Thinking
ice skating over the holidays? Triple axels, Salchows and nose plants all work
up a hunger game for something hot to nourish the soul, spirited hydration or a
toasty night cap. Use your tactile-tipped gloves to tap these links leading to
restaurants within easy gliding distance of ice skating rinks around Atlanta.
Legacy Restaurant Partners accommodates a variety of
cravings, and its restaurants are only a few steps away from the Centennial Olympic Park ice skating rink in downtown's Luckie Marietta District. For that Alpen glow, visit Der Biergarten where you'll find hefty hot pretzels, plates
or sharing platters of hearty German fare, warm apple strudel or German chocolate cake to go
with coffee and the flow of German beer, wine and cocktails. Open for dinner
weeknights and lunch through dinner and beyond on Saturday and Sunday. SkyLounge on the roof of the Glenn Hotel is the evening place to stargaze or scan a
panoramic city view with mug or cocktail glass in hand. Start or cap the day on
the rink with American comfort food for breakfast, lunch or dinner at Glenn's Kitchen located inside the Glenn Hotel. Skaters
seeking more thrills can zoom into Game-X to test their prowess at more than 60 of the latest
games, plus big burgers, sandwiches, appetizers and a full bar with craft beer
and beverage offerings. Tantalizing aroma of Italian classics and coal
oven-fired pizza beckon at Max's Coal Oven Pizzeria, which is open daily for lunch and
dinner and offers half-price bottles of wine on Mondays. A few blocks away by
street and 30 floors up atop the Hilton Atlanta, Nikolai's Roof reveals a stunning view for those enjoying
appetizers and drinks or a brilliant dinner from the modern menu of American
cuisine touched by Russian inspiration. Take advantage of the $39 prix fixe
three-course menu Tuesday through Friday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The restaurant
serves dinner and drinks Tuesday through Saturday evenings; dinner reservations suggested. Those seeking a tropical vacation
after their icy spins can sail into Trader Vic's Atlanta on the lower level of the Hilton
Atlanta. Tastes of Polynesian and Asian flavors chase chills while potent tiki
drinks and cocktails numb any bruises from spills.
Lace up
for Skate Atlantic Station's 10,000 square-foot open-air ice
skating rink in a winter wonderland of lights and decorations. Go with the floe
then thaw out over a deep steaming bowl of drunken noodles, pho noodle soup,
Tin Drum curry, pad thai, Asian tacos and other Asian street and comfort foods
at Tin Drum Asiacafé. Hot teas, a kids' menu and gluten-free
options keep everyone warm and well fed. You smoked them on the ice now bite
into succulent smoked ribs, meats and seafood, awesome 'cue sauces and Southern
sides, raw bar oysters and sashimi at The Pig & The Pearl. Craft cocktails and beer and a
well-priced wine menu are conversation icebreakers. Open for lunch and dinner
daily. Select oysters are $1 each Monday-Thursday from 4-6 p.m. Sunday Funday
brunch pours drink specials, and Sunday supper runs all day with three courses
for $30. Is your egg nogging after spinning round and round the rink? Relax at
laid-back Chick-a-Biddy where showing off your Skate Atlantic Station
wristband from the day slices 10 percent off your meal tab (excluding alcohol).
Open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. For more flights of fancy, refer to
Chick-a-Biddy's 12 Days of Giving specials on our blog.
Brand-spanking-new Avalon in Alpharetta has turned their Plaza into an ice skating rink the size of NYC's
Rockefeller Plaza rink. Twinkling lights, a gingerbread house and decorations
cast a festive glow, and Santa is hunkered down in his workshop nearby to
delight the youngsters. Shop Whole Foods Market for healthy snacks, bakery items and hot
beverages, soups, pizza and other hot food items or pick out a take-home meal
from their extensive prepared foods counter. Forget your ChapStick or lotion?
Problem solved. Marlow's Tavern is perched by the Plaza fountain for people
watching while munching on gourmet American tavern fare and enjoying a favorite
hot, frosty or spirited beverage. Marlow's is open for lunch, dinner and well
into the evening. One block south of the Plaza, Bantam + Biddy serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and
offers vegetarian and gluten-free options plus a "Little Cluckers"
menu for the kids. For the time crunched, family meals serving three to five
people for $48 are a take-home option; call 678-248-5159. Ted's Montana Grill also is just a block south of the rink
and definitely the place to go to beef or bison up with a big burger or steak
after an ice skating workout. Ted's is open daily for lunch and dinner and
offers a full bar for appetizers, desserts and libations.
History and elegance gleam
at The St. Regis Atlanta where the Astor Holiday Ice Skating Rink pays homage to the
distinguished Astor family, founders of the flagship St. Regis in New York back
in 1904. Swizzles and twizzles amid the holiday lights and tunes guarantee a
festive mood that segues nicely into dinner and drinks in Buckhead. Gypsy Kitchen and The Southern Gentleman offer two distinct dining
personalities in Buckhead Atlanta. Gypsy Kitchen caravans the culinary miles
of Spain, from Andalusia to the Basque regions joined by Moroccan and Indian
influences from across the seas and modern-day Spanish flavors. A menu of snacks, small plates, cured meats and cheeses,
appetizers, entrées and plates for the table are smooth post-rink options for
date night or groups seeking a place to sit down for a communal dinner with
wine, brews and craft cocktails. The Southern Gentleman proves you can use
"ice" and "South" in the same sentence. This newly opened
gastropub is Buckhead's destination for classic, barrel-aged Southern
cocktails, a lengthy list of bourbons and rye whiskeys plus New World wines and
craft brews. Supper guests will devour executive chef Randy Lewis' fresh
spin on Southern classics. If frozen "pond" twirls set cravings
toward sushi and Japanese fare, focus on sophisticated yet earthy Umi. Chef Fuyuhiko Ito's menu showcases sashimi, nigiri and specialty rolls and
draws upon ocean-fresh seafood from the world's finest markets. Umi's diverse
beverage list pleases those seeking anything from cocktails and crafts to
artisan coffee. The restaurant serves dinner Monday-Saturday and is closed
Sunday.
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