Atlanta People, I have a specific question.

Ryan,

If you are in Five Points looking for beer, The Porter is the place to go.

 

Manuel sucks. I used to live in the Highlands down the street and they don't really have much to offer. Food isnt bad, but craft beer isn't their highlight... at all.

Fox Bro is a great place to eat, period. I haven't drank there, so I can't comment on it. I used to go there.. maybe... 3 times a month with the wife.

If you are staying in 5 point, you have to head into town closer anyways for the game.. You could hit up Brickstore for beers, and maybe some food to keep the booze from hitting you too hard for a snack, but if you eat and then do the beers, it has you headed back OUT of town toward Decatur. There's some random places in 5 points like Vortex and whatnot, but I can't remember what they had for beer, honestly. I avoided the touristy spots living in town.

I'd suggest this, personally.

Head to 5 Seasons. It's on Marietta St. Behind GA Tech's campus. They have a great menu, and really nice brews that are made there. No other beer but other than what they make, but it's good stuff.

You could then head across the street to Octane for some drinks, or you could also hit up HopCity next door to 5 Season. Grab some chilled beer, or room temp beer and chill it in the chiller they have for free. Or get a choice of 60 growler taps and take something to the game to drink in the parking lot before you head in.

You'd drive less, get a good meal and drinks, and then have the chance to get beer, and have it at the game if you want.

Otherwise, I'd say you could simply head down moreland, across ponce and go to virginia highlands and go to Taco Mac.. They have plenty of craft on tap and bottles, and okay food. One stop shop. Or head to The Porter... I haven't been in a long time. Decent food and good tap list all around.

 

Seconded. Little Five Points, hit the Porter. Won't be busy on a Friday afternoon, their draft and bottle list is only surpassed by the Brick Store and the food is pretty good.

 

Def hit the Porter, and if you have time Fox Bros. is the jam. Midway has a cool patio, and a pretty good list, but is a little outta your way. Five Season's/Hop City isn't a bad choice either, but again you'd be going out of your way. I'd suggest hitting up Augustine's for pre-game stuff, decent grub and list, and it's a dead shot from there to the stadium. Also, have someone there tell you the back way in through Grant Park to avoid traffic. Cheers!

 

for little 5 it's The Porter and The Wrecking Bar. The porter is a great beer bar with a huge emphasis on the beer. The wrecking bar is right down the street from the Porter... actually walking distance. The Wrecking bar is a brew pub that makes excellent beer, and I would recommend eating there too.You really can't go wrong with either one.

http://www.wreckingbarbrewpub.com/
http://www.theporterbeerbar.com/

 

If you're staying in Little Five (and have gotten your fill of Decatur), Fox Bros for food then Wrecking Bar then Porter. Easy as 1, 2, 3.

Wrecking Bar (and the Porter for that matter) has excellent food, so it just depends on what you're looking for. I personally think Fox Bros is the best BBQ in town, so that's where I would go.

I've been to Manuel's and Midway many times, but neither one is worth the time/effort vs. the fantastic stuff you can get at Wrecking Bar and Porter, which are literally stumbling distance from each other and the closest bars to where you are staying.

Have fun and GO BRAVES!!!

 

As someone who lives in the neighborhood, I second this.

 

Wow. Timing is everything. Solicit local advice first, then pull for the visiting team. Well played sir.

Now then, don't believe any of the above advice. Head directly to Simpson street on the west side just past the GA Dome. That area is crawling with good craft beer establishments, but you may not notice it at first. Speakeasys are the name of the game on Simpson street. You basically just pick a place and bang on the front door (don't be shy here, you really gotta bang to get the doorman's attention) and tell the person answering the door which hard to find craft beer you are looking for. Example "I'm here for Curmudgeon's Better Half!".

Guaranteed good time.

 

Don't forget about the Rice street area either

 

Wrecking Bar is quickly becoming one of the best beer establishments in Atlanta. You would be making a big mistake by not going there, particularly since you'll be within walking distance. They make great beer and always have a great selection

 

I'd think he'd have better luck over off English Ave, my self... Head south towards Bankhead if he struck out...

 

Fox Bros is great bbq.

Ribs are fantastic. Very tender and smoky and heavy on the bark.

Mac n cheese is very good.

The sauces aren't bad and also won't knock your socks off

One bad thing I had there was the baked beans. Who messes up baked beans?! They were loaded with pepper. Black pepper. So much it was inedible. Never experienced that before.

The brunswick stew was also really black peppery. This was several years ago now.

The couple times I was there they played jam band bootlegs nonstop. I think it was one song the whole time, I can't be sure, but it started to drive me nuts.

 

It's really all about the "Frito Pie" at Fox Bros. What do you get when you open a bag of Frito's and add chili, cheese, and onions? Magic.



Fox Bros is much more Texas-style BBQ than most of the other Atlanta joints. I personally love the sauces because they don't have all that vinegar nonesense (flame invitation) in them. It's what I grew up with. Seeing as you're from SC, you may have a (very) different opinion.

I would agree that baked beans and Brunswick stew are not the best. To be fair, I had never heard of Brunswick stew until I moved to ATL from MS as it was never on any menus of the BBQ places I grew up with. Definitely not a Fox Bros specialty. Beef brisket and the beef short rib on the other hand...that's their specialty! Can't let the pig get all the glory...

Oh, and GO BRAVES!!!!

 

I thought Fox Bros had a giant tree fall on the restaurant in one of the recent storms. Are they already back up and running?

 

They were back up and running in a week or two IIRC.

 

They're not only back up and running but have a MUCH improved outdoor area for seating. Big improvement and a perfect place to enjoy a Lone Star and some Frito Pie. That's right, I said LONE STAR!

 

I'm with you brotha!

I'm a Texas guy, and the BBQ is about as close as you can get this east to good southern Tejas BBQ. The rubs are authentic and the ribs are good. The pork is good too.. The brisket is the bees knees. The sauces are good as well, but forgettable, as I"m not much of a "fuck up the Q with some sauce" guy.

The black pepper mentioned is, ideally, a Texas thing. Black pepper makes even the worst shit taste too.

I'm not much of a brunswick stew guy, it's good, but I think they did it to make people around here willing to come in.

It's an ATL place to visit, and the best part is.. It's still a down to earth local join. Me and the old lady loved to drive literally less than a mile, and make less than 5 turns to get there.

They got beat down in a storm, but the outdoor area is better, IMO now. The 'hood backed them up and had them back at full service the next day I think pretty much.