The Red Hen

The kids may be back at school however the dog days of summer in Atlanta are far from over. Grabbing a cold milkshake from the many purveyors around town is a great way to beat the heat. Fans of Top Chef champion Richard Blais have kept the cooks busy at Flip Burger Boutiquewith locations on the Westside and Buckhead. Favorites on the menu include the popular Butcher’s Cut – a beef burger topped with bleu cheese, caramelized onions, soy truffle vinaigrette, frisee & red wine jam. Flip also highlights Georgia producers in its Farmer Burger which features grassfed beef from White Oak Pastures and Thomasville Tomme cheese from Sweet Grass Dairy. The real treat comes at the end of the meal with an evolving menu of milkshakes with a twist. Flip ups the ante on the typical milkshake with creative ingredients and overflowing liquid nitrogen. Milkshakes range from a shake made with Krispy Kreme doughnuts, a decadent nutella shake topped with burnt marshmallows, and Blais’ signature milkshake with foie gras. The ice cream flavors at east side favorite Morelli’s change daily but on any given day you’ll be able to find vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and their standout hit, salted caramel. Named one of the top ten ice cream shops in the country by Bon Appetit, they’ve expanded from their original location in Ormewood Park,  to a second location near Little Five Points and a joint location with Farm Burger in Dunwoody. Morelli’s encourages samples, and given that their flavors can range from ginger lavender, chocolate chili, key lime cheesecake and honey almond plum, it’s a good bet that a new favorite can be discovered and whipped into a delicious milkshake. Starting as a small project providing high quality ice cream for local chefs has blossomed into a full blown enterprise High Road Craft Ice Cream & Sorbet, selling pints from coast to coast. At their location at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market downtown, milkshake lovers can choose from flavors including their popular Bourbon Burnt Sugar and Brown Butter Praline. Their flavors are constantly changing and often include choices not available in pints. If you prefer to create your milk shake creations at home, check out their factory location in Chamblee on Saturdays for a tour and take home limited edition pints only available at the source. If you’re downtown checking out the new ferris wheel Skyview or catching a show at the Tabernacle, you’re only a block away from hidden gem Park Bar. They offer a menu with great bar food  and a nice craft beer list featuring locals like Jailhouse Brewery and a personal favorite, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. When it comes to frosty beverages, their boozy milkshakes are where it’s at. Choices from their candy themed menu include the Werther’s Original crafted with Crown Royal and butterscotch schnapps, the rum-infused Bananas Foster and the Reese’s with peanut butter vodka and Godiva liqueur. A visit to Park Bar wouldn’t be complete without a spin on the Wheel O’Fun, with a chance to win drinks for the whole bar.

From high style to strip mall dives, Atlanta’s best Mexican restaurants run the gamut of décor. But thankfully, the city doesn’t suffer for it; there are more than a handful of tasty Mexican restaurants to suit every taste bud. It’s mostly thanks to Atlanta’s increasing Mexican population, which brings an authentic flavor to even the most seemingly commonplace establishment. Whether you have a business meeting or just want to catch up with friends over nachos and a beer, you can find the perfect destination somewhere in town. On the upper end of the style spectrum is midtown’s Alma Cocina. Centrally located in Peachtree Tower, this chic restaurant sports a beautiful wood bar where guests can enjoy a lingering drink before making their way to an available table. The central location makes it a great choice for the business lunch set, or for an after-work drink to unwind, while the menu is more creative and upscale than your typical Tex-Mex fare. On the opposite end is Dunwoody’s Los Rancheros, located at the end of an unassuming Kroger strip mall. Los Rancheros has been here for almost 19 years, with the concrete donkey with the broken ear as a constant greeter. When you have a real Tex-Mex craving, head over and slide into a booth for a bubbling cauldron of cheese dip with jalapenos; you won’t be disappointed. Somewhere between Alma Cocina and Los Rancheros lies Taqueria del Sol. An inexpensive, popular place for first dates and friendly reunions, Taqueria del Sol is always very busy, and the seating, which you choose after you order, isn’t made for a long, lingering meal. Still, it’s an excellent spot to start your evening with a drink, munch on a tasty taco or two and plan the night’s activities. With stiff pours and lots of tasty flavors, it’s not hard to see why Taqueria del Sol is so popular. And if you’re ever out in Castleberry Hill, get to No Más! Cantina. The low-frills restaurant fills a similar niche as Taqueria del Sol, although its décor is more inviting, and there are comfortable bar seats, deep booths and an outside patio that make it much more likely you’ll linger before heading out on the town. Unless, of course, great Mexican food was your destination all along.

If you’re ever on the hunt for tasty barbecue and a fun place to watch the game with like-minded sports fans, look no further. DBA Barbecue has you covered. With an array of menu items that will leave you speechless, DBA Barbecue is one of the most talked about establishments in the Virginia Highlands. Meet Matt Coggin, the managing partner of DBA. Today he shares a little insight on how it all got started and some of the future plans for this delightful, local haunt. How did DBA Barbecue come about?   I have worked in the Virginia-Highland neighborhood for over 12 years.  At the time, I had been looking for a space for a couple of years when Vine, the former restaurant in our space, decided to call it quits. Although the recession was in full swing when I signed the lease in 2009, I jumped on the opportunity. I felt the neighborhood needed some great southern comfort food and barbecue at its foundation. Well that and butter. What are 3 menu items everyone must try when they come to DBA? I am really proud of our St. Louis ribs, grilled Texas creamed corn and our house-cured and smoked pastrami.  I think that our pastrami is the best in Atlanta; total meat candy! We’re also known for our smoked wings. Your battered and fried bacon is outstanding! How did you and your staff come up with this concept?   I was under the influence at 2 a.m. Just kidding. We can batter and fry anything! What separates DBA from other BBQ spots in Atlanta? For starters, we are not a dive.  We are a full-service, full bar, neighborhood joint.  Our ‘cue is a little on the sweeter side, and our house-made sides make us really special. In addition to always having great beer on draught, we also have an outstanding moonshine selection and quite a few creative cocktails — like our pickled moonshine martini. In the summertime we serve boozy moonshine slushies and homemade pudding pops…rolled in candied bacon. Of course, we also make all of our own sauces in-house and have found that we really hit a home run with our “Bryan’s Tangy Sauce”. Are there any new menu items in the works that you can give us a sneak peak on?   Chef Eric Guillot of Lake Charles, Lousiana just joined our team. He and I will be working together to add some new house-made sausage, gumbo and more nightly specials focusing on non-traditional barbecue (duck, lamb, tri-tip), as well as some Cajun specials. There are lots of new, exciting changes happening with D.B.A.’s menu in the coming months. Stay tuned!   We love that you have moonshine cocktails. Tell us about your favorite one.  I always loved the Pickled Moonshine Martini.  It's the one that started it all - 2.5 ounces of Junior Johnson Midnight Moon and a splash of pickle juice. It’s shaken vigorously and served up with a pickle!   How would you describe the atmosphere at DBA? D.B.A. is a casual, friendly neighborhood restaurant with a certain New Orleans vibe. Think Frenchman Street in New Orleans. Be sure to check out DBA Barbecue. With a great atmosphere, delicious cocktails and an ever-changing menu, DBA is sure to please! DBA Barbecue 1190 North Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306 (404) 249-5000