Trace makes a fine lunch. Portion sizes are appropriate as well. We usually go out to a local place but heavy rain dissuaded us from that idea. The bison bolognese was tasty. Eating at the bar was a success for us. Another party at a table had a longer wait for their lunch. My impression was they were not staffed for a large lunch crowd but they were overwhelmed due to the rain. read more

TRACE - Bison bolognese - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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I was in Atlanta for a business meeting a couple of months ago and had some time to kill so I decided to dine in the W hotel restaurant for breakfast. Had quite a bit of an appetite and chose the continental breakfast with an upgrade for an egg white omelette. As you can see in the photos attached, I had a little bit of everything. The breakfast was solid. I cannot say that it was spectacular or anything because the food wasn't anything out of the ordinary (ordered a continental breakfast what else would you expect), but I do remember the croissants being a bit stale and the food a little pricey. I also remember having great service and the restaurant itself being very clean and inviting. Additionally, I also remember the environment being a bit warm due to the sun's rays beaming through the large windows overlooking the dining area early in the morning. Would I come back if I stayed at the W? Sure. However, I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it to anybody. read more

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Good food, good prices. Food menu highlights - Chicken Waffles Bites, Pimento Cheese and toast on the Appetizers. Farm Fresh Fried Chicken and Garden Salad with bacon for small plates. Didn't really have any entrees but the couple next to me had Grouper which looked awesome. read more

TRACE - Inside the dining area are a bunch of pots on the wall! - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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TRACE is located inside the W hotel. I was staying there so my friend and I stopped in for drinks at the bar before we headed out to dinner. It was 5:30 on a Friday so the bar area was half full so it was easy to grab a seat at the bar. It's pretty, very posh. We were welcomed and received a menu quickly upon sitting down but then it took a while to get water and place our order. Once we did place our order it was a another good amount of time before we received our drinks. I wasn't impressed with customer service here as it was slow and the few people working the bar just exuded "I would rather be anywhere else except here." To me, that just speaks volumes to me when the staff isn't excited to be there... then why should I be? When the drinks arrived, I was very underwhelmed. Everything stood out on the menu, however, when we actually tasted everything, nothing stood out. I was extremely underwhelmed. read more

TRACE - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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It's not often I go out of my way to write a revue but if you find yourself at The W please do yourself a favor and visit Erika at Trace. It's such a pleasure for a weary traveler to be be treated like family and at home. Thank you. read more

TRACE - You haven't experienced the best of the ATL until you've been treated like an old friend by Erika. - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

big ups for serving accommodating us! One of my biggest pet peeves is coming to a birthday dinner and people are late. Like cpt late. Sigh. We were late, so I can't say much, but the fact that they seated most of the party and didn't tell us to wait until the people we thought were coming all came was great. Our server, Noah was so nice and patient and was very forthcoming about recommending things that were hits and things that were misses. HIts- - the chicken and waffles were a hit.The folks at our table devoured them. It was chicken prepared in waffle batter, something a little different. - roasted corn hushpuppies. Okay, most of the table didn't like them, but I did! - shrimp and grits. The shrimp were huge and it was served in a cute Le Cruset container mixed in with the grits, peppers and seasoning. - skillet corn. This was good, like how I make it. Your basic corn off the cobb (grilled first) - pimento mac & cheese. I hate pimento, but this wasn't half bad. The flavor of the pimento wasn't overpowering at all - vadalia onion rings. I loooove vadalie onions!!! These along with the mustard were tasty. - flourless chocolate cake was yummy, although I thought it should have been served warm Misses - the apple pie had a strange flavor. Folks at the table thought it was a miss. All in all, the service was really great and Noah dealt with a table of women who might not have been outside of the house in a while! read more

TRACE is located inside the W hotel on 14th, but be aware that they do NOT validate parking. You'll be charged full price if you park in the 14th Street deck. When you enter the hotel, it's at the top of the staircase on your right, next to Whiskey Bar. A friend chose this place for dinner because we were seeing a concert at the nearby Atlanta Symphony Hall. If you're considering the same, I recommend parking at W's public lot. You can have dinner at Trace or Whiskey Bar and see your show for only $11 in parking for almost 5 hours on a Sunday evening. However, as you're about to discover, I recommend parking here and eating someplace else. The concept behind Trace - farm to table, upscale Southern cooking - is well-known to most frequent diners by now. As soon as you enter, you'll see loud and proud signage reminding you that all ingredients are farmed, foraged, and/or raised locally and organically. I'm granola enough to appreciate all of that, and was looking forward to my meal. I had no problems with the service. It wasn't very busy on a recent Sunday evening, and I honestly don't think I saw our server working any other tables. That might tell you something about the word of mouth this place has, though there were a few people sitting at the bar. My friend and I decided to start off with the chicken and waffles appetizer. It's actually chicken friend in waffle batter and served with a side of warm maple syrup that has bacon chunks floating in it. This was actually a tasty dish, though not distinctive. There wasn't much chicken there, honestly, but what we did have was tasty enough. My cocktail - the Six Flags over Georgia - reminded me of my beloved Moscow Mule. Made with orange infused vodka, cucumber water, and ginger beer, it's a beautiful translucent green served in a tall glass. I feel like the drink is quite overpriced at $13, especially considering the lack of presentation. A little sugar rim or candied ginger on a toothpick as a garnish would take minimal effort and add a lot to the presentation. As tasty it was, the drink was weak and I felt unsatisfied given the cost. Finally, the entree. At $15, their family farm burger (top sirloin and brisket) should rock your world. It won't. Meat is under seasoned, bun is stale, and onion straws are more soggy than crispy. I had to add ketchup to mine to give it some flavor - and I'm not a ketchup fan. I have had better burgers at fast food restaurants, and that is no exaggeration. I chose the fruit salad as a side, and it basically consisted of pineapple and honeydew. That's fine, I like both pineapple and honeydew, but the knife work was so rough that I was left thinking a prepackaged fruit salad from the supermarket would have been preferable. With so many options in Atlanta, I can't see returning to Trace as a viable option. read more

Went here for Sunday brunch. The restaurant is a mixed (sports) bar / restaurant. The menu is limited, but overall a greta selection. We had the Southern Breakfast. The chicken sausage is spicy and one note. The rest was tasty and well prepared. The service is slow and not attentive at all. Good food but not a service to match it. read more

Convenient place for breakfast inside the hotel but pretty expensive for the offerings. I was here for work and so I came here before it was on-site and I didn't have a car. I got an egg white omelette with fruit and potatoes; it was ok but not $19 good. Coffee was and is free for all hotel guests so that's a perk. read more

Trace has replaced Spice Market in the W Hotel. I was there for a food crawl and was treated to, Turkey Meatloaf, Grilled Chicken Wing and a Chocolate Torte. The specialty cocktail was Fall Harvest. Trace brings you fresh ingredients from local markets. The meatloaf is made with turkey, bacon, cranberry and a bacon demi. Anything with bacon listed twice in the ingredients list should be awesome right? I found the meatloaf to just be eh The grilled chicken wing was eh as well. It was a chicken wing. But let me tell you about the Chocolate Torte. I am eating in now. Slow bite by delicious slow bite. Trace says is flour less. That works for me because its delicious. I love chocolate and this torte is awesome. The drink Fall Harvest made with Hendricks gin, Cointeau and apple rosemary puree. Gin will make you sin, but this drink will make you wish you could hear the waves crashing when you close your eyes. Nice, light and so refreshing. Trace is a cool spot. I would recommend it for desert and drinks. The bar is large, the ambiance is sexy and the staff was pleasant. read more

TRACE - Chocolate Torte. - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Came here again for lunch. Server was friendly. The roasted squash was excellent, the kale chicken Caesar was very good, but the deviled eggs were not as good as I remembered them being last time. Slow, slow, slow. It was not very busy, but it took 20 minutes for the deviled eggs appetizer to arrive. Everything else took a long time, too. If I was here for a business meeting, I wouldn't have had time to finish my lunch. A very nice space on the second floor of the W hotel. High open ceiling. A range of tables, banquettes, and sofas. Unfortunately, the music coming up from the DJ in the Living Room bar on the floor below was so loud that even at 6pm holding a conversation was difficult. The service was excellent. Joan was very friendly and attentive without being intrusive. The wine list was limited, even with the offer to open any bottle with a commitment to have at least two glasses. The higher end Malbec at $72 a bottle/$20 a glass (if two are ordered) was decent. The deviled eggs were outstanding. As good as I've had anywhere. The garlic roasted cauliflower was also outstanding. The meatloaf was okay. A bit too much on the "loaf" side for my taste. Being topped by a pile of arugula and the chipotle sauce didn't work for me. The carrot cake for dessert was disappointing. It was a bit dry and the texture of the icing seemed like it had been in the fridge for a while. Okay for a hotel restaurant, but I wouldn't recommend a special trip if you aren't a guest here. read more

Came here with my husband who dined for lunch. He ordered a turkey sandwich with chips and a soda. Service was good. Food was not. He picked out a few bones from his sandwich. Why would you serve a sandwich with bones? That was not something we would expect. Thankfully he chews well. Not to mention it wasn't even tasty. We won't be coming back. read more

TRACE - Bones picked out from the turkey sandwich - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I'm glad I stumbled into here from my room. I thought it would just be a quick mediocre place. Boy was I wrong! I sat at the bar and the service was great. Robert the bartender is great!! Very accommodating and nice with a spunk that makes it fun. I had the grass fed rib eye. It was delicious. Perfectly grilled. I asked to replace the fries with broccoli and it was accommodated. No fuss. They have a great wine list. Not too many wines, but quality wines. The chocolate mousse cake is out of this world! Yummy! read more

TRACE - Grass fed rib eye - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Eaten & drank here a few times. From great southern customer service to awesome tasteful food. Will continue to come here. The best fried chicken, trout & desserts! Highly recommend the fried chicken & deviled eggs! read more

TRACE - Great desserts! - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Not as advertised, they say all the right things on their site but don't deliver in the restaurant. The charcuterie plate is a giant plate of toast, jam, blue cheese, and what can only be described as jerky. Unfortunately, I can't be more specific, because our waiter couldn't be. We asked what was on the plate, and never received an answer. We ordered the "assorted gelato" which we thought would be one plate of a couple flavors. When we were told that wasn't the case, we ordered salted caramel and raspberry gelato; we received a bowl of vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce and raspberry sorbet. The club music coming up from the lobby below didn't help much. Not a great place for a date or nice dinner, but may pass if you're staying at the hotel. read more

Ambiance is great for two. Very intimate yet hip environment. The food.....not so much. Overpriced, over the counter taste. read more

TRACE - Ambiance is everything - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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I was at the W Hotel in Midtown for the NOH8 photo shoot and I was a volunteer so it wasn't exactly like I could just say, "Toodaloo! Going on a lunch break!" I ordered my food to go from Trace and the server delivered it downstairs for me. When I ordered, I really wish someone had told me how much the delivery charge was...because when I was given the check, my eyes widened a bit lol. I ordered the shrimp and grits that cost 17 bucks, a bottle of Coke that costs I have no clue how much (my bill didn't show it either) and the total came out to...something like 32 dollars and some cents. I was surrounded by people at the time and didn't have time to look at the receipts with a microscope but all I saw was 32 something dollars for brunch without an explanation what I was charged for. I tipped the waitress because I didn't want to blame her for what the hotel restaurant receipts didn't show. I know it's the W Hotel, I went in prepared to spend money but I just felt a bit blind sided. read more

TRACE - Shrimp and Grits from the brunch menu - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I was staying at the W for a work conference and also came down with a bug. I had to avoid the social opportunities and ordered dinner for pick up at Trace. I was told 20-25 minutes and that I'd be called when the order was ready. After 40 minutes and no call I decided to just go down there. My order had been forgotten and I was offered a drink while I waited. Well wine cures illness (:))so I accepted. Waited for my food, it finally arrived. I got the check and was a little annoyed I was charged for my drink. I thought to ask for silverware, and he ran and got it. Good thing I asked or I would have gotten my sick self back to my room to discover no way to eat my food! It was an expensive meal - should've ventured into the neighboring mall for a salad. Oh! For a brief moment I thought that I could brave the dining room and eat alone without breathing on anybody with my bug. I tried to make an online reservation but they said there were no tables available until the following evening! When I got there to pick up my takeout, the place was pretty damn near empty! Nice online feature they have there! read more

Trace is located at the W hotel in Midtown. FYI, you can get your valet validated here for up to 3 hours. Winning! Food was spectacular and prepared all with my modifications (no butter, no seasoning, etc). Still very, very tasty even with lack of the usual preparation of the food. Drinks are served up strong. Service is even better. I was there with good company so I may be slightly biased (both times) but I'd recommend TRACE to anyone seeking a chill but classy environment. read more

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I think sometimes hotel restaurants get unfairly rated. But, let me just say that this one is awesome!! We're here on a Monday night and the service is amazing and the food was really good! All very fresh and plated perfectly. We had the specials and the gluten-free cheesecake. Very impressed. Wongail was a great server!! read more

TRACE - Cheesecake! - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

TRACE is a restaurant which focuses on "traceable" ingredients and "conscious cuisine." From my experience of the food, having eaten there four or five times for breakfast, lunch and dinner while staying at the W Atlanta - Midtown, I would say that they deliver on high-quality, tasty food. I also enjoyed how their menus were updated every few days, and hand-signed by the chef, Shean Suter. However, my experience with TRACE wasn't all rainbows and sunshine. Quite simply: they don't honor reservations. When I was in my room at around 7 p.m., I called up to check whether there was any availability for a table of six in 20 minutes' time. I was assured by the gentleman on the phone, "Julian", that there was availability and took down my details for the booking. When I arrived at the TRACE restaurant, Julian regrettably told me there was a number of 'walk-ins' just now, and thus the kitchen was swamped with orders. Because of this, he told me that my five guests and I would have to wait for 10 minutes before a table would be available. I asked him what he thought the definition of a 'reservation' was, and why this deviated from the common understanding of what a reservation is, and he excused his behavior by saying his manager had called him over which caused him to forget about completing my booking. Right. read more

I came here for New Years Eve to sit at the bar. They were pretty busy so its hard to judge the service but I think the staff was friendly and accommodating. I ordered the Chicken and Waffles which were good but the syrup was a little too sweet for me. I will say the idea was cool having waffle batter on chicken. I'm new to that so I thought it was awesome. I also tried their cheese spread. Absolutely amazing cured meats and cheeses. The bread was a little too hard but that's my preference. On to the drinks. Really good and top of the line. Only bummer is this place is a little too pricey to get drunk but definitely worth stopping by. Its the W so it has that cool boutique and I've got swag atmosphere going. So that's a plus if that's what you like! Also I'm not sure what its like usually but it was definitely a night of look at me, look at you...everyone let's stare at one another's awsomeness. Lol. I prefer more laid back but I would return to Trace. read more

The staff was friendly, great menu offering, and catered to a unique pallet. Food was on the high side for a sports bar, however that's to be expected at The W. read more

TRACE - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Expensive. Pretentious. Not a rooftop. Buuuut it's the W Midtown - so the people watching & interaction is always top-notch. Drinks are expensive. Food is expensive, but really well-done. Gets a little hood at times, but again - it's the W Midtown. Try it. It will intrigue the soul. read more

Delicious. I was hesitant to eat here after reading some yelp reviews but I am so glad I did! We arrived at the W late in the evening for a two night stay. Loved everything!! Pay those negative reviews no mind!! read more

Dined here for dinner and breakfast while staying at the W hotel. I can honestly say that I had the best omelet for breakfast I have ever tasted! For dinner I had a kale salad with grilled chicken that was excellent. I am a huge fan of the farm to table concept and will gladly pay the higher price for local/fresh ingredients. read more

I am not sure how impressed I am with Trace. I was super excited to try the menu because it sounds like everything I love: local ingredients, a well-planned menu, and interesting twists on traditional fare. Plus, the W Hotel is centrally located and absolutely gorgeous. We tried the grilled chicken wings, house meatloaf, and chocolate ganache pie. The wings were pretty good! The meatloaf was... not. The flavor was off and because the meat was so finely ground, it was a really dense odd texture. I like my meatloaf to melt in my mouth, but this was more like a hockey puck in my mouth. The chocolate ganache pie, on the other hand, was delicious. Super rich and definitely needed to be paired with a drink. Visually, this place is stunning (omg, I feel like Gordon Ramsay using that sentence). Beautiful art and cozy couches. Overall I think this is probably a great place for cocktails and maybe dessert. read more

I ate here as part of a conference so it may not be representative of the average dining experience. Green Beans: Above average. Sauteed - I'm not sure what they put in but it was well seasoned. Mac and Cheese: This is just average to me. The cheese was good with a nice crust but I like mine with more of a creamy sauce. Fried Chicken: Really good with a nice crispy skin. read more

I was here on a Monday evening Food: 3.5. Pimento mac and cheese was quite delicious and that means a lot because I am not a huge M&C fan. The shrimp and grits was positively interestingly with its top tomatoey layer. The meatloaf laced with arugula was quite a taste bud pleaser. Drinks: 2. Okay I had only one drink called the OTP. Maybe I'm not made for green tea based liquor but I was so sad having sips of it. Service: 4. Just pleasant and attentive. Location: 4. It is in the W, cmon. Not too loud and just chic :) I may go back Tip: there is complimentary valet. Don't park in the colony square deck because there is no validation read more

I ordered a burger to go. How can you mess up a burger? I waited 20+ minutes for the driest hamburger I've ever eaten in my life. I've would've been more satisfied going to McDonalds and eating a big mac. It wasn't even busy, so I don't know why the quality of the food was poor. NIce decor because it's in the W of course. Friendly bar tender. I wouldn't eat here again. read more

Trace is my favorite after work bar! They have great food and tons of space . When you go ask for Omar is my favorite bartender. read more

TRACE - Alamos Malbec! - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I have stayed at the W in midtown many times and was excited to try the new restaurant Trace (though I do miss Spice Market). I was given a free cocktail coupon at check in which made me all the more excited to try it. Let me breakdown my experience for you: Service - average. There was no one at the desk when I got there but was quickly seen by a waiter and seated. The waitress was prompt at offering us water and getting our drink orders. She was pleasant, but seemed less than genuine in her recommendations. Food- Good but not really special. The food is new southern and is well thought out but execution misses the mark. I ordered the short rib pot pie and brussel sprouts. The pot pie was more of a soup topped with a biscuit and was heavily seasoned with rosemary. The brussel sprouts were nicely roasted but quite salty. It was tempered a bit by the balsamic drizzle, but not much. The apple cobbler with homemade cinnamon ice cream was the highlight of the meal. Cocktail- I ordered something called the dream. I can't remember what was in it, but it was what it's name promised and packed a punch. I was a little buzzed off just the one. :-) Overall it was a good experience. It was a little pricey for what you get and the chef is a little heavy on his seasonings. Give it a shot if you are in the hotel but I wouldn't make a special trip for it. read more

I had the worst bloody mary I ever tasted here, and the bartender was quite rude. If you are going to make a bloody mary extremely spicy you should notify the customer. I like spicy things but this was extreme, mabye he made it wrong. read more

We had some snacks tonight at Trace. As the name says, Trace traces its roots to traditional southern dishes. Trace then puts a modern twist on these traditional dishes to make something unique. The chicken and waffles was chicken deep fried in waffle batter and the result was fantastic. The chicken was tender and juicy but with all of the taste of the waffle as well. The roasted gulf shrimp with pickled vegetables was nothing short of a delicious and amazing dish. The shrimp were full of flavor and the vegetables were the prefect compliment to the sweetness of the shrimp. Our server was Noah and he was attentive, friendly, and knowledgable and was the perfect one to help us through this amazing dining experience. I can't recommend Trace highly enough. Enjoy! read more

TRACE - Chicken and waffles snack. - Southern Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

A good place for the socially anxious to be socially awkward. Come with co-workers you've worked with for years but don't actually know because asking them personal questions this late in the game would be weird. The cocktails are strong enough to make small talk bearable, but not so strong you black out and hook-up with an intern. The food is tasty enough to serve as a topic of conversation, but not so good you actually enjoy it. All-in-all, TRACE is a take-it-or-leave-it kind of restaurant, but your social anxiety is something you'll take everywhere. read more

Went for the brunch buffet .. although the Sangria could be a litttlleeeee stronger I did enjoy my food !! The brunch buffet was good!! Not too many options for a vegetarian unless you eat omelettes.. the stuffed French toast was very yummy ! read more

I'm telling you, this restaurant is one of the only good things about the W Midtown. Friendly and attentive staff, beautiful food presentations, charming respite from the rest of the hotel. I really enjoyed eating here and if I was forced to stay at this W again, eating at TRACE is the part I would look forward to. read more

Trace is located in the W hotel, midtown Atlanta. The whole farm to table concept is overdone by chefs and this restaurant doesn't gain points for that concept at all. For starters we had the dark meat chicken tenders fried in a heavy dough of waffle batter; served with maple syrup with bacon bits. It was greasy and heavy, but the tastes were there. The hush puppies were dry and overcooked. H had the short rib pot pie. Tasty but soupy. The short rib/brisket meatloaf was crumbly and the fat stuck to your tongue way after the dish was finished. The carrot cake was nice. not too sweet as was the flourless chocolate cake. Annoying to be served the food all at once. The kitchen should know better than to cook the apps and main course at the same time. OR teach the servers NOT to put the order in all at once. Not worth the time or money to eat at again. read more

Clueless manager, terrible service, sub par food. Delivered unopened bottle of wine, on the table unopened for 30 min. 1/2 the table was severed 10min prior to the other. Our food was cold once it all arrived. The bill had gratuity included... I'm sure that the only way they can keep the staff. We miss the spice market.... read more

The food nor the service is good. Not good enough for these ridiculous prices! $14 for a cocktail! Never again. The ambience is nice but the food and service sucks. read more