Looks like another burger place is about to open in Sandy Springs. The Maryland-based franchise, a sister company of Boardwalk Fries, looked like it was very close to opening its doors when I stopped by yesterday. The website boasts fresh-cut fries, buns that are baked fresh everyday and fresh–never frozen–burgers. Stay tuned for my report once they open for business.

The folks from Zagat.com just sent me the a very comprehensive summary of the latest Atlanta Restaurants survey that covers 737 restaurants in Atlanta voted on by 2,471 local, online surveyors. Some highlights:

Plugged-In: This year, 51% of Atlanta surveyors said they typically make their restaurant reservations online – a jump from 40% in 2008. Only San Francisco has a higher percentage of reservations made online (52%).

Economics: When asked how the economy has affected their dining habits, surveyors reported eating out less (35%), eating in less expensive places (34%), being more attentive to prices (38%) and cutting back on appetizers, dessert and alcohol. Despite this, Atlantans eat out 3.3 times a week, slightly above the national average of 3.2 and despite meal cost inflation that was a surprisingly high 6.9%. Still, the city remains a relative bargain with the average meal costing $31.35, well below the national average of $35.25 and the price in places such as New York ($41.81) and Miami ($39.86). When asked what positive effects the economy has had on their dining habits, surveyors said they are finding better deals at restaurants (66%), feel their patronage is more appreciated (46%), feel it’s easier to get tables at popular places (41%) and are eating more healthfully as a result of cutting back on alcohol, desserts, etc (25%).

Winners: On top this year is Bacchanalia, winning both for Food with a rare 29 out of a possible 30, and for popularity. Bacchanalia’s win is especially impressive since its sibling, Quinones Room at Bacchanalia, came into #2 for food, #3 for decor and #1 for service.

Click here to download the document with all of this year’s results.

Don’t be embarrassed when the door slams behind you at Gorditas La Rancherita (2055 Beaver Ruin Road, Norcross, 678-206-0107). It happens to everyone. The shades are always drawn, lending the restaurant a tinge of sketchiness, and the hard booths aren’t too kind on the rear. The drawbacks end there.

In our taco saturated culinary landscape, Gorditas’ range of real-deal Mexican especialidades is a blessing. Chilaquiles is one of the most popular breakfast dishes in Mexico; old tortillas are repurposed by being fried to a slight crisp and slathered in a spicy salsa. Gorditas makes theirs with smoky red or acid green salsa. Chilaquiles is often served with sliced ham; here, they’re topped with two fried eggs (or your preferred preparation), creamy refried beans, and what has to be the most authentic-tasting (it actually tastes like tomato – not bouillon) Mexican-style rice in Atlanta.

Chunks of fork-tender barbacoa de chivo (goat) are coated in a silky and heady sauce with numerous plates of taco-making accoutrements – a basket of Gorditas’ exceptional tortillas included. These aren’t store-bought tortillas. The short but serious female cook makes them to order in her cubby of a kitchen. They are thicker than the machine-made variety, but take a deep whiff of the steam when they come to the table. Your nose will immediately recognize the distinction.

Read the rest here…

If you haven’t heard, my food muse Christiane Lauterbach has started a great blog called Atlanta Food Carts, an attempt to grow the community of street food in Atlanta. Unfortunately, the void in street food has to do with local law, but Lauterbach isn’t content to just sit on her fine French derrière. She’s also started a petition with the following goal:

As a coalition of vendors, businesspeople, and street food enthusiasts, we demand safe, affordable, and legal access to street food in Atlanta, the surrounding metro area, and the state of Georgia.

Please help persuade local and state lawmakers to revise current restrictive vending ordinances that hinder the flourishing of street food culture and to implement a regulatory system encouraging sidewalk and roadway entrepreneurship.

Support the establishment of a food cart zone in downtown Atlanta where the current draconian regulations will not apply.

Help jump start a thriving urban street food scene that brings casual, affordable, delicious food options to our streets and promote the city itself as a food culture destination. Spread the word about the integral role street vendors could play in rejuvenating the life and economy of Atlanta through the creation of viable business opportunities and jobs for Atlantans.

Sign this petition and be part of a movement for a positive change in our mobile food system!

The petition still needs more signatures to reach the goal. So, please sign it if you haven’t already. We need to make this happen!

(Image borrowed from Atlanta Food Carts)

My view down the family-style table.

The menu from our quadrant. All of the tables started switching dishes and Chef Joe Truex’s shrimp and grits casserole was the hands-down fan favorite of the meal.

Chef Linton Hopkins

Chef Kevin Gillespie

Chef Ron Eyester

Chef Drew Van Leuvan

A gaggle of chefs including Anne Quatrano and Hugh Acheson

Chefs Cathy Conway, Joe Truex and Butch Raphael

Will Harris, The president of Georgia Organics and my favorite local farmer.

The evening’s keynote speaker: Carlo Petrini, the founder of Slow Food. Check out Besha Rodell’s interview with Petrini and her observations from the day HERE.

Please accept my apologies if I left any names out. I don’t know what all the chefs in Atlanta and Athen’s look like. Please let me know who I left out!

Disclaimer: My media credentials for the day included the dinner.