owntown Atlanta boasts a cornucopia of cuisines within walking distance of the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) and Georgia Dome, many of which have dishes that accommodate Seventh-day Adventist dietary specifications: Baja Fresh has all-natural, hormone-free ingredients; Taco Mac’s burritos can be altered to fit a vegetarian diet; Dantanna’s, an upscale restaurant in the CNN Center, offers a 100 percent meatless veggie patty that can be substituted on any of their burgers; Rise Sushi Lounge makes a vegetable tempura.
Downtown Atlanta has something for everyone. Here are a few taste-worthy eateries near the GWCC and Georgia Dome to try during your stay in Atlanta (see map). [Eating closer "Home"]
1. Rise Sushi Lounge (Asian)
300 Marietta Street NW, Suite 104;
(404) 477-0947
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Closed for lunch Saturday and Sunday
Open until midnight Friday and Saturday
Open 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday
Prices: Entrées—$15-$25; sushi—$4-$10
Distance from GWCC: 0.29 miles
For vegetarians, tofu may be substituted for meat on some entrées, not including sushi.
2. Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria (American/Italian)
300 Marietta Street NW;
(404) 974-2941
Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; open until 11:00 p.m. Thursday-Saturday
Prices: $9-$20
Distance from GWCC: 0.29 miles
Max serves New York-style pizza made-to-order at Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria. The outfit warns its patrons to “Be careful! Max serves perfectly crisp pizza straight from a coal-burning oven, so it is piping hot!”
3. Taco Mac (American)
Philips Arena, 100 Techwood Drive;
(404) 835-1192
Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.;
closed at midnight on Sunday
Prices: $8-$15
Distance from GWCC: 0.09 miles
Vegetarian burrito available upon request
4. Baja Fresh Mexican Grill (Mexican)
250 Park Avenue West;
(404) 681-2252
Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Prices: $5-$15
Distance from GWCC: 0.31 miles
The Grilled Veggie Burrito has a blend of grilled peppers, chilies and onions, freshly simmered black or pinto beans, melted cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, and sour cream. You may try different salsas from the salsa bar.
5. Atlanta Berean Eatery
Location: Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School, 220 Northside Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA 30314. (The school is directly in front of the Georgia World Congress Center.)
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Service: À la carte Monday-Friday; hot meals and à la carte on each Sabbath. Sit-down or take-out.
Menu: Delicious vegetarian hot meals; hot and cold sandwiches, salads, snacks, and Caribbean delicacies.
Prices: $10.00 per plate ($8.00 per plate for groups of 15 or more). Individual items range from $1.50 to $5.00 each.
Meal tickets may be prepurchased. Transportation is provided for individuals who wish to travel from designated hotels, from the Berean church, or from the downtown area—at $5.00 each way.
For additional information, please contact the church office at (404) 799-7288, e-mail us at [email protected], or visit our Web site at www.atlantabereansda.org.
6. Calabash Vegetarian Kitchen (Vegan)
233 Mitchell Street SW; (404) 957-7376
Hours: Monday-Friday
10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Prices: $3-$10
Distance from GWCC: 0.94 miles
Calabash Vegetarian Kitchen claims a cuisine that satisfies even the strictest diet. Order food à la carte or do a combination plate.
7. Carvel Ice Cream (Dessert/Smoothie)
250 Park Avenue West;
(404) 688-5685
Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Prices: $2-$15
Distance from GWCC: 0.31 miles
Offers everything from freshly made, hand-dipped, and soft-serve ice cream, to take-home novelty treats, to premium ice-cream cakes. Dairy-free fruit smoothies made with real fruit also available.
cross from the GWCC, on the corner of Marietta Street and Centennial Olympic Park Drive, is the CNN Center, which has several fast-food options, including Salad Sensations, Gorin’s Sandwiches, and Dunkin’ Donuts. The CNN Center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For a more relaxing lunch, try one of the following:
8. Don Juan Mexican Cantina (Mexican)
CNN Center Atrium, 190 Marietta Street NW;
(404) 222-0898
Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Prices: $10-$15
Distance from GWCC: 0.18 miles
Located in the atrium of the CNN Center, Don Juan provides a relaxing environment and authentic Mexican cuisine.
9. Prime Meridian (American)
Omni Hotel at CNN Center;
(404) 818-4450
Hours: Breakfast—6:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Lunch—11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.;
Dinner—5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Prices: Breakfast—$5-$15;
lunch—$10-$15;
dinner—$10-$32
Distance from GWCC: 0.18 miles
For breakfast they offer cage-free eggs and a selection of cereals that includes organic choices and soymilk. For dinner, try the mushroom salad or the southern vegetable napoleon.
10. Lee’s Golden Buddha Restaurant (Chinese/Thai)
Next to CNN Center, 120 Marietta Street NW;
(404) 586-9899
Hours: Monday-Thursday—11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday—11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.; Sunday—12:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Prices: $10-$20
Distance from GWCC: 0.26 miles
Lee’s Golden Buddha Restaurant has been serving Mandarin and Szechuan cuisine to downtown Atlanta since 1975. They feature a pleasant and inviting dining atmosphere. Vegetarian customers can substitute mixed vegetables for meat in some entrées.
11. Underground Atlanta,
located less than one mile from the GWCC and Georgia Dome, offers more than six blocks of shopping, dining, history, and entertainment. After an afternoon of shopping (if you have the time), you may stop at a variety of eating venues in the food court on Alabama Street—including American Deli, Cajun Grill, Dairy Queen, Kampani Hawaiian Grill, Lotus Express, Mr. Gyro, and Villa Pizza. The food court is open Monday-Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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Steven Norman III is communication director of the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, with headquarters in Decatur, Georgia; and editor of Southern Tidings.
