YOUR PICKS

Stuffed acorn squash at Cafe Sunflower. Photo: Becky Stein / Special

1) Café Sunflower

You say, “Delicious and creatively prepared food, as well as excellent service.”

2) Soul Vegetarian

3) Dynamic Dish

4) R. Thomas

5) Veggieland

OUR PICKS

Brie and D'anjou pear on cinnamon raisin walnut bread with a side of grapes and satsuma. Photo: Becky Stein / Special)

1) Dynamic Dish

Dining critic Meridith Ford Goldman says, “Chef-owner David Sweeney has garnered a lot of praise for his eco-friendly vegetarian restaurant located on the edge of the Sweet Auburn district downtown. The kudos are well-deserved: He cooks with a kind of renewed intensity that can only come from having fresh ingredients and knowing how to use them.”

2) Ria’s Bluebird

3) Flying Biscuit Café – Candler Park

4) Café Sunflower on Roswell Road

5) Evos

Continue reading Best vegetarian dining »

In last week’s Best of the Big A post, we asked for nominations for the best fitness boot camp in and around Atlanta. We got a few of those, but we had a lot more self-promotion from local companies.

We welcome local business owners throwing their hats into the ring, but we’d like to see the mat beneath them once the hats all hit the floor.

This time, it was obvious that some serious ballot stuffing was happening, so we’re going to retire the question without going any further.

Continue reading Best fitness boot camp »

YOUR PICKS

Readers adore the beautiful confections created by Ella Jones at Blanchard's Bakery in Mableton.

1) Cakes by Ella/Blanchard’s Bakery

You say, “Ms. Ella makes the best cake I’ve ever had. We had her make our wedding party cake and there were no crumbs.  They ate the crumbs it was so good.”

2) Piece of Cake

3) Rhodes Bakery

4) McEntyre’s Bakery

5) Cakes by Coco

6) Gabriel’s Desserts

OUR PICKS

The birthday cakes from Highland Bakery are edible art. Photo courtesy Highland Bakery.

1) Highland Bakery

We say, “If you want a cake that wows, there’s no better place than Highland Bakery. These folks make edible (and tasty) art.”

2) Chocolate Pink

3) Sugar Cakes Patisserie

4) Alon’s

5) Piece of Cake

Continue reading Best birthday cake »

YOUR PICKS

AltoRex Rooftop Lounge at the Hotel Palomar. Photo: Sarah Dorio

1) AltoRex Rooftop Lounge at Hotel Palomar Atlanta Midtown

You say, “Great view, great atmosphere.” The nomination also praised the bar’s attractive clientele.

2) The Sun Dial at the Westin Peachtree Plaza

3) Drinkshop at the W Downtown

4) Trader Vic’s at the Hilton Atlanta

5) Livingston at the Georgian Terrace

OUR PICKS

1) Drinkshop at the W Downtown

Dining critic Meridith Ford Goldman says, “Forget the retro vibe and uber modern construction: I come to sit at the bar and have a well-made drink. Cool, calming colors and a huge block of ice to my left, I simply spout out a liquor and the barkeep brings a surprise, made seemingly just for me.”

2) AltoRex Rooftop Lounge at Hotel Palomar Atlanta Midtown

3) The St. Regis Bar at the St. Regis Atlanta in Buckhead

4) Park 75 Lounge and Terrace at the Four Seasons in Midtown

5) Lumen at the Ritz-Carlton downtown

Continue reading Best hotel bar »