The best breakfast in Atlanta?
AJC Staff
My recent column about Thumbs Up Diner got a number of people asking: Where do you go for breakfast in Atlanta?
Personally, I do like Thumbs Up a lot — but not the one in Decatur as much as the older branch on Edgewood Ave. in the Old Fourth Ward. Why? Because the dishes I like come out just the way I like them. The tofu and veggies are big, sloppy and steamy enough to wilt their bed of raw spinach. The omelettes are fluffy and (usually) free of brown spots. The sunny side up eggs have that edge of crisp brown lace. The biscuits are whole-wheat rocks, but in a good way.
Lots of people love Ria’s Bluebird on Memorial Drive for its pancakes and poached eggs served with slow-cooked brisket. (Ria’s, along with Thumbs Up, were both recently named as two of the “59 Best Breakfast Places in America” by Esquire Magazine.) Others swear by the Social House on Howell Mill Road for its ginormous platters of fish and grits and variations on Eggs Benedict. And then there’s Waffle House. It may all be about the eggs.
Hillary Clinton tells the best scrambled egg story, which goes something like this. Soon after her family moved into the White House, Chelsea woke up in the middle of the night, scared. Clinton did what she always does for her kid: went into the kitchen, took out a pan and started scrambling eggs. The sleepy, bathrobe-wearing staff went into high alert, and soon a cook appeared to whisk the pan out of her hand. Clinton had to explain, “You don’t understand. I’m her mother. I have to scramble the eggs.”
Indeed. The person who cooks your eggs — whether a short-order diner cook or your mom — does a lot for your soul.
So, where are the great breakfasts around Atlanta?
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161 comments Add your comment
Christopher B.
April 6th, 2009
6:07 pm
There’s a reason why I’ve dined at the original Flying Biscuit almost every weekend for the past 15 years— it’s the best! The organic pancakes rock and their coffee is the best I’ve found in the ATL. Funky decor, great food, friendly service and cheap breakfast– why would anyone go elsewhere?
Jim
April 6th, 2009
10:49 pm
Java Jive on Ponce- Truly the best biscuits in town and killer egg dishes in one of the most original decors I’ve encountered. I like their gingerbread waffle, too.
Paige Bradshaw
April 7th, 2009
6:53 am
Flying Biscuit Grits!!!!
Paige
April 7th, 2009
6:54 am
Enter your comments here
Kathleen
April 8th, 2009
10:49 pm
Flying Biscuit has the best selection of scrambles and omelets of any breakfast place in Atlanta. Always great food and service
Sara
April 15th, 2009
9:59 pm
for brunch, Fado in Buckhead and Atkins Park are great…West Egg too…
Diner
May 19th, 2009
10:05 pm
Radial Cafe — Vege gravy with rosemary and biscuits; pancake specials.
Justine
November 10th, 2009
8:01 pm
On the search for the ultimate breakfast with my friend Don every Wednesday morning we’ve found good things about several of the places mentioned here, but no ultimate score yet. So far we’ve gone from I-Hop to Thumbs UP, JR’s to Flying Biscuit, Original House of Pancakes to Social House tomorrow! I’ll let you know. Of course if you want characters and entertainment with your pecan waffle, you can enjoy Waffle House–sometimes fun but not for breakfast–more for late night. The Original House of Pancakes was disappointing–so lacking in energy. The Flying Biscuit we went to was the new one in Sandy Springs. It was cute (they tried on decor) and the people nice–but seriously, the biscit? I think I could hit it with a bat and have it not completely split apart. The potatoes and grits were great! The Thumbs Up we went to was the new one in Roswell and we enjoyed it. The air circulation cooled my tea off too quickly and the interiors are not as cosy as I would enjoy for breakfast. I don’t like to be cold which is sometimes the feeling you get in this streamline set up.
I recently had one of the most amazing breakfasts up at a B&B in the Highlands of NC. Colonial Pines. I’ll be trying her french toast and baked apples for my Christmas breakfast at home.
Still on the hunt…tomorrow Social House. I’ll also be looking for the ulitmate old fashioned barber soon…for Don.
Justine Albree
December 16th, 2009
8:26 am
Well, in our “ultimate breakfast search” we have now tried Thumbs Up, Ria’s, Social House, J. Christophers, Flying Biscuit, Original House of Pancakes, and International House of Pancakes.
On my earlier post I talked about Thumbs Up and Flying Biscuit….Social House had the most wonderful pancakes, and an odd potato pancake that was interesting, nice music, and I liked the way they served my tea. The location is not the most lovely and view is nothing…excellent waiter. Ria’s was not good at all. The location across from the Oakland Cemetary was very interesting, but the booths were old, cracked ,and uncomfortable, limited seating and just very average on food. I don’t understand the “Best of Atlanta” at all except for perhaps the trendy factor. I wouldn’t bother to go back. J. Christophers is okay…we didn’t have very sharp service that day and cold syrup on pancakes is a killer.
Still on the hunt.
Justine
February 4th, 2010
8:15 pm
On the ulitimate breakfast search on Wednesday mornings, Don and I have now gone to Hickory House in Dunwoody, The Marietta Diner, West Egg, Pastries A Go Go, and Biscuit Barn in Cumming. We’ve gone back twice for breakfast at Pastries A Go Go and Thumbs up in Alpharetta, and Thumbs up so far held up for the second go round best.
Old Hickory House was so interesting. Food alright. Personally,I found the conversation between the old men at the food counter to be the best part. Listening to them talk about old Dunwoody was so enjoyable. I nearly skated on the bathroom floor and worried what it would do to an old person with slippery shoes. What’s up with bad bathrooms at good breakfast places?
West Egg was unique. They tried hard…but I absolutely hated having my food on a tin plate so light that it slid around the table when I tried to cut with my fork. I think my dog used to chase a plate around the kitchen floor like that. Rattle Rattle Rattle! Real dishes would be so much better…food wasn’t that awesome. Marietta Diner was a hoot…I felt like we stepped into another state and era. Don was a little put off by the gruff-quick to the order-no frills waitress…I did see a manager nearby keeping a good eye on things. Everything is over the top…Texas style portions…excellent French toast. A little garish for my style in decorating,(pink!turquoise!) but you can close your eyes as you leave and just smell the air. The Biscuit Barn in Cumming is about as basic as you can get. Styrofoam plates! Plastic! Ick! Men in boots, yeah! But I will tell you that I had a jelly biscuit and it just melted in my mouth. Eggs with plastic and styrofoam or paper plates is just too much like camping for me. I probably wouldn’t go back just because of that. Pastries A Go Go…well frankly I was so put off by the name I didn’t take it seriously. When we went I had to ask directions because it’s tucked in a strip shopping center in Decatur. Well, the name being so fluffy and blonde didn’t represent the dining part of the place. They have homemade sausage…yummmy…and great waffles. A nice waitress…cold bathrooms. On the second go round for some reason our food didn’t quite “Wow” us as before. I had french toast, a scone and potatoes. I’m usually in heaven with any and all, but today I just came away full. My scone was dry…my Scottish grandmother would be disappointed. I imagine we’ll try again sometime in the future. Thumbs up on Alparetta looked so much better now that it’s been open a bit. Warmed up decorating…just a good feeling place…a nice big comforting cup of tea…Don loved his eggs and salmon. So the quest continues….casting a wider net I suppose.
Justine
February 4th, 2010
9:01 pm
Thumbs up Roswell I mean…
I may end up a grits lover after all….