Jeff H.

Vickery's Crescent Avenue Bar

Vickery's is a converted home in the mid-town area on Crescen Avenue, a short street parallelling Peachtree. The bar scene is mainly couples and groups -- not really a singles scene. At lunch, most patrons are diners. Vickery's has a diverse menu with healthy and unhealthy fare (Try the black bean cakes!). At evenings, the bar is hopping, but food is still the main order of business. Not many beers on tap, but good service make this a "try it" at least once kind of place. Parking is miserable, difficult, and expensive.

PROS: location
CONS: parking

Highland Tap

The Tap has a large selection of great beers, but average, over-priced food. The beer isn't cheap either. Parking is not generally available behind the restaurant, especially during peak hours. This is a neighborhood bar and not a cruising singles scene.

PROS: good beer selection
CONS: price; parking

The Varsity

Don't let the 1,000 people in line in front of you fool you, fast food fast is coming your way. Try the chili dogs with slaw (my favorite) with a huge order of greasy onion rings. This food is not for the queasy of stomach, as I need an antacid just to walk in the place, but the food is just as advertised. Many traditions surround the biggest fast food restaurant in the world, many involving the huge campus next door at Ga. Tech. Make sure you know what you want to order before you step up: What'll ya have?

PROS: fast food fast
CONS: indigestion level high

Ruths Chris Steak House

Ruth's Chris Steak House provides sizzling hot steaks, pan-cooked at a much higher temperature than other steak houses. The result is a moist steak that is cooked correctly.

The prices are not terrible for a first-class steakhouse. Moreover, the staff is exceptional and always willing to take special orders. Overall, one of my favorite places to eat.

PROS: great steaks
CONS: none

Maggiano's Little Italy

Maggianos provides family-style portions of Italian favorites at a good price. The food is better than average, but the portions are truly large. Plan on getting the smaller portions or taking home a large doggie bag.

The decor is a little over the top and service can be spotty. The servers are nice but tend to get overseated during rush hours. For Italian, the prices are a bit higher, but for the amount of food you are served, it is a good value.

PROS: good value; huge portions
CONS: inconsistent service

Old Spaghetti Factory

Old Spaghetti Factory is a unique spaghetti place in an interesting neighborhood. Decorated in turn of the century luxury, the restaurant sports a trolley car containing additional cramped seating in the middle of the main seating area.

The food is average, but portions are huge and the prices are good. The sampler platter provides more than enough food for two good lunches. Italian ice cream is included in the price of the meal, as is some good Italian bread. Service is good, even when the place is busy. Overall, a good value.

PROS: Good value, interesting decor
CONS: average food

Calk Thomas E Md - Children's Medical Group

We only see one doctor at this location, Dr. Mark Hutson, but have always been impressed with the service and caring the staff and doctors provide. Like many pediatric providers, special "sick" patient times are set aside so that you don't have to worry about sitting around all-day in the office. We have never had problems getting in to see a doctor when a child was sick.

The doctors are very caring and each one that we have seen has had a great manner with the kids. Overall, a great group of doctors.

PROS: great doctors who care about kids
CONS: none

Children's Academy-Northlake

Childrens' Academy apparently was sold in 2004 to new management, so many things may have changed in the intervening two years. Although the staff working with the children were competent and very caring, the overall tone of the pre-school/daycare was very rigid. Children who do not do well in a very rigid, rules-oriented location may want to search elsewhere.

The location on Harobi Drive is somewhat problematic as well, since getting off of Harobi and back on LaVista Road can be difficult due to traffic and a blind curve. The building and facilities themselves are adequate, with an older playground but with a clean and lively building interior.

PROS: Well-disciplined; caring providers
CONS: location; rigid structure

Fat Matt's Rib Shack

It is almost impossible to say anything bad about Fat Matt's. It has the juiciest, most delicious pulled pork sandwich in town (this from a devoted barbecue fan). The ribs are also fantastic, although there are some better in Atlanta. The best sides include a peppery cole slaw and adequate baked beans. Live blues is played most nights.

The only drawback is the size of the restaurant. As one reviewer put it, it really is a shack, so seating is limited. Show up during the normal lunch or dinner times and you will have to wait for a seat or take your meal to go.

PROS: Great pulled pork sandwiches; live blues; great service
CONS: small seating area

Folks

Chain restaurants are supposed to offer the consistency of menu, decor, and service that you can trust. If all Folks were like this one, I would never step inside it again. The food is what you would expect of Folks, good country cooking. The service and maintenance of the restaurant left quite a bit to be desired. Service is slow, often surly. Expect a wait. Do not order take-out without thoroughly reviewing your order. I have never received exactly what I ordered in any take-out meal.

PROS: good country cooking; menu choices
CONS: service, facilities need much improvement