Best Restaurants in Reynoldstown
One of the best parts of living in Atlanta is the number of charming and distinctive neighborhoods. Located just east of downtown is Reynoldstown, one of the fastest-growing parts of town with a fascinating history.
It was originally settled after the Civil War by freed slaves (including Madison and Sarah Reynolds, who the town is supposedly named after) who worked for the city’s vast railroad industry. It has since exploded in countless ways, from its diversity to its art scene, with residents including young families, twentysomething professionals, retired empty-nesters, and local students. Because it is nestled snugly between Cabbagetown, Grant Park, and Inman Park, its reach is quite vast.
Reynoldstown also has a significant influence around Atlanta due to its budding restaurant scene, combining tried-and-true staples with bold new spots.
Here are some favorite Reynoldstown eateries; keep in mind they are not numbered in any favorite order.
1. Muchacho
904 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Muchacho dared to ask the question, “What if our coffee shop had tacos?” and Atlanta is better off for it. From 8 AM to midnight every day of the week, this trendy spot on Memorial serves coffee drinks, booze, thoughtful bowls and sandos, and, of course, breakfast tacos and burritos (which are all served until 3 PM).
Just about everything on the Muchacho food menu goes tremendously well with a cup of cold brew or any of the other creative coffee and espresso concoctions you may be drawn to that particular day.
2. Petit Chou
662 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
This deeply stylish tribute to French cooking has much to write home about: the perfectly-roasted PERC Coffee drinks, the grandiose garden, the sexy bar scene…but obviously, we’re all about the food, especially the breakfast.
Petit Chou is perhaps best known for their Liège Waffles: Belgian waffles with seasonal fruits and pecans, topped with Vermont maple syrup and an addictive cinnamon-vanilla whipped cream. On a similar note is the French Toast Crème Brûlée Combier, AKA croissant French toast (be careful not to drool on your screen). Some of the more savory items include the Eggs Benedict (topped with pancetta, arugula, and diced tomatoes), Biscuits and (chicken sausage) Gravy, and the French bistro favorite Croque Monsieur. Not to mention, they start serving lunch at 11:00 AM.
3. Girl Diver
955 Memorial Dr SE ste 510, Atlanta, GA 30316
From Richard Tang, owner of the Inman Park favorite Char, comes Girl Diver. They serve a seafood-heavy modern take on Vietnamese food.
The Cantonese Chili Lobster is tangy and spicy. The Lobster Slider Duol is crunchy and warm, with a side of fresh Old Bay waffle fries. If you’re not into seafood, the Shaking Beef is a burst of familiar flavor with additional layers that make it soar. The Fried Rice is simple but exactly what you want with the meal.
Additionally, the bar is top-notch, adding depth to all the classic cocktails. The Panda Epress-o Martini is perfect for that after-dinner wake-up call. They also have a Smoked Old-Fashioned with Bulleit Bourbon, Angostura, and garnished with orange bitters. Not to mention their spiked iced tea, Tokyo Tea. It features vodka, gin, rum, and melon liqueur with a splash of lemon and Sprite.
4. El Tesoro
209 Edgewood Ave. Atlanta, GA 30303
This Edgewood hotspot is the pride of the neighborhood, with a sprawling patio and a cool atmosphere for drinks and any other fiesta you may have in mind. Their merch is slick, and the overall aesthetic guarantees a good time. Plus, those crispy and flavorful burritos are comfort food personified.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better way to spend your day than sitting on that patio with a House Blanco Margarita in one hand and a Mulita (small corn tortilla quesadilla) or Burro (SoCal-style burrito) in the other. They are closed on Monday, but don’t fret because they are open for Taco Tuesday!
5. Home grown
968 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Homegrown is one of the most beloved restaurants in all of Atlanta. It has an old-school southern feel (my friend Brandon describes it as a “cool version of Cracker Barrel”), yet is infused with a modernity thanks to displays of local art that are constantly being sold and replaced, a unique way of staying connected with the Reynoldstown neighborhood and beyond.
Part of the reason the food is so side-stickingly tasty is that much of the organic produce is supplied from their very own garden. They also never try to get cute with Southern staples. The secret to the Comfy Chicken, an open-faced chicken biscuit covered with pork sausage gravy, is that the biscuit is fresh and fluffy, the chicken is beautifully prepared, and the sausage gravy…is sausage gravy! Grant’s Stack puts homemade pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes, and bacon on grilled Texas Toast. And the Big A’s is a breakfast bruschetta: a grilled hoagie topped with mozzarella, goat cheese, spinach, roasted tomatoes, as well as scrambled eggs and bacon (it is breakfast after all!)
As Anthony Bourdain himself once said, “If you need a whole breakfast — old school, full-on — then Home Grown in Reynoldstown might be what you need.”
They are closed on Monday and Tuesday.
6. ParkGrounds
142 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
When you think of a dog park, you probably don’t get the desire to eat or drink, but ParkGrounds redefined their identity, converting their large dog park into a dog-friendly beer garden. One of the least fun parts of being a dog owner is leaving your dog at home, so they’re simply trying to make your life, and of course, your furry best friend’s life, more fun!
Bring your canine companion to enjoy breakfast, sandwiches, and beer with their favorite person in the world (psst…that’s you). ParkGrounds serves breakfast items like a Hash Brown Bowl with fried egg, cheddar, onion, tomato, and your choice of bacon or sausage and a Carnitas Breakfast Burrito stuffed in a spinach wrap with carnitas, onion, tomato, hash browns, and scrambled eggs.
They have a variety of sandwiches which are available all day (breakfast is only served until 2:00 PM), so enjoy those with your choice of cafe drink or beer.
7. Taqueria Tsunami
915 Memorial Drive SE, Suite 212, Atlanta, GA 30316
Taqueria Tsunami combines two of our favorite global cuisines, Latin and Asian, into a sweet, sour, salty, and scrumptious fusion of flavor. While the two may seem quite disparate, you’ll find yourself surprised by how deliciously they blend.
Few dishes demonstrate this culinary marriage better than the Asian Nachos: wontons topped with queso, pico, roasted poblano/corn, lettuce, fresh jalapenos, and your choice of ground beef or Kogi BBQ short rib. There’s also the Avocado Cilantro Egg Rolls and the Korean Fried Cauliflower, which are each delicious in their own right.
Finally, there’s the tacos…specifically, the Tsunami Quatro, which comes with 3 tacos and a side (bringing the total to four items, hence the name). We recommend Asada Zing (AKA bulgogi), Aloha (grilled teriyaki chicken with pineapple pico), and Korean Carnitas with a side of either Tots with Jalapeno Queso or Fried Yucca.
8. Chik’nCone
780 Memorial Drive Unit 1A Atlanta, GA 30316
Chik’nCone takes crispy and well-seasoned pieces of chicken and serves them in a waffle cone. Yes, you read that correctly! This combination may sound like a fever dream, but it instead tastes like your wildest dreams came true.
The menu is tight, so you can only really get something tremendous, like the Chick’nCone or the Chick’nSandwich, along with your choice of homemade sauces, including Cinna-Maple, Kick’n Ranch, and Yell BBQ (mustard-based BBQ). Make sure you order a side or two, like the Caj’nFries and the Mac’nCheese.
There are two locations in Atlanta, including a newly-opened Reynoldstown spot right across from the Dairies. Still, there are locations all across America and even a handful in the United Arab Emirates.
9. Breaker Breaker
921 Wylie St SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Gearing off the beltline into the coolest restaurant ever. Breaker Breaker has refreshing drinks to cool you off from your walk on the beltline, playing with the kids at the park or that after-work cool-off drink.
Not to mention, Breaker Breaker has the most delicious food you can put on your taste buds. It is a Bar with seafood and a patio to enjoy your food and drinks in the summer air. Happy Hour Specials are also on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays!
You cannot find anything on the menu that is not good, but the best of the best is the Roasted Chicken Club, with crunchy bacon and added with salsa verde and mayo, it is the perfect combo. Do not forget about adding a seasonal boozie slushie. You will not regret it.
10. Wylie & Rum Island Grill
45 Moreland Ave SE Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30316
Welcome to your vacation restaurant right in the midst of Reynoldtown. You are on Island time here! With all the Island vibes, Wylie & Rum has you seated and ready to dive into your meal with Shrimp Fritters, Chips and Queso or Jumbo Jerk Wings with a Raspberry Coulis! Moving on to the second course, the signature buffet, individual bowls, and sandwiches/burritos, they have everything you are looking for to satisfy all and any craving you have.
Moving onto their choices of drinks, their cocktails will take you to your last memory of you sitting island time with a Key West Lemonade in hand. They also have a fun twist on the traditional ole’ fashioned with a kick of spicy rum. Give this place a try!
11. Kitty Dare
1029 Edgewood Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
Not only is Kitty Dinner a Mediterranean restaurant, but it will take you back to history and memories with a variety of Mediterranean cultures. As you take a look at the menu, it is not just a simple menu with only food choices, but it incorporates images from the past to show you the history of Kitty Dinner.
Something you should not pass up is their Melanzane a Funghetto, which is a penne pasta with San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, chillies, basil, fried eggplant, EVOO, and Burrata cheese. Of course, their Koobideh Kebab is also delicious. It is a blend of ground beef and lamb served with marinated feta cheese, tzatziki, and their house barbaree bread.
They have many choices of beverages, but their cocktails are not the original cocktails you see at every restaurant. These cocktails are made specifically to show you the culture.
12. a mano
587 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta, GA 30312
For all the non-Italians, a mano means “by hand”, while “amano” means “they love”. The name behind the restaurant shows how the restaurant makes each item with seasonal ingredients and traditional cooking methods.
Each pasta on the menu can be substituted with gluten-free fettuccine. The most perfect pasta is their pesto e pomodoro with sun-dried tomato pesto, rigatoni, rapini, feta, and fennel fronds; it makes for a delicious pasta dish. If you aren’t a pasta fan, the pan-roasted salmon with butternut squash, carrot ribbons, pickled fennel, and pecan sage gremolata will work excellently, if not better. Honestly, everything on the menu is delicious so that any choice will be great!
