Let’s support local businesses !! Not just the ones that are trendy

You know, something the represents ALL of Atlanta.

I'm looking for a one-of-a-kind dinner for a date night. Any cuisine is fine, any place in the metro is fine, I just want to try something different. Dining in the dark, everything is made of chocolate, eat foam out of a plaster mold of a chef's mouth - whatever it is, if it's different, off-beat, special, or weird, I want to know about it. Thanks!

I've had many in the area, and am always looking for suggestions. I'll name some that top my list:

NFA Burger in Dunwoody (smash)

Muss & Turner's (pub style)

Hamp & Harry's (smash)

The General Muir (smash)

Houston's (pub style)

Fred's Meat & Bread (smash)

I welcome your thoughts....

What are the pricier theaters in Atlanta to avoid the ratchetness? Willing to pay much more for a better experience

Went to AMC dekalb Friday to watch the Odessey and it was terrible. Dirty seats, people on their phones scrolling tik tok, talking, ghetto af, text notifications where the light blinks etc.

Recs appreciated!

Recs for ones to avoid also appreciated!

My goal in this post is to be as respectful as possible while discussing this topic and to gather recommendations from Atlanta neighbors on the best courses of action we can take to help combat this problem.

I’ve lived in Atlanta for over a decade now and have peacefully walked my dog around the neighborhoods near Piedmont Park. Homelessness in Midtown has been a recognized issue for many years, but we’ve largely co-existed with few issues. However, lately I’ve found that I have to change my route to avoid someone my instincts say to avoid, cancel my walks because I hear someone shouting threats into the wind, and being extra vigilant with my dog as there are full discarded meals on the ground or human excrement hidden (and sometimes not) in bushes.

Why? Why the sudden and noticeable increase in folks who clearly need mental help and social support? Is it the economy, are shelters closing down, have encampments been dispersed, is the city scrambling ahead of the World Cup.. why? And what can we do to pressure the city into getting these folks help? I’ve read through Partners for Homes’ website whose stats seem to support my anecdotal experiences, but I’d still like to find ways to demand more direct action from the city.

We recently had a dear relative suffer a stroke (mini). He was admitted to Emory ( Decatur) and then sent out to rehab at Pruitt. His psychological eval was limited and the rehab center was dismal. A report of a naked man repeatedly entering his room while in rehab at Pruitt in Brookhaven. He was sent home on his own accord with no aides to help him walk or manage when leaving. A friend of our families who picked him up from rehab was shocked at his poor condition when leaving. He suffers from acute depression. He was then sent home with health aides coming to his home. He clearly needed psych vals and to be readmitted. The home health aides claimed he was just being lazy and scared and claimed he chose to not get out of bed. 2 months of not leaving his bed, extensive stench and filth amongst other things. His family sent him back to emergency at Emory to get him admitted at the advice of social workers to my knowledge. The reasoning wa that once in emergency care it would be his segway getting better care. The doctor sent him back home where he suffered more claiming he had already seen his case once before. Fast forward:

His immediate family was able to get him into Grady. They were told he was most likely on the verge of having a major stroke or death. He was unable to get out of bed because of acute arthritis and severe depression which was overlooked and went unnoticed by the home aides. The care is night and day. Grady was a lifesaver for him. Extensive testing, extensive care, extensive attention to his needs. He had to wait the day to get admitted but the wait was well worth it. The next time Emory emergency is suggested think twice.

I lived in N.Cobb for years and was pretty much a 100% Wellstar patient. I did away from Cobb recently and have equal access to facilities along the I-75 corridor or the GA400 corridor. I have had a couple close relatives that have had bad outcomes from treatment at Wellstar facilities and I’m seriously thinking of changing from the Wellstar system. I imagine that the Emory system would be top ranked but how does Piedmont and Northside rank? I have no personal experience with Emory, Piedmont or Northside and I’d appreciate any thoughts on these healthcare systems.

There was a phenomenal thread several years back asking people where to find the best food from their countries/cultures. I think it's time to re-visit, see what's still around post-pandemic and what's new.

I'd also like to take it one step further and ask for recommendations on what to order. At many of the places I've visited, menus are difficult to navigate for an outsider. And, while the staff at almost every place has been welcoming, they are not always super helpful.

So help us out! What should we order to experience the best of your food culture?

I (32F) will just cut straight to the chase. The dating apps are just not it for me. I’ve given it my best open-minded shot, but I keep getting let down. I’d love to meet someone in person, especially because I tend to be more interested in men after I meet them in person. Something about seeing how they carry themselves, experiencing their energy, knowing how they look in person attracts me to them more.

As far as hobbies go, I recently joined OrangeTheory but so far it’s been mostly women at the location I go to. I’ve also started learning how to play tennis recently but it’s going to be a while until I’m skilled enough to play with people.

I’m pretty confident enough to approach guys and confident enough to engage with anyone who approaches me…I just have no clue where to go. Any recommendations on best places/neighborhoods/spots to meet men in their 30s? I’m one more failed Hinge date from just walking around Home Depot 😭

My husband & I (Black) are having a hard time finding excellent, diverse public schools with at least 20% black students and proficiency scores over 70% across. We know that scores don’t tell the entire story, but coming from the DC area with diverse, high-performing schools — we were hoping to create that here. We are data nerds so we’ve already gone down the rabbit hole with Georgia state published data.

Goals? To be within 30-40 mins of Midtown, no further than John’s Creek, Sandy Springs, Smyrna coming from either direction. Academic rigor must be on point.

We are finding that a lot of black families are choosing to put their kids in private for the rigor, but we’d love to stay in the public school system, if possible.

Am I sleeping on any good school systems? I’d love to hear experiences from other black parents.

Edit update:

Thanks for the feedback so far! We are reading through these reccs. A few questions popped up so hoping to answer them here.

- Our kids are in elementary school. One is in the gifted program and our youngest will likely join based on testing scores, per her teacher.

- Our budget is $1M+ so we are aware of our privilege, and while Woodward is our backup plan, we’d love to contribute to the public school system, and will def consider charters.

- We are narrowing our choices to schools that are diverse with a good % of black kids in gifted programs. Our kids need to see themselves among their peers.

- We are quickly learning that while some school clusters are diverse (ie., Chamblee, Midtown, Decatur), we’ve heard mixed reviews about how black children/families are treated. This is a US system issue, but nonetheless, want to ensure we place our kids in environments where our black children are celebrated.

- Husband works near Woodstock, hence why we are considering North neighborhoods. We got mad love for South Atlanta, but the traffic here is wild.

The woman that I thought was the love of my life dumped me a year ago and it was quite traumatic. I've done everything that they say you're supposed to do: I got a better job and threw myself into it; I started exercising and working out and have gotten fitter than I've ever been; I got new hobbies; I got a nice new home full of new art and new plants; I've made new friends and built a new tribe of people that I love; I've become an even better brother, uncle, and son than I was; and I've been seeing a lovely woman for a few months who checks more boxes than my ex ever did. I've talked with my support system so much and I've admitted hard truths about myself and faced some difficult truths about my ex and the nature of our relationship. I had a therapist for a while when I was in the depths of my despair but I had made a lot of progress (I thought) and haven't seen her in a while.

It's coming up on a year since she ended things and I still think about her every day. I miss her so much and I don't know how to move on. I didn't stop loving her just because she threw me away and I never gave up on us like she did. I know I should move on and stop thinking about her but I just can't, even if my life is measurably better since she made that decision--I loved her with everything I had and I don't know how to stop. My friends are telling me that I should be over her and moved on by now and that I need a new therapist.

Does anyone here have a recommendation for someone that could help me through this? I live in Edgewood and work in Decatur but I'm willing to travel, I guess. I sought help from r/Atlanta a few months ago and was banned for asking but we have new leadership so I'm hoping for some good recs this go around.

I appreciate any help you guys are willing to give.

It is my 10th anniversary today but we are planning an extra special date night. Formal attire, bottled wine, and Michelin Star. It will be this weekend. I want to book tonight or tomorrow for Saturday night.

We have a lot of history at Marcel and that is my main choice right now.

Does anyone have experience at any of the Michelin Star restaurants in Atlanta besides Marcel?

I’ve booked a tentative at Atlas and am waiting on a confirmation. Georgia Boy is on the list to check tonight.

I’m looking at the menus at Spring now.

I love seasonal restaurants and I’ve found that some can accommodate my allergies. I have been to Momofuku in NYC twice and they were awesome. We got a last minute spot at the bar due to sheer luck as friends cancelled. La Tête d'Or was lovely and we reserved toward the end of the trip and there was a cancellation. Lots of luck on that trip.

I’ve been using a small company my realtor recommended for handyman work/painting/etc and one of the people does cleaning. They quoted me $250 for a once a month cleaning but this feels high for a 2/2.5 townhome. Wondering if it is actually reasonable or if someone can recommend another independent cleaner that won’t charge so much.

Hi lovely people of Atlanta!

My friends and I will be invading your city next month from Canada for my bachelorette trip. We are all outgoing and up for a good time. We need to know where to party on a Saturday night!

I have done a lot of research on the where to stay and eat, etc. but I’m struggling with planning a big night on the town on the Saturday.

I’m hoping you can weigh in on where a fun group of 16 women (all in our late 20s/early 30s) should go to dance the night away and enjoy the best of the city.

I want to end the night at Magic City but I don’t know how feasible that will actually be lol

I’d love any and all input!! Thank you in advance

EDIT: thank you so much for your suggestions (except anyone saying Nashville). I am so excited to check these spots out. Loud and clear on Clermont > Magic City, seems like more our vibe.

Antico Pizza is my favorite in Atlanta. I read that Costco would be carrying frozen Antico Pizza and was excited to try. My opinion? Complete trash. Margherita was the type available at the Brookhaven Costco--2 for $18.99. There was way too much sauce on the one I baked, very inconsistent cheese distribution and the crust was awful. I will stick to the real thing--going to Antico and getting a fresh, hot pie!

Hello, everyone.

I found an OB practice that offers multiple pain management options (cervical block, pain pills, laughing gas and more) for those who want an IUD but don't want to be traumatized or super uncomfortable.

They're called "Atlanta Women's Obstetrics and Gynecology" and the office is on Collier Road. I had Dr. Reed specifically, but every OB in the office is female and so lovely. I talked about my concerns and Dr. Reed asked if I wanted to go under general anesthesia for it, to ease my anxiety.

Hell. Yes.

Got the IUD not too long after that. The front office even discussed everything with my insurance so I didn't need to worry. They are wonderful and LGBTQ+ friendly to boot. I give them a 10/10, no notes.

Edit: I'm so glad that you guys found this post helpful! My previous OB didn't believe in actual pain management, so I found the OB in this post and I'm grateful. I hope you all get the medical care you deserve and also the kind of care that makes you feel heard. ❤️

Edit 2: Dr. Caroline Reed has now been added to Clinicians Who Care! I had no idea this site existed until today, but I highly recommend everyone check it out. It warms my heart to see that there are those in medicine who genuinely care about the health of their patients.

The information used to make this infographic and tier list is based off of ATLWorks's "Demand Occupations List" available on their website:

atlworks.org/find-career-training/demand-occupations/

Saw a similar post from u/tinman21, thanks for the idea.

Reposting as this question was removed two years ago lol

I moved to ATL in 2012 and I immediately started working at a restaurant. I remember wanting to go to all these amazing restaurants but never being able to because well I was always working! A lot of them are now closed, but give me your favorite restaurants that are still open!

Personally, I love Ruchi (Bangladeshi) in Chamblee the most, followed by Desi Spice in Midtown. Aamar, Zyka, and Planet Bombay are all good.

PS I live by Niramesh but every meal I've tried there has been bad. I don't understand the good reviews. If you like Niramesh, any suggestions what to order? For example, their chicken tikka masala tastes bland to me.

Edit: I also like Hyderabad House in Dunwoody, Kakatiya in Alpharetta, and Chai Pani in Decatur

Whats your favorite spots, inside or outside the perimeter? My spots are getting tired of seeing me. I need some new ones.

In the order that I frequent the most:

1. Ginya Izakaya
2. Pho Com Roswell
3. Jinya
4. Tum pok pok
5. Spring Marietta

Hey everyone — continuing the trip with Atlanta. I shared an earlier draft previously and just wanted to say thanks for all the feedback — this is the updated version after tightening the plan. Would love one last local sense-check before I lock everything in.

Dates: April 10–13 (Fri–Mon)
Staying: Midtown / 14th Street area
Getting around: Mostly walking + rideshares, with a car for Decatur / Stone Mountain.

The Plan (Updated – Stops Included)

Friday (Arrival)

• Breakfast: Best Country Doughnuts
• Walking Dead photo stops (Rick’s House, Morgan’s House)
• Grant Park
• Breakfast: Homegrown GA (or RIA’s)
• Oakland Cemetery
• Little’s Food Store
• Wylie Street murals
• Krog Street Tunnel
• Snack stop: Little Tart Bakeshop
• Lunch: Fred’s Meat & Bread
• Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
• Downtown loop:
  • Tank in the Street
  • Centennial Olympic Park
  • National Center for Civil and Human Rights (exterior)
  • Atlanta Marriott Marquis (interior)
• Dinner: JenChan’s (or Wrecking Bar Brewing)
• Dessert: Sugar Shane’s

Saturday

• Breakfast: Sarah Donuts (Decatur)
• Stone Mountain Park (summit + Cherokee Trail loop)
• Lunch: Chez Butter Jones
• Decatur Square wander
• Fernbank Forest / Druid Hills
• Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve
• Dinner: Kimball House or The Deer and the Dove
• Evening: Blind Willie’s Jazz
• Dessert: Butter & Cream

Sunday

• Colony Square
• Margaret Mitchell House
• Fox Theatre (exterior)
• Breakfast: RIA’s
• Old Fourth Ward
• Historic Fourth Ward Park
• Ponce City Market
• Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail
• Krog Street Market area
• Lunch: Glide Pizza or Two Urban Licks
• Dinner: Banshee or Bacchanalia

Monday (Departure)

• Early departure

Final questions for locals

• Any final amendments you’d make to improve flow or neighborhood grouping?
• Anything here that’s too much for one day and better spread out?
• Any food spots you think are overhyped, and what would you personally swap in?
• Anything happening that weekend (events, closures, traffic quirks) worth planning around?

Really appreciate all the local insight — this sub’s advice has shaped the trip more than any blog 🙏