We're going to Atlanta at the beginning of September. I grew up there but have lost touch with the restaurant scene. What is your favorite restaurant there? Our priority is great food and good service. It doesn't have to be fancy. It doesn't have to be cheap. We'll be staying in the north suburbs, so we're up for downtown Atlanta and north. Thank you.

What kind of food?

Perennial favorites are restaurants in the Buckhead Life group -
http://www.buckheadrestaurants.com/
103 West, Atlanta Fish Market, Bistro Niko, Bluepointe, Buckhead Diner, Chops Lobster Bar, Corner Cafe and Kyma
They are all a bit pricey, but all good and include a wide variety of cuisines. Pick one based on location and you'll be happy.
My favorite in that group is Buckhead Diner - I love their homemade chips with Maytag bleu cheese
http://www.buckheadrestaurants.com/buckhead-diner/menu/

My other favorite group is the Here to Serve group. I eat at one of their restaurants more often because I spend more time in Midtown than Buckhead -
http://www.h2sr.com/
I LOVE Prime at Lenox (steak and sushi), Strip at Atlantic Station and Shout at Colony Square. All are good. Again, different cuisines available.

I use any of the above for out-of-town co-workers, bosses and for clients and we are always pleased with the food and service.

To answer your question, my favorite restaurant in Atlanta was a greek restaurant in Midtown that closed recently.

If you like steak, consider Bones and Ruths Chris.

Atlanta is a big restaurant city with a lot of celebrity chefs lately, so the "best" is always in flux, but three get mentioned a lot as "best" are Bacchanalia, Rathbuns and Restaurant Eugene.

The Buckhead Life group is always popular, and so is the Concentrics group (One Midtown Kitchen, Two Urban Licks, Murphy's).

I also eat out mainly in Midtown and Virginia-Highland. I don't really have one favorite but I like Sotto Sotto, Ecco, Wisteria, Nava.

Ditto on Buckhead Life, Restaurant Eugene and Here to Serve. Also, JCT Kitchen on the westide and for great Tex-Mex go to Neuvo Laredo on Chattahoochie blvd.

Bacchanalia is always a good high-end choice.

I like Kyma of Buckhead Life - Greek cuisine - in Decatur is a new restaurant - Iberian Pig - a little different, Spanish tapas.

"Our priority is great food and good service."

Okay, another idea. LaGrotta on Peachtree in Buckhead

http://www.lagrottaatlanta.com/Buckhead.htm

We ate there on Friday night and I was reminded how much I love it. IMO you won't find better food or finer service in Atlanta. Some of the waiters have been there for 30 years and it is like going back in time. It's setting is surprising - the garden level of a Buckhead condo building. The food and service are sublime. Normally it's an easy $100+ but for a while now they have been offering a Stimulus Menu and it is very popular, (especially/ even?) with the old money Buckhead folk.

For $23.95pp you have your choice of a glass of wine, starter and entree. Their golden beet salad (Barbabietola. Crema di Caprino, Rucola) is one I dream of between visits and every entree is good but the hanger steak (Bistecca di Manzo alla Griglia) is divine.

We ended the evening with coffee and a shared dessert but the total was still at the price point you pay for an average meal at an average restaurant in Buckhead or elsewhere. A steal given the quality of the food and the service. IMO there is none better in Atlanta.

Here's the stimulus menu if it's of interest. It's only available on weeknights (including Friday) -
http://www.lagrottaatlanta.com/Files...lus%20menu.pdf

They, of course, offer their full menu as well.

Ditto any Buckhead Life restaurant and Rathbuns. You might also try Ray's on the River or Canoe for a nice, relaxed out of the city setting.

This is the latest news:
http://media.modernluxury.com/digital.php?e=ATLA

Bistro Niko seems to be hot right now. One Midtown Kitchen and Two Urban Licks, to me these have an Atlanta vibe.

Yep...had lunch at Bistro Niko earlier this year and really enjoyed our meal. My husband and I both had fish, but I can't remember what my daughter ate. It was all quite good though!

But I always enjoy the Buckhead Diner too.

Today's Groupon coupon is for 1/2 off at five of the Fifth group restaurants, including Ecco and the South City Kitchens.

TWO URBAN LICKS

My favorite restaurants these days in Atlanta are of the "farm to table" or local/fresh trend. Some of these are pricier/fancier than others but I think they all have great food and good service. My current favs:

Restaurant Eugene - chef Linton Hopkins recently cooked for the white house. This is his more upscale place where you can get a reservation. His casual place - Holeman & Finch Public house is right next door, hard to get in - very visited by other restaurant chefs/staff.

Woodfire Grill - another of our "celebrity chefs" - Kevin Gillespie was a recent finalist on Top Chef. Hard to get a weekend reservation.

Shed at Glenwood - VERY casual atmosphere, great specials, interesting neighborhood south of downtown. I love the feel of this place - a "neighborhood gem".

Cakes & Ale - in Decatur (East of downtown) - blackboard specials, not even sure if they have a "set menu" except for their signature dessert, phatty cakes.

4th & Swift - a fancier atmosphere, BEST cheese biscuits.

And I do really like Rathbuns and Ecco as well. One other place I've recently taken out of towners - eat on the roof of Six Feet Under - the WEstside location. The view is incredible, lots of seafood prepared in different ways, though several are a take on the fried variety. But lots of fun!

for me--best steak/lamb etc,prepared any way you want with whatever sauce you want is McKendricks. For a really nice romantic meal Aria.For a very good, and not too expensive country French, Le Petit Maison--Bacchnalia is excellent,but alittle crowded to me, and very pricey

I am traveling in to Alpharetta are any of the Buckhead restaurants located there?

no