by Mike Gomez, Rotorcorp VP of Strategic Growth
First of all, welcome to Atlanta!
Let’s get right to it. If you are at all like me, you cringe at the idea of going out in the evening, to a new destination, for a meal or a drink only to find yourself surrounded by tourists rather than the local population. So, here is non-touristy advice from a meat, craft beer, and pasta guy (sorry vegans), who’s lived in ATL since 1999.
So here are some casual places to experience during Heli-Expo 2023 that will give you a real taste of the city I love and call home.
- Pizza – Antico’s (West Midtown – adjacent to Georgia Tech)
- Beer Pub – Brick Store (Decatur Square)
- BBQ – Fox Brothers (Little Five Points)
- Doughnuts – Revolution (Old Fourth Ward)
- Irreverent bar – Church (Edgewood)
- Craft Brewery – Monday Night (West MidTown), Sweetwater (Brookwood Hills), Eventide (Grant Park)
- Burger – Vortex (Little Five Point – NOT the Midtown location)
- Tapas Restaurant – Iberian Pig (Decatur)
- “Classic” (Shaby) Old Blues Club – Northside Tavern (West Midtown)
- Old School Steakhouse – Hal’s (Buckhead)
- Italian – LaTavola (Va. Highlands) – cross the street and get a beer at Moe’s and Joe’s
- Southern Cuisine – South City Kitchen (Midtown)
- Rooftop Sky View – Top of Hotel Clermont (Midtown)
- Deli Sandwich – Sean’s (Candler Park)
- Breakfast – Thumbs up Diner (Edgewood) or Home Grown (Reynoldstown)
- Mexican – El Tesoro (Edgewood)
- Middle Eastern – Delbar (Inman Park)
- Mixed Eatery – Krog Street Market (Inman Park)
Additional things to know about your Atlanta experience:
Everything takes 25 minutes longer to get to because of traffic – sometimes more sometimes less – but not by much. Don’t let this stop you from getting away from the tourist trap that is downtown (where Heli-Expo is located).
If you hear someone refer to the ‘perimeter’ they are talking about Interstate 285. In ATL, one either lives ITP (inside the perimeter) or OTP (outside the perimeter).
MARTA – our commuter rail, bus, and (limited) streetcar service – is a good way to move through the city if you don’t mind a little walking. It, too, is part of the ATL experience (good and bad) so give it a try if it fits your journey. Of course, Uber and Lyft are always an option.
Have fun at Heli-Expo! Be sure to come by our booth (B6123) and say hello! And most importantly, enjoy your stay in Atlanta.
