Restaurants in Lawrenceville

It’s hardly a surprise that chef Tony Vitulli’s food embodies his Italian heritage, from housemade pasta sauces to rich and decadent slices of tiramisu. Yet, it’s the tapas that add complexity to his traditional Italian recipes. While living in Spain, Tony married a Spanish woman and fell in love with the country’s signature small plates. The couple then moved to Atlanta, where they opened up their trendy bi-cultural eatery. The kitchen, which Robert Nebel of the Examiner.com applauded for “[concentrating] on quality, rather than quantity,” represents Spain with a range of tapas, such as lamb kebabs and chorizo omelets, and churns out seven types of long and short pastas drenched in 13 sauces—each one made from scratch. Golden-yellow walls and exposed brick encircle a handful of tables set for two inside the cozy space. Diners can also head to the outdoor patio and enjoy a pitcher of homemade sangria alfresco, which is Italian for “while posing for a mural.”

Diners take a whiff of grilled meats and slide into dark-wood booths upon entering Famous Joes, waiting to be greeted by the chilly handshake of a cold glass of beer and the calming glow of baseball games emanating from the 21 42-inch flat-screen TVs hung on terra-cotta-colored walls. As a karaoke singer croons on, chefs pull ribs and pork from a 12-hour marinade, toss glistening chicken wings in 16 varieties of sauce, and hand-sculpt ground beef into half-pound patties and busts of Woodrow Wilson. Behind a row of stools, bartenders pour from 10 drafts and 30 bottled beers hailing from domestic and overseas breweries.

At first, Tin Drum Asia Café's rapid service and bright decor evoke the aromatic street stands of Hong Kong, where founder Steven Chan ate throughout his childhood. The traditional ambiance is no accident—the franchise's name also harks back to a bygone era, when a tin drummer would awaken citizens and regale them with current events as they ate the day’s first meal. The electronic kiosks dotting the café, however, plunk this traditional scene in the middle of a cyberpunk setting. They allow patrons to customize their orders based on taste preferences and nutritional content, accommodating dietary endeavors such as vegetarianism and weight-loss goals.

This merger of technology and urban convention reflects a penchant for edgy ideas that also affects the menu. Items inspired by the culinary techniques of Japan, China, Vietnam, and Thailand share space in the savory catalog, taking the form of street tacos, soups, and mango chicken, a take on the general tso's staple that's sweeter than a syrup-soaked army helmet. Music is the final ingredient that charges the atmosphere. Nation's Restaurant News reports that it typically plays at an energizing 120 beats per minute and was a factor in attracting the café's initial college crowds.

Boasting four consecutive Best Barbecue awards from Best of Gwinnett, the chefs at Dillards Barbecue take pride in their zesty Southern cuisine. As their ribs marinate in tangy barbecue sauce, they whip up the fried chicken, savory pork, and tender catfish sandwiches that have been winning over taste buds since 1998. If it’s too early for hushpuppies or mac 'n' cheese, they usher in the day with Southern breakfast staples such as homemade biscuits with sausage gravy and eggs. They also cater heaping helpings of Southern eats for large parties, such as family gatherings, corporate meetings, and jury-duty reunions.