring Street; 404-214-6740.

Also, Morton's The Steakhouse - Buckhead will thank emergency personnel working on Labor Day with a free lunch that includes their tasty petite filet mignon sandwiches, mini prime cheeseburgers and red bliss potato salad. Emergency personnel in uniform or bearing ID can drive through the parking lot of Morton's The Steakhouse - Buckhead from 1-4 p.m. on Labor Day to pick up a complimentary to-go lunch.

Morton's The Steakhouse - Buckhead: Peachtree Lenox Building, 3379 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-816-6535.