Atlanta — By Linda Erbele on November 21, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Filed under: featuredarticle, Food & Beverage

Review: Dante’s – an Atlanta must for 40 years

Dante’s is one of the special places in Atlanta that doesn’t get written about much because it’s been here so long. But rest assured that the food is excellent and the experience is one you’ll tell others about.

The specialty of the house is jazz and fondue. Meat, cheese, vegetable – and if you want chocolate, call ahead. The food is worth a visit, but there’s so much more to see. Take time to peruse the many photos – there is a lot history here, and Dante himself is in most of them.

Sauces and meat for fondue

Then you can admire the decor. Your table is either set inside the ship or outside. Don’t get the wrong idea – this is not kitsch. Dante and his collaborators built an 18th century ship with real masts and hand-stitched sails that are over 200 years old. The ship and village and the many antiques here are all a labor of love.

There’s real water surrounding the ship – and while I didn’t see Captain Hook, there are 3 crocodiles patrolling. Yes real crocodiles – as in protected species. This is not kid stuff. The restaurant is inspected by the Fish and Wildlife folks and Dante’s maintains it’s license as a habitat. So flash photography is not allowed and please, don’t throw things at the crocodiles. (As Dante says, “I don’t come to your house and throw pennies at your poodle.”)

Our dinner last week included an introduction to Dante himself. The man has so much history and his stories made our dinner special. (He is the product of a Ukrainian father and a Danish mother, but he is named for the enemy soldier who saved his father’s life in World War I. ) He lives in the 1926 railroad car that Cary Grant used to court Barbara Hutton. Our waitress had been there 14 years. Dante explained that his employees stay much longer than most because of something unique in the restaurant industry — a profit-sharing plan. Their ownership in the company is evident from their service.

The side of the ship inside the restaurant

Originally opened in Underground Atlanta, the restaurant is now located in Buckhead on Peachtree, just a little south of Lenox Square. (see map.) If you’ve got people coming for the holidays or you’re entertaining clients – you can’t go wrong here.

(Photos: Personal collection)