Enter To Win Our Haunted Restaurant Contest

49 Responses

1. As somebody who lives within walking distance I can tell you that the concept has to have the following:

   • A quick, in-and-out feature. A drop-by kind of place that invites me in a few times a week.

   • Low price/high quality

   • Something that complements the neighborhood

   • Something that I NEED every day.

   Therefore, TA DA! my submission is a bagel place along the lines of Einstein’s Bagels. In and out, cheap, good, and easily visitable every other day.

2. This is easy! It’s so obvious that the neighborhood is missing some kind of dessert spot. There is NOWHERE to walk to in midtown that has ice cream– other than Jason’s deli but come on! That doesn’t count. Its soft serve and only three flavors.

3. Its a great location for walkers – I’d love an indie movie store a la movies worth seeing or videodrome and I think a pool hall would do very well. But frozen yogurt seems to be the “IT” thing right now and that neighborhood is lacking in one within walking distance! I vote for yogurt!

4. what about a 5 guys?

5. Taqueria del Sol!

6. I love living in walking distance of this location. With all its neighbors always full with customers, I would suggest a European- fell restaurant with an emphasis on wine and desserts, but a good menu too. It would be everyone’s happy hour and Sunday brunch spot.
   Make sure to decorate well, midtowners notice things like that.

7. 1. A stand-up espresso coffee place would be great, but I’m not sure it would catch on in Atlanta, but that Caribou Coffee is way too cruisey when you just want/need coffee: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/dining/25coffee.html?pagewanted=all

   2. An art gallery/event space. Something to liven-up the stale corner.

   3. An Au Bon Pain. I fu*king miss those.

8. a fresh food restaurant/bodega. Light meals and fresh fruit, vegetables, milk, eggs, drinks.

9. Anything that isn’t food related. Obviously this is a cursed spot for that venue and there is apparently a ghost that is seeing to the failure of all of those types of businesses that go in there. Maybe the spirits would be happier with some kind of higher end retail….Boo knows!

10. This spot could thrive with good, well-priced food in an inviting space. Unfortunately, it’s never had that.

    I would love to see a non-chain Mexican restaurant that could really utilize the nice patio as a serving counter as well as a seating area: Burritos, tacos, tamales; a selection of salsas (some nice and spicy) from different parts of Latin America; and, of course, flan.

11. What will receive steady business in this Atlanta location?

    A PARKING LOT.

12. I think the building should be leveled and the space should be turned into a pay surface-parking lot. Parking lots and decks in Midtown and Downtown have had more long-term success than most restaurants.

    People in Atlanta love to drive and need to park. Having a convenient surface lot for customers of neighboring businesses would be a win for everyone. Happy driving, Atlanta!

13. I think it needs to be a dessert place — but not another cupcake or yougurt shop. I’m thinking brownies, pie, real ice cream or cookies.

14. An ice cream gelato place. The neighborhood alone would support it and it would get people out and about on the sidewalks more.

15. A Fellini’s would do good at that location, it’s got a good price point and is quick. Plus there’s no “Italian” at that corner.
    A Flip or similar burger-bar concept like Smash Burger would do great. Yeah Burger is opening close-by at Va-Highland but not close enough to walk.
    I would love to see a Sprinkles, Pinkbberry or Red Mango in Midtown too.

16. The Lateasha Shuntay Shuntel Blake’s Annex

17. *** One answer is so simple. A diner! It has everything. *** Or, a unique walk-up from the street to the counter type restaurant where they would serve fast, yet nice food, reasonably priced AND (wait for it) it would also feature treats for your pet. Of course, an outdoor patio area is a must for this concept.

    Woo-hoo!

18. Amazing that nobody is thinking OUTSIDE of concepts that already SATURATE Atlanta.
    How many Flips, Del Sols, and Fellini’s do you really need? Enough already!!
    Atlanta needs something that does not have 20 locations already here. LOL
    Seeing how things seem to get here 2 years after they are hot everywhere else ( food trucks, burger joints, hip pizza, modern Thai) … I think the FAST PASTA concept “Hello Pasta” or “Nooi” may get a nice buzz.
    It must be a low price point, and perhaps have deep pockets for the slow times.
    True we have Figo, but these are a little more modern. …heres a link…http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703441404575206341938690262.html

19. A relaxed bistro for people to eat fresh food and have a place to relax and do work. I used to love coffee shops but I’m not into smelling like a cup of coffee for the rest of the day. You can barely wash the smell out of your hair after being in a place for a couple of hours. If it’s going to go the organic route, let’s make sure to not charge us half of our paycheck and focus upon local produce.

20. A whimsically themed breakfast joint called “The Sinking Muffin”…

    or a Dunkin Donuts…

    or perhaps a Hooters?

21. My suggestion would be something along the line of Cafe Dumonde in New Orleans. I would have an open air space with pastries, light desserts and coffee. I think it would attract a morning, evening and late evening crowd.

22. A handjob stand.

23. A Holy Taco would rock in Midtown

24. please please please will someone open a place that sells california style burritos. giant handheld, NOT moes. when i moved here i went on a search to find some like i grew up eating in san francisco. nothing anywhere and i have tried them all!! please go to SF, get one and you will see what i am talking about. juicy, not dried meats. meat still in the juices when you make them, still i the pots! omg heaven. pure heaven. dammit. just talking about it makes me want one.

25. My opinion would be like a Green Street. They have one in Miami and it is always busy. Its a breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner kind of place. They also have a patio with couches to relax and unwind for drinks and food. I think it will do great in Midtown.

26. A great place for breakfast anytime

27. My want:

    My first thought is a place like Holeman and Finch Public House where you can get (late night) really great small plates of delicious food at varying degrees of accessibility with excellently executed cocktails in an environment that’s not terribly stuck up.

    My analysis:

    When you think about it, the area has “everything” and yet nothing really stands out to me as fantastic- there’s sandwiches, latin food, giant burritos, japanese, cafes, breakfast food, desserts a few blocks around the corner, bars… and yet, none of it really stands out (except for maybe the Blake’s crowd).

    Paradoxically, there’s a culinary complacency. When the company behind Moe’s bought Flying Biscuit, the quality of the food visibly deteriorated. Somehow, people still LOVE the place. Nickiemoto’s has “Chinese” food on their menu. My brunch at Gilbert’s was unbearable. Zocalo is a chain, but decent. I feel like the only thing that keeps the place intact is the fact that it IS a neighborhood- something Atlanta lacks in most areas.

    I want something with quality. I’m thinking concepts along the lines of healthy and delicious like MetroFresh. Innovative and late night like Holeman and Finch Public House. Or a bakery/purveyor like Alon’s. Great bistro food and beer like Leon’s in Decatur. Or take advantage of the trend started by Hankook Taqueria, mixing authentic Asian flavors with more familiar mediums like tacos. Make it honest and not overtly branded/corporate.

    I know I’m being extremely critical, but I’m being honest.

28. Hamburger Marys

    http://www.hamburgermarys.com/

29. Would love an Alon’s or other bakery type place where you can grab a nice sandwich and take to the park or sit and have a nice beer on tap and people watch.

30. I would like to see a restaurant that would be open with a simple affordable breakfast all day and even into the evening. A place that you could start your day with coffee and finish it with a glass of wine. A place that would have sit down service but also quick pick up lunch items to go for a flat price i.e. Soup & Salad or 1/2 sandwitch for 7.00 to 8.00 tax included. The closet restaurant that we have is Rise & Dine in Emory Village. If you do not already know they now serve breafast from 7a.m. to 10p.m. with lunch and dinner items as the day progresses. My dream would be for someone to combine the best elements of Star Provisions, Rise & Dine, Metro Fresh, Alon’s, Coffee Shop in Manhattan’s Union Square, Westville in NYC’s West Village with a little bit of Murray Bagels thrown in for good measure! Bottom line: Nothing fancy, nothing expensive, just a great local place with great food neighbors would run into each other daily!!

31. Something along the lines of Leon’s Full Service. Great beer and cocktails, and food worth eating, at a price point that enables people who dine out regularly to dine there every week, but not so cheap that the restaurant will go out of business. An ice cream or dessert spot, where people sit for an hour but only spend $5 or even $10 each, can’t make enough money to pay the rent on that space. Starbucks and Caribou survive because enough people stop in every day for a $4 latte or two. Almost no one is getting ice cream and dessert every day.

32. Every one has an old relative who used to make something to DIE for. This reseraunt would take a contemporary view of the foods that sustained our childhood and kept us energized enough to imagine and dream big. This place would feel like a cosy place to talk with old friends but also meet new ones. A place with a lounge where you can sit and just have coffee and colaberate with business partners, band members, family members. Or a dining area where everyone sits at one huge table and is reminded in inovative ways of their favorite childhood memories. Where food is art. Art is nostalgia and fresh and friends are never far away.

33. To elaborate a bit more I want a community oriented resteraun I want a person who comes in lonely to feel less lonly and a place where ideas are encouraged. Creativity on the plate and in the customer. The website would even have a place for old famly recipies. They would be used as an inspiration of disishes. Now the single round table isn’t completly neccisary I just want a place where people feel connected in ways other then a twitter account. (Tweet me if you have any further questions) In all seriousness I think a place that has great food and great heart where there is no condisending tones no turned up noses only a genuine heart to the employees and patrons. Good food prepared fresh. This is all about Passion.

34. Is there any reason we cannot get good Korean without having to drive out to the burbs of Buford Hwy?

35. Good thoughts, I said a parking lot for the obvious reasons, only partly joking.

    Food wise, think a walk up, NY style food place, Gyro, Falafel, Hot Dogs, pretzels…”walking food”. Small seating in the patio, none inside, no public restrooms available.

36. I think a stand up comedy club would be really cool. it could even have a open mic night that people could come in and relax and be entertained. 🙂

37. Cafe Intermezzo..Perfect!

38. A gourmet market that sells specialty foods, limited produce and sandwiches, charcuterie, etc. Similar to a Cabbagetown Market or Savi Urban Market.

39. Wouldn’t a gay bar to compete with Blake’s / Mikimoto spillover when it’s packed make the most sense. The other idea’s are nice. But without good parking let’s look at the places that are packed on that corner night in and night out.

40. Someone beat me to it, but yes a Hamburger Mary’s since its in the Gayborhood. http://www.hamburgermarys.com/

41. A place you could visit frequently, meet friends there, open during the day and closes late.
    A book shop like a smaller scaled version of Strand in NY.
    With a European-style cafe bar (good quality small plates, espresso bar & spirits) and a small performance space.
    Local artists can book it for readings, workshops, performances of any sort. Free WIFI. Self-serve bottomless cup of coffee. Community Bulletin boards. Pet station outside for biscuits & water.
    A potential place to people watch, meet new people, discover neighbors with similar interests…
    A place to go to after dinner or on your way back from the park or for happy hour or Sunday brunch etc.

42. Yoforia

43. I think they should put in a Yoforia. Amazing frozen yogurt, fun atmosphere, cheap, and not many calories.

44. How about Big Red Tomato or Sweet Devil Moon? Oh wait, on second thought I think it should be a parking lot since nothing seems to be successful in that space!

45. What is really missing from Midtown are Korean and Vietnamese restaurants. One of those would fill a niche.

    All the other food themes people mention are already are already present, most of them within walking distance.

46. I agree that a quick in/out kind of place would work well for the neighborhood. I think perhaps a comfort foods kind of place…soups, mac/cheese, fantastic desserts. Keep it low overhead, low cost, but highest quality. Perhaps it could be called “Mom’s” or something similar.

47. i think that area needs something quick and fun – maybe something in the line of a gourmet build your own hamburger joint…

48. Middle Eastern style fast food: kebob (beef, fish, chicken), basmati rice,roasted veggies, hummus, etc. Maybe have it be a hookah lounge with small plates in the evening! 🙂

49. Given the proximity to the park and great night life, a pedestrian-friendly place would be kickballin. Think of the accessibility of one of those food trucks but in a permanent setting maybe even with some simple tables and chairs that can be easily stored. The place could have two menus -day and night- with no more than 6 or 7 unique and delicious dishes. The day menu could appeal more towards the families and people on their afternoon strolls with healthy and yummy options that kids and non-health nuts will actually eat. For the night menu, I’d love to see more alcohol-induced indulgences like tacos and kebabs but with a twist. The food could represent a mixture of cultures like Greek sliders with lamb meat and tzatziki sauce or pulled pork tacos with a BBQ sauce only found in the South. Everything would be max $5 or $6 because let’s face it, we’re all on a budget.