The fries and Five Guys Burgers and Fries were your pick for best french fries at a chain restaurant. Photo: Becky Stein / Special

YOUR PICKS (chain)
1. Five Guys Burgers and Fries
You say, “I don’t even like their burgers, but I go there for fries” and “Five Guys, with the malt vinegar…Yum!!!”

2. Checkers
3. Zaxby’s
4. Steak ‘n Shake
5. Chick-fil-A
6. Wendy’s

With a selection of dipping sauces — and, of course, a cold beer — the Wrecking Bar’s fries are the readers’ pick for the best at a homegrown Atlanta restaurant. Photo courtesy of the Wrecking Bar

YOUR PICKS (local)
1. The Wrecking Bar
You say, “Best overall is Wrecking Bar served with several dipping sauces and a great beer.”

2. Leon’s Full Service
3. The Varsity
4. Porter Beer Bar
5. Farm Burger
6. Muss & Turner’s

Photo: Lou Freeman / loufreeman.com

OUR PICKS
1. JCT Kitchen
The AJC dining team’s specialist in Southern and Neighborhood Fare Jenny Turknett says, “While truffle oil may be passé now, my …

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A selection of the tasty treats at Mike’s Chicago Hot Dogs in Sandy Springs. It’s your pick for best hot dogs in and around Atlanta. Photo courtesy Mike’s Chicago Hot Dogs.

YOUR PICKS
1. Mike’s Chicago Hot Dogs
You say, “Mike’s Chicago Hot Dogs in Sandy Springs can’t be beat. I’ve been going there for a few years now and the staff is always friendly and they’re super fast on cooking the dogs and fries” and “Mike’s Chicago Hot Dogs has THE best hot dogs Ever! Not only do they have a vast traditional as well as Chicago Style selection that everyone can love, they even have a delicious vegetarian dog that is out of this world!”

2. Brandi’s World Famous Hot Dogs
3. Barker’s Red Hots
4. The Varsity
5. Ringside Franks & Shakes
6. Hot Dog Factory

Connie Simmons lays a hot dog in a bun at Brandi’s World Famous Hot Dogs off of Church St. Ext. in Marietta in 2011. The hot dog stand, which has been open since 1915, sells between 500 and 600 hot dogs each day on average …

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British singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran was a big hit at the Star 94 Jingle Jam in December, where this photo was taken. He returns to town as a headliner for a show at the Tabernacle on Monday, Jan. 21. Photo: Robb Cohen / www.RobbsPhotos.com

THURSDAY
Kids, visual arts: “Young Architects: Designing the Future” is an interactive exhibit inspired by famous architects. It runs through Jan. 19 at the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center in Buford.

Visual arts: “Georgia Nature Photographers’ Association: The Art of the Landscape” is on view at the Chattahoochee Nature Center through Feb. 15.

Stage: In this bilingual Mexican folktale “Brother Coyote and Sister Fox,” Brother Coyote conspires to eat Doña Conchita’s plump chickens, but Sister Fox is one step ahead. The Thistle Theatre of Seattle production runs through Jan. 27 at the Center for Puppetry Arts.

Stage: Georgia Ensemble Theatre presents the premiere of “Swell Party,” a new mystery by …

Continue reading Best bets: Jan. 15-21 »

The Colonnade, an Atlanta classic, is your pick for the best local spot to get sweet tea in and around Atlanta. Photo: Becky Stein

YOUR PICKS (local)
1. The Colonnade
You say, “The Colonnade has really good sweet tea!”

2. Busy Bee Café
3. Mary Mac’s Tea Room
4. OK Café
5. Eats

When it comes to chains, Chick-fil-A comes out way ahead for best place to get sweet tea.

YOUR PICKS (chain)
1. Chick-fil-A
You say, “Chick-fil-a for the most consistently good sweet tea. I do ask them to mix sweet and unsweetened. That being said, I would prefer good tea that is a bit too sweet to hearing “we only have unsweetened tea.” I only expect to hear that in the north, not in GA!”

2. Publix
3. McDonald’s
4. Waffle House

OUR PICKS
1. Greenwood’s
The AJC dining team’s specialist in Southern and Neighborhood Fare Jenny Turknett says, “Greenwood’s on Green Street remains my favorite place to get my sweet tea fix. The tea is smooth and refreshing rather than bitter and cloyingly …

Continue reading Best sweet tea »