Going out to dinner in Atlanta can be challenging or overwhelming sometimes with all the different options our city has to offer. The struggle is real – you don’t always want to break the bank when you go out for a nice dinner spot, but you still want great food! Fear not, for I have come bearing recommendations priced between $20-$30, which happens to be the most common range that my Instagram followers said they felt comfortable spending for a nice meal. For these nice dinner spots, I have factored in the price point but also the ambiance of the restaurant which is critical as well! You can consider this list fluid over the long-term; as I try more and more places, I will lengthen this list with any I think are worth recommending!
#1 – Ammazza
I love a good pizza; for me, this requires unique flavors and a delicious crust. Ammazza has both of these things! Their pizzas are huge and fantastic to split, especially for a group dinner. My favorite pizza is Terra, Ammazza’s white sauce based option. I love that this restaurant has both indoor and outdoor dining space as well. Cost per pizza: $21-$25.
Parking: Ammazza has a few parking spots in the front of their store, but your best bet is to park on the street. Cornelia Street and Bradley Street near Dad’s Garage always have spots open if you are having trouble!
#2 – Southbound
A little outside the city in Chamblee, Southbound is a fantastic dinner spot! Their twist on southern food is much more modern. I love Southbound’s mix of cold and hot small plates which, if you mix and match two, feel like enough food to be an entree. My personal favorites are the grit fritters and mushroom toast. Make sure you make reservations for dinner at least a week in advance. Cost for small plates: $6 – $18. Cost for entrees: $14- $36.
Parking: Southbound has a private lot with a valet, but there is street parking available on both Peachtree and Pierre Drive if you don’t mind a little walking.
#3 – Beetle Cat
This Inman Park stable is a fantastic dinner spot! Beetle Cat’s mix of seafood with something of a casual asian flare makes for delicious dishes no matter where you look on the menu. We always start off with the Fry bread and some Salty Dog Cocktails when we go. The bread is named after the owner, Ford Fry, and is a wonderful way to fail at not eating too much bread before your entrees (summary: very dangerous). I do love snagging a few small oysters as well! Heads up that the entree list varies based on spice levels and different types of seafood, so there should be something for everyone. I usually go for shrimp or clams whereas my husband goes for their stews and fried rice dishes. Make a reservation at least two weeks in advance to come here even on a weekday because it can get busy! Cost for entrees: $18 – $36. Underneath Beetle Cat is a bar called The Den that offers fantastic cocktails with a mid century modern vibe. I will dive deeper into this spot in my drinks blog post.
Parking: Downtown Inman has some street parking on Highland, but your best bet is to park on the side streets like Elizabeth street or Lake Ave and walk over. They do have a paid deck next to MF Sushi for the quick and easy option.
#4 – Girl Diver
I recently tried Girl Diver for a progressive dinner experience and it blew me away! Girl Diver’s eclectic cocktail names paired with Vietnamese inspired apps makes for a super unique restaurant. The fried rice, dumplings and brussel sprouts are amazing. Their lobster mac and cheese is so dreamy as well. Cost for apps/entrees: $10-$30
Parking: Since it is in the Madison Yards shopping center, I would park at the deck next to the AMC movie theater for free parking. You can also park in the deck below Publix as well and walk up to the restaurant.
#5 – Sotto Sotto
Finding delicious Italian options is a must in my relationship with my pasta loving husband. Right in the heart of Inman Park, Sotto Sotto has a small environment perfect to enjoy a lovely glass of wine paired with a delicious pasta dish. I have had the tagliatelle ai funghi as well as the cacio, pepe and pancetta and both were delicious. Cost: pasta dishes are between $24-$26.
Parking: Street parking is your best friend to getting to Sotto Sotto. If you’re lucky, you can find some spots on North Highland Ave. If not, parking on Elizabeth Street or Austin Ave works as well!
#6 – Estrellita
Right after we moved into our new condo last year, my friend recommended this as the best Filipino food she’s had in Atlanta. Being that my husband is half Filipino we knew we had to try it, and let’s just say they passed the test with flying colors! We always start off with the lumpia (Filipino eggrolls) as an appetizer and for my entree, I love getting the fried chicken or the bistek whereas my husband loves their barbeque. The affordability of the cost vs the amount of food is amazing. Cost for entrees: $11-$14
Parking: since we live so close to Estrellita, we normally walk over. However, there is a full lot behind it that has free parking (near the Jimmy Johns). You can also park for free on Woodward Avenue in front of the restaurant entrance.
#7 – Bocca Lupo
I drive by this restaurant every week heading home from my workout class. I never realized it was there because it is well hidden behind tree cover on the corner of the street. Their menu is full of delicious cocktails to pair with some truly fabulous pasta dishes. What I love most about Bocca Lupo’s menu is that they have traditional dishes but with some unique flairs. The last time I was there, I ordered their vesper cocktail alongside the perigord truffle carbonara. If you are wanting to try a little bit of everything, they have a tasting menu as well. If you split comes out to around $40 a person for three courses. They are only open for dinner Wednesday-Saturday and do take reservations on Resy. If you want to make a weekend reservation, I recommend booking at least 3-4 weeks in advance. Cost for entrees: $18-$32
Parking: They have a private lot behind the restaurant on Waddell Street, but you can always park on Edgewood Ave as well.
#8 – Del Bar
The evolution of this restaurant has been amazing to see! In the heart of Inman Park, Del Bar has traditional middle eastern cuisine combined with the stunning atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for a nice dinner. Del Bar’s cocktail menu is unparalleled and paired with the dill labneh is the best way to start a meal. Their servings are huge so I recommend getting one to two of the meats and one of their rice dishes to share as a side. Fantastic food with their meats costing from $18-$29 and their sides/rices from $8-$14.
Parking: Del Bar doesn’t have any official parking, but they recommend parking at the Mariposa Lofts lot after 5pm. Fair warning that I have seen car break ins here, but I also have parked my car here many times and it has been completely fine. You can also do street parking off Highland or Elizabeth Ave as well.
#9: Talat Market
My friend Christy introduced me to Talat a few years ago. It has some of the most unique cocktails and food in the city! Their food is based on constantly evolving Thai techniques, and they update their menu frequently with some of the freshest seafood in Summerhill. Talat’s menu subscribes to a more unique family-style dining experience, where you get a few small plates and a large dish to share with a group. Small plates typically range $8-$18 while large plates may range from $25-$35. In my opinion, Talat is the perfect spot to gather friends or family for a tasty casual dinner on the weekend.
Parking: Talat does have dedicated parking next to the restaurant. However, in a pinch I always find street parking on Ormond Street or any of the other nearby side streets!
#10: Cooks & Soldiers
Our good friend Sam goes to this spot every year for his birthday. When we decided to do a date night recently it was at the top of our list! Cooks & Soldiers is inspired by the Basque region, which is situated in-between Spain and France. Cooks & Soldiers’ menu is mainly tapas inspired with some large plates as well, so you have optionality depending on how hungry you are. Their cocktail menu is phenomenal as well! We shared the patatas bravas, chistorra in a blanket (think pigs in a blanket utilizing fluffy croissants and delicious side sauces), bikin (aka fancy mini grilled cheese sandwiches), crudo (very floral!), the fish of the day (Branzino) and some shisito peppers. Their small plates range from $8-$23 whereas their large plates are $35+.
Parking: Cooks & Soldiers has a complimentary valet parking lot right before the turn onto Howell Mill, so you just have to pay for the tip! Sadly, there is no free parking in West Midtown.
I hope this list gives you a starting point to try some fantastic casual spots around the city of Atlanta! As I continue to visit and try more places I love, this list will be updated! Teach Travel Tell is always looking for nice dinner spots. If you have any others to recommend please leave a comment!
