Last week we were watching Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives on the Food Network and they happened to feature the Marietta Diner.  Now, anytime a local restaurant is featured on national TV we always make it a point to check it out and see what’s so special about it.  I really REALLY hate going out to the burbs for anything, but I figured I’d make an exception.  The Marietta Diner is owned by a Greek guy and half of the menu is Greek so that made it much more interesting than the typical diner.  It was a lot further out in Marietta than I thought, and once we got there there were tons of people waiting outside.  The cake/pie counter looked very promising, but we didn’t get a chance to try any of them because we were so full!  The portions were huge!  Too bad the food was a little disappointing.  Not terrible.  Not bad.  Just disappointing.  I guess I figured it would be spectacular since it was on TV, but it was just regular diner food.  Maybe my expectations were too high or maybe it was just what we ordered, but I’m not really motivated to drive out to Marietta again for a return visit.  The cool thing is that it’s open 24 hours.

I can’t remember the name of this… but it was the special featured on TV

Crabmeat Melt with Onion Rings

For a looong time I’ve been thinking about how I should be using my car less because of its toll on the environment, the issue of obesity in America, political issues like offshore drilling, and simply because it’s just plain dumb for me to be driving to the places I’ve been driving to.  I have zero excuses for driving as much as I do.  It’s just become a bad habit.  I live in the heart of the city where many things I need are within a mile or less.

Sunday night, Mike and I were getting ready to pick up some dinner (around the corner). We jumped in my car and as it started moving forward we heard this painfully loud, terrible screeching noise like metal scraping metal.  My trusty car was sick for the first time and had to be taken in.

So this week, I’ve had to rely on walking and biking for everything I needed to do.  Yesterday, I walked over to Gilbert’s Meditteranean Cafe for their lunch specials.  I love this place.  They have one of the best weekday lunch deals ever and everything is crazy delicious.

Lovely open air dining area with a nice people watching view of Piedmont & 10th.

Cute decor in the friendly and cozy dining area.

Pick 3 combo for $8.99 - Caprese Salad, Babaganoush with Pita, Lemon Chicken Sandwich.

Later that afternoon, I walked to Trader Joe’s on Monroe & 8th to pick up groceries for dinner.  I broke a little sweat, but it was pretty painless!  Their recyclable bags make it easy for you to throw your purchases over your shoulder and carry home.  By the end of the day I felt really good about walking everywhere.  I think I’ll do this more often and pretend like I don’t have a car.  Too bad it took my car being screwed up for me to FINALLY start doing this.

Mike and I decided to be really adventurous this time and try something completely new unlike anything we’ve ever eaten before.  Where did we go?  The Cottage Ethiopian Cuisine! I’m sure everyone who lives in metro Atlanta has passed this place hundreds of times since it’s on Piedmont Ave.  I always thought it looked like an old Burger King… and that’s because it was!  There’s also live music on certain nights.  The food wasn’t bad… I’d eat here again!  It was a very cool experience.  I also didn’t feel fat after eating it… which is usually a good thing!

If you can get over the fact that it’s in an old Burger King, the inside is a lot better than you’d expect.

The menu is very vegetarian friendly… not that I’m a vegetarian… I’ve tried and there’s absolutely no way it’s going to happen.

No spoons or forks.  You scoop up the food with the rolls of spongey bread they give you.

I’m guilty of being a seafood snob in Atlanta since this is the first time I’ve ever been landlocked, but I have to say I really love going to Six Feet Under in Grant Park.  I’m always a fan of laid back restaurants where you don’t have to dress up.  The location across from the historic Oakland Cemetery is pretty cool too.  Oh!  And their mixed drinks are excellent.  The Tombstone Tea (kinda like a Long Island) and the Blueberry Vodka Lemonade are my favorites!  They’ll get you screwed up pretty fast too without even realizing it.

This picture kinda sucks because of the lighting inside… plus I’m a crappy photographer.
If you have a chance you should definitely sit on the rooftop… it’s a much better view.

Another terrible photograph…

Some graffiti I saw while walking back to my car

Hands down, my favorite place to eat sushi in Atlanta is RuSan’s on Piedmont & Monroe in Midtown despite all the mixed reviews on Citysearch and other sites.  Some people think it’s too loud or has terrible presentation, but I love it.  It’s the only one in town that’s affordable and has a fun, crazy atmosphere and the menu is huge (although a little overwhelming).  I’m tired of the retardedly pretentious sushi joints here where I end up spending almost $100 on my own meal.  Every time I’ve been to RuSan’s they’ve always been so nice.. and sometimes they even take sake shots with my friends and me… very cool!  It’s a great place for a celebration or to take a bunch of people.  My favorite is to get them to do the “orange peel” trick for out of towners… if you don’t know you should definitely look into it… teeheeehee.

The Fuyuyama Maki

Sushi Pizza

I’ve never been much of a BBQ fan, but Fat Matt’s Rib Shack definitely changed that.  I’ve been here probably at least 20 times and never get tired of it.  It’s a great little mom and pop place that usually has a line going out the door as soon as it opens.  Another cool thing is that every night there’s a blues band that performs.  It’s definitely a great place to take out of towners for a local flare… YUM!

Full slab of ribs and bbq sauce (I shared with Mike)

With baked beans and brunswick stew!

One of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta is the Flying Biscuit.  I like to go to the one on Piedmont Ave & 10th Street since I can just walk there.  I love the organic oatmeal pancakes with peaches on top… mMmMM!  I usually end up loving everything I order from the Flying Biscuit.  They’re mainly known for their (all day) breakfasts, but I’ve been here for the dinner menu once and it was pretty damn good!  I have no idea why the dinner crowd is so sparse.  The weekend wait for breakfast can also be long, but then again I don’t mind since that corner tends to be a really good people watching spot!

“The High Flyer” An organic oatmeal pancake with warn peach compote, 2 eggs, and a sausage

…and also served with a flying biscuit (I added the gravy), and your choice of moon dusted potatoes, creamy dreamy grits, or a side salad of field greens.  Yum!!!

I ate them all!!!  So Mike and I went to Belly General Store in the Virginia Highlands for a very unconventional lunch. We picked up coffee, a strawberry cupcake, an empanada, and a chocolate chip cookie. We weren’t truly hungry, but were just in the mood to “taste” things. It was all so delicious!! I could also stare at the décor at Belly for hours. This place is sooo sooo cute. Just take a look at the pics!

After passing by The Atlanta Cupcake Factory on N. Highland (just south of Ponce de Leon Ave.) a few times Mike and I finally decided to drop in for a visit. My Key Lime cupcake had the tastiest icing topped off with a perfect touch of graham cracker crumbs. It was soo good! Mike had the Red Velvet cupcake which was really good too. They even have a cute little sitting area outside in the front where you could scarf your cupcakes down. Yum! Just writing about it makes me want to go back again!  Cupcakes are available at the counter on Thursday - Sunday.