Atlanta — By Linda Erbele on November 23, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Filed under: dining, Food & Beverage

10 home-cooked Thanksgivings in and out of Atlanta

If you’re not going to your momma’s but would like to eat as if you were (or maybe she’s visiting and you don’t want to tackle a turkey) here are some restaurants where you can get that home-cooked feel. Some require reservations, those are filling up fast.

A family-style spread.

Inside the Perimeter:

Mary Mac’s Tea Room – (see map) Not trendy, but oh-so-Atlanta, this restaurant has been around for over 60 years. The lunch time crowd occasionally includes famous Atlantans. The little tickets and pencils are for you to write your order down, so the waitress can pick it up and not waste time.

South City Kitchen – (see map) Actually, this would be the home-cooked taste you would have had if your momma was a gourmet chef. Good food, good service.

Paschal’s Restaurant- (see map) Good Southern food – this place has been in Atlanta 60 years and had a historic part in the Civil Rights movement. Thanksgiving buffet, $25 each.

Colonnade - (see map) The fried chicken and yeast rolls here are legendary. In Atlanta since 1927.

Watershed – (see map) A little pricier than the others. Chef Scott Peacock and the restaurant have received a lot of well-deserved attention from national media.

Outside the Perimeter:

All of these restaurants have received numerous national press and awards. You can’t go wrong with any of these.

The Dillard House, Dillard – (see map) Not quite two hours from Atlanta, it’s a pretty drive. Go hiking after the meal, or just sit on the porch in a rocker and enjoy the view. (See my post last year about this terrific place.)

Blue Willow Inn, Social Circle – (see map) Less than an hour east on I-20. This is another legendary Georgia restaurant.

Smith House – (see map ) Served family-style. (That means you ask the person next to you to pass the sweet potatoes.) An hour north on 400.

Glen Ella Springs – (see map) Thanksgiving buffet from 11 to 3. Another pretty drive and a rocking chair porch.

The Farmhouse at Serenbe – (see map) Fresh, excellent food. Again, a little dressier than some of the others.

(Photo: personal collection)