The Majestic Diner, Atlanta GA

by Devon Walsh

1031 Ponce de Leon Drive, Atlanta, GA 30306

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The nostalgic sign of Atlanta's Majestic Diner // photo courtesy of li5aluna via Instagram

All-day breakfast-scape // photo courtesy of fforfood via Instagram

For better or for worse, at the Majestic Diner, it isn’t about the food. In fact, you probably shouldn’t be here if you’re looking for anything green; unless maybe it’s a mint chip milkshake. This is, as the neon sign out front advertises, “Food That Pleases.” Think diner staples: sausage and eggs, patty melts and quesadillas fried up on amply greasy griddles. The 24-hour eatery serves food that tastes best at 4am.

Here revelers flock. You’ll see all types, from the young and sophisticatedly on trend, to an assembly of muscle men in brightly colored tanks, as well as folks less apt to party, drinking coffee all alone—plus everyone else in between.

Chocolate chip waffle at the Majestic Diner // photo courtesy of foodisonfleek via Instagram

The classic Atlanta institution originally opened its doors in 1929 in Virginia-Highland, a “streetcar suburb,” or a neighborhood that arose due to its proximity to a streetcar line. The cafeteria was originally attached to a 24-hour drug store, Plaza Drugs and the two establishments served the community at all hours. Today, Plaza Drugs is no longer, but the Majestic lives on.

If you’re up late in Atlanta it’s is a must see, after a drink, or four. Put simply, The Majestic constitutes the perfect diner; oily fare in a timeless setting that’s endlessly occupied by an odd and rowdy bunch. You’ll leave pleased.

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Roman's, Brooklyn

by Devon Walsh

Roman's, 243 DeKalb Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11205

(718) 622-5300 | Reservations: no, walk in.

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image courtesy of Dan Pelosi aka grossypelosi on Instragram

At this point, the notorious Andrew Tarlow restaurant group is the closest Brooklyn comes to a conglomerate. If you aren’t already in the loop The Marlow & Sons restaurant group is comprised of four restaurants, one hotel, a couple of bars (one on a rooftop with the most striking view of Manhattan this side of the East River) a leather goods brand, a bread company, a popular food quarterly and a locally grown toothpick business…not really on that last one, but you get the point. Yet their casual Fort Greene eatery is an often-overlooked component part.

image by Angela Im aka ilovelyoutopizzas on Instagram

Swordfish crostini - image by taopreciosa on Instagram

For all the chic and the fuss of the Ides—you’ll regularly find a line that snakes around the block if you attempt a weekend visit—and the still (after 16 years) epic wait time at Diner, Roman’s feels authentically neighborhoodie, and refreshingly so. Even though the Italian eatery wasn’t Tarlow’s first restaurant, you can sense the provenance of where Tarlow’s empire all began, that casual Brooklyn je ne sais quoi that lured all the buzz in the first place.

image by Mira Evnine aka miraevnine in Instagram

Maybe unintentionally, Roman’s abandons cool, for the uncomplicated and reliably delicious. The menu is limited—with a mere 12-15 dishes—but constantly changing, which lends the dishes a fleeting quality, rendering them all the more enjoyable and worth savoring. If you’re lucky, you might catch an escarole and white bean paccheri or a ramp sformato (Italy’s version of a soufflé).

Come here with your best friend and wile away summer’s evening hours seated at the slightly cramped front patio that leans with the sidewalk, because it is the sidewalk. People watch, gossip and sip on rosé, or the daily special sour cocktail.

Or celebrate a romantic evening in the low-lit dining room indoors.

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