Over the weekend, a new Restaurant Week began in the Metro Atlanta area.  The CWPR Restaurant Week, presented by Caren West PR, kicked off its' inaugural celebration with 13 of Atlanta's best in town.  Stretching from Buckhead (Genki Noodles, Tongue & Groove), to Midtown (Park Tavern, Cucina Asellina), to the Virginia-Highlands (Diesel, D.B.A. Barbecue), they're setting out Prix-Fixe meals from $15-35/person for lunch and dinner.

While the combination of restaurants from all over the city is a stark contrast to the usually neighborhood-centered format, I think this could be a pretty successful seven day vent.  I mean, at the end of the day, it's all about the food.  And, personally, I don't care WHERE it takes place as long as it's good.  With places like the ones I mentioned earlier along with STK, The Albert, and P'Cheen involved, good is definitely not gonna be an issue.

For more information, LIKE CWPR Restaurant Week on Facebook or follow them on Twitter - @CWPR_RestoWeek.

Let us know if you make it out to any of the participating restaurants.

Happy Eating!

Ok, we get it.  Mothers are the ish!!!  After years of watching athletes, actors, and musicians go out of their way to thank Mom for everything under the sun, we're not even mad anymore that Dad is, by default, an after thought.  I mean, think about it.  Has anyone ever introduced you to their Dad and Mom??  Nope!  It's usually Mom and Dad.  I don't even think I've seen a Fathers Day commercial on TV this year.  Smh.  In the famous words of Chris Rock, all Dads get is "the big piece of chicken".

So, in honor of "the big piece of chicken", ATL Bite Life wants to steer you in the direction of a good meal for Dad.  The least you could do is feed the man after you give him that homemade card and that ugly tie.

Fancy Dad:
Ocean Prime - If your Dad is one of those who appreciate the finer things in life, steak and seafood might be the way to go.  Ocean Prime is one of the newest additions to Buckhead and their menu is full of the best cuts and portions whether you love the surf or the turf.  We have it on good authority from our boy Jeezy that this is place to be.  Now that Justins is closed, I'm sure you'll be able to spot some of ATL's hip hop royalty in here.  Depending on how old Fancy Dad is, this could be a good thing or a deterrent.

Family Dad:
Capers - This is ATL Bite Life's absolute FAVORITE restaurant in the city.  Great food, great presentation, and a great atmosphere.  Its' fancy decor still has a very comfortable, home-like feel.  If you want to get Dad out of the house but don't wanna take him to the old faithfuls like Red Lobster or O' Charleys, this is the place to go.  Their Sunday brunch is INCREDIBLE  and their Hawaiian ribeye steak is better than the one at Houstons.  I PROMISE that the whole family will enjoy it, especially Dad.

Hungry Dad:
Ray's On The River, at Killer Creek, and In The City -Nothing beats a buffet on Father's Day.  The Ray's group of restaurants is offering their Sunday All You Can Eat smorgasbord to the Dads of ATL.  It's All You Can Eat!!!  Need we say more.

Sports Dad:
Stats - Yeah, it's Father's Day but there's still an NBA Finals game on this Sunday.  To many men, this fact will trump anything holiday-related.  If your dad happens to be a basketball fanatic, go grab him a jersey from the nearest Finish Line or Champs and then go plop down in a booth really close to a TV at Stats.  Get him a beer and some of their barbecue pork ribs.  This should guarantee your slot at the top of his Favorite Child list.

Dad With Kids On A Budget:
Shula's 347 Grill - If you happen to be counting pennies at the moment but you wanna get Dad something good, Shula's is offering to comp Dad's meal (lunch or dinner) if you buy something too.  There must be at least 2 people in your party and the entree of equal or lesser value will be free.  This place is located at the bottom of the Marriott Hotel in Buckhead across from Lenox and it has lots of TVs.  Sports Dad might be happy here too.


Please make your reservations TODAY!!!  I swear.  If I get one call from a Dad that had to go to IHOP or Waffle House because you waited until Sunday after church to pick up the phone, I'm gonna come to your house and say really ugly things REALLY LOUDLY!!!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there!

By the way, I hate that picture of myself up top.  If I'm not mistaken, I was sick that day.  But, my daughters look beautiful in it so I did it for them.

Til we eat again.

Gizelle: (Laughs)

Celebrate good times, come on (Kool & The Gang voice)!!!  June is Soul Food Month and ATL Bite Life is gonna be going hard in the paint for the next 30 days.  If you're worried about your beach body or you're a calorie counter, this might not be for you.  The South is pretty well known for our down home cooking and the ATL is home to some of the best southern kitchens around.

So, here's the play.  We're gonna be snapping pics and reviewing as many soul food spots as our stomachs can handle and we need your help finding out where to go.  Sure, we know all of the usual suspects - Busy Bee, Chanterelles, Gladys Knight's, etc.  But, I'm sure there's a spot in your hood that YOU think is crushing all of those.  Tell us about it.  There's a couple spots on the Eastside (Decatur where it's greater) that I KNOW ya'll don't know about that have some GREAT food!!!  I'm definitely gonna put ya'll on.

Leave your comments below or hit us on our Twitter page or on our Facebook page. 

I just checked Scoutmob and it looks like Southern Art is 50% off.  I'm 100% certain that I'll be checking them out this month. 

Let's eat!!!

It's summer time!!!  Summer, summer, summer time (DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince voice).  It's the time of year where you and your folks walk into a restaurant, look the hostess right in the eye, and say, "can we sit OUTSIDE?/".  I mean, straight up, if you're sitting inside between April and June in Atlanta, you're losing on so many levels.

A couple of weeks ago, I told the good people over at Rolling Out Magazine what the best restaurant patios in Atlanta were.  Now, I'm sharing it with you here on my site.  Check out my selections (in no particular order and see if you agree.

1. Strip - 245 18th St NW #5100
On a Saturday afternoon, Strip's patio seems like the epicenter of Atlantic Station.  Overlooking the community's "central park", there's no telling what you'll see during your meal.  I've seen movies, flea markets, kids playing hopscotch, and the occasional relationship breakup.


2. Front Page News - 351 Moreland Ave, NE
FPN is one of the few restaurants in the city with a FULL patio.  It has a full bar along with two, four, and eight-party tables.  Secondly, the scenery is beautiful.  The shrubbery and vines combined with that central fountain make for a very pleasant dining experience.

Lunch at Front Page News in L5P

3. Twist - 3500 Peachtree St NE
Twist is all about the people watching.  It's located right at the main entrance of Phipps Plaza where the valet is set up.  From your seat, you can see everyone pull up and the high end luxury vehicle that brought them.


4. Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft - 1745 Peachtree St NE
Tuk Tuk's patio sits 3 stories high right on Peachtree St where downtown and Buckhead meet.  On a clear night, you can see the downtown skyline perfectly from your table.  Their Lychee mojito is the perfect compliment to a summer sunset.

Overlooking Peachtree St from the patio at Tuk Tuk Tahi Food Loft

5. Stats - 300 Marietta St NW
A full bar, 2 huge plasma screens, fire pits, and a retractable awning make Stats easily one of the best patios in the city.  And, how could you go wrong with views of the Westin Peachtree Plaza and sections of Centennial Park.

Honorable Mention - Cinco Mexican Cantian (Akers Mill Rd), The Renaissance Hotel (formerly the Palomar on W. Peachtree)

As you know, the goal of ATL Bite Life is to put our readers on to the best and worst restaurants Atlanta has to offer.  Well today, I have the worst of the worst restaurants in Fulton County from the month of April.  At least the worst according to the health inspection list.  This list, otherwise known as the "Hell No I Won't Go" list around these parts, is comprised of restaurants that failed their health inspections.  Just to clarify, a score is considered failing if it is less than 70 out of 100.  At this moment, I'm sure you're remembering your school days when that 69 in Statistics felt like an 89 if your teacher let you slide by.  Well, this ain't that.

I'm talking about scores as low as 43.  A FORTY FRICKIN THREE!!!  That makes me wonder what are they doing or obviously not doing in these restaurants.  The remedial restaurant that scored a 43 was cited for improper hand washing techniques (yeah, I know, gross), improper cooking times and temperatures, and poor food storage among other things.  Oh, and did I mention that they're repeat offenders??  Yeah, I'll NEVER eat there!!!

Most surprising on the list were popular restaurants like Wisteria (65), Rathbuns (61), and that Roasters on Lenox Rd (68).  I'm very shocked that those spots scored so low.  I bet Nick is somewhere pissed right now thinking about that Rathbuns score.  Lol.

Next time you're eating out, please take a minute and look at the health inspection grade.  They're suppose to be on display in every restaurant. If it's not there or their score is below 70, you might wanna go elsewhere, starve to death, or something in lieu of eating there.

So Atlanta, what are your thoughts? Feel free to leave a comment and let us know what you think about these failing restaurants. Until next time...Happy Eating!!

Click here for the complete list of failing restaurants.

Happy (and healthy) Eating!

The Nachos Grande at Cinco Mexican Cantina

The chicken quesadilla that I didn't eat at Pure Taqueria

Young Jeezy's quesadilla at Uncle Julios

The Marga-Rona at La Parilla

Margaritas at Taqueria del Sol

Heard this on Q100's The Bert Show last week and I was surprised that this didn't get a bunch of comments due to all the foodies in the A.  They even talked about it again this morning (Yes, I'm a loyal listener).  Their question: What Food From What Restaurants Would Make Your Dream Menu??  Basically, they're asking if you could take various items from different restaurants and put them in one meal, what would they be??

I used to think about this all the time when I was a kid.  I dreamed of taking the sandwich from Chick Fil A, the fries from McDonalds, and the chocolate Frosty from Wendys and enjoying one super combo.  As a matter of fact, I tried this one time when I was in college.  But, when I sat down to eat it, the fries and sandwich were as cold as my Frosty.  Smh.

But, now that my palate is a little more sophisticated, I've got a new dream meal.

Appetizer: West Indies Beef Patties at Bahama Breeze

Salad: The Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad at Buckhead Pizza Co.

Entree: Turkey Ribs from Wing Tyme

Side(s): The Parmesan & Truffle Fries at Fish Thyme, The Broccoli at Pearl Restaurant & Lounge

Dessert: The Toasted Strawberry Pound Cake from Capers

Drink: The Lychee Mojito at Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft


I win!!!  No one can top that!  But, if you wanna give it a try, I'd love to hear it.  Leave your comments below.

Happy Eating!

Like we always do about this time. . .

I wanna hear from you guys.  Simple question - Who has the best breakfast/brunch in the A??  I don't wanna hear about IHOP or Dennys.  I want to know about the tuck spots on your side of town.  I wanna hear about the big restaurants who go for what they know on Saturday or Sunday.

Personally, I'm kinda partial to this spot on the eastside off of Covington Hwy called Demetris.  My big bro, Block, put me on to that.  It's delicious (and cheap)!!!  I wish they had a website or something cuz I'd definitely send ya'll there.  My boy Ray "Hitch" Daniels is a big fan of Highland Bakery.  He's also trying to get us over there.  Big Cat has mentioned West Egg to me on more than one occasion.  And, everyone in the hood is a fan of Thumbs Up.  So much to choose from.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I wanna know who gets it in.  Leave a comment here on the blog or hit me on my Facebook page or on my Twitter page.

Happy Eating!!!

TOMORROW, the 10th Annual Taste of Atlanta kicks off with The Big Grill Block Party in Midtown at Technology Square (near the intersection of Spring St & 5th St).  Food Network's Aaron Sanchez and one of Atlanta's most popular chefs, Kevin Rathbun, will be on hand with live music, tables upon tables of food, and more than enough beer and wine to handle the capacity crowd that is expected.  It's sponsored by Amstel Light so you can only imagine what's in store for all in attendance.  Think of this as an appetizer to the main course of Taste of Atlanta which starts on Saturday. 

The Big Grill begins at 6:30pm and ends around 10:30pm.  Get your tickets here.  Also, don't forget about the Taste of Atlanta on Saturday and Sunday.  Click here to get your TOA tickets.

See you tomorrow.

Happy Eating!!!