I was born and raised in Atlanta, but I am a first-generation American señorita. Both sets of my…read moregrandparents, along with my mother and father, came from Cuba in the early days before Castro's catastrophic revolution. I AM CUBANA PURA Y CON ORGULLO. En mi alma llevo tabaco y café con leche. En mis ojos y de los cuentos de mi madre y mis abuelos, puedo imaginar ese mar azul y bello. En mis oídos puedo escuchar aquellos Versos Sencillos, nacidos del corazón de José Martí and later sung so beautifully by Celia Cruz... and again by Willy Chirino. Cubans are passionate, affectionate people by nature, and for us, food has never been just food. Food is family. Food is memory. Food is home. Every summer when I was growing up, we made the long 12-hour drive from Atlanta to Miami to visit my dad's parents, his four older brothers, all of my cousins, and our Cuban family and friends. We usually broke the trip up into two days, staying in some cheap little motel somewhere around Gainesville and, later, Ocala (we had more money by then and felt like royals going from Days Inn to a Hilton.) And as kids, we always knew when we were finally getting close to Miami. We started seeing Cuban restaurants pop up here and there. Then came Calle Ocho. Croquetas. Pastelitos. Empanadas. Medianoche sandwiches. The smells. The sounds. The flavors. That feeling of, we're here. And when it was time to make the long haul back to Atlanta, everybody in our Cuban family who lived in Georgia already had their requests ready. Our car would literally be packed with boxes of pastelitos, especially pastelitos de guayaba y queso, to bring home and share. Because back then, you simply could not find that kind of authentic Cuban food in Atlanta. For years, that was how we brought a little piece of Miami -- and really, a little piece of Cuba -- back home with us. Then one day, my best friend Alicia , una Cubanita TREMENDA, took me to Buena Gente. I remember walking in and immediately thinking: Oh my gosh... I'm in Miami. The smell hit me first. Then the food. Then that familiar feeling I quickly realized I missed so much. Buena Gente didn't just remind me of Cuban food. It reminded me of my grandparents. My cousins. Those long summer drives. Calle Ocho. Boxes of pastelitos stacked in the car for the ride back to Atlanta. It felt familiar in a way that is hard to explain unless you grew up with food tied so deeply to family, culture, and memory. So when I tell you that I take Cuban food seriously, I mean it. And Buena Gente gets it. For this Atlanta-born Cubana, walking through those doors felt a little bit like coming home. AZÚCAR!!!

The service is excellent, very friendly and helpful when asking questions as a first time…read moreexperience. The place looked clean, but the all star is the food. The ham croquet, the papa rellena, chicken empanada all flavorful & delicious. My favorites were the mango milkshake, and the guava cream cheese pastellio. Definitely get you some, next time I come to atl I would come back for sure.

Had an AMAZING time!! Got off my 5am shift EXHAUSTED and starving so I thought to pay this…read morebreakfast spot a visit after seeing it around my neighborhood for weeks and my gosh was it a great choice. The food was on point and the portions were surprisingly big! My server was an actual sweetheart and offered me one of their cakes as a birthday gift haha As for the actual interior - it was pretty spacious and very clean. For anyone debating on if they should give this spot a chance please do - and try their beignets, they are SO worth it!!

This is a relatively new business in the area and it is definitely worth the try. They have plenty…read moreof parking in front of and behind the building. The inside looks like a French restaurant with plenty of pastries. Place looks brand new on the inside. I have been here before but wanted to come back and try something more adventurous. I ordered the oxtail bowl with a base of sweet potato and scrambled egg. The bowl was very filling with a generous portion of oxtails. I ordered a red velvet cake to go. This cake was delicious and I was surprised it was less than $4.

Hidden inside Kinship Butcher, this is a small coffee shop great for an on the go pick me up. There…read moreare two cushions in the window's ledge to wait for your drink and outside there are a couple tables. I chose to come in because when researching coffee shops in the area, I learned that Atlanta-born owner has a background in mixology and values the craft of making drinks. I could taste the quality in my drink, the base was smooth and mild. They make syrups in hose and flavors change with the season, I came towards the end of their menu life cycle so I grabbed a honey latte, but so wish I had the chance to try a more unique flavor. Good drink either way and I loved that I saw regulars coming in and chatting up the barista.

For a drink named banana day, you'd think I'd taste at least a hint of banana but no…read more The vibes are immaculate. I sat outside on nice weekend and enjoyed the company and people watching. Service was quick.

I've driven by this place countless times since moving to the area, and honestly, half the time I…read morecan't tell if it's open or not. The building isn't the most welcoming -- it kind of gives "abandoned" vibes from the outside -- but they were open when I finally decided to stop in. The indoor space is small, though there's plenty of outdoor seating. The gentleman behind the register wasn't exactly the friendliest, but he was accommodating and answered my questions about the menu items. We went midday and were pretty hungry, so we ordered a good spread: the Affogato coffee (just okay), and the Golden Drops Sampler ($16) which included two Caribbean empanadas, one coxinha (a Brazilian croquette stuffed with shredded chicken and cream cheese), and one pão de queijo (a chewy Brazilian cheese bread). The coxinha was easily the standout -- flavorful and satisfying. We also tried the Cuban sandwich. It wasn't the best I've had, but it wasn't the worst either; the one in the menu photo definitely looked better than what we received. For almost $50 total, I wouldn't rush back for the food. The coffee seems to be the main draw here, but while mine was decent, it didn't wow me. Overall: mediocre service, mediocre food. I finally gave it a try, and while I wasn't completely disappointed, I probably won't be back.

We ordered coffee and empanadas. I'm not sure why the gentleman who is the barista is working as a…read morecustomer service because he's a bit snippy, not welcoming and doesn't seem happy. The young man who brings out the food was very nice . Empanada and coffee was okay .

Good luck trying to find another breakfast/lunch spot like this one. What drew me to this place was…read morefusion items which incorporate Ethiopian and Balkan ingredients. Breakfast biscuits are normally a dime a dozen in the ATL but how about a Dabo biscuit with egg, cheese, and pastrami drizzled with (Ethiopian Berbere honey)? Still not impressed? How about a watermelon matcha lemonade? The biscuit was outstanding and the pastrami divine. I should've asked for the egg to be over easy instead of almost hard boiled but still amazing. The matcha drink should be stirred after admiring its beautiful presentation. Parking is validated here for 2 hours which is great. I will def be back to try the burgers and Ethiopian slaw. Their coffee is organic Ethiopian too.

Loved my experience here at Sugar Loaf!…read more Parking: There is a parking structure right behind the storefront that you can get 2 hours of free parking validated after making a purchase. Cleanliness & Ambience: The restaurant is super clean and bathrooms well maintained! The decor is giving slight retro vibes and simple colors. There are some tables, enough for maybe 10 people and then a barstool counter. I went in the morning time and people were mainly in and out of the place. Food: I ordered the pastrami, cheese and egg in a dabo biscuit. The biscuit was flaky but didn't break apart as I was eating, which I greatly appreciated. I loved the fennel seeds and sesame seeds inside of it, adding a nice touch. You definitely need to add a sauce though because it is a bit dry without. I also got their cinnamon bun that was so moist, gooey and not too sweet. I will be coming back!

I had an awesome time on a Monday went in from the 8th to 12 shift and bartender I believe name was…read moreNikki customer service was great and had a good time too many feel at home the DJ was playing soon that can be in Good vibrations

Had shrimp quesadilla for lunch. The 4 pieces of quesadilla were very oily, like were deep fried…read more Shrimps? Maye 4 little shrimps-meaning almost no protein. Cheese-a lot. Is this a good receipe for Quesadilla? I dont think so. Ordered at the bar, paid tip 20%-not attendant to bring the food, I was called to pick it up from the food truck, so what's the tip for. Very dissapointed

Alon's Bakery & Market at Phipps Plaza is one of my go-to stops when I'm at the mall and want a…read morequick bite, but more often than not, I'm stopping in for a sweet treat. I especially love their Tunisian Tuna Salad. It's a Mediterranean-style tuna salad with olives, capers, herbs, and olive oil, and it's one of my favorite things from Alon's. My only disappointment with the Phipps location is that they don't always have it available. When they do, it's typically already prepackaged rather than being served fresh from the prepared foods counter. The bakery and pastry selection is always tempting, though, and there's usually something worth grabbing when you want a little dessert while shopping. Overall, it's a convenient stop inside Phipps with consistently good baked goods and plenty of choices. I just wish my favorite tuna salad were more consistently available at this location.

I was here this past weekend and this bakery never disappoints…read more I had the Lox Bagel and it was delicious. Lots of smoked salmon and cream cheese. The service was great and very attentive. The bakery is clean and spacious and lots of lights.

We stopped here for breakfast before heading to the World of Coca-Cola…read more We had a larger party (8) and tried to squeeze into a booth since a high chair wouldn't fit at the high top. We were told only one side was open for breakfast so we couldn't sit anywhere else. We all got a latte and it was SO good. We did forget to ask for iced and they came out hot but it was delicious. I got the Mexican Eggs Benedict and it was amazing. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meal. I didn't hear any complaints!

Found this place on tiktok and am so happy we stopped by! The huevos divorciadios were phenomenal!…read moreWith a red and green salsa combination, you got the best flavors coming together. The french toast was a dense bread that had the perfect sweetness. The nutella platain crepe was unlike anything I've ever tried before, couldn't believe how delicious it was! Would definitely recommend going here, it was very authentic and my partner being Mexican said it reminded them of the same flavors in Mexico. The gift shop is nice to browse while you wait for the food as well.