Eat in Midtown (midtown), Atlanta

Mary Mac's Tea Room ★ 4.6

Mary Mac's Tea Room in Atlanta opened 1945 and runs Southern Sunday dinner classics in a four-dining-room compound on Ponce de Leon, with the same recipes through three ownership changes.

Signature: Fried chicken, Pot likker and cornbread, Peach cobbler

Order: Pot likker with a side of cornbread, then fried chicken with three sides.

Tip: Order the pot likker as a starter; it comes free with cornbread. No reservations Monday through Thursday lunch; OpenTable for dinner and weekends.

Poor Calvin's ★ 4.4

Poor Calvin's in Midtown Atlanta opened 2010 with chef Calvin Phan's mash-up of Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese plates. Lobster pad Thai has been a city signature for over a decade.

Signature: Lobster pad Thai, Crispy whole snapper, Black pepper steak

Order: Lobster pad Thai, the dish that put Calvin Phan on the city's map.

Tip: Cash and card. Reservations on OpenTable; Saturday night books a week ahead. Casual atmosphere despite the price.

The Varsity ★ 4.0

Frank Gordy's North Avenue drive-in in Atlanta opened 1928 and remains among the largest drive-in restaurants in the world by daily volume, with chili dogs and Frosted Orange.

Signature: Chili dog, Onion rings, Frosted Orange

Order: Two chili dogs (called Naked Dogs Walking), an order of onion rings and a Frosted Orange.

Tip: Walk-up counter inside; carhop service paused. Order in Varsity slang for the full experience: 'two dogs walking' = two hot dogs to go.

Fellini's Pizza ★ 3.8

Fellini's Pizza in Atlanta has run New York-style slices and 18-inch pies out of nine locations since 1985, with the original Ponce de Leon shop the cult favourite.

Signature: New York-style slice, Pepperoni pizza

Order: Two pepperoni slices and a beer; cheap, fast and good.

Tip: Open until 02:00 weekends; the Ponce location stays the latest. Cash and card.

Clermont Lounge ★ 3.8

Clermont Lounge in Atlanta's Hotel Clermont basement runs the city's longest-running dive bar since 1965. Famous Anthony Bourdain and Atlanta hip-hop coverage.

Signature drink: Beer and shot

Food: Snacks only

Tip: Cash only at the bar. The Clermont Hotel above has a rooftop bar with a much different vibe; same building.

The Varsity ★ 4.0

The Varsity at North Avenue in downtown Atlanta since 1928 runs chili dogs, onion rings and Frosted Orange at a drive-in counter format. The original location runs the longest hours.

Try: Chili dog with onion rings

Tip: Order in Varsity slang: 'two dogs walking' = two hot dogs to go. The onion rings and Frosted Orange are the standard upsell.

Papi's Cuban Grill ★ 4.1

Papi's Cuban Grill in Atlanta runs Cuban sandwiches, ropa vieja and rice plates since 2008. The Cuban sandwich is the marquee item; the cafe Cubano runs as the closer.

Try: Cuban sandwich and ropa vieja

Tip: Counter ordering at the Midtown location; full-service at Buckhead. The Cubano with plantains is the lunch combo.

★ 4.1

Secret Food Tours Atlanta runs a Midtown walking tour starting at the Georgian Terrace, six tastings across Peachtree Street into Colony Square: fried chicken, empanadas, waffles and a secret dish.

Tip: Look for the guide with an orange umbrella at the Georgian Terrace lobby. The final secret dish is exclusive to the Secret Food Tours format.

Atlanta Food and Wine Festival ★ 4.5

Atlanta Food and Wine Festival runs four days each September in Atlanta with Southern-focused chef stations, wine tastings, dinners and seminars. Since 2011, the city's marquee event.

Tip: The Grand Tasting tent is the festival's anchor; chef dinners across the city require separate tickets and book a month out.

Taste of Atlanta ★ 4.3

Taste of Atlanta runs two days each October in Atlanta with over 80 restaurant tasting stations, chef demos and live music. Held since 2002; the city's largest restaurant showcase.

Tip: Buy tasting tickets in advance for a discount. The chef-stage demos are the under-the-radar draw; VIP gets early entry.

Atlanta Greek Festival ★ 4.2

Atlanta Greek Festival runs four days each October at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Atlanta with souvlaki, baklava, dancing and church tours. Held since 1972.

Tip: Souvlaki and gyro plates run heaviest at lunch; baklava and pastry sales run all weekend. Parking gets tight by 18:00.

The Cook's Warehouse Cooking School ★ 4.4

The Cook's Warehouse cooking school in Atlanta runs more than 800 classes a year out of its Ansley Mall kitchens, covering pasta to pho.

Tip: Hands-on classes pair you in teams of three to five, so book with a friend or expect to share a station.

R. Thomas Deluxe Grill ★ 4.0

R. Thomas Deluxe Grill in Atlanta is the Midtown organic late-night room: free-range burgers, vegan bowls, an outdoor patio of yard ornaments since 1985.

Try: Free-range burgers, vegan bowls, blue-green-algae smoothies

Tip: Cuts off at 05:00 Wednesday through Saturday now, not 24-hour anymore. Yard ornament patio is the move on warm nights.