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Anthony Bourdain at Octane Coffee & Little Tart Bakeshop.
Anthony Bourdain at Octane Coffee & Little Tart Bakeshop.
Photo: Travel Channel

A Guide to Bourdain's Atlanta Episode of The Layover

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Anthony Bourdain at Octane Coffee & Little Tart Bakeshop.
| Photo: Travel Channel

Anthony Bourdain's Atlanta episode of the Layover aired on the Travel Channel last night and showcased everything in this fair city— which Bourdain called the "new Singapore"— from the Earl and Clermont Lounge to Miller Union and Holeman & Finch with Octopus Bar and Octane in between. Below, a handy guide of all 21 places Bourdain mentioned, along with his quotes on the restaurants. Miss the show? See clips right here.


· The Layover: Atlanta Episode [Travel Channel]
· All Coverage of the Layover [-EATL-]
· All Coverage of Anthony Bourdain [-EATL-]

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Fat Matt's Rib Shack

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"Okay, barbecue snobs, food nerds: I know it's not real barbecue. I know there are better restaurants in Atlanta. But back the *** up ... [because] it makes me happy. It tastes good. You should eat here."

Curly's Fried Chicken

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"For fried chicken, there's Curly's in Home Park. Walk-up shack where you can get breasts, wings, or thighs. Single-dipped in flour and deep fried to extra crispy."

The Big Apple Inn

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"Here you can get yourself an awesome pig ear sandwich, if you like: at the Big Apple Inn over in Westview. ... Takeout only."

Holeman & Finch Public House

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"Designed expressly for the chefly sensibilities of other cooks and and chefs and restaurant people, it's now a hit with everybody." Bourdain also tries the famous limited-quantity burger: "Good engineering. Really important. ... The chef makes his own buns, his own ketchup, and makes his own pickles. Any questions?"

"HD1 is Chef Richard Blais's Church of the Hot Dogs over in Poncey Highlands."

Empire State South

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"...Where chefs like Hugh Acheson and Ryan Smith are doing neo-retro Southern cooking.

Octopus Bar

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"Nightcap at a chef-friendly establishment known as Octopus Bar in East Atlanta. The food is terrific."

The Porter Beer Bar

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"They got like 36 beers on tap and about 700 in the bottle Beer nerds and beer geeks alike will love their craft beers, their local brews like SweetWater, Terrapin, and Monday Night Brewing."

Victory Sandwich Bar

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"Just a few blocks away in Inman Park is VIctory Sandwich Bar, another late-night favorite for the service industry. ... Like Octopus Bar, a good place to hang out with the people who keep Atlanta fed and liquored."

Octane Coffee + Little Tart Bakeshop

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"Free wireless— awesome. Good to be back in the People's Republic of Laptopistan." Also: "offering hot, caffeinated beverages of excellent quality."

Home Grown

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"If you need a whole breakfast, though— old school, full-on— then Home Grown in Reynoldstown might be what you need."

Buford Highway Farmers Market

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"...The mammoth Buford Highway Farmers Market, which makes no sense at all in the best possible way."

Sweet Auburn Curb Market

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"You can also source ingredients inside the perimeter at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market. They established in 1923 downtown and are the place to go for meat, fish, seafood, Southern staples, and ingredients from many lands."

Star Provisions

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"Owners Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison have selected over 200 varieties of cheese, cured meats, and fresh baked breads. Open til midnight."

El Taco Veloz

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"El Taco Veloz: Drive right the *** up and get yourself some authentic *** deliciousness."

Northern China Eatery

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"Other highlights on the Buford Highway, this veritable stairway to heaven? There's Northern China Eatery ... that means dumplings— good dumplings."

Crawfish Shack Seafood

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"Down the Yellow Brick Road, the Cajun-style, Asian mutation Crawfish Shack Seafood ... Deep-fried fish, low country boils. Not your typical Cajun, but oh so good."

Miller Union

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"It has a respected reputation among the Atlanta locavore elite. They are head-to-toe organic, local, seasonal."

The Colonnade Restaurant

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"You can't visit Atlanta without covering an institution like the Colonnade in Morningside/Lenox Park. This Atlanta institution serves authentic Southern specialities ... it's been around for over 80 years."

Clermont Lounge

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"This place should be a national landmark. The most beloved institution in the entire city ... it's not like other strip clubs. It's not like other strip clubs. It's operating on a whole other level."

The Earl

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"Opened in 1999, this rock and roll club slash neighborhood dive is famous for cheap beer, strong drinks, and loud music."

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Fat Matt's Rib Shack

"Okay, barbecue snobs, food nerds: I know it's not real barbecue. I know there are better restaurants in Atlanta. But back the *** up ... [because] it makes me happy. It tastes good. You should eat here."

Curly's Fried Chicken

"For fried chicken, there's Curly's in Home Park. Walk-up shack where you can get breasts, wings, or thighs. Single-dipped in flour and deep fried to extra crispy."

The Big Apple Inn

"Here you can get yourself an awesome pig ear sandwich, if you like: at the Big Apple Inn over in Westview. ... Takeout only."

Holeman & Finch Public House

"Designed expressly for the chefly sensibilities of other cooks and and chefs and restaurant people, it's now a hit with everybody." Bourdain also tries the famous limited-quantity burger: "Good engineering. Really important. ... The chef makes his own buns, his own ketchup, and makes his own pickles. Any questions?"

HD1

"HD1 is Chef Richard Blais's Church of the Hot Dogs over in Poncey Highlands."

Empire State South

"...Where chefs like Hugh Acheson and Ryan Smith are doing neo-retro Southern cooking.

Octopus Bar

"Nightcap at a chef-friendly establishment known as Octopus Bar in East Atlanta. The food is terrific."

The Porter Beer Bar

"They got like 36 beers on tap and about 700 in the bottle Beer nerds and beer geeks alike will love their craft beers, their local brews like SweetWater, Terrapin, and Monday Night Brewing."

Victory Sandwich Bar

"Just a few blocks away in Inman Park is VIctory Sandwich Bar, another late-night favorite for the service industry. ... Like Octopus Bar, a good place to hang out with the people who keep Atlanta fed and liquored."

Octane Coffee + Little Tart Bakeshop

"Free wireless— awesome. Good to be back in the People's Republic of Laptopistan." Also: "offering hot, caffeinated beverages of excellent quality."

Home Grown

"If you need a whole breakfast, though— old school, full-on— then Home Grown in Reynoldstown might be what you need."

Buford Highway Farmers Market

"...The mammoth Buford Highway Farmers Market, which makes no sense at all in the best possible way."

Sweet Auburn Curb Market

"You can also source ingredients inside the perimeter at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market. They established in 1923 downtown and are the place to go for meat, fish, seafood, Southern staples, and ingredients from many lands."

Star Provisions

"Owners Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison have selected over 200 varieties of cheese, cured meats, and fresh baked breads. Open til midnight."

El Taco Veloz

"El Taco Veloz: Drive right the *** up and get yourself some authentic *** deliciousness."

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Northern China Eatery

"Other highlights on the Buford Highway, this veritable stairway to heaven? There's Northern China Eatery ... that means dumplings— good dumplings."

Crawfish Shack Seafood

"Down the Yellow Brick Road, the Cajun-style, Asian mutation Crawfish Shack Seafood ... Deep-fried fish, low country boils. Not your typical Cajun, but oh so good."

Miller Union

"It has a respected reputation among the Atlanta locavore elite. They are head-to-toe organic, local, seasonal."

The Colonnade Restaurant

"You can't visit Atlanta without covering an institution like the Colonnade in Morningside/Lenox Park. This Atlanta institution serves authentic Southern specialities ... it's been around for over 80 years."