Playboy Names the Majestic One of America’s Top Ten Diners
AJC Staff
The skin mag’s Web site has scoured the country for dives that give really, really good diner, and have named the Ponce fixture as one of their top finds.
It looks like the good folks at Playboy.com have done their homework. The Majestic, they say, is “located along a stretch of “Hot ‘Lanta” that’s resisted urban renewal, so the freaks do come out at night.”
You can read the whole thing and see what others made the cut here. Yes, it’s safe for work, as long as you don’t click the browser tab marked “girls.”
(Hat tip to the awesome Omnivore blog over at Creative Loafing.)
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© 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
23 comments Add your comment
Brill
November 12th, 2009
6:07 pm
That is pretty cool ! I love the Majestic, but to be honest probably 90% or more of the diners in Jersey and NYC would have way better food. I didn’t read the article, I am guessing this is more based on atmosphere. Waffle House is better and cheaper.
Oh yeah, FIRST !
Rosita
November 12th, 2009
6:17 pm
Atmosphere it has to the max! One wee-hours-of-Sunday-morning I saw a post-concert John Mellenkamp and entourage stride into the second room of the Majestic — the singer himself clad in a fire-engine red jumpsuit — and nary a head turned. It’s that kinda place; the food? Whatever! Who cares? The waitresses interned at the Last Supper!
Rosita
November 12th, 2009
6:18 pm
PS: John Kessler, muy generoso of you to tip the hat to Omnivore. That’s classy.
downsouth
November 12th, 2009
6:33 pm
ahhhh, the majestic. ponce wouldn’t be the same without it. glad it’s still around, and the Clermont too!!! (for now…)
MB
November 12th, 2009
6:36 pm
Well-deserved, Majestic! I have to disagree with others…I think the food at the Majestic is solid diner food. My faves are the patty melt, hash browns with cheese and onions, and the apple pie with ice cream. Oh, and a darned good cup of classic diner coffee…no over-priced, nasty-tasting “fancy” brews there.
Besides, the place is an authentic Atlanta landmark, not some new retro place trying to recapture the diner vibe. My grandfather used to grab my dad and say “let’s go over to the Majestic for a burger,” and I get a kick thinking that I might be sitting in the same booth where they sat 50+ years ago.
Great neon, great people watching, gritty enough without being intimidating. Love it, though I miss some of the, um, more experienced waitresses who used to work late nights.
melissa's mom
November 12th, 2009
8:14 pm
I have wonderful memories of the Majestic from 35 years ago and I think the waitress in the picture is the same one who waited on me and my now husband back then! She was always very grumpy! We regularly ate there for lunch, getting the meat and 3 specials, or 3:00am after dancing at a local club (Rose’s Cantina was one) and had fantastic breakfasts.
Now our 20 something daughters are enjoying the same.
I’m going to make a point to go back soon.
Devildog
November 13th, 2009
6:58 am
Brill,
There are flights to Jersey leaving Atlanta every day.
N-GA
November 13th, 2009
7:41 am
Really John, Please explain how you were Googling the Majestic and suddenly found yourself on the Playboy site. But don’t tell us how you know what happens when you follow the “Girls” link.
lol…..love your writing!
Jeff Thompson
November 13th, 2009
10:42 am
The first time I ate at the Majestic, I had a very good steak dinner. At the time I lived in Virginia Highland, and I was surprised that it took me so long to try it out.
Anyone who thinks that Waffle House has better food should have their head examined. Waffle House and good food do not belong in the same sentence.
Ted
November 13th, 2009
10:52 am
A masterpiece institution. Go for the thrill. Go for the people watching. Go for the grumpy service. And be thankful that Atlanta still has this gem. As far as the commenters who don’t care for the food: Remember that you’re at a diner and try to enjoy. This isn’t Bachanalia.
Lauren V.
November 13th, 2009
2:40 pm
I wonder if some of the commenters have been to Majestic recently — they installed new booths and have a new menu this year. Some of the classic items still appear, but I think the food quality has dropped, and a bunch of my favorites disappeared. And the last few times I’ve been, the waitstaff has all been college-age hipsters. It’s got a different feel to it now — I don’t dislike it, but I liked it better before.
MeriCDC
November 13th, 2009
7:22 pm
The old waitstaff retired (or died) and yes…have long been replaced by college age hipsters. This is not a “new” thing or a “bad” thing. The Majestic had a much needed cleaning and repairing/updating about a year ago, but done so without loosing its vibe or becoming corporate. I think the food quality is much better (but a little pricier) than the American Roadhouse just up the street. Not gourmet, but certainly better than any Waffle House I have ever eaten at. We eat at The Majestic for weekend breakfast (with my husband and kids) a couple of times a month. Great mixed crowd. However, would love to have a date night out ,sans kids, and go in @ 2 am for some of the best people watching in Atlanta!
Atlantan
November 13th, 2009
7:42 pm
Last time I went there they had just sprayed for bugs and the roaches were literally everywhere – all over the tables, the walls, the floor and the seats – that was 1996 and that was the last time I sat foot in there and I live less than a mile away. Before that it was after a wild night around 3am – you don’t know any better. Obviously something works there as it is still open. Enjoy!
NavyMom
November 13th, 2009
9:20 pm
Devildog – PLEASE tell Brill again. No one asked about anything in NY or NJ so do go back.
Steven Josovitz
November 14th, 2009
12:58 am
…. Maybe if they polled people here they would have discovered the Marietta Diner seen on the Food Networks “Diner, Dives and Drive Thru’s. They have lines out the door 24/7 and people drive from other states to eat off a 350 item menu that rocks… Super hi quality and big portions…. I am from Jersey and grew up on Diners… This is a Diner… Congratulations s to the Majestic for this honor as they have been open for so long and work so hard…..
Ishmael
November 14th, 2009
6:27 am
The Majestic is okay, but I liked The Pickrick much better.
not so sure about the marietta diner
November 14th, 2009
12:47 pm
i think the food is pretty awful there. i don’t think the marietta folks have any idea what good food is, if they are waiting to eat there. it’s HUGE food, but not good quality. the desserts all taste the same, like crisco and too much sugar. oh well, to each his own. i like the majestic better.
Mark
November 14th, 2009
2:31 pm
The Majestic is a classic. You can enjoy watching the freaks as you dine.
BULLSEYE
November 15th, 2009
9:59 am
A great place to leave the instant gratification crowd and their offspring behind. Guilty pleasure foods and a place to nurse a hangover while reading a newspaper. There was once a place next to it named Doby’s that I liked too. Anybody remember that? You could get a flatiron steak and three eggs for like 4.99.
Alabamastan
November 15th, 2009
12:07 pm
My favorite memory of the Majestic: I was at the booth in the photo with an out of town friend, winding down our evening at about 3 a.m. There was a guy at the counter who had had a big night and was not very steady. His head drooped and finally rested on the Formica. The waitress (possibly the one in the photo) was behind the counter. She calmly walked over to the stack of Sunday AJC’s at the register, folded one in half, and proceeded to wale on the poor guy with it, yelling”You can’t (WHACK) sleep (WHACK ) on (WHACK) the counter (WHACK)!” The guy stumbles to the door. My friend turned and looked at me wide-eyed. I said, “Eat your eggs.”
Melissa
November 16th, 2009
12:39 am
Alabamastan I think that was my ex-husband… He actually almost got arrested at the Majestic because he was so drunk there.
D
November 16th, 2009
8:42 am
Skin mags ? Dives that give really good diner ? Were you inside the Majestic or outside ? Wonderful freak show but the food will land you at Grady within 24 hours.
Steven Josovitz
November 16th, 2009
11:32 pm
Per the comment from anonymous about the Marietta Diner I have to say a few things…. They recently spent a cool million on a stunning renovation with a super kitchen upgrade. There storerooms and walk in boxes have more food then a supermarket. I have seen the back of the house. Per the cakes they have a 7,000/sf Bakery with a European Pastry Chef that makes all the cakes and most of the cheesecakes for the Marietta Diner and it’s sister restaurants Marietta Fish Company, Pasta Bella and the Cherokee cattle Company. They have a 100 person staff at the Diner and make everything from scratch that goes on the plates. Every person I ever take there for business or pleasure loves this place. I don’t know too many restaurants that have so much repeat business. There must reason why it is packed 24/7 and the same people keep coming back. Our families favorites are seafood Bisque, Matzo Ball Soup, Peas in tomato sauce, Eggplant Parmesan, Grilled Romanian Steak with onions and mushrooms, Health Nut Seafood in Garlic Scampi sauce, Baby Lamp chops, finished off with Homemade and massive portioned of the lightest but filling cheese with Jumbo Strawberries.