“The Move” is your monthly guide to the top food finds from Senior Editor Beth McKibben, who oversees restaurant and dining coverage at Rough Draft. Subscribe to our dining newsletter Side Dish for the latest restaurant intel and scoops and to be the first to know where she’s been eating around Atlanta. Side Dish drops every Thursday at noon, just in time for lunch.
Dominick’s Italian
95 S. Peachtree Street, Norcross
Dominick’s Italian combines the vibe and dishes of an old-school Italian-American restaurant with Southern hospitality in a space that hasn’t changed much since its opening in 1996. It satisfies my craving for classics like chicken parmesan and penne alla vodka when I’m in Atlanta’s northern suburbs.
The restaurant anchors a prime corner in the heart of the historic town center of Norcross adjacent to the old train depot (presently Crossing Steakhouse). Candles flicker atop tables draped in white linens, protected by sheets of white butcher paper. The brick walls surrounding the dining room offer a cozy yet dimly lit atmosphere.
I ordered a martini: gin, dry, with a twist. Toasted loaves of bread soaked in garlic butter come pierced with a steak knife for slicing.
A half-portion of the gorgonzola salad dressed in creamy Italian vinaigrette easily feeds two people, as do half-portions of pasta and main entrees. Dominick’s tagline is “Little Italy – Lotta Food” and it’s all best shared family style.
We ordered the chicken scarpariello, my husband’s favorite. But I’m anxious to return for the shrimp scampi and chicken carbonara, two dishes I’ve enjoyed on past visits.
Our entire meal, with tiramisu for dessert and the martini and non-alcoholic beer, totaled just under $100.
J’s Snack Land
2585 Spring Road SE, Smyrna
I love a good gas station biscuit, burger, or barbecue plate. The South features a long history of such businesses, cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship where biscuits, tacos, and burgers are served from a counter inside a filling station, folks sling barbecue from a smoker in a parking lot, or a roadside set-up offers hot plates to go.
Atlanta and the Metro area are spoiled with great gas station eats. You’ll find arepas at Cylantros Venezuelan next to a Shell station, double cheeseburgers at NFA Burger inside a Chevron, and tlayudas at Taquería Oaxaqueña de la Gueleguetza served beside another Chevron. In Buckhead, there’s everything from biscuits to burgers to pulled pork sandwiches found at Mount Paran Country Store.
Related Link: Why NFA Burger regular Toni Williams doesn’t gatekeep her favorite Atlanta restaurants
Gas stations aren’t the only service-oriented establishments to include mom-and-pop food businesses. In Smyrna, there’s J’s Snack Land inside Spring Road Laundry.
My move at J’s tends to be a trio of steak and carnitas tacos served on fresh corn tortillas topped with onions, cilantro, and fire sauce. Tacos cost around $3.50 each. I suggest ordering the taco combo that includes three tacos and sides of rice and beans for $12.
This is a small operation, but the service is fast and friendly. From order placement to bag in hand, you might wait 10 minutes, depending on the number of customers in line. Order for takeout or dine-in with seating available just beyond the counter.
Daily Chew
2127 Liddell Drive, Atlanta
One of my favorite grain bowls in Atlanta comes from Daily Chew on Liddell Drive, the restaurant owned by Julia Kesler Imerman, who also owns holistic food company Stop Think Chew.
My go-to order for lunch is the chicken grain bowl, which sees layers of quinoa, greens, and house-made hummus topped with perfectly seasoned and shredded rotisserie chicken, schmaltzy potatoes, and seasonal pickled vegetables. The grain bowl is then given a little zing from the house-made shug (a verdant green hot sauce).
It’s a protein-and-fiber-packed, one-dish lunch option. I order this bowl at least once a month, especially when I’m on a deadline and need a brain boost, which often includes ordering a cold-pressed juice. I’m partial to the Helios Green, made with green apples and grapes and leafy greens like romaine, spinach, and kale.
If I’m feeling extra lazy after a long work day, we sometimes pick up a rotisserie chicken family meal, which comes with three sides like spiced fries and citrus-marinated beets. It makes for great leftovers. A rotisserie chicken family meal will set you back about $40, while the aforementioned grain bowl costs $18.