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Fall 2004 Dining Guide TWICE THE WORK, TWICE THE REWARDS Welcome to the Fall Dining Guide, where we offer a fresh report on the very best restaurants of Greater Atlanta. For the first time, we have two principal dining critics voicing in. When it came to advocating our favorite places, we found that we often agreed, sometimes went head-to-head and only infrequently needed to resort to blows. You see, when one dining critic tries to pick the Top 50 restaurants in a metro area, it's a matter of weighing options, savoring the intangible and reflection. But with two critics on the scene, it's a matter of rules. We began rethinking the old Top 50 selections for the first time in a year and drew up a list of about 75 places to consider. In many cases we both visited the same restaurant on separate occasions. We each assumed veto power: We could strike any restaurant from the list at will. But to put a new restaurant on the list required either mutual consent or a really, really good argument. In a few cases we reassigned star ratings after multiple visits. Some restaurants that came off the list may be reviewed again in the future. So, for now, say goodbye to Atlanta Fish Market, Byblos, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Dick and Harry's, Donlan and Greenbaum's New York Prime, Five Seasons Brewing Co., Fritti, McKendrick's Steak House, Nava, Pano's and Paul's, Ruchi Indian Cuisine (closed), Saigon Cafe, Shiraz Persian Cuisine, Silvia's Pastry, Teaspace and Ted's Montana Grill. Now give a shout-out to Bud Namu, Caffè Midtown, Canoe, Chops, Eclipse di Luna, Fandango, Mezza A Lebanese Bistro, Mi Pilon, Paõ de Mel, Pura Vida, Rathbun's, Restaurant Eugene, Soto Japanese Restaurant, Taka Sushi Cafe, Thumbs Up Diner and Wisteria Restaurant. In this guide, we also rank our Top 5 restaurants and offer a variety of critics' picks of great spots for every occasion — dining solo, taking kids or picking up carryout. Eat well. We sure have. |
