Best place to dine at the bar
The fried goat cheese with honey and black pepper is the perfect way to start a meal at the bar at Ecco, your pick for best place to eat at the bar in and around Atlanta. Photo: Elissa Eubanks, eeubanks@ajc.com
YOUR PICKS
1. Ecco
You say, “Ecco with Eric mixing the drinks and some of the best food in town. Grilled Octopus –yum” and “Ecco is Atlanta’s absolute best!”
2. Manuel’s Tavern
3. Brick Store Pub
4. Leon’s Full Service
5. Porter Beer Bar
La Tavola Trattoria is our pick for best place to dine at the bar. One major reason? Knowledgeable and welcoming bartender Alli Royce Soble, who's been behind the bar at the Fifth Group restaurant for more than 11 years. Photo: Alli Royce Soble
OUR PICKS
Have a Campari with Alli. It's her favorite. Photo: Alli Royce Soble
1. La Tavola Trattoria
The AJC dining team’s specialist in International Cuisine Gene Lee says, “Take a warm neighborhood bar, pair it with delicious Italian food, add the coolest bartender you’ll meet in metro Atlanta and the result is Virginia-Highland’s La Tavola. At this point, I can’t imagine anyone other than Alli running the restaurant’s bar. She is the ultimate professional and has a telepathic ability to pick you out a perfect glass of wine.”
2. Holeman & Finch
3. Empire State South
4. Abattoir
5. Leon’s Full Service
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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
149 comments Add your comment
doc martin
December 20th, 2011
2:15 pm
Garrisons in Vinings, Vintage Tavern Smyrna Village, Amsterdam Cafe Midtown, Nino’s Cheshire Bridge, Roxx Cheshire Bridge
John Curtis Estes
December 20th, 2011
2:18 pm
Tattler
OTP gourmet
December 20th, 2011
2:23 pm
Empire State South!
james
December 20th, 2011
2:30 pm
Taco Mac
james
December 20th, 2011
2:37 pm
Oh yea, Midway Pub on Flat Shoals in EAV is great, as well as Young Augustine’s on Memorial Drive. Say Hi to Thurmond The Cat while you’re there.
jess
December 20th, 2011
2:39 pm
Steak n Shake, all over
Chickenlips
December 20th, 2011
2:40 pm
The Local Republic in Lawrenceville…great food and great beer!
diamond-e
December 20th, 2011
3:08 pm
Ralph’s tavern at bells ferry and 575
Jeff
December 20th, 2011
3:12 pm
I think everybody has forgotten the clear number one is http://atlantasushibar.com/
DAN
December 20th, 2011
3:16 pm
http://www.thesouthernhaberdasher delivers some outstanding sauces and pepper based marinades.
DAN
December 20th, 2011
3:17 pm
http://www.thesouthernhaberdasher.com
Stephanie Roberts
December 20th, 2011
3:21 pm
Ecco, hands down.
ATLdawg, ya dig?
December 20th, 2011
3:21 pm
I’ll give a little love to SoBu. Paul’s, HF, Georgia Grille. Grindhouse and Woodfire on the east side. Killer bar tops to chill with your girl and actually get to know the bartender.
ATLdawg, ya dig?
December 20th, 2011
3:22 pm
Hands down, a lot of good options. Too many to say “hands down”.
Brian
December 20th, 2011
3:24 pm
I like Midway Pub as well. Any Taco Mac will do also.
shawn
December 20th, 2011
3:27 pm
The Porter in L5P. The draft selection is always awesome and the food is GREAT!
kristen
December 20th, 2011
3:30 pm
Leon’s or Farm Burger.
Donna B
December 20th, 2011
3:41 pm
Serpas or Agave.
Rick
December 20th, 2011
3:41 pm
Taqueria del Sol Decatur. Every Saturday 12 noon without fail
Kiss Me
December 20th, 2011
3:49 pm
The bar at Feast in Decatur is a great place to dine when you’re by yourself and still want a wonderful meal.
Nazan Yar
December 20th, 2011
3:55 pm
Iberian Pig
Kevin D
December 20th, 2011
3:56 pm
Exactly where is this bar they call “hands down”? Haven’t been there before. In the meantime, Leon’s is the place for your meal at the bar if you can squeeze in. Great food, atmosphere and bartenders, and you’re almost always going to be sitting next to nice people who are up for a good conversation between bites.
melissa's mom
December 20th, 2011
4:03 pm
Blue Ribbon Grill on LaVista Road in Northlake. The bartenders are awesome, the food is great, and it’s always filled with locals. It’s just like Cheers, where everybody knows your name. If you want to be anonymous, go somewhere else. It’s not a new trendy place but has been there for years. Must be doing something right!
Meghan
December 20th, 2011
4:08 pm
Brickstore and Leons in Decatur for sure.
Jolly Old St Nick
December 20th, 2011
4:19 pm
Dantanna’s Buckhead. Great food, great staff, 3D TVs, and Tuaca.
Sam
December 20th, 2011
4:26 pm
Pozole in VaHi. Jaxon makes some great margs and their tacos are awesome!
Last Word
December 20th, 2011
4:32 pm
L5P: Vortex
Poncey-Hi: Manuel’s
VaHi: Atkins Park or Highland Tap
Lenox: Houston’s
EAV: Flatiron or The E.A.R.L.
Last Word
December 20th, 2011
4:33 pm
Oh yeah, and in Decatur: Brickstore
Last Word
December 20th, 2011
4:34 pm
Ooops, and in Vinings: Padriac’s
Last Word
December 20th, 2011
4:36 pm
Is it 5:00 yet?
I’m gettin’ HAWNGREY!!
Hands down
December 20th, 2011
4:41 pm
You all sound like a bunch of soccer moms and dads from Alpharetta with the “hands down” remarks. You made your nomination….No need to embellish. The editors will figure it out.
Chesty LaRue
December 20th, 2011
4:42 pm
The Wrecking Bar…..Especially since they DON’T have TVs.
Burnt Weenie Sandwich
December 20th, 2011
4:47 pm
The Wrecking Bar……Especially since it does not have TVs. Stay home, or go to Taco Mac if you want TV.
Thinking Man is a fun place.
Brick Store – Sheppard’s Pie
Tank
December 20th, 2011
4:54 pm
Garrisons, Vinings!!!
Monieg1
December 20th, 2011
4:59 pm
Shorty’s and Brockett Pub in Tucker. Also the new Local 7…
Laura
December 20th, 2011
5:03 pm
The Palm!!
gojackets!
December 20th, 2011
5:27 pm
Atkins Park & Manuel’s
Jim S.
December 20th, 2011
5:42 pm
Oh well, the Wrecking Bar TV suggestion greeted with snooty disdain…That said, thanks for the life advice your majesty, the apparently aptly named ‘Weenie’;-)
MMMmmmm....Food!
December 20th, 2011
5:49 pm
Leons…..If I can find a spot to sit!
yummmm
December 20th, 2011
6:23 pm
La Tavola
jennifer`
December 20th, 2011
7:22 pm
Noni’s!
RL
December 20th, 2011
7:52 pm
LOVE eating at the bar at JCT Kitchen!
Stophe
December 20th, 2011
7:58 pm
The fifth ivory in midtown on Juniper!!!
g
December 20th, 2011
9:48 pm
Interesting this should follow a great weekend when my date and I enjoyed aN evening dining at the bar in Dominic’s in Lawrenceville. Had no reservations and the place was packed with large parties. Sat at the bar. The tender was great, had a Manhatten for the first time in years. It and the food were wonderful. Bartender was attentive without being over bearing or rushing us along. Food was fantastic and the “half orders” were huge and made a great brunch the next morning……
g
December 20th, 2011
9:54 pm
My job tends to land me in different parts of the city and state and always enjoy finding a new spot to try. I’ve always found bellying up to the bar a great way to meet new and interesting folks and at the same time grab something different to taste.
Al
December 20th, 2011
11:56 pm
the new Fifth Ivory (formerly Murphy’s Den–or however they were spelling it) has great bar food. Actually…it’s superbe for “bar food.” This piano bar meets public house is a marriage made in heaven…and the studly Aaron behind the bar is nice eye candy…all you need for dessert!
Peavine Creek
December 21st, 2011
9:05 am
The Porter in L5 has no serious competition: what other restaurant, forget about bar, often has two foie gras appetizers. Nick’s brilliance as a chef would shine in a much more elegant setting.
cheepfoodie
December 21st, 2011
10:41 am
Cal. Pizza Kitchen,Lenox.Prime,Lenox.Houston”s Lenox.Atkins Park.Manuel<.
M ARCH
December 21st, 2011
11:55 am
Leon’s. Cool shaped bar. Very convivial
M ARCH
December 21st, 2011
11:56 am
Oh, and goes without saying. The food and drink are outstanding