Spike’s Spots

Jim Curry

The Best of Boris

Nick’s father is a man of many names. On his birth certificate, he’s James. To his friends, he’s Jim. To his grandchildren, he’s Spike. Camping in Canada, he’s Cook. On a family trip to Africa, Nick called him Hoss, which the Masaai guide intepreted as Horse. A decade later, Cara morphed Horse into Boris.

But by any name, Boris loves good food, so thus we bring you his restaurant recommendations for your weekend in Atlanta:

Near the Georgian Terrace Hotel:

Mary Mac’s Tea Room Walking distance from the hotel. Not a tea room, but rather a Southern restaurant serving home cooked meals. Great fried whole catfish. Good Southern vegetables. Large menu.
224 Ponce de Leon Avenue, at the intersection with Myrtle Street
404-876-1800

Near Downtown:

Thumb’s Up Great diner food. Serves breakfast & lunch all day, but reduces the offering on the weekends to brunch. Five locations, two of which are near downtown (see their web site for the others).
573 Edgewood Ave.
404-223-0690
826 Marietta St.
404-745-4233
Taqueria del Sol Three locations, one near downtown. A very good, though not particularly authentic, taqueria. Order three things from the menu of tacos, soups & sides for a light meal or four things if you have a hardy appetite. Don’t miss the shrimp corn chowder. Cheshire Bridge location is closed for lunch on Saturday.
1200-B Howell Mill Road
404-352-5811
Thelma’s Kitchen Great soul food.
302 Auburn Ave. near the Sweet Auburn area
404-688-5855
Carver’s Grocery Soul food restaurant run by white folks. Don’t count on having your own table here. You will be sharing tables with other customers, and others may be waiting for you to finish so that they can have your seat. But the food is Southern food (soul food) at its best. Fabulous fried chicken. Closed on Saturday, and you better call ahead on other days: they close up when they decide to take a vacation.
1118 West Marietta St.
404-794-4410
West Egg
Sort of a coffee shop on steroids.
Owned by two lawyers who were seeking a better life. Eclectic. Sort of a coffee shop on steroids. Breakfast all day. Excellent sandwiches, soups, and salads.
1100 Howell Mill Road
404-872-3973

Buckhead:

The New Yorker Delicatessen There are not many seats inside, but, if the weather is nice, it can be very pleasant to sit outside at tables on the sidewalk. I like all of the sandwiches made with fresh fish. I usually eat here once a week.
322 Pharr Road, NE
404-240-0260
Souper Jenny’s Fabulous soups. Order a bowl of soup and a sandwich or salad and get your beverage and a great cookie with your meal.
56 East Andrews Drive
404-237-7687
One Star Ranch If you can’t get to North Carolina for a barbeque fix (or South Carolina if you like the mustard based sauces), this is the place to go in Atlanta. Try the turkey taco salad with barbeque sauce & ranch dressing, or, if you are really hungry, order a chopped pork plate with a couple of sides.
25 Irby Avenue NW
404-233-7644
Houston’s Think Ruby Tuesday’s or O’Charlie’s to contemplate the kind of menu Houston’s has, but the food quality and service is far beyond any other restaurant of this type. I eat a fish sandwich here 75% of the time, but everything is great. This is one of Nick’s favorites. There are several locations in Atlanta, not all of which are listed below.
2166 Peachtree Road, near where Spike & Annie live
404-351-2442
3321 Lenox Road, near Lenox Mall
404-237-7534
3539 Northwide Parkway, NW, near the exit from I-75 for West Paces Ferry Rd.
404-262-7130
Buckhead Italian Market
Order an entrée with two sides and you will
be happy.
These are authentic Italians here. Marcello and his mother run the place, except when Marcello is over at his pizzeria on the other side of the shopping center. Order an entrée with two sides or a Panini with a bowl of soup, and you will be happy.
3655 Roswell Road
404-467-9217
Savor Specialty Foods Excellent cold sandwiches, salads, and sides. In the Peachtree Battle shopping center not far from Spike & Annie’s house.
2355 Peachtree Road
404-869-0070

Further Out:

Palomilla’s Cuban Grill House The best Cuban food in the Atlanta area if you are willing to drive to Norcross. The best black beans and rice I have ever eaten, but there is much more.
6470 Spalding Drive, Suite B, in Norcross
770-242-0078
Panahar If you have never eaten Bangladeshi food, this is the place to try it. Lunch is a buffet, so you can sample six or eight different dishes.
3375 Buford Hwy., Suite 1060
404-633-6655
Taqueria Los Hermanos The best Mexican food in the Atlanta area. Several locations, all well out of town. I like the tilapia torta.
4418 Hugh Howell Road, in Tucker
678-937-0660
4955 Sugarloaf Parkway, # 122, in the Lawrenceville area
770-817-0363
4760 Lawrenceville Hwy, Suite B-3, in Lilburn
678-380-3727

Way Out:

Henry’s Louisiana Grill This is way out in Acworth, but, if you were driving to Atlanta on I-75 from the northwest, stop here for the best Cajun food in the Atlanta area. Try the Louisiana ooh la la with crawfish or oysters.
4835 North Main Street, in Acworth
770-966-1515

Good Chains:

Jersey Mike’s Subs Nick’s and my favorite subs. Try the #6 (roast beef roasted in-house) & provolone. Have them dress it Mike’s way on a whole wheat roll and add spicy mustard, mayo, and jalapeno peppers for the best sub you will ever eat. There are locations all over Atlanta. Check jerseymikes.com for a location near you.
The Flying Biscuit Founded by some local women, the original restaurant near Little Five Points is still very popular even after the locals sold out to a franchisor. The food is surprisingly light and healthy for a concept built around biscuits. If you can’t get to 1655 McLendon Road, try the one in Midtown which was also opened by the founders. Check flyingbiscuit.com for other locations.
1655 Mclendon Road, near Little Five Points
404-687-8888
1001 Piedmont Ave, NE in Midtown
404-874-8887
Bonehead’s A fast food fish concept by the same franchisor that bought the Flying Biscuit. Pretty good seafood and chicken for fast food. Check eatboneheads.com for locations.

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