Buckhead Atlanta July 4
 

Some of you may have seen my recent post asking about restaurants in Buckhead - we are getting frustrated that many will be closed either because it is a holiday or because July 4 is a Sunday and they are normally closed. This includes Nava and Brasserie le Coze. Any suggestions? - what sort of food will be available in or near Lenox Square? We are not interested in any of the steak restaurants (Prime, Bones, Chops) or loud restaurants like Twist. Anyone?

I don't know if you will have a car or how far you are willing to travel, but we had an excellent meal at Joel, near West Paces Ferry Road, which is about a 15 minute drive from Lenox. I don't know if it'll be open for the long weekend, but it's worth investigating.

http://www.joelrestaurant.com/

It does seem as though it will be tough to find a place on the 4th. I did some local calling around to restaurants that I've been to or are familiar with. Many that I would recommend are going to be closed that day. Two of the Buckhead Life Group (buckheadrestaurants.com) restaurants will be open, Atlanta Fish Market on Pharr Rd. and Buckhead Diner on Piedmont. Also, Maggiano's (a nice chain Italian restaurant that serves large portions, but is thoroughly enjoyable) is open. Maggiano's is across the street and very close to the Embassy Suites. For a drink at night for some fun, Dante's is also close to the hotel. I have never eaten there, so I can't recommend the food. I hope this helps!

Another recommendation for Atlanta Fish Market. It does get crowded, and as I recall, they don't take reservations (although it has been a few years since I've been there - they may take reservations now).

The Atlanta Fish Company is really great. It is part of the Buckhead Life Group -- same as NAVA. I would thing the Buckhead Diner would also be open that day -- again a BLG restaurant. I did get reservations at the Fish Market earlier this year so I think you would be able to as well.

Do not go to Maggiano's. It is a chain There is nothing special about the food.

enjoylife- I agree that the food at Maggiano's is nothing special, but other really good Italian restaurants are closed that day (Antica Posta, Ciao Bella, Pricci). Craig's options are pretty slim in that area.

Just a reminder that the 4th of July is the Peachtree Road Race....largest 10 K in the US, with >45,000 runners...and it starts at Lenox. It is held in the AM, but will affect traffic in the area until noon or later.

I am not sure what is open that day, but Brio Tuscan Grill can occasionally produce an excellent meal, and Surin of Thailand has decent choices. If you can get away from Buckhead, consider Midtown restaurants such as La Tavola or Noche, or farther up Roswell Road, 5 Seasons Brewpub (sounds low key but have had excellent meals there), or Ray's on the River. You don't have to spend a lot, or go to fancy surroundings to get a great meal in Atlanta.

My DH just got his number today for the race - he is 51-thousand-something, and there are 55,000 runners this year. He is not too happy about being at the back of the pack! :) With all the people, he'll be walking the first 5K!

You have truly picked one of the worst possible nights to be dining in Atlanta, and a truly horrible location given the snarled traffic around Lenox that night due to traffic jams.

An option that nobody else has mentioned here yet is Houston's. It's a upmarket chain, but with a "scratch kitchen", so everything's freshly prepared there. It's right across Lenox Rd from the mall, kittycornered from the MARTA station. Broad menu offerings, and you can walk.

I don't know for sure that Houston's is open on Sundays, but I'd be surprised if they weren't. Given that it's a holiday I'd definitely call ahead and check, and book if possible.

Lenox Square is a destination for Atlantans on the 4th, to be in the midst of the Peachtree Road Race and to watch the fireworks. There will be some places to eat in and around the mall. I'd relax my expectations for dinner for that night - it truly will be the worst traffic day/night of the entire year - and Christmas shopping traffic around Lenox can be a nightmare. If you are staying at or near the mall, how about walking across the street and having dinner at the Ritz. Never a bad meal at the Ritz.

The Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton does not serve on Sundays.

A couple of ideas.
Blue Pointe is an upscale fusion place within walking distance. Emeril has a new place near lenox (food is uneven though).
Not sure if it is open but Prime at Lenox is good. I know you said that you didn't want steak but they have very good sushi as well. Dante's across the street is a touristy but fun fondue place with good live jazz.
None of the above would be my first choice.....just a few more ideas to check out.

Blue Pointe is closed on July 4. Reviews of Emeril's place have been generally lousy. Will look into Dante's.

Dante's is really more of a bar/night club than a restaurant. Menu very old school, primarily fondue, and the live jazz can be thunderously loud. Very kitsch decor that features a pirate ship and a sort of in-house zoo of crocodiles (or maybe they're alligators). Anyway, sort of a weird experience, mostly favored by conventioneers and prom-goers.

Are Anis and Soleil still open? They were good, relatively quiet options when I lived there a couple years ago.

Thank you Brian in Charlotte - Anis is open July 4 and is the type of unique place I was looking for. We made a reservation today. BTW, Soliel is closed on Sundays.