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Miller Union

A Restaurant Guide to Anthony Bourdain’s Atlanta Episode of ‘The Layover’

Every restaurant Bourdain visited during his 36-hour layover episode in ATL

by Eater Staff
View as Map
by Eater Staff
Miller Union

Anthony Bourdain’s Atlanta episode of the Layover aired on the Travel Channel on January 14, 2013. It showcased everything in ATL — which Bourdain dubbed the “new Singapore” — from the Earl in East Atlanta Village and Ponce vice den Clermont Lounge to Steven Satterfield’s award-winning Miller Union in Westside and Holeman & Finch in Buckhead, with EAV’s Octopus Bar and coffee shop Octane in between it all.

While three of the 21 restaurants Bourdain visited have closed (the Big Apple Inn, HD1, Curly’s Fried Chicken), most of them remain Atlanta staples, made even more popular by his visit to ATL. Check out what he had to say about each restaurant back in 2013.

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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.”

1811 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 607-1622
(404) 607-1622

Also featured in:

Holeman and 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 and then very limited-quantity H&F burger: “Good engineering. Really important. The chef makes his own buns, his own ketchup, and makes his own pickles. Any questions?”

2277 Peachtree Rd NW Suite B, Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 948-1175
(404) 948-1175

Also featured in:

Empire State South

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“...Where chefs like Hugh Acheson and Ryan Smith [now owner and chef of award-winning Staplehouse] are doing neo-retro Southern cooking.

999 Peachtree St NE #140, Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 541-1105
(404) 541-1105

Also featured in:

Octopus Bar

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

560 Gresham Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
(404) 627-9911
(404) 627-9911

Also featured in:

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.”

1156 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 223-0393
(404) 223-0393

Also featured in:

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.”

913 Bernina Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 963-1742
(404) 963-1742

Also featured in:

Octane Grant Park

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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.”

437 Memorial Dr SE Ste A5, Atlanta, GA 30312

Home grown GA Restaurant

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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.”

968 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
(404) 222-0455
(404) 222-0455

Also featured in:

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.”

5600 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30340
(770) 455-0770
(770) 455-0770

Also featured in:

Municipal Market of Atlanta

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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.”

209 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 659-1665
(404) 659-1665

Star Provisions Market & Cafe

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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.”

Note: Bourdain visited Star Provisions when it was still located at Westside Provisions District on Howell Mill Road.

1460 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 365-0410
(404) 365-0410

Also featured in:

El Taco Veloz

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

5084 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30340
(770) 936-9094
(770) 936-9094

Also featured in:

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.”

5141 Buford Hwy NE ste c, Doraville, GA 30340
(770) 458-2282
(770) 458-2282

Also featured in:

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.”

4337 Buford Hwy NE #170, Atlanta, GA 30341
(404) 329-1610
(404) 329-1610

Also featured in:

Miller Union

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

999 Brady Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
(678) 733-8550
(678) 733-8550

Also featured in:

More in Maps

The Colonnade

Copy Link

“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.”

Note: The Colonnade opened in 1927.

1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 874-5642
(404) 874-5642

Also featured in:

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 operating on a whole other level.”

789 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 874-4783
(404) 874-4783

Also featured in:

The EARL

Copy Link

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

488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
(404) 522-3950
(404) 522-3950

Also featured in:

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Fat Matt's Rib Shack

1811 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

“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.”

1811 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 607-1622
(404) 607-1622

Holeman and Finch Public House

2277 Peachtree Rd NW Suite B, Atlanta, GA 30309

“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 and then very limited-quantity H&F burger: “Good engineering. Really important. The chef makes his own buns, his own ketchup, and makes his own pickles. Any questions?”

2277 Peachtree Rd NW Suite B, Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 948-1175
(404) 948-1175

Empire State South

999 Peachtree St NE #140, Atlanta, GA 30309

“...Where chefs like Hugh Acheson and Ryan Smith [now owner and chef of award-winning Staplehouse] are doing neo-retro Southern cooking.

999 Peachtree St NE #140, Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 541-1105
(404) 541-1105

Octopus Bar

560 Gresham Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

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

560 Gresham Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
(404) 627-9911
(404) 627-9911

The Porter Beer Bar

1156 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

“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.”

1156 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 223-0393
(404) 223-0393

Victory Sandwich Bar

913 Bernina Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

“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.”

913 Bernina Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 963-1742
(404) 963-1742

Octane Grant Park

437 Memorial Dr SE Ste A5, Atlanta, GA 30312

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

437 Memorial Dr SE Ste A5, Atlanta, GA 30312

Home grown GA Restaurant

968 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

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

968 Memorial Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
(404) 222-0455
(404) 222-0455

Buford Highway Farmers Market

5600 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30340

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

5600 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30340
(770) 455-0770
(770) 455-0770

Municipal Market of Atlanta

209 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30303

“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.”

209 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 659-1665
(404) 659-1665

Star Provisions Market & Cafe

1460 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

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

Note: Bourdain visited Star Provisions when it was still located at Westside Provisions District on Howell Mill Road.

1460 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 365-0410
(404) 365-0410

El Taco Veloz

5084 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30340

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

5084 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30340
(770) 936-9094
(770) 936-9094

Northern China Eatery

5141 Buford Hwy NE ste c, Doraville, GA 30340

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

5141 Buford Hwy NE ste c, Doraville, GA 30340
(770) 458-2282
(770) 458-2282

Crawfish Shack Seafood

4337 Buford Hwy NE #170, Atlanta, GA 30341

“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.”

4337 Buford Hwy NE #170, Atlanta, GA 30341
(404) 329-1610
(404) 329-1610

Miller Union

999 Brady Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

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

999 Brady Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
(678) 733-8550
(678) 733-8550

Related Maps

The Colonnade

1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

“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.”

Note: The Colonnade opened in 1927.

1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 874-5642
(404) 874-5642

Clermont Lounge

789 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

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

789 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 874-4783
(404) 874-4783

The EARL

488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

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

488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
(404) 522-3950
(404) 522-3950

Related Maps