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    Vortex Bar & Grill

    4.1 (1.6k reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Bars
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    Waitlist - Vortex Bar & Grill

    Live Current wait: under 5 minutes

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    Vortex Bar & Grill Photos

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    VORTEX BAR & GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Hipster
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Vortex Bar & Grill

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    Black and blue burger with bacon
    Kevin W.

    I didn't know what to expect when I got here but it was a pleasant surprise overall. The first thing I noticed was the parking. This venue is at the end of a strip mall but it looks like someone was blocking off most of the parking lot and charging. I parked for free directly on the side of the building. The inside is smaller than I was expecting. I was expecting a bar with TVs but this place is more of a neighborhood dive bar. The staff are friendly and hilarious. I bet this place is really fun at night. I ordered the Black & Blue Burger and added bacon for $3. It was one of the best burgers that I had all year and came with a good helping of plantains. The food and staff was great. I want to return and try some more crazy burgers.

    Entrance approaching from the sidewalk
    Sarah W.

    Wow! We were on another long meandering walk via Atlanta's stellar walkable streets, paths, and trails and ended up in the Five Points area. You cannot miss this place on foot or when passing by in a vehicle. The ginormous skull entrance is a real statement. We entered and were immediately seated in an upstairs enclosed dining area that was currently sealed up against the cold. I'm sure it's a hopping place in warmer weather and an enjoyable open space. We were impressed with the menu -- lots of entertaining reading material. The interior artwork also serves as a major conversation starter every where your eyes land. Waitstaff were awesome and super fun to interact with during our visit. We enjoyed cold beer and VERY juicy sloppy burgers -- in a good way. Food was top notch and looking forward to return visits. Highly recommended establishment for a good time!

    Veggie tator tot nachos
    Kandus J.

    It's really disappointing that such a good, well known burger spot doesn't make in-house veggie burgers. Beyond Meat & Impossible Meat are both disgusting! They've also heavily cut back on portions but yet the prices are higher. It's just not worth it for a veggie burger there. Still always a cool, fun spot to drink at though!

    Lily G.

    very cool spot. Looks intimidating from the outside, but the food and service make it worth it! If you can tell by the pictures, there's a lot of red light but I assure you it does not distract from the food. The ambience is cool but the food is the star. They have a delicious black bean burger that can be subbed in for any meat patty, which is rare and special! It goes beautifully with their blue cheese mushroom burger. Their drink menu is also extensive, with a great range of beers and quality bloody Marys. The food came out quickly and the drinks did too! Will be back.

    BBQ Bacon Mac N Cheese
    Rachel W.

    This place is quite an experience! It's hard to miss the iconic dizzy skull exterior of this restaurant, but the inside has even more character. This place is decked out in eclectic and some explicit decorations, and I truly understand why they strictly enforce 21+. My boyfriend and I were carded upon walking in, were promptly seated, and took a second to soak in the vibes of this place. I got the BBQ Bacon Mac N Cheese burger and it was good! I really like how the cost of the burger includes a side. I got their tater tots which were exactly to my liking. It's not the most impressive burger that I've had, but it definitely is a solid burger. Would definitely come back to try some of their other burgers, as well as take out of town visitors here. It's a memorable place to visit! Free parking for Vortex patrons - just make sure you park in the correct spots marked for Vortex because there is a paid lot right next to it. Parking lot is on the smaller side.

    Cheeseburger with pimento cheese and crinkle fries.
    Ahmad W.

    First time I was here I visited years ago 2018 I believe. At the time they had smoking cigarettes going on overwhelming and like a cloud of smoke through out this place. I placed a to go order and I never went back here. I see since 2019 it's non smoking which is great I actually read this on the website recently. I got my food through Uber Eats. I got a cheeseburger with pimento cheese and fries. The burger was cooked good and had a char taste to it. I just think that if they had a sauce it will add to the taste of the burger. The burger taste great and the fries. I got my order on 1-26-2026. Pull up and check them out for yourself.

    Mariah A.

    I came here for the little five points Halloween festivities and of course I had to drop in and get a coronary bypass because when you need a good nasty burger I do not know any who does it better. Check your blood pressure after taking the scenery and stop by and get a drink. I will definitely be back. The service was great and they handled the crowd outside very well. I was not a fan of the $20 parking but that was just for the night and I definitely left my to go box full of all of my leftovers, but I don't usually heat up burgers anyway even though I would've loved the opportunity to think about it. I was a little salty. Anyhooooooo I will be back.

    Outside
    Heidi B.

    I feel very lucky to have been able to be sucked into the Vortex while visiting Atlanta! This is such a fun local spot featuring plenty of burgers, brews, and cocktails. I loved that their blue cheese burger featured a spread rather than just chunks of blue cheese. If you are a chimichanga fan, don't forget to try their Mac & cheese change appetizer! And pro tip, get the souvenir cup!

    The fat Elvis Burger. With plantains and peanut butter, it was rich and delightful.
    Amanda T.

    Now I'm a sucker for peanut butter but put that on a burger with a plantain and you have sold me for life (fat Elvis burger). This is my first trip to the Vortex and it will not be the last. We were lucky enough to hit it mid afternoon on a Saturday and the decor is amazing. There are so many cool things on the walls and hanging from the ceilings. It feels like the essence of rock and roll if that makes sense. The service was fast and I asked for a recommendation between the find Elvis and the shroom burger and I was told that they were both solid but there was only one Elvis. They didn't steare me wrong! But I will be back for the shroom burger at some point. Little five points is five stars in my book.

    Fried pickles
    Carlesia B.

    The experience was different; the vibe was great, and the service was pretty normal. The bartender was the life of the party. Burger 3/10 Chicken 9/10 (sauce 3/10) Sliders 10/10 Fried pickles 10/20 Tots 9/10

    Fried Pickles Of Love
    Elizabeth H.

    Excellent food and ambiance. The service was great, as always. If you like fried pickles, they have the best in the state in my opinion. They're spears, not chips, and I hope they never change. The only things that were drawbacks for us were the fact that my husband said the men's restroom was EXTREMELY tiny (the women's had room lol) and parking cost $15. Outside of that, the experience was great as usual!

    Asia A.

    So yummy! They have a unique vibe, comfortable atmosphere, good service, and great food! I'll be back for sure!

    bbq bacon mac & cheese burger
    Melanie M.

    My friends and I came here the other day and were seated right away. Our server was nice but the service was bad. We all ordered the bbq bacon mac & cheese burger because it sounded really good. What a huge disappointment though. A place that is known for burgers doesn't make them well. The burger was barely cheesy. The mac was so dry. When our server asked if we wanted any sauces on the side, he didn't tell us it would cost $1 per sauce until we got the check. Food and service was bad. It was around $20 and I've had cheaper burgers taste better. Will not be coming back here!

    Cheese balls App-so good.

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    6 months ago

    The burgers were awesome and great atmosphere. Whenever my band plays at The Star Bar I walk across the street for the burgers!

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    6 months ago

    Always classic Atlanta memories at this location. Great food. Amazing service. Vortex Vortex Vortex Vortex Vortex Vortex

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    3 years ago

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    7 months ago

    My wife and I have been eating here for nearly 14 years ... not the same vibes but always a good time here .

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    The menus aren't very good, and they took away the disco tatertots?! That's so stupid. Why would they take away one of the best menu items??

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    Page 2 of 42

    Vortex Bar & Grill Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Vortex Bar & Grill

    Is there outdoor seating ? Are dogs allowed?

    There is covered patio seating at the L5P location & outdoor seating at the Midtown location. Dogs are allowed at the Midtown location.

    Are kids allowed?

    21+ only

    Is there an age restriction after a certain time? ? Midngiht?

    21 and over only all day, all night.

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    Murphy's - Grilled Artichokes

    Murphy's

    4.0(1.5k reviews)
    1.1 miVirginia Highland
    $$

    Murphy's is an absolute standout. I had dinner there with two friends, and from start to finish,…read moreeverything was exceptional. We began with the grilled artichokes and the beets with blood oranges--both fresh, vibrant, and beautifully prepared. For our mains, we shared the Carolina Trout, the herb-rubbed chicken, and the tagliatelle bolognese, and each dish was better than the last. Every bite was packed with flavor and cooked to perfection. Dessert truly took things over the top. The trio--Key Lime Pie, Tollhouse Pie, and the Bonzo--was the stuff dreams are made of. We paired our meal with a bottle of Gómez y Rial "Compostelae" Albariño, which I highly recommend--it was crisp, elegant, and the perfect complement to our meal. A special shoutout to our server, Julie, who was flawless. She was attentive without ever being overbearing, and her timing was impeccable. Murphy's delivered an unforgettable dining experience--I can't wait to go back.

    I have been coming on and off during the years. And it's been a good staple in a great walking…read morearea. We went for lunch and My husband orders the hash which he enjoyed, I ordered the Chilaquiles. Which I'm a huge fan of. I was disappointed then I got the dish. the chicken felt canned or maybe it was boiled? It had a strange flavor. Even if it wasn't it didn't feel fresh (or even a day old) . The flavor was very bland, Also for $17 for essentially breakfast nachos I would expect them to be astounding. The waitress was polite, and attentive.

    Photos
    Murphy's - Bar Area

    Bar Area

    Murphy's - Tollhouse Pie

    Tollhouse Pie

    Murphy's - Honeysuckle 75

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    Honeysuckle 75

    Whiskey Bird - Dining Room

    Whiskey Bird

    4.4(774 reviews)
    1.8 miMorningside / Lenox Park
    $$
    Free parking
    Locally owned & operated

    The waiter's service was very prompt, and everyone had a great attitude in the foodie atmosphere…read more The food was also really good. I especially loved the restaurant's smoked fish and smoked meat. I will definitely keep recommending it to other friends who come to visit.

    Service is amazing. The manager and hostess Maya was kind from the beginning. My husband and I…read moreoriginally arrived 20 minutes late for our dinner appointment which happened to be 40 minutes before they close but she had such a very good attitude from the beginning! Our server was Robin. He was pleasant and had really good service. He told us to relax and not worry about the restaurant closing. That made us feel better. Maya and Robin told us to come back for brunch so we did. The food during during was amazing. We got the ahi tuna tacos and the edamame and shared the burger and the salad. Everything was colorful and full of flavor. There isn't one item that left us disappointed. For brunch we came back and had the tuna tacos again. My husband loved them so much he ordered them two more times. We also had the bao Benedict and the tuna toast, which came recommended by Maya. All amazing. Also try the fruit salad and the nachos! For drinks we had the cold brew martini and the Caribbean Coffee made by Jess who was also very kind. I told my husband that the good, colorful food combined with the ambience and amazing service made me feel like I was on a vacation. I love this place and have added to one of my favorites. Cheers!

    Photos
    Whiskey Bird - Brunch

    Brunch

    Whiskey Bird - Covered patio

    Covered patio

    Whiskey Bird - Zero proof cocktails

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    Zero proof cocktails

    Highland Tap - 32 oz Prime Rib and Mashed Sweet Potatoes

    Highland Tap

    3.8(477 reviews)
    1.2 miVirginia Highland
    $$

    This was my first visit to Highland Tap, and I came on a Monday with a friend who visits regularly…read moreand highly recommended it. He specifically wanted to take advantage of their Monday prime rib special, which is just $20. I'm not much of a prime rib person, but I decided to tag along--and I'm really glad I did. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. It wasn't overly loud or crowded, and the décor created a relaxed, comfortable vibe that made for a great dining experience. Now, let's talk about the food. My friend ordered the prime rib and requested it Pittsburgh-style seared. I ordered the steak burger cooked medium-well. Unfortunately, my burger came out a little more well-done than I prefer, so it wasn't as juicy as I had hoped. My friend also felt his prime rib was a bit more undercooked than expected. Neither dish was bad, but they both missed the mark just enough that I'd give the food a 3 out of 5. One thing that absolutely deserves a shoutout was the tomato jelly that came with my burger. It was incredible! It tasted like the perfect blend of ketchup and jelly--slightly sweet but not overly sweet, with just the right balance of flavor. I ended up dipping my fries in it, and it was so good that I'd gladly order it again. It was easily one of the most memorable parts of the meal. What truly elevated the experience was the service. Our server, Sam, was outstanding. He was personable, attentive, friendly, and genuinely enjoyable to interact with. Great service can completely change a dining experience, and Sam did exactly that. Overall, while the food had room for improvement, the atmosphere and exceptional customer service more than made up for it. I'd definitely return to Highland Tap, and thanks to Sam's excellent hospitality, I'm giving them a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

    Service? Excellent. Our waitress was amazing…read more Food? Excellent. The mussels in a cream sauce and beef carpaccio? *Chef's kiss* Steaks were cooked to perfection. Drinks? Excellent. Ambiance? Steakhouse in a basement? Old school. I'd definitely come back if I was a local.

    Photos
    Highland Tap - Interior from a far corner

    Interior from a far corner

    Highland Tap
    Highland Tap - Bar area

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    Bar area

    Two Urban Licks - Salmon Chips

    Two Urban Licks

    3.8(3.7k reviews)
    0.7 miPoncey-Highland, Old Fourth Ward
    $$$

    We went for y husbands birthday dinner. Food was excellent! Service was great. The kitchen was a…read morelittle slow but it was not a terrible wait. Burrata appetizer was really good. The chicken, steak and short ribs were top notch. I was so happy the bar could make an Aperol Spritz! The strawberry tiramisu was a nice way to end an excellent meal. Will definitely be back. **side note** - please PLEASE water your trees

    My family and I were really excited to try to urban licks, as we had heard so much about it from so…read moremany different people. We came here for a birthday dinner celebration and we met with great customer service and a lovely atmosphere. There was a jazz trio performing, and the ambience of the restaurant was great. We were seated in an area that had a lot of traffic so some of us were bumped multiple times by servers, food going over our heads, people swinging their jackets, it just seemed as if the tables were a bit too close together. The food. We ordered the shrimp appetizer, the fried green tomatoes, and the pork belly. All of these were delicious, though we did feel like the tomatoes could've been a little crispy. The Carolina gold sauce on the pork belly was a nice tangy combination with the protein, and the shrimp had a surprisingly good sauce. The issue that we fell into with two urban licks were the mains ... We felt that the rotisserie chicken was a bit dry, and flavor was confusing as it was presenting as tandoori, but had an underlying flavor we just couldn't get into. The market fish on the menu for the day was a red snapper, and it didn't come with any sides, but it seemed like the fish was simply fried in the oil and it didn't have any seasoning or underlying flavor which we were disappointed in. The Hawaiian wahoo fish was a bit overcooked, and the "jerk" short ribs leaned more habanero salsa in the taste. The coconut rice and peas that went along with it was also dry, without coconut taste, and missed the mark for us. We are Caribbean and this was a disappointment to experience. The description on the page oversold it just a bit. We were able to call the manager, and they removed the chicken dish from our bill and took half of the final price of the short rib from our bill as well, and that was appreciated! Looking around the restaurant, it seemed like everyone was enjoying their meal, though we could never know what conversations were being had at those tables, and it just seems like this restaurant was not for us personally! Great service, but due to the food, we don't plan to return

    Photos
    Two Urban Licks - Kitchen

    Kitchen

    Two Urban Licks - Waffle with Georgia Apples

    Waffle with Georgia Apples

    Two Urban Licks - Salmon Chips

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    Salmon Chips

    Pielands Sub & Slice - Grandma slice

    Pielands Sub & Slice

    4.0(134 reviews)
    1.1 miVirginia Highland
    $

    Overpriced disappointing food!…read more This was the second time I got food from here. I tried to give Pielands a second chance after being disappointed the first time but it got even worse. I ordered food for delivery and it came 30 minutes late. It seems like my food wasn't made until the driver arrived to the restaurant. I got the limited time chicken, bacon, ranch pizza. It barely had any cheese or chicken on it. I didn't taste or see any ranch on it. The buffalo wings were soggy by the time I got them. Won't be coming back here. I paid $45 for bad food. I could've paid less than $20 for dominoes which would've tasted better.

    The place was pretty busy as it was a Friday evening. Most people were ordering to go as it has a…read morevery small dining area and it's pretty much set up for takeout. I ordered the farmers market pizza to go. I called them to ask if it was possible to add garlic because on the website it says "No additional toppings". They checked and decided that request was an ok. I was disappointed that it was an additional $3.99 for fresh garlic yet I honestly couldn't find nor taste the garlic that much after biting into it, but such as it is. The pizza tasted very fresh with all of the veggies and there was a sweetness about it that complemented it very well. I'm not sure if it was the tomatoes that were sweet, but I did like the flavor. Unfortunately, the crust was a little overdone for my liking. I think this was just the luck of the draw. I'll try again next time and I'm not adding the charge of the sprinkles of garlic. I'll just put it on myself when I get home. Lol

    Photos
    Pielands Sub & Slice
    Pielands Sub & Slice - Pielands Caesar Salad

    Pielands Caesar Salad

    Pielands Sub & Slice - Gluten-free pie with Italian sausage and mushrooms

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    Gluten-free pie with Italian sausage and mushrooms

    Manuel's Tavern - 10 wings with terry sauce, a Paloma, side of tots

    Manuel's Tavern

    4.0(461 reviews)
    0.4 miPoncey-Highland
    $$

    Manuel's Tavern has been around since the 1950s and still holds strong as a staple Atlanta pub…read more They have lots of beer on draft, typical bar food, and a rustic environment. The place is large with lots of seating and some games to play as well (quarter operated). They have a giant parking lot across the street too. The food was good and very reasonably priced. The chicken fingers were crispy and tasty, and the horseradish sauce it came with was out of this world. They have a bunch of TVs over the bar and were playing the Braves game so it's a nice spot to grab some food and a drink and watch sports!

    This was my second visit to this iconic place, but the first time I was there for an event and,…read morealthough I ordered food, I wasn't really paying attention. Today I went for lunch. I had the pulled pork sandwich with potato salad and the vegetable of the day (steamed broccoli). My companions had a quesadilla and the chicken fried steak, which were also great. We drank iced tea (served in enormous cups) but there is a full bar available. The place is unassuming from the outside. Don't miss the overflow parking across the street when the small lot behind the restaurant is full. Inside is dark wood floors and furniture, the walls are covered with old photos ands m, and memorabilia. There are a handful of pinball machines in an alcove by the door and TVs hung on some walls for entertainment too. I'm glad I was able to enjoy a m al here. The food was good, service was good, and I felt like a local.

    Photos
    Manuel's Tavern - Fun retro dining area

    Fun retro dining area

    Manuel's Tavern
    Manuel's Tavern - Bar area

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    Bar area

    Vortex Bar & Grill - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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