Atlanta

I had Saturday brunch with one of my friends at The Original Pancake House. We ate around noon. We had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated, but it was worth the wait. The atmosphere is of a casual, old style diner.

The menu is quite extensive, but only in the breakfast genre. The menu selection includes crepes, pancakes, breakfast meats (bacon, sausage), eggs, and omelettes, waffles, fresh fruits and juices, and more. The potatoes and onions are excellent. Order them well done as a great accompaniment to your breakfast. They are enough to share. In fact, all of the portions are large enough to share. I ordered pancakes with bacon and eggs. I added blueberries, at a cost of around $1.50. There are at least a dozen other ways to order pancakes, including with pecans and bananas.

The service is quick and friendly. Even when it's busy, the waitresses are pleasant and actually seem happy to be bringing the food out. There are late night hours here as well, so you can stop by after going out.

I met a friend for dinner at Goldfish around 7pm on a Thursday night. The dining room was pretty full, but we only had to wait a few minutes for a table. There was some outside seating near the bar that was first come first served, but there weren't that many tables. The restaurant is quite large, with lots of tables and booths, and a full bar area. There was live piano music that was enjoyable but much too loud. It was difficult to talk over the music.

The menu had quite a range of seafood options. The back was filled with sushi and sashimi choices. Most items look fairly traditional, with few adventurous choices. My friend and I ordered off the front of the menu. My friend ordered the scallops and I ordered the salmon, which both were a la carte options priced at $10-15. The side dishes included fun options and some healthy choices. I ordered the fresh green beans and the cheese chile grits. Although the side dishes are designed for one person, it would have been more fun to order a few to share among 2 people. Other side dishes included asparagus with hollandaise, mashed potatoes, and creamed spinach. Most prices were $3-5.

We each spent about $25 for an entree and a side dish or 2, with no drinks. It's fairly pricey for what you get, but it was also really enjoyable, fresh food. I would recommend the place if you want to enjoy a nice meal and lively conversation.

Taco Mac has the best wings in Atlanta, with locations all over the area. There are enough options to choose from, so you can get them made exactly as you want them. You can order them extra-crispy to get that extra crunch or have them extra-saucy - or get extra sauce on the side. You can pick from mild, medium, hot, TMI or death. You can pick either ranch or bleu cheese as a dipping sauce.

Wings come with your choice of celery or french fries. For 10 wings (the smallest portion), the price was about $7.

We ordered onion rings as an appetizer for $4. They (along with everything else) arrived steaming hot.

For a place that serves great wings, the menu was quite extensive. There is a range of traditional bar food, including fries, onion rings, nachos, chips and salsa or queso, etc. The menu also offered a healthy selection of salads, including one topped with grilled salmon.

The atmosphere is like a local pub/bar. There are tons of televisions in the bar and dining areas. They broadcast a range of sporting events.

The beer selection was quite broad, with a varying special each month.

I met a friend for dinner at MF Sushi on Saturday night around 7pm. We had made reservations. There were some empty tables, but very few. The atmosphere is of an upscale Japanese restaurant with interesting decor. There is valet or street parking.

We ordered edamame to start. It was perfectly cooked and salted.

We each ordered two maki rolls for dinner. I had a salmon avocado roll and a kamikaze roll (spicy tuna roll topped with yellowtail, scallions, and masago). The rolls were incredibly fresh. The texture of the fish was smooth and flavorful. I was so pleased to find a great sushi restaurant in Atlanta. The MF stands for magic fingers, and that really makes sense to me now.

The menu only included various types of sushi and sashimi and no other types of Japanese food.

For the quality of the food, the price was right. We each paid about $30, including tax and tip. I would definitely recommend eating at MF Sushi.

Go to mfsushibar.com to check out the menu.

I've enjoyed the food and atmosphere at Abbott's over many lunches and dinners. The menus for lunch and dinner are different, but there are some common themes. For lunch, my favorite is the pecan Gorgonzola salad. I always add the grilled salmon to the top. You could also add chicken. Other lunch favorites include the fish sandwich, the hamburger, and the daily soups. The service can be somewhat spotty, so you may need a longer amount of time to eat here.

There is both indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor is divided up into 3 areas - one by the bar and then 2 other rooms, one of which is more of a private area by a fireplace.

In the evenings, there is live music. It's generally nondescript jazz with some vocals. However, it can be too loud, and drown out conversation.

For dinner, the menu gets more interesting, with a selection of small plates (healthier entrees served with one side dish) and entrees. The small plates are just the right size for a relatively light dinner, especially if you also want to enjoy appetizers. One of the most interesting choices is the fried lobster tail. It is delicious and served with drawn butter. I also like the tilapia complemented by a side of asparagus.

Overall, it's a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy a leisurely meal.

Abbott's is one of our neighborhood staples.

I've been to TJ's a couple of times. It is a lively neighborhood sports bar. From the outside, it looks like a scary place and you wouldn't want to go inside. It's very dark, and you can't see in the windows. But, once you get inside, everything is as you would expect of a typical sports bar.

They have several large screen TVs and then at least a dozen normal size TVs. They show a range of sporting events, including pay-per-view events. I've been there twice to watch the Ultimate Fighting Championship with friends. There is a non-smoking room, which was a great way to enjoy the event. It was much less crowded, providing an easier view of the screen. If you're in the main area, it gets really smoky.

The menu has typical bar fare, but I was surprised to find that it was actually good. We've ordered the wings (choose how hot you want them, or have teriyaki). I've also had the fries XXL (topped with cheese and bacon). The nachos are also very good, but it's better to eat them fast so the chips don't get too soggy.

It's more fun to watch the events here, rather than at home because the crowd gets excited and feels uninhibited about cheering and yelling things out.

Oh - it's important to note that there may be a cover charge when they are showing a popular event. When I've gone, it's only been $5.

Misono is my favorite neighborhood Japanese steakhouse and sushi bar. My friends and I eat there almost every week. When we get hibachi, we request our usual chef. By now, the owners and wait staff recognize us and know our special requests. We feel warmly welcomed when we enter the restaurant.

For hibachi, there are the usual menu selections. The meal comes with soup, although I recommend skipping the soup, since it's nothing special and quite bland. It's not miso soup, as you might expect at a Japanese restaurant. It is also served with a small house salad (iceberg lettuce with a creamy ginger-type dressing). Then, you have your selection of meats - fillet, shrimp, scallops, chicken, salmon, lobster, etc. You can order any one or any combination you'd like. Each meal is also served with steamed rice, or you can upgrade to fried rice (which most people do) for about $2. The meal also comes with veggies.

If you've never been to a hibachi restaurant before, it is a fun experience. You are seated around a communal table that seats about 8 people (unless you have a large group). There is a large, flat stainless grill that the chef will use to prepare the meal. Usually, the "show" will begin with the chef tossing his spatulas and knives in the air. While preparing the fried rice, he may break the egg in the air. Typically, they build a "volcano" out of onion slices, fill it with oil and set it on fire. Beware - sometimes the chef will want to play tricks on the patrons, like pretending to spill things in your lap. Since we eat at Misono so often, our chef has toned down the show and focused on chatting with us and giving us a good meal.

At the sushi bar, you can get the typical range of sushi fare, including set meals, maki, nigiri, etc.

Overall, the prices are pretty good and the atmosphere is friendly and laid back.

J. Alexander's is the type of restaurant where you take your parents when they are in town. It's somewhat upscale in terms of the decor and menu. The atmosphere is warm, with dim lighting, a central bar area, and booths and tables for seating. White tablecloths cover the tables and add to the ambiance.

The food is what I would describe as nouveau American. It has lots of traditional American dishes like steaks and fish, but also has influences from around the world. One of my favorite dishes is the Ahi Tuna Salad. It is lightly seared tuna alongside a bed of greens, served with wasabi vinaigrette dressing. I also enjoy the prime rib. It is prepared in house, so sometimes your specific selection (mine is medium rare) is not available.

Most of the entrees are portioned so that they can be shared. I often split an Alex's Salad and a main entree with my friend. Sometimes we add on another side dish for even more variety.

The side dishes are interesting. If you want anything plain, be sure to request that when you order, because everything has a unique twist. The NYO (Not Your Ordinary) Mac and Cheese contains what I believe to be prosciutto and some bread crumbs. The cole slaw has blue cheese, but it lacks flavor and is calling out for some spice.

Beware of the desserts. They boast that they are made in house, so you would expect something spectacular. However, I've found them to be weird. The carrot cake, for example, is served warm, so the cream cheese icing ends up with what would seem to be melted butter all over it, seeping into the cake. The chocolate cake is also weird. You would think that such classic desserts would work well here, especially after you enjoy your main course, but that's not the case.

Anyway, fill up on the great appetizers and entrees, and move on to another location for dessert.

Forget the red-checker tablecloths; at Stoney River, you enter an entirely different kind of place. You find yourself in a warm environment, with dark woods, leather chairs, and white tablecloths. Since waiting for a table is often a requirement, they have a bar and a cozy seating area. I've actually enjoyed waiting for a table at Stoney River. There is a fireplace, with seating on the stone front and leather couches. And, this area receives service by the wait staff, so you can order drinks or even appetizers.

Stoney River is one of the best restaurants for steak. The menu is what you might expect from an upscale steakhouse. Most of the dishes are a la carte. There is a nice range of steaks, including filet mignon, prime rib, New York strip, and a 22 oz. rib eye. I've enjoyed sharing the steak with a friend so that I have room for the other dishes.

For an appetizer, the shrimp cocktail rivals top seafood restaurants. The wedge salad is a block of iceberg lettuce topped with blue cheese dressing, bacon, and tomatoes. There are a range of side dishes and a complete list of potato varieties - mashed cinnamon sweet potatoes, caramelized onion mashed potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, etc. I particularly enjoy the spinach and mushrooms.

Even though the place is known for steaks, you must save room for dessert. And convince your friends to save room, too, because the portions easily serve three people. I love, love, love the triple-layer chocolate cake. It is a moist cake with rich icing. It's served with four shot glasses of milk. The cheesecake is also excellent. It comes with three to four small slices of cheesecake, so you can try a variety: cookie dough, traditional, chocolate, etc.

Even though they don't take reservations, you can call ahead for preferred seating. Stoney River is an excellent stop for anyone in Atlanta, and I hear they also have locations in the Chicago area. It's a wonderful place to enjoy a leisurely dinner.

I love eating at Armando's. It's a relaxed, casual place. When you walk in, just pick where you want to sit (inside or outside, table or booth). At lunchtime, there is rarely a crowd, so there's no wait. The atmosphere is open, with brightly colored walls and plates and an open view of the kitchen.

The menu has a Latin/Mexican flavor. The meal is served with free chips and homemade salsa. I recommend ordering the queso with jalapenos and guacamole to share with the table. The guacamole is so fresh and flavorful, you can really make a meal of it.

For main dishes, they have Cuban sandwiches, which come with two sandwiches, easily big enough to share. I can't imagine eating them both, especially after the appetizers. Plus, they are served with rice and black beans, like most other main dishes. My friends love getting the arroz con pollo. It is served in a skillet. I've only tried bites of it because it appears to be on the greasy side. Some people find this dish is also big enough to share. I typically order the fish tacos. They are made with tilapia, shredded lettuce, tomato, and jalapeno sauce encased in small flour tortillas. They have the right combination of spicy and creamy.

The service at Armando's is excellent. They readily refill drinks and bring out more chips and salsa.

The Georgia Aquarium opened in November 2005 with much publicity and local excitement.

My friend and I went to the Georgia Aquarium on Tuesday afternoon. We purchased tickets online. You have to select a 1-hour window to show up on a specific date. The weekend was completely sold out, as were many times during the week. For adults, tickets are $22.75, including tax. They email you an order number and bar-coded tickets that you can print out. Since I'm having printer problems, I had to wait in a separate line to get my tickets, using the order number.

Since the aquarium has been touted as the largest in the world, I was excited to see the displays. They have the second-largest viewing window in the world, behind Osaka, Japan. The acrylic window was manufactured in Japan, so they probably wouldn't produce a larger one for the U.S.

There are several sections of the aquarium, divided by type of species. One of my favorite displays is the beluga whales. There are four of them that happily swim. Next to this display, there was a flat screen that showed footage of the whales and their transport to Georgia. Many displays offered this type of video with subtitles, so you could learn more about the animals and their care. There are also announcers who tell interesting facts, such as that the body of the whale is about 75% blubber.

There are lines at each display window, even during the week. I expect midweek crowds to die down once it has been open for awhile.

Although we didn't have any children with us, we walked through an exploration area for kids. It allowed children to gently touch some animals, including stingrays, horseshoe crabs, and shrimp. There were also tubes to crawl through and slides.

We spent a leisurely 3 hours walking through the exhibits. That was enough time to see everything and linger a bit at some of our favorite areas.

Parking at the aquarium garage can be expensive. However, you can park all day for $3 a couple of blocks away on Williams Street.

The World of Coke is a museum dedicated to telling the story of the invention of the Coca-Cola beverage and the development of it as a global brand.

The museum tracks advertising from the 1800s to present-day. It was very interesting to see how they positioned the product over time and their challenges related to distribution. They didn't believe that bottling Coke would take off, so they sold the rights for only $1.

The best part of the museum is the tasting area. You can taste different Coca-Cola products from around the world. The most interesting one is a bitter aperitif from Europe. It was fun to watch kids trick each other into tasting the strong, unpleasant beverage (at least for most American palettes).

Touring the museum doesn't take long, unless you want to read every word about the advertising. You may also want to see the entire real of highlights from past TV commercials. You should allow about 1 to 1.5 hours to see the whole thing.

My friends and I went to Andretti's on the weekend. We paid the steep price to ride the go-carts. It requires a one-time fee for an annual license ($7) plus a per-ride charge (of about $20). You can also buy a pack of rides for a lower cost per ride, and this pack can be split among multiple people.

There are some important things to know before you go. I was wearing open sandals. I was required to put on some of their loaner "shoes" before I rode.

Also, helmets are required. They fit very snugly over your entire head, much like a motorcycle helmet. I was wearing my glasses and found it very difficult to wear them under the helmet.

Ok...enough about the process. The actual ride itself was great. Since the track is indoors, there are only a couple, very short straightaways. Therefore, it's difficult to take the go-cart to full speed. I was hoping for a faster pace. What we couldn't achieve in speed was made up for in the curves. The track is very curvy, allowing you to test out the go-cart. Some of the turns are wide enough to allow passing. One of my friends didn't like the pressure of having others pass her. It also takes a bit of arm strength to control the go-cart. One of my other friends couldn't ride at all. He's too tall to comfortably fit in the go-cart.

One ride was enough for us, but we'll probably go back in the future.

Once you're done riding, you can play a range of games (Skee Ball, arcade games, Dance Dance Revolution, etc.). You can earn tickets with some games and redeem them for the usual, cheesy and cheap merchandise.

You can also relax at the bar on the second floor, have a drink, and watch others ride or play games.