$5 Burgers Storm Atlanta during ATL Burger Week, April 23-29

Fathom chomping into 50+ burgers in one week? Hard to show restraint when a meaty multitude of juicy, beefy burgers are $5 each at more than 50 Atlanta restaurants during ATL Burger Week, April 23-29. HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern, Ormsby’s, Sublime Doughnuts and the rest of the herd are fervently perfecting their ATL Burger Week recipes before carnivores set to savoring and voting their favorites into bun-derful glory and bragging rights. Ormsby’s has leaked that they’re grilling a brat burger with kraut and spicy mustard. Sublime Doughnuts plans to lick the competition by featuring all of its ice cream burger flavors, and HOBNOB promises a juicy, flavorful burger for all ATL Burger Week-goers. Since burgers are only $5 a bun full, spring for a beer, some sides…and remember to tip your server. The whole week of meat-sweatin’ and flippin’ is presented by Georgia Beef Board, Creative Loafing and Red Brick Brewing Company.

5Church on Track for Creative Loafing Best of Atlanta Party at the Georgia Freight Depot September 22

Pull into the historic Georgia Freight Depot for a delicious case of sensory overload at the Creative Loafing Best of Atlanta party on Thursday, September 22. Seek out 5Church Atlanta, one of Atlanta’s newest and most-talked-about restaurants, amid the #CLBestofATL sights, sounds and tastes that make Atlanta a Southern gem. All ticket holders will enjoy samples from 10 winning Best of Atlanta restaurants, a reading by a fortune teller, live entertainment encompassing music, comedy and spoken word poetry, as well as a black light art tunnel and more than a dozen works from some of Atlanta’s most talented artists. VIPs gain early entry, unlimited samples from 20+ Best of Atlanta award-winning restaurants, two free drinks, access to the exclusive VIP room and an official Best of Atlanta gift bag. Buy tickets at Xorbia through September 22; $25 general admission; $75 VIP. Want more tastes? Purchase additional tasting tickets onsite.

Shouting Out for Creative Loafing’s Best of Atlanta

More hot-off-the-press news this week. Creative Loafing’s Best of Atlanta 2016 list is out, and we’re proud to tout our faves. A hefty serving of thanks goes out to all of the CL readers who voted @AtlantaDish into the “Best Local Twitter Feed” spot! Be sure to follow us for the best restaurant scoop and more.

Receiving Critics Picks as visionaries in the “Oral Pleasures” category are Revival for Best Cornbread, “cooked in cast-iron skillets...from a recipe passed down by chef Kevin Gillespie’s great-grandmother,” and white-tableclothed Aria, decorated with the Best Restaurant Face-lift after its “sexy new reboot...soft gray walls, leather banquettes and buttery yellow curtains.”

CL readers speak out as well, handing “Best of” Readers Picks in the “After Dark” category to Johnny’s Hideaway asBest Cougar Den and a duo of titles to Ormsby’s as the Best Bar with Games and recognizing Chewie as Best Bouncer. When seeking “Oral Pleasures,” CL readers pick Gunshow as Best Overall Restaurant; Willy’s Mexicana Grill locations for the Best Nachos; Seed in Marietta for Best OTP Restaurant; and they roll into Sublime Doughnuts for Atlanta’s Best Doughnut...or maybe two or three.

Nikolai’s Roof, Ray’s in the City and Trader Vic’s Beef Up Downtown Steak Week

Seafood and veggie lovers take heart, Downtown Steak Week woos you, too, as restaurants showcase tantalizing specialties from Delmonico ribeye to diver scallops, yellow fin tuna steak to cowboy sushi rolls and lamb chops to lasagna. Presented by Central Atlanta Progress and Creative Loafing, this meaty occasion returns for its second year over the week of Monday, May 11 through Sunday, May 17. Downtown Atlanta is a tasty destination whether you come by foot, car, streetcar, MARTA...or elevator up to the top of the Hilton Atlanta to feast eyes on the special menu at Nikolai’s Roof and the spectacular view. Chef Stephanie Alderete combs land and sea for her Downtown Steak Week menu featuring starters such as braised short rib piroshki ($12), Brussels sprout salad ($13) and caviar ($95-$145); first-course options like jumbo lump crab terrine ($13), diver scallop ($14), red beet and beef borscht consommé ($12) or beef carpaccio with olive beignets ($14); and seared beef tenderloin with duck bacon ($36), sautéed tilefish with shrimp confit ($32), roasted Magret duck breast ($36) and oven-roasted lamb chops ($39) among the entrées. Conclude the divine meal with local and global artisanal cheeses ($18 for three) and sweets such as blackberry crème brûlée ($12) and chocolate soufflé with espresso crème fraîche ($16). Order à la carte or choose the Chef’s Menu with three ($61), four ($71) or six ($91) courses. Make reservations online.

Ray’s in the City stakes a share in lunch and dinner plans with steak and seafood specialties including a featured lobster-stuffed filet ($30), Delmonico ribeye ($39), seven-ounce filet (à la carte, $29), steak frites ($20) or yellow fin tuna steak ($32). Round up special cowboy sushi rolls of steak, asparagus, crab meat and cream cheese ($15), available for weekday lunch only. Make lunch or dinner reservations online.

Trader Vic’s Atlanta in the Hilton Atlanta dashes Pacific Rim karma over its Steak Week dinner features of smoked oven New York strip steak with wok garlic green beans, scallop potatoes and red wine sauce ($30) and stir-fried filet de boeuf uniting beef tenderloin, sugar peas, carrots and steamed jasmine rice ($28). Make reservations online. 

Tin Lizzy’s Cantina Takes on Creative Loafing Margarita Wars on May 14

Photo by Jeremy Adamo

On Wednesday, May 14, 15 Atlanta bartenders will brandish lime juice, its tequila compadre and top-secret modus operandi to out maneuver one another in Creative Loafing Margarita Wars, presented by Stivers Subaru at Park Tavern from 7-11 p.m. Tin Lizzy’s Cantina wades right up in the lime-laden battle to prove its salt in Atlanta’s margarita market. Tin Lizzy’s fans, show up, taste and pass judgment with DJ tunes in the background. $20 tickets cover admission and six tasting tickets. Guests can buy more tickets as well as Bud Light Lime, Lime-a-Ritas and a light summer menu.

Creative Loafing "Best of Atlanta" Winners are Out and Showing the Love

  

We all have our ATL favorites! Blessed are those who share their favorite place to dine rather than try to keep it as their secret place. Creative Loafing's "Best of Atlanta" votes are in and tabulated, putting favorite places right out there for all to see. Gunshow hits the bull's-eye with the "Best New Restaurant" votes. The Optimist sails into the "Best Overall Restaurant," "Best Restaurant Design" and "Best Seafood" slots. Woodfire Grill on Cheshire Bridge Road ties for "Best Service." Decatur gets critics' nods for being one of the "Best hoods for Food Lovers," with No. 246 in the list of reasons to dine there. Love tasty tweets? @FifthGrouper tied for the title of "Best Foodie Twitter." Bold American Catering tied for "Best Caterer" - keep this in mind for your next event! Thanks for sharing, everyone! Where will you eat over the weekend? 

Voting for Creative Loafing's "Best Of" has commenced!

For the “Best of Atlanta 2010” nominations Creative Loafing wants to hear from you! All you have to do is click here and vote for your favorite item in each category. The types of categories presented range from “New thing about Atlanta” to “Power Couple.” 319 categories to fill out can seem pretty lengthy, which is why Creative Loafing is allowing you to vote for 5 minimum and still have your answers count. Voting closes July 31 and the results will be published September 23. So get out there and make your opinion count!

Don't Forget to Cast Your Vote!

It's time to speak your mind, Atlanta! Anyone and everyone can vote for their favorites in a big ballot of categories during Creative Loafing's "Best of Atlanta" selection election for 2009. Vote through July 31 then look for the results come September!

America’s Next Top Chef?

With the recent cheflebrity of local Top Chef finalist and new Creative Loafing columnist, Richard Blais, several local chefs have decided to get in on the action. This Sunday, chefs from all over the state will line up to show casting directors that they’re packing more than their knives at the casting call for an upcoming season of Bravo’s hit series. With all the culinary talent Atlanta has packed into this city, many great chefs are not going to make the cut. And, since we all know that how one does on camera is just as important (maybe even more so) as how they do in the kitchen, many creative chefs who are the strong, silent type are going to appear to be side dishes next to natural performers.

Nevertheless, I'm excited at the prospect of having the chef of one of my favorite local eateries being showcased on the show! Atlanta has a lifetime supply of chefs who are at the top of their game and I hope Bravo recognizes it. Good luck to all the brave chefs who make it out to the audition and let’s all hope that the next Top Chef is one we Atlantans are proud to call our own and are fortunate enough to share with the rest of the world. Here is a brief list of chefs that I know are trying out. *(Feel free to add to the list if you know more!)

• Ben McPherson at Eclipse di Luna


• Craig Richard at La Tavola Trattoria


• Kevin Gillespie at Woodfire Grill


• Hector Santiago at Pure Vida


• Travis Collum at (the newly opened) Kozmo Gastro Pub

Bonne chance!

So.. Do You Blog Here Often?

For those of you out there who enjoy ranting and raving about your favorite Atlanta hot spots, best family recipes or funniest cooking calamity, Besha Rodell of Creative Loafing has graciously offered a new platform. In the coming weeks, the folks over at the Omnivore Atlanta blog will be inviting readers to be guest bloggers and share their experiences with the rest of us. Click here for more information. If you’re interested, email Besha at besha.rodell@creativeloafing.com. This should be fun; thanks Besha!!