If you stay in downtown Atlanta during your vacation or business trip, you'll only be about 20 minutes away from two golf courses, Sugar Creek and Alfred "Tup" Holmes, which are in great condition and will make you hit every club in your bag. When off the course, if you want a treat yourself to fine dining, there are plenty of great restaurants in the Atlanta area. If you're in the mood for French food, Atlanta has some top contenders.
Joël
This French restaurant in the Buckhead section of Atlanta approaches its art from an Asian perspective, and that has elicited praise from those diners who have had a meal there. The décor of Joel is "tres chic" with its leather booths, huge windows and a wall separating the kitchen from the dining room that's fire engine red. The menu at Joel is expansive and offers a panoply of dishes such as short ribs of beef, sweetbreads, roasted lamb and a remarkable bouillabaisse. Be sure to limit your consumption so you will have room for one of their remarkable desserts.
Joël
3290 Northside Pkwy.
Atlanta, GA 30327
(404) 233-3500
joelbrasserie.com
Ritz-Carlton Dining Room
This is one of the few five-star French restaurants in Atlanta and it melds the cuisines of Asia, the Mediterranean and France with an ambiance that's both luxurious and elegant. The waitstaff is extremely well trained and the dishes on the menu are unforgettable. Such dishes as Little Neck clams and Maine cod in a fennel-infused broth, the sweetbread kebob served with a tomato confit, the farm-raised veal loin with wilted spinach, or the risotto with Parmesan and wild morels are truly remarkable in both taste and presentation. The wine list is long and features many selections from all corners of the world.
Ritz-Carlton Dining Room
3434 Peachtree Road N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 237-2700
ritzcarlton.com
Nikolai's Roof
This elegant restaurant is perched on the 30th floor of the Hilton downtown and offers diners an unforgettable view of the city and skyline. The menu includes purely French fare, but its Russian approach has set this restaurant apart. Its menu is impressive and offers both a la carte dishes and a fixed-price of $75 (fall 2009) for a four-course meal. Some of the entrees are pan-seared halibut with cauliflower galette, a gray shrimp croquette and baby leeks, or boar tenderloin with a rutabaga puree and a star anise and foie gras reduction. Nikolai's Roof receives kudos for its extensive wine list of hard-to-get vintages.
Nikolai's Roof
255 Courtland St,
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 221-6362
nikolaisroof.com/NIKOLAIS
About The Author
Bill Herrfeldt specializes in finance, sports and the needs of retiring people, and has been published in the national edition of "Erickson Tribune," the "Washington Post" and the "Arizona Republic." He graduated from the University of Louisville.
